LAKELAND, Fla.—The first season of Southeastern University wrestling is coming to a close. Tomorrow marks the final guaranteed matches of the 2015-16 season as the Fire head to Life University for the Mid-South Conference Championships, which also serve as the East Region qualifier for the NAIA National Championships.
To qualify for nationals, held in Topeka, Kansas March 4
th and 5
th, a wrestler has to finish in the top three of his weight class. Additionally, each region is allotted six "wild card" at-large bids it can award to deserving competitors.
Freshman
Ethan Owen enters the tournament ranked ninth in the NAIA with a 35-3 record on the season, and will be competing in a deep 133-pound class. This includes defending national champion and top-ranked Davion Caston of Campbellsville, Brady Moser (#13) of Lindsey Wilson, and Stephen Ireland (#16) of Life. Owen previously defeated Moser 8-4 in a dual meet on January 2
nd.
Classmate
Olson Delisca will be looking for a ticket to Topeka, entering the qualifier with a 26-10 record on the season, and won the Cumberland Open title at the end of January.
Ryan Strickland has posted a 14-10 record on the season, and looks to be a contender for a bid at 149. Also keep an eye on
Aris Knight at 184 and
Ben Cruz at 197.
You can watch live video of the day's events via trackwrestling.com for $9.99, and live updates will be provided as well free of charge.
