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Stevenson Named Mustangs' MVP For Fourth Time
Mustangs Receive Champions Of Character Award
Three Mustangs Earn All-America Honors At NAIA National Tournament
Mustangs Finish Second At NAIA North Region Tourney
Mustangs Place Two On All-GPAC First-Team
Stevenson Reigns At GPAC Championships
Keleher Receives GPAC Wrestler Of The Week Honor
Mustangs Ranked 15th In The Nation
Stevenson Is GPAC Wrestler Of The Week
Cody Dennis, Ben Knight, Drew Smith, and Jake Stevenson were all named to the 2008 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NAIA All-Academic Team.
Dennis, a freshman from Osmond, Neb., has a 4.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and is majoring in biology. Dennis had a 25-20 record this past season and placed sixth in the 125 lb. division at the NAIA National Tournament to earn NAIA All-America honors.
Knight, a freshman from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has a 3.75 cumulative GPA. Knight had a 30-21 record and was a NAIA National Tournament qualifier at 149 lbs.
Smith, a freshman from Milburn, Neb., has a 3.60 cumulative GPA. Smith had a 20-14 record and was a NAIA National Tournament qualifier at 133 lbs.
Stevenson, a senior from Petersburg, Neb., has a 3.29 cumulative GPA and is majoring in business administration. Stevenson had a 29-5 record this season and placed third at 184 lbs. at the national tournament to earn NAIA All-America honors for the fourth straight year.
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Jake Stevenson |
Cody Dennis |
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Cole Wilson |
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Morningside's Jake Stevenson and Cody Dennis each earned NAIA All-America honors during Saturday morning's action at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships in Sioux City's Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena.
Stevenson, a senior from Petersburg, Neb., finished third in the 184 lb. division, while Dennis, a freshman from Osmond, Neb., placed sixth at 125 lbs. The top six finishers in each weight class are awarded NAIA All-America honors, while the seventh and eighth place finishers are honorable mention All-Americans.
Stevenson scored a come-from-behind 5-4 triumph against Chris Thompson (19-11) of Montana State University-Northern in the third place consolation match. Stevenson trailed 4-2 after the first period and was behind 4-3 before he scored a takedown with 35 seconds left in the match.
Stevenson, the Mustangs’ all-time victory leader, finished the season at 29-5 and closed out a brilliant career with a mark of 130-25. He was a four-time NAIA All-American and was the NAIA 184 lb. National Champion in 2007.
Dennis lost a 14-6 major decision against eighth-ranked Jose Hernandez (27-14) of Menlo College in the fifth place consolation match to finish the season with a record of 25-20. Hernandez won a 5-4 decision against Dennis earlier this season at the Desert Duals in Las Vegas, Nev.
Cole Wilson, a junior from Oakland, Iowa, earned NAIA honorable mention All-America honors with an eighth place finish at 197 lbs. Wilson was pinned in 2:52 by third-ranked Ike Okenwa (23-11) of Missouri Baptist University in Saturday morning’s seventh place consolation match to finish the season with a record of 24-16.
Stevenson advanced through Thursday’s first round with a 7-0 shutout of Royce Thomas of William Penn University. Stevenson won by shutout again when he blanked fifth-ranked Travous DeGroat (23-10) of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University by a 9-0 score in one of the tournament’s top second round pairings.
He pinned eighth-ranked Daniel Price (14-6) of Missouri Valley College in 2:53 in Friday morning’s quarterfinals. Stevenson trailed 2-1 in the early going but battled back to take a 6-2 lead before he disposed of Price with the pin. Price, who finished fourth at last year’s national tourney, had lost a 5-3 decision against Stevenson when they met earlier this season at the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Stevenson saw his bid to repeat as the NAIA 184 lb. National Champion end when he lost 6-4 in overtime against No. 1-ranked Mike Kummer (28-8) of the University of Great Falls in Friday evening's semifinals. The two battled to a 4-4 standoff in regulation time before Kummer scored a takedown in the first overtime period. The two wrestlers also went to overtime in the their only prior meeting, which came in the third match of Stevenson’s collegiate career when he defeated Kummer 7-5 at the Dakota Wesleyan University Open during his freshman campaign.
Stevenson, ranked third in the nation, avenged a prior defeat this season when he pinned second-ranked Calvin DeVault (33-6) of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Saturday morning’s consolation bracket semifinals. DeVault had pinned Stevenson in 1:45 during the regular season at the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Dennis was the Mustangs' surprise of the tournament. He entered the event with a modest 20-17 record, but has beaten four wrestlers he lost to during the regular season to assure himself of placing in the top six.
