Ten Qualify for Nationals; Bleaken and Borneman Regional Champions
February 16, 2007
St. Charles, MO -- Freshman Corey Bleaken at 149 and sophomore Luke Borneman at 184 won East Regional Championships at Lindenwood University Friday night. Bleaken, the fourth seed, won his first-round match over Dominic Angelo from McKendree by major decision, 11-3. He went on to win his quarterfinal match over All-American Dustin Center by decision, 12-8, and won his semifinals match over defending national champion Mark Dickman by decision, 13-10. In the finals, Bleaken received a medical forfeit over All-American Chris Seta from Campbellsville University, improving his overall record to 34-8.
Borneman, the third seed, won his first-round match over Rob Nusekabel from University of the Cumberlands by decision, 5-3. He went on to win his semifinals match over the second-seeded Tanner Wok from McKendree by decision, 2-0, improving his overall record to 22-6.
Cumberland had sophomore Desean Willis at 125, senior Eric McCray at 184, and freshman Kyle Studer at 197 place in the top six. McCray placed fourth, defeating All-American Nigel Kinworthy from Missouri Baptist by decision, 8-2, in the consolation quarterfinals, and then defeated Wolk from McKendree in the consolation semifinals by major decision, 17-6. Willis placed fifth, defeating P.J. Puriefoy from King College by decision, 9-3, in the consolation quarterfinals and pinned Mike Aitch from Missouri Baptist for the fifth-place match. Studer received a medical forfeit from teammate freshman Ben Briscoe in the first round of consolation, and then defeated Alex Driggers from King College in the consolation quarterfinals by decision, 7-5. Studer fell just short of qualifying for nationals in the consolation semifinals, where he lost 4-3 to Jason Flynn from Notre Dame College.
The top four in the region qualified for the national tournament. Cumberland qualified 10 wrestlers throughout the season, and the following wrestlers will be headed to the national tournament in Sioux City, IA: Desean Willis at 125, sophomore Eric Rogers at 133, Corey Bleaken at 149, junior Theo Dotson at 149, sophomore Trey Myers at 165, sophomore Jordan Powers at 174, Luke Borneman at 184, Eric McCray at 184, Ben Briscoe at 197 and freshman Xavier Taylor at 285. This is the largest number of qualifiers for the program since Head Coach Jarad Swint took over three years ago.
"We are a very young team. I am looking forward to the future of this program," Swint said.
St. Charles, MO -- Freshman Corey Bleaken at 149 and sophomore Luke Borneman at 184 won East Regional Championships at Lindenwood University Friday night. Bleaken, the fourth seed, won his first-round match over Dominic Angelo from McKendree by major decision, 11-3. He went on to win his quarterfinal match over All-American Dustin Center by decision, 12-8, and won his semifinals match over defending national champion Mark Dickman by decision, 13-10. In the finals, Bleaken received a medical forfeit over All-American Chris Seta from Campbellsville University, improving his overall record to 34-8.
Borneman, the third seed, won his first-round match over Rob Nusekabel from University of the Cumberlands by decision, 5-3. He went on to win his semifinals match over the second-seeded Tanner Wok from McKendree by decision, 2-0, improving his overall record to 22-6.
Cumberland had sophomore Desean Willis at 125, senior Eric McCray at 184, and freshman Kyle Studer at 197 place in the top six. McCray placed fourth, defeating All-American Nigel Kinworthy from Missouri Baptist by decision, 8-2, in the consolation quarterfinals, and then defeated Wolk from McKendree in the consolation semifinals by major decision, 17-6. Willis placed fifth, defeating P.J. Puriefoy from King College by decision, 9-3, in the consolation quarterfinals and pinned Mike Aitch from Missouri Baptist for the fifth-place match. Studer received a medical forfeit from teammate freshman Ben Briscoe in the first round of consolation, and then defeated Alex Driggers from King College in the consolation quarterfinals by decision, 7-5. Studer fell just short of qualifying for nationals in the consolation semifinals, where he lost 4-3 to Jason Flynn from Notre Dame College.
The top four in the region qualified for the national tournament. Cumberland qualified 10 wrestlers throughout the season, and the following wrestlers will be headed to the national tournament in Sioux City, IA: Desean Willis at 125, sophomore Eric Rogers at 133, Corey Bleaken at 149, junior Theo Dotson at 149, sophomore Trey Myers at 165, sophomore Jordan Powers at 174, Luke Borneman at 184, Eric McCray at 184, Ben Briscoe at 197 and freshman Xavier Taylor at 285. This is the largest number of qualifiers for the program since Head Coach Jarad Swint took over three years ago.
"We are a very young team. I am looking forward to the future of this program," Swint said.
