Mustang High School Bronco Joins Trojan Wrestling

Hannibal, MO – The Hannibal-LaGrange University wrestling program is pleased to have signed Robert Simons from Mustang, Oklahoma. Simons wrestles for Mustang High School in Mustang, OK. Simons wrestled 195 lb weight class last season and is planning on wrestling in the 197 lb weight class for the Trojans next year. Simons started wrestling for the Mustang High School Broncos his sophomore year and has seen his record improve every year since. Simons attained a 6-19 record his sophomore season and this year finished with a much improved record of 23-14.  

 “I had the opportunity to see Robert wrestle when he came for his campus visit. Robert is a hard worker and will develop more as a college wrestler. I am confident that we will see much improvement in Robert’s wrestling ability as he has the opportunity to build on the foundation his high school coaches laid. I am impressed with Robert’s desire to improve and his hard work. Robert loves wrestling and he believes in our program. I’m looking forward to having Robert in the room next season”, said HLGU Head Wrestling Coach Scott Hawes.

This season Simons was also named the Mustang High School Sr. Wrestler of the year and was the Mustang High School Bronco Spirit Award winner his junior year .

Simons will be majoring in Art at HLGU.

Simons is the son of Kevin and Rene’ Simons.

HLGU is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) school and a member of the American Midwest Conference

Marauder Joins Trojans!

Hannibal, MO - The Hannibal-LaGrange University Wrestling program is pleased to have signed Caleb “Chip” McElfresh from Colorado Springs, CO. McElfresh will graduate from Mitchell High School in May of 2013. 

This season McElfresh compiled an impressive record of 27-9 which was a huge improvement over his freshmen year record of 6-10.  McElfresh is a Colorado state tournament qualifier and was a regional runner up this year for the Mitchell High School Marauders. “Chip is a tough wrestler and a hard worker. Mcelfresh improved every season of his high school career and he knows how to work through the tough times in a wrestling season. His high school coaches, Coach Kevin Meyer and Coach Tim Bonebright, believe Chip is only going to get better in college. I’ve seen Chip wrestle and I agree with their assessment. I’m looking forward to him making this next step of wrestling for me at the college level.  McElfresh has what it takes to be a competitive collegiate wrestler,” said HLGU Head Wrestling Coach Scott Hawes. “Chip will be a great addition to our program. I’m excited to see what Chip will accomplish as a freshman."

Along with wrestling McElfresh competed in Football, Cross Country, Baseball and Track at Mitchell High school. McEfresh was also a three sport athlete for all four years for the Marauders. Chip was a two time team captain and received the Most Improved Jr. Award. This year Chip received another team honor by receiving the Marauders Team Leadership Award.  McElfresh will be wrestling in the 125 lb weight class next year for HLGU.

McElfresh plans on majoring in Media Communications at HLGU.

McElfresh is the son of Tina Cooper.

HLGU is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) school and a member of the American Midwest Conference.

 

2013 Troy Buchanan MVP Grappler Signs with HLGU Trojans

Hannibal, MO – The Hannibal-LaGrange University wrestling program is pleased to have signed Jacob Kaibel from Troy, MO. Kaibel will graduate from Troy Buchanan High School in May of 2013. Kaibel wrestled at 152/160 lbs for the Troy Buchanan Trojans this season. Kaibel qualified for the MO State tournament and had a 35-7 record on the season. Kaibel has seen much improvement since his junior season where he had a 20-12 record.

“I have been working with Jacob since his sophomore year and I have seen him improve every season. I continued to be impressed with his character and work ethic when he attended our Trojan Wrestling Camp. Jacob is a good student and loves wrestling and he wants to continue to improve. He is enthusiastic about HLGU and wrestling for HLGU next year. I’m looking forward to his enthusiasm and hard work in the room”, said HLGU Head Wrestling Coach Scott Hawes. Kaibel also is in third place for most pins in a season for Troy Buchanan. Kaibel’s overall varsity record is 79-45. Jacob plans on wrestling 165 lbs in the 2013-14 season for the HLGU Trojans. Some of Kaibel’s honor’s include: Troy Buchanans 2013 MVP, 2013 2^nd place in the GAC, 2^nd Place in Districts, and All Conference Scholar Athlete.

 Kaibel is undecided on his major at HLGU at this time.

 Kaibel is the son of Ken and Traci Kaibel.