He avenged a loss he suffered during the regular season when he pinned William Penn’s Matt Chustz in 4:23 in first round 125 lb. action. Dennis had dropped an 11-7 decision against Chustz earlier this year at the Northwestern College Red Raider Classic. Dennis dropped into the consolation bracket after he was pinned in 5:00 by sixth ranked Cory Borges of Montana State-Northern in the second round. Borges, the NAIA 125 lb. national runner-up last year, improved his record to 26-5.
Dennis reversed his fortunes from an earlier match this season when he pinned Jeff Holmes of Dakota Wesleyan University in 5:06 in his first match in the wrestlebacks. Holmes had pinned Dennis in 3:27 when they met during the regular season. Dennis followed that victory with a 4-2 decision against Briar Cliff’s Jeff Miller for his second victory in three meetings against the city rival this season.
Dennis continued his trend of avenging regular season defeats when he scored a 9-7 overtime victory against Tyler Savage of Notre Dame College in Friday evening’s consolation action. Dennis had dropped an 8-4 verdict against Savage when they met during the regular season at the Cliff Keen National Duals. Dennis finished Friday’s competition with a convincing 17-8 victory against Shamar Haynes of William Penn University.
Dennis was pinned in 1:08 by fifth-ranked Billy Exline (31-10) of Missouri Valley College in Saturday morning’s consolation semifinals. Dennis had lost a 12-4 major decision against Exline during the regular season at the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Wilson dropped a 5-4 decision against second-ranked Andrew Sanchez (31-8) of McKendree in his opening 197 lb. bout. Wilson stayed alive with a 7-1 decision against Robert Hazenberg (12-12) of Great Falls in Friday’s consolation bracket. He followed that triumph with a pair of major decisions with victory margins of 10-1 against Colter Dimas of Montana State-Northern and 13-2 against Charlie Gibbs of Missouri Valley. It was Wilson’s second victory against Gibbs this season following a 7-2 decision at this year’s Cliff Keen National Duals.
Wilson continued to flourish in the consolation bracket with a 4-3 triumph against Jeff Cobb of Missouri Valley. Wilson then lost a 5-1 decision against fourth-ranked Matt Michaelson (12-6) of Dickinson State University.
Chris Utesch and Jared Pickett each lost their Friday morning quarterfinal bouts and were later elminated during that evening's consolation action.
Utesch, a junior from Akron, Iowa, lost 9-7 against No. 1-ranked Raymond Stephens (30-5) of Lindenwood University in the 133 lb. quarterfinals. Utesch had dropped a 14-7 decision against Stephens during the regular season. Utesch was eliminated after he dropped a 9-1 major decision against Trevor Lofstedt (26-7) of Southern Oregon and finished the season with a record of 36-14.
Utesch opened the tournament on Thursday by pinning Mikeal Brooks of the University of the Cumberlands in 4:30 to advance through the first round. Utesch advanced through the second round with a 3-1 decision against Carlos Alaniz (12-12) of Montana State University-Northern.
Pickett, a senior from David City, Neb., lost 7-2 in overtime against eighth-ranked Tyler Chang (27-11) of Embry-Riddle in his 141 lb. quarterfinal bout. Pickett was later eliminated after he lost 11-9 against Southern Oregon’s Barry Johnson to finish the season with a record of 40-10. Pickett had defeated Johnson 9-6 earlier this season at the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Pickett won a 10-2 major decision against Rob Thomas of Waldorf College in the opening round. Pickett defeated Thomas by the same 10-2 score when they met in the consolation bracket at last year’s national tourney. Pickett, ranked fifth in the nation, chalked up his 40th win of the season with an 11-7 decision against sixth-ranked Mikey Davis of Cumberland University in the second round.
Drew Smith, a freshman from Milburn, Neb., dropped a 14-3 major decision against sixth-ranked Wade Lowe of McKendree University in opening round 133 lb. action. Smith defeated Brody Verrall of the University of Great Falls by an 8-7 decision in his first consolation match on Friday. Smith was eliminated after a 2-0 loss against Kaci Payne of Campbellsville to finish with a record of 20-14.
