Wilkinson Paces Beaver Wrestling
12/11/06

Pratt Community College wrestler Carl Wilkinson has been on the doorstep of becoming a good wrestler all season. He has some good wins, sprinkled in with some tough losses against top-flight competition. Wilkinson’s continued development came to an apex Saturday night when he was the only Beaver to place at the University of Nebraska – Kearney Open.

“This was a coming out party for Carl. He’s wrestled well all year, but today he turned the corner,” Head Coach Chas Thompson said of Crawford. “I’m very proud of Carl and the way he wrestled this weekend.”

The day got off to a good start for Wilkinson, who won a 5-3 decision over Ben Hohensee, a freshman from Labette Community College, who was a high school All-America last year. Wilkinson went on to win four of five matches on the day.

Wilkinson’s only loss in the tournament came in the semi-finals against Tervel Dlagnev of the hometown UNK Lopers and the top-ranked wrestler in NCAA Division II. The freshman heavyweight from Duncan, Oklahoma, won his next two matches to take third in the event.

“Carl had a phenomenal tournament. Every match this weekend was tough for him,” Thompson went on about Wilkinson.

Another top performer for the Beavers was Ryan England who won three of five matches on the day. The freshman who is also from Duncan, Oklahoma, lost his first and last match of the day to fall one win short of placing.

Due to Christmas Break, the Beaver grapplers won’t get back on the mats until January 5th and 6th at the Colby Tournament of Champions.

Ryan England DNP
Lost to Curtis Salazar (University of Nebraska) 7-5
Def. Peter Barger (University of Nebraska) 9-0
Def. Clay Sandgeroath (University of Wyoming) 5-2
Def. Matt Reinke (York College) Med. Forf.
Lost to Nate Troop (Missouri Baptist College) 4-3

Carl Wilkinson 3rd Place
Def. Ben Hohensee (Labette Community College) 5-3
Def. Jared Bonnell (Missouri Baptist College) 5-2
Lost to Tervel Dlagnev (University of Nebraska – Kearney) Fall 3:50
Def. Ben Hohensee (Labette Community College) 2-0
Def. Chris Eberwein (Fort Hays State University) 4-3

Source URL:
http://www.prattcc.edu/college/main_athl..._wrestling.html