Vikings earn nine medals at Mizzou

(Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

COLUMBIA -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team gathered nine medals Sunday during the Mizzou Open at Columbia.

Three Vikings finished sixth in the Open Division. Junior Joe Cornejo, who won the 157-pound weight class at the Lindenwood Open to begin the season, advanced to the semifinal round before injuring his back and had to take medical forfeits the rest of the way.

Junior Eric Graham (right, top) split six matches at 141 and senior Billy Exline (125) won two of five bouts. Sophomore Charlie Gibbs (197) also won twice, but didn't place.

In the Freshman/Sophomore Division, sophomore heavyweight Travis Ewart got through the first three rounds unscathed before losing in the championship match. Valley got a fourth-place finish from freshman Matt Taylor (174); freshman James Alter (197) of Kirksville, redshirt freshman Jacob Guernsey (165) and sophomore Mike Johnson (285) each came in fifth; and sixth-place medals were garnered by redshirt freshmen Paulie Hanson (125) and Mark Skogrand (285).

The Vikings will get a Thanksgiving holiday trip to Norman, Okla., to compete in Saturday's Oklahoma Open.