Morgan Freese, a sophomore from Treynor, Iowa, lost his opening round 141 lb. bout when he was pinned in 53 seconds by Barry Johnson of Southern Oregon University. Freese dropped a 7-4 decision against Zach Mullins of city rival Briar Cliff in Friday’s consolation bracket to finish the season with a record of 9-15.
Ben Knight, a freshman from Sioux City, was pinned in 4:31 by James Casadaban of Cumberland in opening round 149 lb. action. Knight stayed alive in the consolation bracket when he pinned Jeremy Padilla of Waldorf College in 1:12 in Friday’s consolation bracket. Knight then pinned Koln Fink of the University of Sioux Falls in 3:28 for his second win by fall against Fink this year. Knight had pinned his Cougar opponent in 43 seconds when they met during the regular season at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships. Knight was eliminated from the tournament after he lost a 7-2 decision against fifth-ranked Seth Roy (16-10) of Southern Oregon to finish the campaign at 30-21.
Blake Moore, a junior from Onawa, Iowa, dropped an 8-2 decision against Jason Spencer of Notre Dame College in opening round 157 lb. action. Moore had pinned Spencer in 2:37 earlier this year at the Cliff Keen National Duals. Moore was eliminated when he was pinned in 2:49 by Michael O’Hara (20-10) of Lindenwood in Friday’s consolation bracket. Moore finished the season with an 18-17 record.
Weston Frahm, a junior from Plainview, Neb., dropped a 21-8 verdict against fourth-ranked Hayden Harrison of Embry-Riddle in the 174 lb. opening round. Frahm stayed alive with a 9-1 major decision against Ryan Kromer of York College in Friday’s consolation bracket. It was Frahm’s third win against Kromer this season after he had won by fall in 3:21 and by a 5-1 decision during the regular season. Frahm was eliminated after a 5-2 loss against Jason Appleton (17-16) of Southern Oregon. Frahm, who finished with a record of 21-16, had defeated Appleton 6-5 during the regular season at the Cliff Keen National Duals.
Eric Hume, a senior from Monroe, Iowa, lost 4-2 against Trey Jackson of York College in first round 184 lb. action. Hume was eliminated after he lost by a 15-0 technical fall Richard Farrell of Southern Oregon in Friday’s consolation bracket. Hume finished the season with a record of 18-23.
Shawn Meyer, a freshman from Plainview, Neb., lost 3-2 against Jerrold Johnson of Bacone College in opening round heavyweight action. Meyer lost by a 3-2 decision again in Friday’s consolation action against Chad Brown of Campbellsville to finish the season with a record of 15-18.
Results
Morningside College’s wrestling team received the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award for the 2007-08 season.
The Morningside wrestling team also received the award in 2005-06.
The NAIA Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award is presented annually for each of the NAIA’s 23 championship sports. The awards are presented to institutions and athletic programs that strive for excellence in and out of competition and are part of communities throughout the country dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.
The NAIA Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport, and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. The program is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.
The mission of Champions of Character is to restore character values and raise a generation of students who understand and demonstrate in everyday decisions respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
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Jake Stevenson |
Jake Stevenson was the Mustangs' top individual finisher at the NAIA North Region Wrestling Championships held Saturday at Blair, Neb.
Stevenson finished second in the 184 lb. division to lead the Mustangs to a second place finish in the nine-team field. Morningside scored 111 points to edge GPAC champion Dana College by two points for runner-up honors behind Dickinson State University, which scored 174 points.
Stevenson pinned Matt Buysse of Jamestown College in 2:59 and scored an 8-0 major decision against Tom Nesseth of the University of Sioux Falls to reach the 184 lb. final, where he lost a 4-2 verdict to Jeremiah Toavs of Dickinson State.
The Mustangs had third place finishes from Chris Utesch at 133 lbs., and Jared Pickett at 141 lbs, and Ben Knight at 149 lbs.
Results
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Jared Pickett |
Jake Stevenson |
Jared Pickett, a senior 141 pounder from David City, Neb., and Jake Stevenson, a senior 184 pounder from Petersburg, Neb., were each named to the first team of the 2008 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestling Team as selected by the league’s head coaches.
In addition, the Mustangs’ Tim Jager was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Coach of the Year. Jager led the Mustangs to a 12-7 dual record this season and to a second place finish at the 2008 GPAC Championships. Jager has guided Morningside to a 40-24 record for a .625 winning percentage since the college started up its varsity wrestling program four years ago.
Pickett and Stevenson were also named to last year’s All-GPAC first-team.
