ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Senior
Blake Clevenger became the first Drury wrestler in program history to qualify for the NCAA-II national championship as the Kearney, Missouri native finished third in the 157-pound weight class at the Super Regional Championship in St. Charles, Missouri on Saturday.
The Panthers finished eighth among the 11 teams in the Super Regional as they compiled 25.5 points. McKendree won the event with 135 points, Lindenwood was second with 123.5, and Maryville finished third with 120.5 points.
After his opening round win, Clevenger lost in the quarterfinals to Nate Smalling from McKendree, then recovered to win his next four matches. He earned a win by Fall over Austin Morgan of Central Missouri, then edged a 25-5 Efe Osaghae from Fort Hays State 4-3 to stay alive in the tournament. Clevenger got past Tyler Mann from Ouachita Baptist 7-3 and won his third-place match against Lindenwood's Nate Trepanier 9-2.
Clevenger will advance to the NCAA-II National Championship in Cleveland, Ohio on March 8-9 with a 24-2 record.
Drury's
Clay Singh, wrestling at 125 pounds, went 2-3 on Saturday and advanced to the fifth-place match but lost by disqualification to Erick Vargas of Central Missouri.
Peter Kuster went 2-2 on Saturday at 141 pounds earning a win by Technical Fall and an 8-6 decision. The freshman from Jefferson City ended the year with a 24-7 record.
The Panthers are in their third season as an intercollegiate program.
Drury Super Regional results
125
Champ. Round 1 - Broderick Green (Fort Hays St.) 11-21 won by fall over
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 (Fall 5:51)
Cons. Round 1 -
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 -
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 won by decision over Jake Patch (Newman) 0-10 (Dec 10-7)
Cons. Round 3 -
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 won by fall over LaMont Wilson (Ky. Wesleyan) 10-17 (Fall 6:34)
Cons. Semi - Tanner Cole (Central Okla.) 2-2 won by decision over
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 (Dec 6-1)
5th Place Match - Erick Vargas (Central Mo.) 2-2 won by disqualification over
Clay Singh (Drury) 7-9 (DQ)
133
Champ. Round 1 - Taylor Jokerst (Maryville (MO)) 13-10 won by fall over
Jake Byrd (Drury) 8-14 (Fall 4:25)
Cons. Round 1 -
Jake Byrd (Drury) 8-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Zach Williard (Truman) 2-2 won by major decision over
Jake Byrd (Drury) 8-14 (MD 12-2)
141
Champ. Round 1 -
Peter Kuster (Drury) 24-7 won by tech fall over Riley Beard (McKendree) 0-2 (TF-1.5 6:52 (18-3))
Quarterfinal - Kevin Kissane (Newman) 19-8 won by decision over
Peter Kuster (Drury) 24-7 (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 2 -
Peter Kuster (Drury) 24-7 won by decision over Michael Billups (Ouachita Baptist) 0-2 (Dec 8-6)
Cons. Round 3 - Dakota Thevel (Central Mo.) 3-2 won by decision over
Peter Kuster (Drury) 24-7 (Dec 9-7)
149
Champ. Round 1 -
Seth Otis (Drury) 7-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Kameron Frame (Newman) 18-3 won by major decision over
Seth Otis (Drury) 7-11 (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 2 -
Seth Otis (Drury) 7-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Gavin DeWitt (Maryville (MO)) 10-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over
Seth Otis (Drury) 7-11 (SV-1 8-0)
157
Champ. Round 1 -
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 won by tech fall over Tanner Sparks (Maryville (MO)) 16-18 (TF-1.5 5:16 (17-1))
Quarterfinal - Nate Smalling (McKendree) 2-1 won by fall over
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 (Fall 6:09)
Cons. Round 2 -
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 won by fall over Austin Morgan (Central Mo.) 0-2 (Fall 1:28)
Cons. Round 3 -
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 won by decision over Efe Osaghae (Fort Hays St.) 25-5 (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi -
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 won by decision over Tyler Mann (Ouachita Baptist) 2-2 (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match -
Blake Clevenger (Drury) 24-2 won by decision over Nate Trepanier (Lindenwood (Mo)) 2-2 (Dec 9-2)
165
Champ. Round 1 - Noah Perkins (Newman) 19-20 won by major decision over
Charley Genisio (Drury) 7-6 (MD 11-1)
Cons. Round 1 -
Charley Genisio (Drury) 7-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Martin Verhaeghe (Fort Hays St.) 23-11 won by tech fall over
Charley Genisio (Drury) 7-6 (TF-1.5 7:00 (17-2))
174
Champ. Round 1 -
Dylan Komperda (Drury) 8-19 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Nick Foster (McKendree) 3-0 won by fall over
Dylan Komperda (Drury) 8-19 (Fall 4:36)
Cons. Round 2 -
Dylan Komperda (Drury) 8-19 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Aryus Jones (Fort Hays St.) 19-8 won by decision over
Dylan Komperda (Drury) 8-19 (Dec 6-1)
285
Champ. Round 1 -
Ben Melton (Drury) 15-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Greg Wilson (Central Okla.) 4-1 won by decision over
Ben Melton (Drury) 15-12 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 2 -
Ben Melton (Drury) 15-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Tanner Hawkins (Ouachita Baptist) 3-2 won by decision over
Ben Melton (Drury) 15-12 (Dec 6-2)
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