BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Notre Dame College won the 2017 NCAA Division II wrestling championship Saturday evening at Bill Harris Arena in the Birmingham Crossplex. The Falcons finished the tournament with 103.5 points.
St. Cloud State finished second in the team standings with 67 points, followed by California Baptist with 56.5 points. Nebraska-Kearney racked up 55.5 points to place fourth and McKendree rounded out the top five with 47.5 points.
RELATED:
In the 125-pound final, Ivan McClay from Notre Dame College defeated Willie Bohince of Merceyhurst 10-7 to claim the 2017 125 pound National Championship. McClay got the match going with a couple of quick takedowns and moved to the second period with a 4-2 lead. McClay took down Bohince and got four near fall points to build a 10-5 lead at the end of two periods. McClay controlled the action over the final two minutes of action to win the 125-pound national championship.
The 2017 133-pound national champion was Michael Labry of Ashland, as he downed Blake Bosch of MSU Morehead 7-4. The action stayed close as Labry posted three takedowns to take a 6-4 lead into the third period. Labry posted a quick escape and pushed his lead to 7-4 early in the third period. Both wrestlers defended well late in the period as neither man was able to score to give Labry the 133 pound national championship.
The 141-pound weight class saw Maryville’s Nate Rodriguez claim the 2017 national championship with a 6-2 win over Darren Wynn of McKendree. Rodriguez got on the board first with a take down with 57 seconds to go in the first period. After a Rodriguez escape, Wynn scored a big takedown late in the second as Rodriguez held the slim 3-2 lead into the third period. On bottom, Wynn struck quickly with a reversal to take a 4-3 lead. Rodriguez escaped with a minute left to go into the period to tie the match up at 4-4. Rodriguez got a huge takedown with 23 seconds left and defended a furious Wynn attack to secure the win.
Keith Surber of Nebraska-Kearney won the 2017 149-pound national championship as he picked up a 4-1 win over Juwan Edmond of Notre Dame. After a scoreless first period, Surber picked up his riding time point as he rode out Edmond the entire second period. The third period started with both wrestlers on their feet. Surber connected on a shot with 36 seconds left in the match to push his lead to 3-0 and secure his National Championship.
With 103.5 points Notre Dame College is your 2017 Team National Champion!
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII)
At the 157-pound class, DeAndre’ Johnson of Limestone defeated Nebraska-Kearney’s Destin McCauley 14-5 to win the national championship. Johnson secured the first points of the match as he scrambled to pick up the two point take down. McCauley found an advantage and tied the match up at 2-2 a few seconds later. Johnson posted a late escape and got out from underneath in the second period to build a 4-2 lead. McCauley answered with a take down and a Johnson escape saw the score with a 5-4 advantage for Johnson with 40 seconds left in the second period. McCauley escaped after choosing bottom to start the third period to tie the match up at 5-5. A six point move for Johnson grew his lead to 11-5 and he followed with two more back points and riding time to claim the national championship.
The 2017 165-pound national championship crown went to freshman Isaiah White of Notre Dame with a 10-3 win over Brock Wingbermuehle of McKendree. Back and forth action saw White take a 2-1 lead into the second period. White added his riding time point in the second period as he rode out Wingbermuehle the entire period. White escaped after choosing bottom to start the third period and build his lead to 4-1. He followed with a pair of take downs to secure his championship.
Nick Becker of Wisconsin-Parkside won his second-straight 174-pound national championship as he triumphed 8-4 against Blaze Shade of UNC Pembroke. The win pushed Becker’s career record to 66-0. In a rematch of the 2016 174 pound final, neither wrestler was able to build a lead as the second period started with the match tied at 3-3. An early escape by Becker pushed his lead to 4-3 with a 1:35 left in the period. Becker posted a late second period takedown as he took a 6-3 lead into the third period. Becker took Shade down late in the third to pick up the championship.
An explosive 184-pound national championship match ended with Garrett Lineberger of Notre Dame the victor as he defeated Nick Fiegener from California Baptist, 16-0. Lineberger exploded with a takedown and back points midway through the first period to take the early 6-0 lead. Linberger picked up more back points on top and rode out the first period with a 14-0 lead. A couple more back points in the second period locked in his championship.
Your national champions at 184 lbs. is Garrett Lineberger who wins by technical fall in 3:21 (16-0)!
— NCAA Division II (@NCAADII)
The 2017 197-pound national championship was taken home by Jacob Waste of California Baptist with a 10-2 win over Jon Inman from Fort Hayes State. Waste jumped ahead 2-0 with a takedown late in the first period. He turned Inman to secure four back points and carry a 6-0 lead into the second. An escape and a takedown grew his lead to 9-0 midway through the second. He added his riding time to bring home his first title.
Garrett Gray from Tiffin pinned Kameron Teacher from Notre Dame 1:23 into the match to win the 2017 285 national crown. His title marked Tiffin’s first-ever wrestling national championship.
The 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championship concluded the competition of the 2017 Winter National Championship Festival.
2017 NCAA Division II Men’s Wrestling Championship Top 10
1. Notre Dame – 103.5
2. St. Cloud State – 67
3. California Baptist – 56.5
4. Nebraska-Kearney – 55.5
5. McKendree – 47.5
6. Ashland – 46
7. Maryville – 42
8. Findlay – 35
9. Tiffin – 34.5
10. Mercyhurst - 33