Pickett has a 35-7 record this season and is ranked third nationally in the NAIA in the 141 lb. division. He has a 108-65 career record.
Stevenson has a 22-3 record and is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA at 184 lbs. He is a three-time NAIA All-American and the reigning NAIA 184 lb. National Champion. Stevenson is Morningside’s all-time victory leader with a career record of 123-23.
Morningside placed three wrestlers on the All-GPAC second-team. They are Weston Frahm, a junior 174 pounder from Plainview, Neb.; Chris Utesch, a junior 133 pounder from Akron, Iowa; and Cole Wilson, a junior 197 pounder from Oakland, Iowa.
Frahm, who also earned second-team All-GPAC honors last year, has a 20-12 record. Utesch, also a repeat second-team selection, has a 30-11 record this season to rank second on the Mustangs in victories. Wilson has an 18-11 record. He received honorable mention All-GPAC recognition last year.
Ben Knight, a freshman 149 pounder from Sioux City, was named to the All-GPAC honorable mention list. Knight has a 25-18 record this season.
Click here for the complete 2008 All-GPAC Wrestling Team
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Jake Stevenson |
Jake Stevenson was the 184 lb. individual champion at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestling Championships held Saturday at Mitchell, S.D.
Stevenson’s championship helped lead Morningside to a second place finish in the team standings. Dana College scored 93 points to repeat as GPCA champions, followed by Morningside, 81.5; Northwestern College, 77; Briar Cliff University, 51.5; Hastings College, 48.5; Dakota Wesleyan University, 36; and the University of Sioux Falls, 29.
Morningside head coach Tim Jager was named the GPAC Coach of the Year.
Stevenson defeated Briar Cliff’s Jordaryl Logan by a 7-1 decision in the 184 lb. title bout. Earlier in the day he toppled Jon Wilbourne of Dana by an 18-1 technical fall and blanked Tom Nesseth of Sioux Falls by a 2-0 decision in the semifinals.
The Mustangs had second place performances from Jared Pickett at 141 lbs. and from Cole Wilson at 197 lbs.
Pickett advanced to the finals with a 9-0 major decision against Zack Mullins of Briar Cliff and an 8-4 decision against Ty Costa of Dana. Pickett dropped a 3-2 decision against Dana’s Adam Manz in the finals.
Wilson defeated Northwestern’s Martin Beeler by a 5-2 decision to reach the 197 lb. title bout, where he lost 3-2 against Hasting’s Brandon Hudiburgh.
The Mustangs had third place finishes from Chris Utesch at 133 lbs., Ben Knight at 149 lbs., Blake Moore at 157 lbs., Weston Frahm at 174 lbs., and Shawn Meyer at heavyweight. Cody Dennis finished fourth at 125 lbs.
Results
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Joe Keleher |
Joe Keleher, a sophomore from Moberly, Mo., has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week for Feb. 4-10.
Keleher went 2-0 last week with a 7-3 decision against Brent Trenhaile in the Mustangs’ 28-12 win against Waldorf College on Feb. 5 and an 11-4 victory against Justin Eldred in Morningside’s 32-12 triumph against the University of Sioux Falls on Feb. 7.
Morningside finished the dual season with a record of 12-7. The Mustangs will compete in the GPAC Championships this Saturday in Blair, Neb.
 Morningside is ranked 15th nationally in the NAIA national rankings released on Feb. 21.
The Mustangs finished the dual season with a record of 12-7 and finished second at the GPAC Championships.
In addition to their team ranking, the Mustangs' Jake Stevenson is ranked No. 3 in the nation at 184 lbs. and Jared Pickett is ranked fifth at 141 lbs.
Click here for the complete NAIA rankings.
 Jake Stevenson, a senior from Petersburg, Neb., has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Wrestler of the Week.
Stevenson had a 5-1 record last week and was the 184 lb. runner-up at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Loper Open. He defeated two NCAA Division II opponent at the Loper Open and was ahead in the championship match before he was pinned in 3:04 by Mike Farrell of NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney.
Stevenson’s victories last week included a 16-1 technical fall against Blake Hodne of Dakota Wesleyan University, a 4:34 fall against Matt Buysee of Jamestown College, a 10-0 major decision against Jon Wilbourne of Dana College, a 9-0 major decision against Derek Ross of Nebraska-Kearney, and a 9-7 decision against Brent Pankoke of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Stevenson, the reigning NAIA 184 lb. National Champion, has a 13-2 record this season.
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