Wartburg reclaims NCAA wrestling team title

CEDAR RAPIDS — The hiatus was short, but a year was long enough for Wartburg.

The Knights reclaimed their spot atop Division III wrestling.

Wartburg's Kenny Martin won his second national title, helping the Knights to the team title at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Saturday night in front of 2,027 fans at the U.S. Cellular Center. He was joined on top of the podium by Luther's Drew Van Anrooy, who won the 141-pound title leading the Norse to third place.

Martin scored a takedown in each period, leading to a 7-5 win over Cornell's Trevor Engle in the 149 championship. This time, his title was matched by a team crown.

'Knowing that the team got one also, this one is a little more meaningful because there are a lot of other people who put in hard work,' Martin said. 'My first title felt great, achieving that goal.'

Martin admitted he has already looked ahead to adding to his championship haul.

'As long as I'm in this sport, I'm always looking to be the best and get another title,' Martin said. 'There will always be more to come when I'm wrestling.'

Wartburg had five finalists, but crowned one titlist. Drew Wagenhoffer (157), Nick Michael (165), Eric Devos at 174 and 197-pounder Gerard Roman placed second. All were close losses. Roman dropped a one-point decision, while the other four each lost by two.

'Obviously, that final round was real tough,' Wartburg Coach Eric Keller said. 'Every one of those guys in every one of those matches fought their butts off the entire time.'

The Knights secured their 12th national team title and the fifth in the last six years before the finals, boasting eight All-Americans including heavyweight Lance Evans, a former Solon state champ who was third. Wartburg finished with 129 1/2 points, beating Messiah (Penn.) by 29 1/2.

'It was an all-out team effort,' Keller said. 'That is what it takes to win a national championship.

'I'm real proud of this group.'

Van Anrooy said he would not be happy unless he finished the job he couldn't last year. Van Anrooy has a reason to smile and celebrate, claiming the 141-pound championship after a runner-up finish in 2015.

'It definitely kept the fire in me to finish it this year and get the title,' Van Anrooy said. 'It made me train extra hard this year for it.'

Van Anrooy went on the attack early. He threw in double underhooks and tripped Elmhurst's Jimmy Nehls for an early takedown, en route to a 10-2 victory.

'I think that was good, especially to get the riding time and take it out of him a little bit on top,' Van Anrooy said. 'Take some of the energy out of him. It was definitely crucial.'

Van Anrooy iced it, whipping an aggressive Nehls to his back in the waning seconds for a late six-point move. At that point, he realized he had capped an undefeated championship season.

'I realized that was it,' Van Anrooy said. 'It was one of the greatest feelings of my life.'

The Norse grabbed their first team trophy since consecutive third-place showings in 2004 and 2005, tying the best in school history. Luther Coach Dave Mitchell praised their toughness, overcoming a strange season riddled with injuries.

'It was good to get back in this trophy mix again,' Mitchell said. 'It's been a long climb to get back to this point.'

Engle became the first four-time national qualifier for Cornell since assistant coach Nick Nothern did it from 2007-10. Engle earned his first All-American honor, reaching the 149-pound final.

The result was a little bittersweet for Engle.

'It was great to be on that final stage, especially for the last match of my career,' Engle said. 'I didn't get the outcome I wanted.'

Engle never backed down with every score produced by Martin. He said it was the best he's competed against the Knight.

'It was a great last match,' Engle said. 'I loved how it went the whole seven minutes (and) burned out my lungs. It was a good time getting out there and burning out my lungs one last time.'

C.J. Pestano became Central's first finalist since Dan Gabrielson in 1994. Unseeded Pestano placed second, falling to Messiah's Lucas Malmberg, 14-6, in the 125-pound final.

Pestano was one of 18 total All-Americans for the Iowa Conference, joining Jan Rosenberg (125), Farai Sewera (165) and Ryan Harrington at 174 and Loras 197-pounder Malcolm Watson, who was eighth.

Former Upper Iowa D-III national champion and Millikin (Ill.) head coach Ryan Birt was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Rookie Coach of the Year. Millikin had two qualifiers and 141-pounder Chris Williams placed sixth.

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