MVC wrestling: Two Vikings medal at Mizzou Open

Valley senior Chad Williams (top) won three of four matches to take third place in the Mizzou Open. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

COLUMBIA -- Two Missouri Valley College men's wrestlers claimed Open Division medals Sunday at the Mizzou Open in Columbia.

Climbing the highest in the brackets was senior Chad Williams, whose 15-10 decision over Oklahoma's Ian Daube got him into the semifinal round of the 184-pound weight class.

After a loss to a foe from Oklahoma State, Williams -- ranked sixth in the latest NAIA poll -- beat the Sooners' John Weakley to advance into the third-place match, which he won by injury default.

Sophomore Damon Jackson also won his opener in the deeper 165-pound class, but was then dispatched to the wrestleback by a Missouri grappler.

Jackson split his final two matches, two wins sending him into medal contention. A pair of losses to opponents from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, No. 16 in NCAA Division I, relegated him to sixth place.

Three other Valley entries picked up wins, with sophomore Colin Pierce (125 pounds) taking his first two bouts against Illinois and Missouri before being eliminated by two losses. Fourth-ranked junior heavyweight Travis Ewart got a backside win, as did No. 4 senior Joe Cornejo.

Cornejo, second at least year's NAIA Championships, had an interesting first-round opponent in Oklahoma City junior Nik Turner. The second-ranked Turner took a 4-1 decision in overtime in what may be a preview of regional and national medal clashes.

The Vikings had three medalists in the Freshman-Sophomore Division. At 197 pounds, No. 11 redshirt freshman James Alter won four of six matches to finish fourth, while sophomore Corey Woodruff (165) and freshman Carl Lawrence (184) each went 3-2 for fifth place.

On Saturday, Valley won its home opener, 25-13, over No. 6 McKendree (Ill.). There were two tilts between ranked wrestlers, neither one resulting in an upset.

Junior Andrew Sanchez, the defending national 197-pound champion, took a 17-8 major decision over Alter, while Ewart defeated No. 7 senior Cedric Powell, 4-3, in a rematch of a medal match at last year's NAIA meet which the Bearcat won by injury default.

The Vikings also got wins from No. 5 sophomore Paulie Hansen (125), No. 5 senior Eric Graham (141), Cornejo (157) -- by major decision -- junior Alex McKinney (174) of Marshall and sophomore Jesse Alter (184).

Second-ranked Valley will head to Great Falls, Mont., Dec. 4 for the Battle of the Rockies dual tournament -- with matches against No. 4 Southern Oregon, No. 6 Great Falls and No. 15 Montana State-Northern.