HLG is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) school and a member of the American Midwest Conference

Topeka, Kan., to Host 2014 and 2015 NAIA Wrestling National Championships

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is proud to announce that the 2014 and 2015 NAIA Wrestling National Championships will be held in Topeka, Kan., and hosted by Visit Topeka Inc., Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council and the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The 2014 national championships are scheduled for March 7 –8, and the 2015 event will be March 6 –7. The venue is the Kansas Expocentre in the capital city of Kansas.

The Expocentre offers 210,000 square feet of event space. This venue has served as the site for numerous national sporting competitions, including the 1988 US Olympic Trials, the USA Wrestling Kansas State Folkstyle Championships and the USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle Nationals. Click here for facility map of the Expocentre.

The Expocentre held its first event in 1987 with a sold-out concert featuring Kenny Rogers, T. Graham Brown and Ronnie Milsap. At times, there are six events hosted simultaneously in the facilities, and typically over 600 events are booked annually. Landon Arena is located inside the Expocentre and currently is home to the Topeka RoadRunners NAHL hockey team and the Kansas Koyotes APFL football team.

Topeka will welcome the wrestling national championships for the first time in the 56-year history of the event. The city is listed with a population of nearly 123,000 and located approximately 60 miles from Kansas City, Mo. The state has hosted three previous NAIA Wrestling National Championships in the city of Hays in 1980, 1990 and 1992.

“We are looking forward to having the NAIA Wrestling National Championships in Topeka for 2014 and 2015,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “The sport of wrestling has a strong presence in the state of Kansas. The city of Topeka has proven that they have hosted successful national events. The NAIA is excited to have this friendly community provide a wonderful experience for all NAIA student-athletes and teams.”

The Kansas chapter of USA Wrestling, which is the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, ranks No. 1 in the nation in certified coaches and No. 4 in the nation in youth participation.

Visit Topeka Inc., is a non-profit organization created to promote Topeka as a tourist destination and a great place to hold conventions, trade shows, tournaments and other sporting events. The city’s inception dates back to 1854 and is remembered for one significant piece of American history – the United States Supreme Court case between Brown v. Board of Education.

The Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council is in existence to enhance the quality of life and the economy in the Topeka community by leading the effort to develop and promote youth, amateur and collegiate sporting events.

“We are so very excited to work with the NAIA to welcome the NAIA Wrestling National Championships for 2014 and 2015 to Topeka,” said Jeffrey Alderman, Director of Sales at Visit Topeka Inc. “This outstanding competition will allow us to showcase our wonderful city to the many participants and thousands of spectators, and is a win-win for our community and the NAIA.”

The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) was founded in 1971 and is the governing body of 10 conference schools located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Three schools have been members of the conference since its inception – Baker (Kan.), Graceland (Iowa) and Missouri Valley. Peru State (Neb.) became the newest school to join the storied conference as the Bobcats began full competition during the 2011-12 academic year. Baker, Benedictine (Kan.) and Missouri Valley sponsor the sport of wrestling in the HAAC.

The national championships consist of 10 individual weight classes. Those competitions occur during four sessions with two each day. There are currently 41 NAIA Wrestling varsity programs for the 2013 season. For a complete list of wrestling schools, click here.

Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall educational experience. In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

To learn more about NAIA wrestling, click here.

 

 

Alan Grosbach

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

Manager of Communications and Sports Information

1200 Grand Boulevard | Kansas City, MO 64106

www.NAIA.org

Alexander, Downs Qualify for NAIA Championships for the Third Time in Their Career!

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Both junior Bryce Alexander (165 lb.) and junior Nathan Downs (174 lb.) earned at-large bids into the NAIA National Wrestling Championships as each fell short of an automatic berth. The two came away with fifth and sixth place finishes in their respected weight classes at the Central Qualifying Tournament, but needed a top four finish to automatically qualify for nationals.
Alexander finished the day 4-2 to place fifth at the tournament. The Maryville, Mo. native won his first match of the day in an 8-6 decision over Trevor Dice (Bethany) before falling into the consolation bracket with a second round loss to Zach Skates (Oklahoma City) by way of a 12-6 decision.
Alexander followed the loss with consecutive wins to find himself just two wins away from a third place finish. The junior pinned Tylor Pitcher (William Penn) in 2:16 and pinned William Lutz (Bacone) in 1:03 before losing for the second time in the tournament by a 4-3 decision to Gian Traverso (Missouri Valley).
Again, Alexander followed the loss with a win as he defeated Nathan Sommer (Baker) by a 7-0 decision to finish in fifth.
Downs finished with a 3-3 record to finish sixth at the tournament. The Troy, Mo. native pinned his first opponent, Alvaro Zermeno (Bacone), in 2:54 before losing a 3-2 decision, in his second round match, against eventual champion Thomas Moman (Grand View).
After falling into the consolation bracket, Downs pinned Jose Hernandez (Bacone) in 4:56 and defeated Stephen Loosbrock by way of an 8-0 major decision to draw within two wins of a third place finish. However, the junior fell to Parker Owen (Baker) in an 8-1 decision and was pinned by Teagan Franco (Oklahoma City) in 2:45 to finish with in sixth.
Both Alexander and Downs will participate as at-large selections in the NAIA National Wrestling Championships on March 1 and 2 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Hannibal-LaGrange University is a Division I NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) institution and a member of the American Midwest Conference.
-Jordan Argo, HLGU, SID

