ASHLAND — With his teammates spurring him on and many of the Southern Oregon faithful on their feet yelling encouragement, Raider senior Abe Ewing strained to break the grip of his opponent in the waning seconds of Saturday's NAIA West Regional Championships.
Ewing had already trimmed a three-point deficit to fifth-ranked Brian Fritchman of Montana State-Northern to make things interesting, then had to cut Fritchman loose to set up one last run at wrestling glory.
Trailing 7-6 with one minute to go in the 197-pound championship final, Ewing mustered up the energy to sweep in and grab Fritchman's heel. The Montana All-American immediately tightened his grip around Ewing's waist, and from there it was a battle of wills.
With every tick the crowd noise increased, but so did the grip of Fritchman, who staved off the upset in dramatic fashion as the wrestlers battled to a stalemate over that final minute at McNeal Pavilion.
"Even though we came up a little bit short in that match," said SOU coach Mike Ritchey, "it kinda epitomizes the day for us. Everybody fought hard today."
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"We came up a little short in the team score, but being the lowest ranked team for the whole year and being able to come in here and take second, I'm proud of my guys," said Ritchey, whose Raiders are ranked No. 13 in the NAIA. "Everybody really pulled together to pull this off."
"I think this is the toughest region in the country," added Ritchey. "The Montana schools moving in here have made this an outstanding region. There's been some quality wrestling going on today."
Lofstedt had the chore of taking on the nation's No. 1 wrestler in Embry-Riddle's Richard Byrd in the 125-pound championship, but fared extremely well. Boyd, who finished second at last year's NAIA Championships, never trailed in the match but was unable to get more than a two-point edge on Lofstedt in the 5-4 tussle.
Ewing's chances of claiming a Regional title appeared more realistic considering only two spots separated the combatants in the 197-pound rankings.
As with Lofstedt, the match went back and forth until Fritchman finally appeared to take control with a 6-3 advantage after the first three minutes. Undaunted, Ewing battled back with an escape and a smooth takedown with 30 seconds to go in the second period to even the score at 6-all.
Ewing wiped out Fritchman's riding time advantage to open the third period, then cut him loose for one point to set up the dramatic finish.
Ewing had enough position around Fritchman for the potential match-winning takedown, but no points could be granted until Fritchman's grip was loosened.
"I was just down there trying everything I could," said the former Banks High standout. "I was trying to pop his lock with my hips but I couldn't get it popped. He's strong and his grip was real tight."
"If only I could've gotten a couple fingers to come loose," added Ewing, "but that's the way it goes sometimes."
Ritchey agreed.
"That's a tough flexible kid whose hard to finish on," said the coach. "It's one of those things, it could've gone to a stalemate or could've done a lot of things, but they were both wrestling hard and we came up a little bit short."
SOU also received third-place efforts from Junior Valladolid (133), Jimmy Ulrey (157), Ricky Farrell (174) and Skyler Massey (285), while teammates Dan Herb (141), Thomas Rosa (149), Jason Appleton (174) and Chase Locke (184) placed fourth.
Finishing fifth for the Raiders were Bo Icalia (149) and Joel Gibson (165).
"The kids pulled together and did a heckuva job today," said Ritchey. "It's a credit to how hard they've worked all year. They've taken everything I've thrown at them and bought in, and that's all I can ask."
Saturday's solid showing stands to boost the confidence of a Raider team peaking at the right time heading into the NAIA Championships on March 2-3.
"Like my teammate Dan Herb said earlier this year, it just comes down to one tournament at the end," said Ewing. "If we show up and have a good day, anything can happen. And we're bringing 12 guys who can make anything happen."
NAIA West Regional
TEAM SCORES — Great Falls 136.5, Southern Oregon 122, Embry-Riddle 102.5, Montana State-Northern 79.5, Menlo College 72, Simon Fraser 56.5.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
125 — Richard Byrd, ERAU, dec. Trevor Lofstedt, SOU, 5-4; 133 — Colt Heger, MSUN, pinned Alex Valrela, MC, 6:52; 141 — Bo Gregson, SFU, dec. Gordo Villaescusa, ERAU, 11-8; 149 — Byron Kuylen, MSUN, dec. Jon Muri, UGF, 8-4; 157 — Wayne French, UGF, dec. Hayden Harrison, ERAU, 5-4.
165 — David Krawczyk, SFU, dec. Ryan Smith, UGF, 4-3; 174 — Mike Kummer, UGF, major dec. David Waters, MSUN, 11-1; 184 — Joffre Lander, ERAU, dec. Alex Calvi, UGF, 7-2; 197 — Brian Fritchman, MSUN, dec. Abe Ewing, SOU, 7-6; 285 — Brad Fraser, UGF, tech. fall Arjan Bhullar, SFU.
THIRD-FOURTH FINALS
125 — Cory Borges, MSUN, pinned Raj Virdi, SFU, 4:02; 133 — Junior Valladolid, SOU, dec. Wicaiah Watkins, ERAU, 8-3; 141 — Nick Budeski, UGF, major dec. Dan Herb, SOU, 15-3; 149 — Trace Billet, major dec. Thomas Rosa, SOU, 19-8; 157 — Jimmy Ulrey, SOU, dec. Robert Davis, MC, 4-3.
165 — Calvin DeVault, ERAU, dec. Stephen Towne, MC, 7-3; 174-- Ricky Farrell, SOU, dec. Jason Appleton, SOU, 6-2; 184 — Mariano Sanchez, MC, dec. Chase Locke, SOU, 4-2; 197 — Marcus Andy, UGF, default Trevor Blackwater, MC; 285 --Skyler Massey, SOU, dec. Michael Hughes, MC, 3-1.
FIFTH-SIXTH FINALS
125 — Gabe Rodriguez, MC default; 133 — Blake Risk, UGF, forfeit Mike McPeak, MUSN; 141 — Cody Eigelbach, ERAU, default; 149 — Bo Icalia, SOU, dec. Jason Mendez, ERAU, 11-6; 157 — Zach Brissey, UGF, default.
165 — Joel Gibson, SOU, major dec. Mike Wheeler, MC, 16-7; 174 — Brendon DeCock, UGF, forfeit Tyrel Harris, MSUN; 184 — Robert Hazenberg, UGF, dec. Cchad Seely, MSUN, 2-1; 285 — Jacob Hallmark, MC, dec. Josh Robinson, MSUN, 6-1.
Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com
