From the Trine web site.
2.20 - Kraus Heading to National Championship
Doylesville, Pa. - Nick Kraus (Rolling Prairie, Ind./New Prairie) wrote a new page
in Thunder wrestling history Saturday.
Kraus earned a wild-entry in the Division III National Championship March 5 and 6
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Trine Head Coach Dan Callahan is hoping for another page in early March. ?It means
everything? he said. ?It shows we are taking the next step. Now the next step is to get
an All-American. Nick could do that. I think once we get that it will open the flood gates. We are doing what we have to. I am proud of where we are at.?
This season marked only the fifth full season for the program at Trine.
Kraus lost a 10-5 decision in the 184 championship round, but was impressive in the true-second round to earn wildcard votes. (True second matches feature the third-place wrestler challenging the runner-up for 'true-second.)
Kraus was solidly in control of the championship for the majority of the match, until he was flipped on his back. The veteran wrestler started to make adjustments including a desperation move.
?I took a gamble. I was winning and I shouldn?t have done it,? Kraus said. His opponent scored a five point move and Kraus never recovered.
Six other Thunder wrestlers placed in the top five, including two who battled for individual championships to lead Trine to a second place finish at the 2010 Midwest Regional Saturday.
George Markou (164, Peru, Ind./Peru) and Ryan Pieper (175, Onstead, Mich./Onstead) finished second, just missing automatic berths in the national championships.
Kyle Long (157, South Bend, Ind./Washington) and Alex Fleet (197, Lowell, Mich./Lowell) finished third. Long was named a third-alternate for the nationals.
William Sheets (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) was fourth at 133. Dylan Forbes (Wolcottville, Ind./Prairie Heights) finished fifth in heavyweight