Seven Vikings get medals at MVC Open

Valley junior Ryan Sutton (top) didn't lose a match until the 197-pound finals, then it was a narrow 3-1 decision to the NAIA's top-ranked wrestler. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Missouri Valley College men's wrestler Joe Cornejo is serving notice that he will be a force with which to reckon next month at the NAIA Championships.

The junior transfer from Labette Community College (Kan.) won his third tournament of the season Saturday by sweeping through four rounds of the 157-pound division for the MVC Open title.

The second-ranked Cornejo wasn't the only new Viking to have an impact. Junior Ryan Sutton, a transfer from Meramec CC and Bloomsburg (Pa.), got through three matches unscathed -- including a victory over seventh-ranked Ike Okenwa of Missouri Baptist -- before dropping a hard-fought 3-1 decision in the 197-pound finals to No. 1-ranked Andrew Sanchez of Lindenwood.

It was a meet well-represented by the Big XII Conference, a handful of strong NCAA Division II programs -- like Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri -- and, of course, the top-ranked Lions of former Valley assistant coach Joe Parisi, current holder of the NAIA crown.

The Vikings performed solidly, in some cases exceptionally, throughout the tourney -- with five more medals, including third place for sophomore heavyweight Travis Ewart.

His only loss was in the semifinal round, and it was a tough one to Dan Moore of McKendree (Ill.) -- who went into the meet ranked seventh, and emerged with a title and a No. 4 rating when the latest poll came out earlier this week. Ewart remained in the fifth spot after going 5-1.

Sophomore Alex McKinney, the former Marshall all-stater, continues to come on. Now ranked fourth in the nation at 174 pounds, he didn't hurt himself by winning four of six matches for fourth place.

One of McKinney's losses was by fall to defending NAIA champion Matt Cauley of Lindenwood.

Also coming in fourth was No. 6 junior Brian Graham (149 pounds), who won three of five bouts -- including a 7-0 victory over seventh-ranked Ryan Jahn of McKendree.

Sophomore Charlie Gibbs (184) reached the semifinal round before taking his first loss, with his third win of the meet giving him fifth place, while junior Chad Williams was fourth in the same weight class -- claiming three straight victories after being knocked into the backside with a 5-4 quarterfinal loss to eventual finalist Brent Haynes of Missouri.

Some other Valley grapplers, despite not medaling, went pretty deep. One of those was junior Anthony Enyobi (174) -- a teammate of Cornjeo's at Labette -- who took three of his first four matches, bowing out in favor of McKinney in the quarterfinal round.

Picking up four wins, although not medaling because of the depth of their weight classes, were junior Matt Seechuk (197) and red-shirt freshman Mike Johnson (285). Another heavyweight, red-shirt freshman Mark Skogrand, won three of five contests -- as did sophomore Jesse Hulett (141) of Higginsville, whose two losses were by a combined three points to No. 7 Alptekin Ozicilic of Lindenwood.

Several Vikings posted 2-2 marks, including all-America senior Billy Exline (125). Others with the same record were freshmen Paulie Hansen (125), Jesse Knott (133) and Brandon Perkins (157); sophomores D.W. Bradshaw (157) of Marshall and Alex Patrick (157); juniors Brad Perkins (157) and Roy Rosenbaum (174); and senior all-American Jon Gerhold (133).

Valley will have two weeks to get ready for the NAIA Midwest Regional Championships, to be held Feb. 21 at York, Neb.