MVC wrestling: Vikings excited about mat prospects

Junior heavyweight Travis Ewart is among several Vikings who have their eyes set on an NAIA championship. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"The core is back and we've added what we believe is our most athletic recruiting class in a long time," remarked Vikings head coach Mike Machholz. "They're battling all our returners and pushing for spots."

Valley hasn't had a national champion since Paul Collum in 2005, but have two grapplers back who reached the finals a year ago. Senior Joe Cornejo nearly won the 157-pound title, but made a mistake cost him the title match after putting together a strong regular season.

"He's a guy who's the most consistent on the team," Machholz said. "That's saying a lot with the guys we have in our line-up."

Also aiming at a gold medal is junior Alex McKinney (174 pounds), a former all-stater from Marshall. Originally recruited by NCAA Division I member Fresno State (Calif.) before it dropped its program, McKinney has risen in the ranks every season.

"He continually works hard and is always trying to learn," Machholz said. "He may not be the most polished of our wrestlers, but he's the hardest worker."

Machholz, a Marshall native, takes pride in the performance of McKinney and his former Owl teammate, D.W. Bradshaw -- who is in the mix for mat time in a deep 165-pound class. While McKinney finished first last week at the Baker Open, Bradshaw turned in a strong third-place performance.

The Vikings have two pairs of brothers in their midst, with the Grahams -- seniors Brian and Eric -- of Platte County both two-time all-Americans. An injury prevented Eric Graham (141) from getting his third medal last year, while Brian Graham (149) slipped from second in 2008 to sixth as a junior.

"Both of those guys feel like they have some unfinished business," Machholz said. "They've been all-Americans at every level they've competed at, so their goal is that national championship."

The younger Alters of Kirksville -- sophomore Jesse (184) and red-shirt freshman James (197) -- arrived on the scene last season and are each looking for their first medal. Jesse came in first and James second at Baker.

"They are intense competitors, very dedicated to the program," Machholz said. "They want to win, and whatever they need to do to get that accomplished they put the effort into it."

Another NCMC product, junior Charlie Gibbs (197) of Moberly, led Valley in wins a year ago -- but hurt his knee before the NAIA meet and was only partially effective.

"We think this is Charlie's year to be an all-American," Machholz stated. "He's beaten a lot of those guys already."

Junior heavyweight Travis Ewart took a step forward last year by placing eighth at nationals, and has come back bigger and in better condition.

"He's motivated to be a national champion," Machholz said. It doesn't hurt the cause that sophomore Mike Johnson, who made the Baker finals with Ewart, is coming off a productive red-shirt season.

Senior Chad Williams (194) was the biggest surprise last year, coming from nowhere to place fourth at nationals.

"He has unbelievable athletic ability," Machholz said. "Toward the end of the year he just really came on."

Sophomore Jacob Guernsey, who was stalled last year by a broken arm, and sophomore Damon Jackson are part of the deep 165-pound group and sophomore Jesse Knott -- an academic all-American -- is ready to break out at 133.

Taking over for Billy Exline at 125 is sophomore Paulie Hanson, who reached the Baker finals, and 133 also has a four-time Missouri prep champion in sophomore Colin Pierce of Kearney. Another former high school state champion is sophomore Corey Woodruff (157-165).

Among other prominent newcomers are freshman Cody Beisel (125) and freshman Bernard Thomas (157) -- an "extremely athletic" grappler, according to Machholz, who "is going to make a big splash."

"We feel comfortable about our team because we're deep," Machholz said, counting 19 wrestlers who he feels could place at nationals. "For the first time in a few years, we're two or three deep in each weight class."

Maybe that's why Machholz went "old school" in the pre-season, beginning training with a six-mile run. Valley wants to be in position to win its fourth NAIA title, and first since 2003, although there's no telling what will happen at that meet.

"We have a strong contention to take that tournament and come back with a trophy," Machholz claimed. "We think we're a solid top-three team."