Athletics Headlines: Six Wrestlers Place at Coe College Invitational

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November 19, 2007

Six Wrestlers Place at Coe College Invitational

The Spartan Wrestling team competed in the Coe College invitational this past Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and returned with three NAIA National Qualifiers and six placers.

In the 125-pound weight class, senior Michael Aitch recorded four wins and defeated MBU freshman Abbas Emamjome to take home third place. This allowed him to meet the national qualification standards set forth by the NAIA. By doing so, Aitch has qualified three out of his four years at MBU. Emamjome fell one win away from also meeting qualification standards, but still managed to put on a good performance and record three wins.

Junior Matt Collum continued his winning ways by meeting the NAIA National Qualification Standard again and by becoming the 157-pound tournament champion. Collum went 4-0 with a pin, two major decisions, and a medical forfeit win.

Senior All-American Nigel Kinworthy continued to showcase his skills and talents match after match. Kinworthy eventually had to settle for second place in the 184-pound weight class, but not before wrestling Wartburg College’s Romeo Djoumessi in the best match of the night.

Freshman Zach Fears turned heads with his powerful and overlooked skills and took home a sixth place finish in the 165-pound weight class.

Sophomore Joe Johnson fell one win short of meeting the national qualification standards for his second straight year. Instead, Johnson seized a fourth place finish at 285.

“I was very impressed with how our boys wrestled," said MBU Head Coach Brian Jackson. "Our experienced guys like Nigel and Collum came through as expected, and our freshmen like Abbas, Zach, and Clayton (Olsson) really showed that they belong out there. I see us getting better and better as a team as the season goes on."

Up next for the Spartans is a dual meet against William Penn University on Friday, November 30th, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Spartans will then wrestle the following day in the Simpson College Invitational in Indianola, Iowa.