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Shorter Wrestling places third in NAIA East Region Qualifier
By Matt Green
LEBANON, Tenn. -- The No. 16-ranked Shorter University wrestling team turned in a third place finish at the 2012 NAIA East Group Qualifying Tournament on Saturday in Lebanon, Tenn.
The Hawks, who also placed third at the Mid-South Conference Tournament several weeks ago, had 11 of their 12 representatives place in the top six of their respective weight class. Second-ranked Campbellsville (183.5 points), the Mid-South Conference team champion, and No. 12 Missouri Baptist (117.5) placed first and second, respectively, but Shorter logged 109.0 points to finish third ahead of conference rival and No. 11 Lindsey Wilson, which placed fourth with 98.0 points.
Shorter's two conference champions, Wally Figaro and Chris Rowland, turned in the best individual performances on the day, finishing as runner-ups in their respective weight classes.
Figaro, seeded No. 1 at 165, advanced to the championship match before falling to third-seed Phillip Williams of Missouri Baptist 6-0 in the final. Rowland, the No. 2 seed at 285, pinned his quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, but lost a 6-2 decision to fourth-seeded Joe Kent of Missouri Baptist in the title match.
Nate Galloway and Colby Rinehart both wrestled above their seeds. Galloway won three matches in the consolation bracket to finish fourth at 133 despite entering the event seeded No. 6. Rinehart, also seeded sixth, lost a tough 1-0 decision to No. 3-seed DeMonte Riley of Lindsey Wilson in the quarters, but proceeded to win three straight in the consolation bracket and finish fourth at 141.
Shorter's Dalton Lane placed fifth at 157, second-seeded Raleigh Abbott -- competing in his first live event since injuring his knee midway through the year -- placed fifth at 174 and Gunny Hoyt was fifth at 197. Robbie Collum (149), Joe Hinchman (184), Bret Haley (197) and Andrew Ewers (285) finished sixth to round out Shorter's regional placings.
The Hawks have eight grapplers that have qualified for the national championships held in Des Moines, Iowa on the first weekend in March. Seven of those eight will suit up for Shorter -- the Hawks have three representatives at 285, but a maximum of two can compete from one school in a weight class -- which is hoping to improve upon a 20th place national finish last season.