IOC Drops Wrestling From the 2020 Olympics

Many of you have seen that the IOC has decided to drop wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. I think this a terrible decision.  I hope that the IOC reconsiders and reestablishes wrestling. I remember hearing Dan Gable warning that IOC decision was a possibility as he spoke at Camp of Champs back in 2006. His message then as it is now is that we need to educate people concerning the sport of wrestling.  Mike Moyer is the executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, which I am a member of along with every other college wrestling coach in America. Mike Moyer has been striving to do just what Dan Gable says need to be done, “educate”.  Mike has been proactive in educating wrestlers, coaches, and fans of wrestling about the dangers facing the future of wrestling. He has been an outspoken advocate for wrestling in America.  I know Mike and he is a good man who eats, drinks and sleeps wrestling. I will be praying for Mike and others as they seek to represent the sport that God has used to develop character and discipline in my life and the lives of wrestlers all over the world. I don’t think the IOC’s decision will be quickly overturned. In the meantime I will continue to stay positive about wrestling, work to educate others about our sport, and be committed to making wrestlers and the sport of wrestling better.

Here are some facts that Mike Moyer shared this morning.

1. High school participation has grown by over 40,000 over the past decade

2. 95 new college wrestling teams (at all levels) have been established since 1999

3. Wrestling is the 6th most popular high school boys sport with over 272,000 participants

4. There are now over 8,200 young women who wrestle in high schools and we have 21 intercollegiate women's wrestling teams 

5. The 2012 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships sold an unprecedented 112,000 tickets and wrestling is among the top 5 NCAA revenue producing championships (4 consecutive sellouts)

6. Wrestling is one of the original Olympic sports and has been included in all but one Olympic competition since 1896. Only four other sports -- track and field, cycling, gymnastics and swimming -- have been in more Games.

7. There is no doubt that a strong Olympic wrestling team is helpful in our efforts to increase participation at the grass roots, high school, and college levels.   Young wrestlers need to be able to dream of being an Olympic Champion as they develop.  For this reason, we will fully support USA Wrestling’s efforts to make sure wrestling remains as an Olympic sport.

 

Central Qualifier and NAIA Championship Information

This year the way NAIA wrestlers will qualify for the NAIA national tournament will be different than in previous years. In the past wrestlers could qualify for the national tournament prior to the end of the year qualifying tournament. This year the only way to qualify for the national tournament is at the qualifing tournament. Hannibal-LaGrange University wrestling will competing in the Central National Qualifying Tournament which will be hosted Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Baker University in Baldwin, City, KS. Here is a list of details concerning the Central Qualifyer.

CENTRAL NATIONAL QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

DATE:                                                   Saturday, February 16, 2013

SITE:                                                     Baker University

                                                                Collins Gymnasium
                                                                6th and Fremont St.
                                                                Baldwin City, Kansas  66006

TEAMS: Bacone College, Baker University, Bethany College, Benedictine College, Central Baptist College, Grand View University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Missouri Valley College, Oklahoma City University, Wayland Baptist University, William Penn University

OFFICIALS: Randy Steen, Jeron Quincy, J.R. Blose, Paul Viterisi, Glenn Rosario

 

WEIGH-IN TIMES: Skin Checks begin @ 6:50 a.m.

Weigh-in begins at 7:00 a.m.  Facility will open @ 6:00 a.m.

SESSIONS:                                     Preliminary Rounds begin @ 9:00am on 3 mats.  Tournament will run straight through with post qualifying meeting to follow.

 

AWARDS:                                      Individual Awards for top three (3) places, Awards for Regional Championship & Runner-Up teams, Coach of the Year, & Most Outstanding Wrestler.
RULES:                                               
NCAA Rules with the following exceptions:
1.       12 entries total
2.       No more than (2) entries per weight class
3.       National Tournament Qualifiers must participate in the Qualifying competition

Click here for the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament Information!