KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The 2016 NAIA Wrestling National Championships, presented by USA Wrestling-Kansas preliminary brackets have been released, the national office announced Thursday. Session one action inside the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka is schedule to get underway Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Central Time.
The field of 240 wrestlers features a pair from Southeastern.
At 125, freshman
Olson Delisca will face off in the first round against sophomore Dustin Miller of Lyon (Ark.). Miller enters the bout at 22-3 on the season, while Delisca is 29-12. Miller is ranked 12
th in the NAIA at 125, and finished second at the Midwest National Qualifier. Delisca earned a wild card bid after finishing fourth in the East Region Qualifier.
There are a total of 28 wrestlers in the 125-pound bracket. After Miller, Delisca will face either junior Kaleb Furr of Ottawa (Kan.) or senior Luke Schlosser of Great Falls (Mont.).
Ethan Owen is one of 21 wresters in the 133-pound bracket, and is one of 11 to earn a first round bye. The Lakeland native awaits the winner of senior Jesse Martinelli of Lindenwood-Belleville and sophomore Vicente Hernandez of Simpson (Calif.). Hernandez is ranked eighth at 133 with a 13-13 record, and Martinelli is 19-9, ranked 13
th in the nation.
Owen is ranked 12
th at 133 with a 38-4 record. The Freshman has recorded the most wins of any 133-pounder in the tournament.
The 59
th annual event consists of four sessions, concluding Saturday with the championship finals at 7 p.m.
