Alexander Breaks Single Season Win Record and Becomes the First HLGU Wrestler to Earn a Seed at the NAIA National Wrestling Championships!

Hannibal, MO - Bryce Alexander a sophomore from Maryville, MO has surpassed the Hannibal-LaGrange University Wrestling’s most wins in a season and also becomes the first HLGU wrestler to earn a seed at the NAIA National Wrestling Championships. The record of 27 single season wins was held in a three way tie last year between Alexander, former HLGU wrestler, Jobi Hambrick (2009-10 Lexington, MO) and current HLGU wrestler sophomore from Kansas City, Dan Capp. After the Central Regional Qualifier tournament Alexander had earned 32 wins so far for the 2011-12 season. HLGU Head Wrestling Coach Scott Hawes says, “Alexander has wrestled the top two wrestlers in the nation in the NAIA. Although he did not beat either of them he took away valuable experience which will help prepare him for his future success. Alexander had a decent college record last season with 27 wins at 157 lbs, and now he has 32 wins at a tougher weight class at 165 lbs.” When Coach Hawes was asked which one of Bryce’s wins this season stuck out in his mind, he replied, “ Well, two wins specifically. One was a win in the finals of the Harper College Open over a University of Illinois wrestler, and secondly was this last weekend when Bryce had to wrestle a match to challenge him for true fourth in our regional tournament. What was significant was Bryce had already wrestled tough for five matches, including a fall over the NO. 8 in the NAIA Rashad Moss from Waldorf, and out of the blue the challenge match came up against Brandon Perkins from Missouri Valley. Perkins medical forfeited to his teammate and then received a forfeit so he was fresh not having wrestled for two rounds. Alexander wrestled a tough consolation finals match and now had to wrestle this challenge match. If Bryce won the challenge match he would become the first HLGU wrestler to be seeded at the national tournament. Also if he wins Perkins doesn’t qualify for the national tournament because he didn’t qualify earlier in the season. There was a lot at stake in this match and Bryce demonstrated the heart of a champion to finish the tournament with a win and he did so in the face of adversity.” Alexander will be joined by red shirt sophomore Nathan Downs (Troy, MO) and sophomore Dan Capp at the NAIA National Wrestling Championships hosted by Grandview University in Des Moines, Iowa, March 1-3, 2012.

Trojans Have Best Regional Finish In Program History

Hannibal, MO - This season proves to be the best performance by HLGU wrestlers in the young program's history. The Trojans finished in 9th place by 13 points over NO. 17 William Penn. Three wrestlers placed in a region marked with heavy team players such as NO. 1 ranked Grandview University, NO. 5 Oklahoma City, NO. 7 Baker, and Missouri Valley. Bryce Alexander lead the way for the Trojans topping off a 32-13 record with a fourth place finish. Alexander's highlight in the tournament was winning by fall over NO. 6 ranked Rashad Moss from Waldorf College and a true 4th challenge match victory over MO Valley's Brandon Perkins. Nathan Downs battled his way to a 5th place finish. Downs had a win by fall over NO. 8 ranked Parker Owen from Baker. Dan Capp lost a close match 2-1 to the NO. 1 seeded Jarid Price from Baker as the result of the officials failure to award two points by take down. Coaches from other institutions were also calling out to the official that two points should have been awarded. Capp battled back but was injured in the consolation semis and was unable to wrestle for 5th place. Capp finished the day in 6th place.
Overall I was proud of the efforts of our team and the improvement we have seen throughout the season. One parent commented on what a difference a year has made. After looking at the results and comparing them to our past, I would have to agree with them. Great Job Trojans! Time to set some more records in Des Moines!

-Click Here for Central Regional Brackets

-Coach Hawes


149: Price, Jarell (Baker (Kan.)) MD Pickens, Tommy(Hannibal La Grange) 12-2

149: Cloud, Carey (William Penn (Iowa)) DEC Pickens, Tommy(Hannibal La Grange) 9-2

165: Moss, Rashad (Waldorf (Iowa)) DEC Alexandar, Bryce(Hannibal La Grange) 18-11

165: Alexandar, Bryce (Hannibal La Grange) FALL Martinez, Anthony(William Penn (Iowa))
5:34

165: Alexandar, Bryce (Hannibal La Grange) DEC Sommer, Nathan(Baker (Kan.)) 4-0

165: Alexandar, Bryce (Hannibal La Grange) FALL Moss, Rashad(Waldorf (Iowa)) 4:53

165: Jackson, Damon (Missouri Valley) DEC Alexandar, Bryce(Hannibal La Grange) 5-9

165: Alexandar, Bryce (Hannibal La Grange) DEC Perkins, Brandon(Missouri Valley) 8-7

174: Vasquez, Gabe (Waldorf (Iowa)) TF5 Taylor, Ian(Hannibal La Grange) 22-7

174: Owen, Parker (Baker (Kan.)) DEC Taylor, Ian(Hannibal La Grange) 8-3

174: Downs, Nathan (Hannibal La Grange) DEC Ward, Jordon(Bethany (Kan.)) 7-2

174: Peperas, Derek (Oklahoma City) FALL Downs, Nathan(Hannibal La Grange) 2:29

174: Downs, Nathan (Hannibal La Grange) DEC Wagner, Brad(Bethany (Kan.)) 5-2

174: Downs, Nathan (Hannibal La Grange) FALL Owen, Parker(Baker (Kan.)) 2:45

174: Knowler, Ty (Grand View (Iowa)) FALL Downs, Nathan(Hannibal La Grange) 5:51

174: Downs, Nathan (Hannibal La Grange) Mfor Swim, Cody(Grand View (Iowa)) -

184: Price, Jarid (Baker (Kan.)) DEC Capp, Dan(Hannibal La Grange) 1-2

184: Capp, Dan (Hannibal La Grange) MD Massay, Mark(York (Neb.)) 13-4

184: Capp, Dan (Hannibal La Grange) DEC Soderblom, Kyle(William Penn (Iowa)) 8-2

184: Franco, Teagan (Oklahoma City) DEC Capp, Dan(Hannibal La Grange) 7-3

285: Duffy, Jason (Bethany (Kan.)) FALL Hare, Jake(Hannibal La Grange) :55

285: Hare, Jake (Hannibal La Grange) Mfor Morrow, Kory(William Penn (Iowa)) -

285: Hare, Jake (Hannibal La Grange) FALL Cook, Tyler(Hannibal-LaGrange (MO)) 4:15

