(BOWLING GREEN, Ky.) – The Thomas More University wrestling team competed in the Mid-South Conference Championships Friday at Ephram White Gymnasium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They finished fifth with 92.5 points.
- Daulton Mayer: Saints junior heavyweight Daulton Mayer (Mentor, Ky./Walton-Verona) showed why he is one of the top heavyweights in the NAIA.
- He went 4-0 on the day and won the MSC Championship at 285 pounds.
- He had four pins in 1:23, 0:46, 1:08, and 4:24, respectively.
- He defeated No. 18 Byron Pierce of Midway University in the semifinals (Fall 1:08).
- He beat Bruce Wagers of the University of Rio Grande in the championship match (Fall 4:24).
- He is now 24-3 this season, with a team-high 17 falls, and qualifies for the NAIA National Championships for the third year in a row.
- Mayer was also named the MSC Wrestler of the Year and First Team All MSC.
- Ryan Moore: Senior Ryan Moore (Crittenden, Ky./Walton-Verona/Cornell University) finished second at 149 pounds.
- He went 3-0 to make it to the finals, before unfortunately having to medically forfeit in the finals.
- He beat No. 15 Trent Johnson of Lindsey Wilson College, 4-3 in the semifinals.
- He is now 16-3 this season, with two of his losses coming by medical forfeit.
- He also qualifies for NAIA Nationals for the third year in a row and was named Second Team All MSC.
- Wilder Wichman: Senior Wilder Wichman (Johnson Creek, Wis./Johnson Creek) finished his day in second place after going 2-1.
- He got a bye before an 8-6 decision victory, and then an 11-3 major decision win over No. 21 Brent Hudgins of Midway.
- He was forced to medically forfeit the finals and is now 11-6 this season.
- He qualifies for NAIA Nationals for the fourth year in a row and was named Second Team All MSC.
- Shay Horton: Redshirt junior Shay Horton (Verona, Ky./Ryle) finished fourth at 125 pounds.
- He went 2-2 overall, winning by forfeit, before falling in the semifinals.
- In the consolation semifinals, he beat Campbellsville University's Izaeah Beavers by 4-3 decision, before falling in the third-place match. He is 17-13 this season.
- Kailan Keith: Sophomore Kailan Keith (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) went 2-2 on his day at 157 pounds.
- He lost in the quarterfinals, before beating University of the Cumberlands James Dosado by fall in 38 seconds.
- He then dropped his next match to fall into a huge fifth place match against Lindsey Wilson's William George, with a trip to the NAIA Nationals on the line.
- Keith pinned George in 1:14 to book his first trip to nationals. He is 17-11 this season with 16 falls.
- Casey Ragle: Junior Casey Ragle (Norwood, Ohio/Norwood) went 1-2 at 133 pounds, finishing in fifth place.
- His one win came by forfeit and he is 5-10 this season.
- Zachary Watson: First year Zachary Watson (Verona, Ky./Walton-Verona) finished 1-2 at 197 pounds.
- He dropped his first two matches, before winning his final match by injury default to finish in fifth place.
- Ian Daugherty: Junior Ian Daugherty (Burlington, Ky./Cooper) was 1-2 at 285 pounds.
- He beat the University of Pikeville's Gavin Hunt by fall in 40 seconds before dropping his final two matches.
- Dru Baker (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton), Ryan Draughn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), Jahmon Spiller (Saginaw, Ind./Brownsburg/Marian University's Ancilla College), and David Gilbert (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Comprehensive) also competed today for the Saints.
Mayer, Moore, Wichman, and Keith will all be in action for the Saints at the NAIA National Championships, beginning March 3rd in Wichita, Kansas.
Thomas More could have more qualifiers. Thirty at-large bids will be announced by the NAIA, three in each weight class, on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.
