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Stevenson Places 4th At National Tournament
Mustangs Receive Champions Of Characater Award
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Jake Stevenson |
Jake Stevenson, a sophomore from Petersburg, Neb., received the Most Valuable Player Award for the Morningside College wrestling team at the Mustangs’ awards banquet on Saturday.
Stevenson earned NAIA All-America honors this past season with a fourth place finish in the 174 lb. division at the NAIA National Tournament. He posted a 45-8 record to set a Morningside single-season record for victories. He is also Morningside’s career victory leader with a record of 78-19.
Stevenson also received the Mustangs’ MVP Award last season when he had a 33-11 record and placed fourth in the 174 lb. division at the national tournament to earn NAIA All-America laurels.
Brad Dodge, a freshman from Fremont, Neb., received the Mustangs’ Most Improved Award. Dodge had a 19-17 record and was a NAIA National Tournament qualifier.
Jared Pickett, a sophomore from David City, Neb., received the Mustangs’ Hustle Award. Pickett had a 24-25 record and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in his career.
The Mustangs’ Sportsmanship Award went to Bob Seger, a sophomore from O’Neill, Neb., while Evan Bowder, a sophomore from Pender, Neb., received the Outstanding JV Award.
Aside from his MVP Award, Stevenson also received statistical awards for Most Two-Point Near Falls (16), Most Three-Point Nearfalls (28), and Most Takedowns (78). All three were school-record totals.
Pickett set school records and received statistical awards for Most Escapes (73) and Most Reversals (30).
Erin Hume, a junior from Monroe, Iowa, received the Most Pins award for his team-high 10 falls.
Morningside posted a 9-4 record this past season and qualified the maximum number of 12 athletes for the NAIA National Tournament.
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Jake Stevenson |
Erin Hume |
Jake Stevenson, a sophomore from Petersburg, Neb., placed fourth in the 174 lb. division of the NAIA Wrestling Championships held Friday and Saturday in Sioux City’s Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena.
Stevenson earned NAIA All-America honors for his fourth place finish. He was also an All-American last year when he placed fourth at 174 lbs. as a freshman. The top four finishers in each weight division are considered All-Americans.
Stevenson, ranked fifth nationally, dropped a 6-4 decision against sixth ranked Abel Trujillo of William Penn University in the consolation match for third place. Stevenson had defeated Trujillo 11-6 during the regular season when the two met in the championship match of the NAIA Central Region Tournament on Feb. 18.
He finished the season with a 45-8 record for a single-season Morningside victory record. Stevenson is also Morningside’s all-time career victory leader with a record of 78-19.
Stevenson had advanced to the third place match with a 6-0 shutout of fourth-ranked David O’Brien of Southern Oregon University in the consolation semifinals.
Stevenson began Saturday’s wrestlebacks with an 8-4 victory against eighth-ranked Marshall Marquardt of Dana College to avenge a 12-5 loss he had suffered against the Viking standout during the regular season.
Stevenson saw his quest for a national championship end when he suffered a 6-4 loss against sixth-ranked Jake Oberfoell of Missouri Valley College in Friday night's quarterfinals.
Stevenson had advanced to the quarterfinals by scoring a 15-0 technical fall against Colter Dimas of Montana State-Northern University in the championship second round. Stevenson, who received an opening round bye, disposed of Dimas 21 seconds before the match was to expire.
His loss against Oberfoell snapped a nine-match winning streak. He stayed alive in the wrestlebacks when he pinned No. 1 ranked Gave Harry of Dickinson State University in 1:58.
The Mustangs' other 11 competitors were all eliminated on Friday.
Morningside had five other wrestlers compete in the championship second round, but all lost their matches to drop into the consolation bracket.
Chris Utesch, a freshman from Akron, Iowa, dropped a 9-5 verdict against sixth-ranked Pablo Sanchez of Menlo College in the second round after he had advanced with a first round bye. Utesch was eliminated when he was pinned in 7:50 by Kaci Payne of Campbellsville University in the consolation bracket. Utesch finished the season with a record of 16-14.
Matt Gustafson, a junior from Aurelia, Iowa, pinned Andrew Cunha of Menlo in 2:36 in the first round before he suffered a 13-4 loss against seventh-ranked Mark Dickman of Lindenwood University in the second round. Gustafson was eliminated after a 7-3 loss against John Carnes of Bacone College in his first consolation match to finish the season with a 19-18 record.
