Former Havre Blue Pony and MSU-Northern junior Evan Hinebauch will get his shot at a national wrestling championship on Saturday night. But the rest of the Lights struggled on the second day of the 2011 NAIA national tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On the busiest day of the even, the Lights wound up in 10th place with 47 points, but have just three of 10 wrestlers still alive, and only three who will earn all-american status for the season.
Hinebauch leads the way as he bulldozed his way into Saturday night's 184-pound championship match by beating Cambleville's Allen Scruggs 8-2 and Southern Oregon's Derek Rottenburg 6-4 in Friday night's semifinal match. Hinebauch's two wins sets up the match everyone wanted to see as he'll take on UGF senior Michael French for the national championship. French is 15-2 lifetime against Hinebauch in college, but Hinebauch beat French in the regional final two weeks ago.
Northern's Cameron Neiss and Rudy Schaffroth also had a strong second day of competition. Neiss lost in the quarterfinals, but rebounded by winning one and losing one in the 133-pound wrestlebacks to eanr all-american for the year. Neiss will face Anton Prater of Missouri Baptist in the seventh-eighth place match on Saturday afternoon. Schaffroth is also a heavyweight all-american after winning four times on Friday. Shaffroth was upset in Thursday's first round, but won four times on day two to reach the consolation semis. Northern lost all the rest of its wrestlers on Friday, including Brandon Leliefeld to a default and Jared Miller (165) to a injury forfeit.
The Lights have 47 points heading into the final day of competition. Notre Dame leads the way with 143.5 points, McKendree is in second with 115 and Lindenwood is third with 107.5. UGF moved up to fifth on Friday and has 96.5 points. Havre standout Myle Mazurkiewicz won three wrestleback matches on Friday and will have a rematch with Tommy pretty in the 141-pound consolation semifinal on Saturday morning.
For full coverage, see Monday's HDN.
Day Two
133 - Cameron Neiss lost dec. Tim Thurston, CV, 13-7; dec, Jered Medina, CLAND, 14-9; lost dec. Travis Evans, GVU, 11-5; 141 - Brandon leliefeld default; 149 - Anthony Weerheim maj. dec. Josh Johnson, LWC, 13-2; dec. Brad Steele, DSU, 12-5; lost dec. Eric Burge, WP, 12-4; 157 - Tay Todd lodt dec. Connor Young, CV, 9-6; 157 - Cody Miller pinned by Marcus Wilson, MSU, 5:26; 165 - Jared Miller lost by forfeit; 174 - Max Payne dec. Kody Mersten, MID, 14-7; dec. Dan Capp, HLG, 7-4; lost dec. Alex McKinney, WP, 15-11; 184 - Evan Hinebauch dec. Allen Scruggs, CV, 8-2; semifinals - dec. Derek Rottenburg, SOU, 6-4; 197 - Kody Reed pinned James Aller, MOVAL, 2:13; lost dec. Shawn Michelak, ERAU, 10-3; HWT - Rudy Schaffroth dec. Gurgot Kooner, SFU, 6-0; maj. dec. Jacob Novak, CBAP, 12-3; dec. Carl Laverne, MOVAL, 3-2; dec. Steven Butler, LWD, 7-6.
