Luther's Conner Herman caps college career with second All-American honor

CEDAR RAPIDS — Conner Herman wanted to find a seat shortly after his final college wrestling match.

He had earned the rest and it gave him a chance to take the weight off his troublesome knees that sported two big braces.

Despite battling injuries that cost him an entire season, Herman came back to his hometown and ended his career with a second straight All-American finish, placing eighth at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Reaching the podium was rewarding but not ideal for the three-time NCAA qualifier and former Cedar Rapids Jefferson state champion.

'It is what we work for in this and there can only be one real happy guy at the end of this tournament,' said Herman, who was eighth last year. 'If you're satisfied with anything lower than first then you're in it for the wrong reasons. I worked hard this season for that eighth-place finish but definitely not satisfied.'

Herman was a qualifier as a freshman, falling one win short of the podium that season. Injuries began to plague him, including multiple knee problems and surgery. He missed the 2012-13 season and even missed more than a month after his first three matches this season.

'He stayed positive throughout it,' Luther Coach Dave Mitchell said. 'I mean how many of us would just get down and decide it wasn't worth it? But he's such a positive individual.'

Mitchell praised him for being a good role model for other athletes. His perseverance was demonstrated in Friday night's consolation round. He surrendered a late takedown with 15 seconds left to trail 3-1. He kept fighting, earning a penalty point and escape before the buzzer. He then won with a takedown in sudden victory.

'That was just desire and finding a way,' Mitchell said. 'That was nuts. That was one of the craziest matches I've been a part of.'

Herman needed that win to qualify for the top eight. Like most of his career, he was going to battle until the end.

'It's not in me to quit,' said Herman, who finished with a 75-36 career mark. 'I never like to use my knees as an excuse or anything. After going out on top in high school, I set that next goal for myself. I fell a little short but those goals continue to push me.'

Herman is studying education and plans to return to Jefferson to student teach with his former prep wrestling coach Matt Orton. He is excited for the opportunity after working hard to balance student teaching with training during the season.

'It was tough to balance,' Herman said. 'It will be well worth it.'

He was one of five All-Americans for Luther. Herman was joined by 141-pound finalist Drew Van Anrooy, fourth-place Justin Kreiter (184), fifth-place 157-pounder Tristan Zurfluh and Dakota Gray, who was sixth at 149.

'This team is a very special team,' Herman said. 'I can go up and down the line and say how tough these guys wrestle and how special this team is. It's great to be a part of this team.'

The Norse entered the finals in third place. They were in place to claim their first team trophy since consecutive third-place showings in 2004 and 2005. 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.'

COE FINISHES WITH THREE ALL-AMERICANS

Coe sent three wrestlers to the national tournament and each took home hardware.

Ryan Harrington (174) and 165-pounder Farai Sewera earned their second straight All-American honors. Harrington placed third, improving last year's finish by one spot. He went 4-1 and ended with a 22-3 record.

'I did a little bit better than last year, but all year my goal has been to finish at the top of the podium,' said Harrington, who has reached the semifinals the last two seasons. 'Next year it will be the same goal and the same the year after it.

'I'm happy to finish with a win. It would have been a bummer not to, but that semifinal is going to eat at me all season.'

Sewera, a 2015 NCAA champion, placed eighth with a 19-3 mark this season. he was an academic All-American as well.

Jan Rosenberg (125) made his second consecutive national tournament and placed eighth. He was 16-10 this year, beating two wrestlers who beat him in the 2015 tournament, according to Coe Coach John Oostendorp.

This season, however, was the first since 2009 that Coe did not have a finalist. They experienced the good and bad of the team performance.

'It depends on what your goals are coming in,' Oostendorp said. 'I'm happy for the guys to be All-Americans. I know Harrington and Farai were hurting pretty bad after those losses.'

CENTRAL ENDS FINALS DROUGHT

Central's C.J. Pestano reached the 125-pound championship match, giving the Dutch their first finalist since 1994.

The unseeded sophomore from Torrance, Calif., earned his way to the final. He opened with a pigtail match and then knocked off the Nos. 7, 2 and 3 seeds, including two straight overtime victories. Pestano defeated Concordia-Moorhead's Jakob Stageberg, 5-3, in tiebreaker 1 of the semifinal.

Pestano became the 12th finalist in school history. Dan Gabrielson was the last, placing second at 126. The last Central national champion was current University of Dubuque head coach Jon McGovern, who won back-to-back 167-pound titles in 1991 and 1992.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance for the 2016 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship surpassed 6,000 spectators through the first three sessions.

The semifinal round and placing matches Saturday attracted 2,311 fans. The opening day drew 3,830 total over the first two sessions.

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