National mat competition likely to intensify
By Steve Allspach sallspach@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Friday, December 19, 2008
The NAIA decided it would sooner hold its national wrestling tournament in Oklahoma City after a four-year run at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City.
The level of competition in the 2009 tournament won't diminish. Fact is, it might become more intense with the overall quality of competition in the NAIA ranks increasing.
Some things won't change, however.
Lindenwood, which has won two of the last three national titles, is again No. 1 and barring complete collapse, will claim its third crown and second straight in March.
Lindenwood is led by No. 1-ranked reigning national champs Matt Cauley (13-1, 174), Ryan Moyer (18-5, 149) and Ray Stephens (18-4, 133).
In an effort to beef up their programs, several NAIA schools are seeking competition at other levels, including NCAA Division I.
Division I dominates, of course, but the little ol' NAIA schools are in there trading grapevines, throw-bys and granby rolls.
The University of Great Falls in Montana, for instance, opened its season against Boise State, losing 35-7. Great Falls is ranked third and Boise State 10th in Division I.
In a recent dual, second-ranked Southern Oregon lost 29-8 to Division I Oregon State, coached by former University of Iowa coach Jim Zalesky. Telling a bit, though, was OSU's 10-1 win by unranked Clayton Jack over John Bates, the Southern Oregon heavyweight who is ranked No. 1 nationally.
Notre Dame, the Ohio college in just its third year of intercollegiate NAIA competition, lost 30-6 to fourth-ranked Ohio State of the Big Ten.
In that match, Notre Dame's Adam Koballa, ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds, dropped a 6-0 decision to Buckeye J. Jaggers, now 11th in Division I, but ninth at the time.
The NAIA rankings at heavyweight are somewhat of a mystery.
Coaches rank the teams and individuals and it is interesting that second-ranked Arjan Bhullar of Simon Fraser University is ranked second even though he's beaten Bates and last year's national champ, Jessie Ruiz of Menlo (Calif.). Ruiz is currently ranked third, but was second when he last to Bhullar.
Bhullar didn't wrestle in the NAIA tournament last year, but was third in Sioux City two years ago. Bhullar has also beaten fifth-ranked Brad Fraser of Great Falls this season.
Iowa State Coach Cale Sanderson has announced the addition of four wrestlers signing letters of intent with the Cyclones. Included are Trent Weatherman of Huxley, three-time Ohio state champ David Taylor of St. Paris Graham, Boaz Beard of Wichita (Kan.) Goddard and Luke Macchiaroli of Tempe (Ariz.) Corona de Sol.
Weatherman, 131-8 in his career at Ballard High School, was 48-0 and the Class 2A state champ at 152 pounds last year. Taylor (143-2 in his career) is wrestling at 135 pounds this season, Macchiaroli at 215 and Beard at 189. Macchiaroli was 52-0 last season.
The level of competition in the 2009 tournament won't diminish. Fact is, it might become more intense with the overall quality of competition in the NAIA ranks increasing.
Some things won't change, however.
Lindenwood, which has won two of the last three national titles, is again No. 1 and barring complete collapse, will claim its third crown and second straight in March.
Lindenwood is led by No. 1-ranked reigning national champs Matt Cauley (13-1, 174), Ryan Moyer (18-5, 149) and Ray Stephens (18-4, 133).
In an effort to beef up their programs, several NAIA schools are seeking competition at other levels, including NCAA Division I.
Division I dominates, of course, but the little ol' NAIA schools are in there trading grapevines, throw-bys and granby rolls.
The University of Great Falls in Montana, for instance, opened its season against Boise State, losing 35-7. Great Falls is ranked third and Boise State 10th in Division I.
In a recent dual, second-ranked Southern Oregon lost 29-8 to Division I Oregon State, coached by former University of Iowa coach Jim Zalesky. Telling a bit, though, was OSU's 10-1 win by unranked Clayton Jack over John Bates, the Southern Oregon heavyweight who is ranked No. 1 nationally.
Notre Dame, the Ohio college in just its third year of intercollegiate NAIA competition, lost 30-6 to fourth-ranked Ohio State of the Big Ten.
In that match, Notre Dame's Adam Koballa, ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds, dropped a 6-0 decision to Buckeye J. Jaggers, now 11th in Division I, but ninth at the time.
The NAIA rankings at heavyweight are somewhat of a mystery.
Coaches rank the teams and individuals and it is interesting that second-ranked Arjan Bhullar of Simon Fraser University is ranked second even though he's beaten Bates and last year's national champ, Jessie Ruiz of Menlo (Calif.). Ruiz is currently ranked third, but was second when he last to Bhullar.
Bhullar didn't wrestle in the NAIA tournament last year, but was third in Sioux City two years ago. Bhullar has also beaten fifth-ranked Brad Fraser of Great Falls this season.
Iowa State Coach Cale Sanderson has announced the addition of four wrestlers signing letters of intent with the Cyclones. Included are Trent Weatherman of Huxley, three-time Ohio state champ David Taylor of St. Paris Graham, Boaz Beard of Wichita (Kan.) Goddard and Luke Macchiaroli of Tempe (Ariz.) Corona de Sol.
Weatherman, 131-8 in his career at Ballard High School, was 48-0 and the Class 2A state champ at 152 pounds last year. Taylor (143-2 in his career) is wrestling at 135 pounds this season, Macchiaroli at 215 and Beard at 189. Macchiaroli was 52-0 last season.
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