Team Standings

Individual Results

The sixth-ranked Southern Oregon wrestling team scored its second straight team title at today's NAIA West Qualifying Tournament in Havre, Mont.

The Raiders finished with 152 teams points to best second-ranked Great Falls' 134.5 points. Southern Oregon came away with three individual championships and four runner-up finishes.

SOU's Mike Ritchey was named the West's Coach of the Year, while sophomore Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) was named the Outstanding Wrestler.

Lofstedt (125 pounds), Brian Jacob (Tillamook, Ore./Tillamook) (133) and Barry Johnson (Dayton, Ore./Dayton) (141) claimed the individual championships for the Raiders.

Kyle Wirkuty (Portland, Ore./Centennial) (141), Tommie Hooper (Burns, Ore./Burns) (157), Austin Vanderford (Ninilchik, Alaska/Ninilchik) (174) and John Bates (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City) (Hwt) all finished second.

"We wrestled well as a group," Ritchey said. "To get two guys to championships at 141 was a huge bonus. The guys were wrestling hard and going for bonus points and that always helps in a tournament like this."

Lofstedt continued to dominating performance as a sophomore - destroying the field once again.

The NAIA's top-ranked 125-pounder opened the tournament with a 1:48 pin of Menlo's Drake Medeiros. He then rolled to a 17-8 major decision victory over Cal Baptist's Sam Fragoza in the semifinals and a 12-3 major decision victory over Cal Baptist's Chauncey Phillips to wrap up the title.

Jacob had a bye to the semis at 133 and then pinned Embry-Riddle's John Garz in 5:59 to advance to the championship match. In the title match, Jacob defeated top-seeded Myles Mazurkiewicz of Great Falls 5-2 to win the crown.

The Raiders dominated both sides of the bracket at 141. Johnson had a decision and major decision victory to get the title match. Wirkuty had a pin and a decision on his way to the title match. In the championship match between the two teammates, Wirkuty forfeited the victory to Johnson.

Bates had the most impressive day of the second place finishers. The senior was edged by top-ranked and defending National Champion Arjan Bhullar 8-6 in the championship match at Heavyweight.

The Raiders will next wrestle at the NAIA National Championships March 4-6.