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Hawks place Top 20, win Sportsmanship Award at NAIA Nationals
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – If the nation hadn’t
realized that Shorter University had a wrestling team, you better
believe that the country’s eyes are wide open now.
In an inaugural season filled with firsts, outstanding team and individual performances and experiences that will last a lifetime, the Shorter Wrestling Hawks made the most of its first-ever appearance in the NAIA Wrestling National Championship held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the U.S. Cellular Center with a 20th-place team finish.
Shorter posted 17 points to earn the top 20 ranking and finished ahead of Mid-South Conference rivals University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) and West Virginia Tech.
“I am extremely proud of our team,” said Shorter head coach Josh Henson. “This season has had its share of adversity, but each time our guys fought hard and always gave a great effort.
“Their performance this week is a perfect example of that and this first team has set a tremendous foundation for the future. I am excited for what lies ahead for Shorter Wrestling.”
The Hawks made a great first impression by placing three wrestlers in the Top 16 of their respective weight classes.
Perhaps the most outstanding individual performance came courtesy of senior Jesse Miller at 141.
The Lilburn, Ga., native scored a 3-1 decision over Brandon Leliefeld of MSU-Northern in his first match before toppling the nation’s No. 1-ranked wrestler at 141, Brett Freeman of 2010 and eventual 2011 NAIA national champion Notre Dame, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the 141-pound weight class.
Miller finished 2-2 for the tournament and posted a 12th-place finish that officially introduced the country to Shorter Wrestling.
Nate Galloway went 4-2 on his way to a 16th-place finish.
The freshman out of Atlanta and Pebblebrook High beat Luis Carranza of the University of Great Falls by a score of 9-2 to move into the second round at 133.
Although he dropped his next match in the championship bracket, Galloway recorded three straight pins in the wrestleback, beating Scott Schlosser of Great Falls, Jeff Ohnemus of Waldorf and Josh Haugen of Baker by fall to get into the top 16.
Shorter’s ace at 165, Raleigh Abbott, solidified his national ranking by turning in a top 16 finish bolstered by a pair of pins.
Abbott, who climbed as high as No. 3 in the regular season rankings at 165 and entered the national championships as the weight class’ No. 12 seed, won his first match over Blake Augustyn of Concordia by fall in just 36 seconds. He also pinned Carlos Soto of Menlo in the wrestleback and finished 2-2 for the championship.
Shorter’s success wasn’t limited to the mats.
The Hawks took home the NAIA’s Team Sportsmanship Award to cap a memorable weekend in Iowa.
Shorter’s other national championship representatives were Clint Jones of Lilburn, Colby Rinehart of Marietta, Robbie Collum of Effingham County, Jake McClure of Dahlonega, Josh Cook of Dallas and Joe Hinchman from Douglasville.
