NCAA Regional awaits Storm grapplers Saturday
INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson wrestling team will compete in the NCAA Lower Midwest Regional on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24 in Dubuque, Iowa at the Five Flags Center.
The Storm will send nine wrestlers to the event and aim for a chance to move on to the national tournament. The grapplers need to place in the top three in their respective weight class to advance to the national tournament, which will be held in Roanoke, Va. from March 8-9.
Doors will open at noon on Saturday for spectators to enter the arena. Preliminary and first rounds begin at 1 p.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and competition resumes at 11 a.m. Admission for adults is $15, $12 for students/senior citizens, $10 for extra team members, and children five and under are free.
The Teams
In all, 17 teams will compete at the Lower Midwest Regional. Simpson is joined by the other eight schools of the American Rivers Conference. The A-R-C programs are joined by Augustana College (Illinois), Cornell College, Huntingdon College, MacMurray College, Millikin University, North Central College, University of the Ozarks (Arkansas) and Westminster College.
On the Mat
125 — Dylan McChesney, 12-24
133 — Jason Padilla, 10-26
141 — Jacob Irwin, 5-26
149 — Jakob Slavin, 9-21
157 — Blake Bauer, 10-13
165 — RJ Brown, 20-11
174 — Damon Piatt, 8-23
197 — DeVaughn Scott, 21-3
285 — Sam Mathis, 12-19
Storm Notes
- The Storm are still searching for their first national tournament qualifier since Curtis Barber accomplished the feat in 2007. No wrestler has obtained All-American status for the Storm since 2006.
- Several wrestlers will compete at the regional meet for at least the second time in their careers. Jacob Irwin (141) and DeVaughn Scott (197) hit the mat for the third year in a row, Blake Bauer (157) and Sam Mathis (285) will wrestle for the second time.
- Scott is currently ranked No. 6 in the the 197-pound weight class, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Individual Rankings. The senior holds a season record of 21-3 and was 10-0 in dual meets. Scott has six pins this year and is a perfect 5-0 against conference opponents. Scott has won nine matches in a row and 18 of 19. The Carrollton, Texas native boasts a career record 82-34.