285: Lawrence, Carl (Missouri Valley) FALL Hare, Jake(Hannibal La Grange) 1:09

285: Gebhardt, Brandon (Baker (Kan.)) FALL Cook, Tyler(Hannibal La Grange) 1:13

285: Hare, Jake (Hannibal-LaGrange (MO)) FALL Cook, Tyler(Hannibal La Grange) 4:15

NAIA National Tournament Information

http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205337111

Trojans Nearly UPSET #17 William Penn University

HANNIBAL, Mo. – The Trojans battled No. 17 William Penn University Tuesday night in a 23-24 loss. Hannibal-LaGrange spotted the Statesmen 18 points after forfeiting the 125 lb., 141 lb. and 157 lb. matches.Senior Tommy Pickens (149 lb.) earned the first points for the Trojans in a 10-7 decision over Charlton Benjamin. Hannibal-LaGrange gained three points off of the decision to close the Statesmen lead to 12-3.The Trojans were forced to forfeit the next match, giving William Penn six more points. However, sophomore Bryce Alexander (165 lb.) closed the gap to 10 for the Trojans after picking up five points in a 17-2 major decision over Anthony Martinez.Sophomore Ian Taylor‘s 5-2 decision over Joe Sumner in the 174 lb. match kept things rolling for Hannibal-LaGrange. Taylor's three points for Hannibal-LaGrange made it 18-11 in favor of the Statesmen.William Penn solidified its win after Kyle Soderblom pinned sophomore Nathan Downs in the fifth minute of the 184 lb. match. Downs, who wrestled a weight class up Tuesday night, looked overmatched against the No. 12 wrestler in the 184 lb. NAIA weight class. The six points put the Statesmen up 24-11.The Trojans picked up the final 12 points of the dual to come within one point of the Statesmen. Sophomore Dan Capp (197 lb.) pinned Chris Diaz with 5:54 on the clock to pull the Trojans within seven before the Statesmen forfeited the heavyweight match to give the Trojans six more points.Hannibal-LaGrange will now travel to Des Moines, Iowa on February 18 to compete in the Central Regional Tournament.Hannibal-LaGrange University is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) institution and a member of the American Midwest Conference.

4 HLGU Wrestlers Place at the Harper Open

Bryce Alexander takes first place over University of Illinois' Matt Nora with a 6-0 decision.
After beating a Northern IL University Wrestler, Dan Capp lost in the finals to NIU wrestler Shane Rosenberry with a 7-4 decision. Ian Taylor placed 4th and Tommy Pickens took 6th place.


Harper Open Results for Hannibal-
LaGrangeCollege 149 - Tommy Pickens's place is 6th and has scored 8.00 team points.Champ. Round 1 - Tommy Pickens (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by major decision over Matt McNulty (Triton College) (Maj 12-4)Quarterfinal - Tommy Pickens (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by forfeit over Tyran Claypool (Calumet college) (FF)Semifinal - Ramsey Beard (Waubonsee) won by major decision over Tommy Pickens (Hannibal- LaGrange) (Maj 12-2)Cons. Semi - Mike Anderson
(kennedy king) won by decision over Tommy Pickens (Hannibal- LaGrange) (Dec 12-7)5th Place Match - Dan Reimer (Calumet college) won by pin over Tommy Pickens (Hannibal- LaGrange) (Pin 2:08)College

165 - Bryce Alexander's place is 1st and has scored 26.00 team points.Champ. Round 1 - Bryce
Alexander (Hannibal- LaGrange) received a bye () (Bye)Quarterfinal - Bryce Alexander (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by forfeit over Ryan Peters (Calumet college) (FF)Semifinal - Bryce Alexander (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by decision over Nick Finkenbinder (Harper College) (Dec 7-6)1st Place Match - Bryce Alexander (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by decision over Matt Nora (University of Illinois) (Dec 6-0)College

174 - Ian Taylor's place is 4th and has scored 13.00 team points.Quarterfinal - Ian Taylor Hannibal- LaGrange) won by pin over Michael Murray (Triton College) (Pin 0:45)Semifinal - Jeff
Kopeke (University of Illinois) won by decision over Ian Taylor (Hannibal-LaGrange) (Dec 8-4)Cons. Semi - Ian Taylor (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by major decision over Mark Daugherty (Calumet college) (Maj 17-3)3rd Place Match - Khari Washington (Harper College) won by decision over Ian Taylor (Hannibal- LaGrange) (Dec 7-1)College

184 - Dan Capp's place is 2nd and has scored 22.00 team points.Champ. Round 1 - Dan Capp (Hannibal- LaGrange) received a bye () (Bye)Quarterfinal - Dan Capp (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by pin over Ameer Bogan (kennedy king) (Pin 3:27)Semifinal - Dan Capp (Hannibal- LaGrange) won by decision over Arber Bebo (Northern Illinois University) (Dec 7-3)1st Place Match - Shane Rosenberry (Northern Illinois University) won by decision over Dan Capp (Hannibal- LaGrange) (Dec 7-4)