Coe ties school record with six All-Americans

Coe wrestling coach John Oostendorp said he felt more confident before this year's national tournament than any other, and turns out he had good reason.

Six Kohawk wrestlers earned all-America status, tying a school record, at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Friday night at La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. Coe was fourth with 43 points after the first day.

Jordan Westfall (133) and 165-pounder Nick LeClere powered the Kohawks, reaching to Saturday morning semifinals. Westfall, seeded seventh, knocked off Thiel's two-time All-American and second-seeded Corey Brown, 5-4, in the quarterfinals to secure All-American honors in his first and last NCAA tournament. Westfall faces Wisconsin-La Crosse's No. 3 seed Adam Sheley in the semifinals. Sheley beat Westfall 4-0 in December.

"Honestly we felt he could be there," Oostendorp said. "We felt good about the gains he's made and I'm as happy as heck for him. He's a senior who has worked hard basically this is his chance as a senior and he's making the most of it."

LeClere became a three-time All-American. LeClere, the 165-pound runner-up last year, scored an 8-1 decision over James Myers of Olivet to assure himself of a top-six finish. LeClere advanced to take on Joey Favia of Stevens Institute of Technology.

"He is a super tough young man," Oostendorp said about LeClere. "We have some big matches ... everybody, all six guys left in tournament. But I'm happy for all of those guys. On the front side, team wise, we really need to push those guys into the finals. On the backside you have to battle and fight your way to as high as you can go."

Coe 125-pounder and former Western Dubuque prep Jimmy Gotto rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to beat Zach Mueller of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 7-0, to move into the top eight. Dale Handley, a former state runner-up at Alburnett, followed Gotto's lead, falling short of the semifinals and then earning a 6-0 consolation win over SUNY-Cortland's Troy Sterling to reach the podium.

James Locke (149) and Scott King (174) also made the top eight with a chance to place as high as third. Coe, which had six All-Americans in 2009, is looking for its fifth straight top-five team finish. The Kohawks were fifth last year after three straight fourth-place finishes.

Luther 197-pounder Trent Flegel will be the lone Norse wrestler with a medal. Flegel defeated Cornell's Alex Coolidge 11-6 in a consolation match to reach the top eight. Luther freshman heavyweight Conner Herman went 1-2 and came up one win short of All-American status.

Wartburg was in line to win its second straight NCAA team title and fourth in the last five years. The Knights had eight All-Americans, five semifinalists and 70 points, leading Wisconsin-La Crosse by 22 points. Augsburg was third with 47.

Two-time NCAA champion Byron Tate is in position for a third 197-pound title. Tate pinned his way to the semifinals, recording a fall in 3:49 over Wisconsin-Whitewater's Adam Latella in the quarterfinals. He is joined by Knights teammates Kenny Anderson (125), Kodie Silvestri (141), Landon Williams (165) and 174-pounder Bradley Banks.

Wartburg heavyweight and former Independence state champion Ryan Fank earned All-America status. Fank dropped a two-point decision to Wisconsin-Whitewater's Corey Anderson but edged Elmhurst's Brian Brooks in a consolation bout to reach Saturday's placing matches.

Drew Waggenhoffer (149) and Dylan Azinger (184)  claimed top-eight finishes.