Rio wrestlers to make history at NAIA Championship

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Three University of Rio Grande wrestlers will make history on Friday when they become the school's first-ever participants in the 66th Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championship at Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kan.
     Action is scheduled to get underway in 10 different weight divisions beginning at 11 a.m. EST.
     Freshman Bruce Wagers qualified by finishing as the runner-up in the 285-pound bracket of the Mid-South Conference Tournament, while freshmen Westyn Moyer (Urbana, OH) and Justin Bartee (Point Pleasant, WV) qualified by finishing in fourth place at the MSC tourney at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively.
     Moyer (16-11) will tangle with fourth-seeded Wilder Wichman of Thomas More (Ky.) University in his first match, Wichman brings a 17-3 record in the national tournament.
     Bartee (29-8) will face 12th-seeded Matt Jenkins of Reinhardt (Ga.) University in his opener, while Wagers (23-14) drew 10th-seeded Earnest Johnson of Keiser (Fla.) University.
     The opening round and the second round of both the championship and consolation brackets will take place in Friday's Session I, while the quarterfinal round of the championship bracket and the third and fourth rounds of the consolation bracket are part of Session II beginning at 7 p.m. EST.
     Session III is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. EST, with Session IV and the finals in each division slated for 8 p.m. EST.
     Links for live video and live results can be found at www.rioredstorm.com.