Erin Hume, a sophomore from Monroe, Iowa, scored an opening round upset when he defeated fifth-ranked Kyle Bickford of Menlo by a 7-5 decision. Hume dropped an 8-3 decision against Scott Taylor of Dana College in the second round. Hume stayed alive when he pinned Cody Rouse of Missouri Baptist University in 4:01 in the consolation bracket. Hume won by fall again when he pinned Montana State-Northern’s Kole Tolliver in 1:24, but was eliminated in the next round of the wrestlebacks with a 7-3 loss against fourth-ranked David Clemmons of Campbellsville. Hume finished the season with a 26-18 record and a team-high eight falls.
Zach Andersen, a sophomore from Parkersburg, Iowa, had a bye to advance to the 184 lb. second round. There he dropped a 7-4 decision against Ryan Mattingly of Montana State-Northern. Mattingly had reached the second round with a 3-2 upset win against second-ranked Joffre Lander of Embry-Riddle University. Lander was last year’s 184 lb. runner-up. Andersen was eliminated after he suffered a 6-4 loss against Jordaryl Logan of Briar Cliff University in the wrestlebacks to finish the season with a 19-13 record.
Brad Dodge, a freshman from Fremont, Neb., advanced to the 197 lb. second round after a first round bye. Dodge dropped an 18-7 decision against eighth-ranked Jimmy Becerra of Lindenwood in the second round. Dodge stayed alive with a 16-6 major decision against Rob Neuskabel of the University of the Cumberlands in his first wrestleback, but was eliminated after he lost a 6-1 decision against sixth-ranked Robert Charlton of Embry-Riddle in the next round. Dodge finished the campaign with a record of 19-17.
Jason Freudenburg, a sophomore from Madison, Neb., was eliminated from the 125 lb. competition. Freudenburg lost 11-5 against seventh-ranked Corey Johnson of Dickinson State University in the first round, scored an 11-3 win against Mike Aitch of Missouri Baptist in the consolation bracket, then lost 11-7 against Brandon Nice of Missouri Valley College. Freudenburg finished the season with a 20-18 record.
Jared Pickett, a sophomore from David City, Neb., and Jake Thomas, a junior from Moville, Iowa, each lost in the opening round of the 141 lb. competition. Pickett lost 11-6 Nathaniel Troupe of Missouri Valley, while Thomas was pinned in 1:52 by sixth-ranked Gordo Villaescusa of Embry-Riddle. Thomas was eliminated after he lost by a 22-7 technical fall against Earl Robinson of William Penn University in the wrestlebacks. Thomas finished the season with a record of 12-18. Pickett was eliminated from the tournament when he dropped a 5-3 decision against Juan Roman of Menlo to finish with a 24-25 record.
Dan Ascherl, a freshman from Hartington, Neb., dropped a 20-8 major decision against sixth-ranked Darion Terry of Missouri Valley in first round action at 157 lbs., but stayed alive with a 10-2 win against Daniel Rosbottom of Cumberland University in the consolation bracket. Ascherl finished the season with an 18-20 record after he lost by fall in 1:16 against Kole Tolliver of Montana State-Northern.
Josiah Keleher, a freshman from Moberly, Mo., lost his opening round 165 lb. bout by an 8-5 decision against Keenan Funk of Jamestown College. Keleher was eliminated with a 9-2 loss against seventh-ranked Tommy Hutchinson of the University of the Cumberlands to finish the season with a 16-23 record.
Weston Frahm, a freshman from Plainview, Neb., was pinned in 2:54 by second-ranked Mike Kummer of Great Falls University in opening round action in the 174 lb. division. Kummer placed fourth at 165 lbs. in last year’s tourney. Frahm dropped an 8-6 decision against Montana State-Northern’s Dimas in the consolation bracket to bow out with a 17-21 record.
Click here for complete NAIA Wrestling Championships results.
Morningside’s wrestling team received the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award presented at the 2006 NAIA Wrestling Championships.
The award winners in each sport, chosen by the NAIA Coaches Association Officers, are selected based upon their documented display of exemplary character and sportsmanship on the field, on campus, and in the community. Specifically, fulfillment of the five core character values of the NAIA’s Champions of Character initiative – respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship – are taken into consideration.
The NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award is presented annually to one team in the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball, football, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, wrestling, NAIA Division I and II men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, softball, men’s and women’s golf, baseball, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.
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