Marshall, MN: The Southwest State wrestling team placed fifth at the 2003 NCAA Division II Wrestling Midwest Regionals on Sunday, March 2, and qualified five wrestlers for the national tournament. Southwest State was the top NSIC team in the tournament with 86 points. MSU Moorhead finished two points behind SSU at sixth place, Northern State at 8th and UM-Morris at 11th place. The University of Central Oklahoma topped all teams with 178 points to finish in first place.
SSU's Jared Cooley (157) finished as the runner-up at the tournament, which qualifies him for the National Championships on March 14 and 15. Cooley fell to Corey Crandall (Truman State University) by a 5-2 decision in the championship match.
SSU had three wrestlers take third place at the tournament, Drew Bouwman (174), Tim Johns (184) and Brian Tesch (197). Bouwman blanked Brett Barbarick (Central Missouri State), 10-0. Johns edged past Ryan Kopiasz (MSU Moorhead), 5-4 and Tesch defeated John Goral (University of Wisconsin, Parkside) in a 7-3 decision. Keefer Jensen (133) took fourth place in the tournament and has also qualified for nationals, he fell to Jacobs (University of Wisconsin, Parkside), 10-5 in the match for third place.
Head coach John Sterner was named the 2003 Midwest Wresling Regional Coach of the Year. He brought eight wrestlers to the tournament, five of those qualified for nationals. UCO‚s Cole Province was named wresler of the meet at 133 pounds while Brad Becker from UWP, received rookie of hte year honors.
The NCAA National Championship are on March 14-15 in Wheeling, W.V., hosted by West Liberty State College.
Southwest State is a member of NCAA Division II and participates in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
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