Brackets

Team Standings

National Championship Photo Gallery

Southern Oregon sophomore Chris Platt (Eagle Point, Ore./Eagle Point) scored an individual National Title during today's finals of the NAIA National Wrestling Championships.

As a team, the Raiders finished second to defending national champion Lindenwood. The Lions finished with 167 points, while the Raiders finished with 125.5 point.

Platt jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before defeating Montana State-Northern's Evan Hinebauch 6-2 to claim the 184 pound National Championship.

With the title, Platt becomes the 23rd National Champion in the history of SOU wrestling and the first since 2004. Platt outscored his opponents 32-7 and scored a pin during his run to a National Championship. Platt wraps up the 2008-09 season 19-4 with six pins.

“He came to wrestle this weekend and it started from the get go,” Ritchey said. “He plowed along and next thing you know he's in the finals and wins a National Championship. He came out (in the finals) and took a shot with a doubleleg to get up early and that was huge. He's tough to score on.”

Brothers Mitchell and Trevor Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) each came away with second place finishes at the National Championships.

Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) dropped the 125 pound National Championship match 11-2 to Montana State-Northern's Corey Borges. Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) ends his freshman season 37-10 with nine falls.

Trevor Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) fell in the National Championship match 19-9 to Lindenwood's Ray Stephens. Trevor Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) leaves SOU as just the fourth four-time All-American in school history.

“That was a tough draw to go up against two defending National Champions,” Ritchey said of the Lofstedt brothers. “Mitchell put this tournament on notice that he's the 125 pounder of the future. Trevor leaves as one of the best winning wrestlers we've had. He just knows how to win matches and sticks to his gameplan.”

Ritchey was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders to an 18-1 dual record, a National Dual Meet Championship and a second place finish at the NAIA National Championships.

“This is one of those things that you feel great about being a part of,” Ritchey said. “Even though we didn't win this tournament, we feel good about job we did. I'm still happy with second.”

Barry Johnson (Dayton, Ore./Dayton) (141) brought home a third place finish with a pair of victories today. Johnson scored a pin in the consolation semis and then defeated Grand View's Jon Henslee 9-5 in the third place match.

Seth Roy (Sherwood, Ore./Sherwood) finished fourth at 149. Roy defeated Lindenwood's Ryan Moyter 3-1 in overtime before falling to Notre Dame College's Jeffrey Pelton 6-0 in the third place match.

Tommie Hooper (Burns, Ore./Burns) and John Bates (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City) each finished fifth after falling in their consolation semifinal matches. Hooper scored a major decision victory over Oklahoma City's Nik Turner 10-2 in the fifth place place at 157. Bates also scored a major decision victory, with a 12-4 victory over Corey Johnson of Oklahoma City.

As a team, the Raiders had seven All-Americans.