Division III National Wrestling Tourney
BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College senior 141-pounder Sayre Wuhr, a Hudson High School graduate, is living out a dream. Last Saturday, Wuhr qualified for the 2004 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championship Tournament. It is a goal that he set four years ago when he began his wrestling career at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Capital University.
For Wuhr, it has been a long road to the national tourney. He began his career at Capital in 2001-2001. But a day following the 2001 OAC Tournament, Capital announced that it was dropping wrestling. It left Wuhr without a place to participate in the sport he loves.
"That was tough," said Wuhr. "I had a decision to make. Either I would stay at Capital and never wrestle again or I could leave. After some long thought, I decided to transfer to B-W. It was a great decision for me. Now, I get a chance to go to the national tourney."
Wuhr entered last Saturday's OAC Tournament seeded second. En route to the title, he defeated Kyle Breiner of Wilmington College in the first round, 11-0, and third-seeded Sean Connelly of Mount Union College, 6-0, in the semi finals. In the championship match, Wuhr beat top-seeded Luke Spurlock of Heidelberg College in sudden death overtime, 5-3.
"That was a great match," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Rich Fleming. "Sayre wrestled superb. He wanted it (an OAC Title and an NCAA Division III national berth). He beat an excellent wrestler through desire.
"Sayre has had a great season," said Fleming. "He has worked very hard to get where he is today, and I am very proud of him. He is a great kid. We look forward to the trip to the nationals."
Wuhr will take a 26-7 record to the national event. He is 64-32 in his four-year career, including a 6-9 mark when he wrestled at Capital.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime," said Wuhr. "It is what I have worked for four years to accomplish. I look forward to the challenge. It should be an outstanding experience."
Wrestling at the 2004 NCAA Division III National Championship Meet will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6 at Loras. For more information, you can log onto the Loras College Web Site at www.loras.edu or on the NCAA Championships site at www.ncaachampionships.com.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact SID Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX Machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Wrestling Coach Rich Fleming, please call him at 440-826-3258, FAX him at 440-826-2192 or e-mail him at rfleming@bw.edu.
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