Wartburg secures national title before finals

LA CROSSE, Wis. - Wartburg's Mark Kist posted a memorable final victory.

The Knights' senior 125-pounder won his final collegiate match and, in doing so, elevated Wartburg back to the top.

Kist scored a 17-2 technical fall over Waynesburg's Alex Crown for third place to locked up the team title for the Knights in the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Saturday at the La Crosse Center. It was Wartburg's sixth team title in the last nine years and eighth overall.

Kist had his title hopes dashed in the semifinals, losing a 2-1 decision to Wisconsin-La Crosse Lloyd McKinney. He rebounded and took some consolation going out a winner.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Kist said. “It definitely feels good to finish on a good match like that, so I won't regret it the rest of my life. The team title that's amazing. It doesn't get any better than that.”

Kist took the mat knowing exactly what the team needed to claim its first national title since winning consecutive titles in 2008 and 2009. He wanted relieve the burden for the rest of the team, and eliminate any comeback attempt by Augsburg, who won the 2010 championship and placed all five of its qualifiers including four finalists.

“Before the final placing round, (Wartburg) Coach (Jim) Miller got the guys who were wrestling in this round and he told us we need two or three points to clinch the title and every bonus point counts,” Kist said. “I wanted to take care of it. I wanted to take the pressure off the rest of those guys so they could just wrestle and not worry about it.”

The Knights had seven All-Americans, including finalists in Bradley Banks (174), Byron Tate (197) and heavyweight John Helgerson. It's the 16th straight year Wartburg has had at least five All-Americans.

Helgerson advanced the finals for the second straight year. This time, however, he reached the top step of the podium this time. He scored a takedown with three seconds remaining for a 3-1 win over Elmhurst's Mark Corsello for the championship.

"It feels unbelievable right now, havig got third and second and cap off my wrestling career with a national title feels amazing," said Helgerson, who became a three-time All-American.

Helgerson (45-4) exchanged escapes with Corsello. As time wound down, Helgerson shot a low sweep single. They scrambled and Helgerson covered Corsello on the edge of the mat for the winning takedown.

"I hit that shot a few times before," Helgerson said about his low sweep single leg. "Thirty seconds left I knew I had to take it sooner or later.

"When the whistle blew I didn't know if I won. I couldn't hear anything. I looked up and I saw my coach was celebrating so I knew I got it."

The victory was the exclamation point for the Knights title, outscoring Augsburg, 117-88.5. Wisconsin-La Crosse was third with 76.5.

Tate claimed his second straight crown with a 9-4 win over Augsburg's 2009 national champion Jared Massey in the finals. Banks was second. 

Miller was ecstatic after the championship performance.

"It feels pretty good," Miller said. "I've had a lot of smiles this week. It sure felt good. The kids worked hard.

"I'm so proud. This group gets to experience a national championship. Very few people in any sport get to feel that."