With a goal of a top three finish, the sixth-ranked Southern Oregon wrestling team has some work ahead of it as they get ready for this week's NAIA National Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The National Championships begin at 1 p.m. (CST) Thursday afternoon and continue through the Finals Saturday evening.

Southern Oregon finished second last year at the Nationals and will take 12 wrestlers to this year's event.

“This is a different type of team,” SOU head coach Mike Ritchey said. “This year we have a good mix of vets and new guys that want to prove themselves at the National Championships. Those new guys are the type that just want to go out and compete. Win, lose or draw they are going to go out and give it all they have.”

Lead the SOU charge this year is top-ranked 125-pounder Mitchell Lofstedt (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) and defending 184 National Champion Chris Platt (Eagle Point, Ore./Eagle Point).

Lofstedt has been ranked No. 1 all season long and has lived up to the billing. The sophomore is 38-6 on the season and has a school record 22 pins. The school record for wins in a season is 42 - held by Wes Balensifer (2003-04) and Nick Cline (1996-97).

“He will be disappointed if he doesn't achieve his ranking,” Ritchey said. “But he's gotta stay healthy to do that. Right now he's wrestling as good as he has since he's been here.”

Chris Platt (Eagle Point, Ore./Eagle Point) is 10-3 on the season and like last year should be well-rested heading into the Nationals.

Also wrestling for the Raiders at the Nationals Championships are Jared Dalgliesch (125), Brian Jacob (Tillamook, Ore./Tillamook) (133), Barry Johnson (Dayton, Ore./Dayton) (141), Kyle Wirkuty (Portland, Ore./Centennial) (141), Jimmy Eggemeyer (Kodiak, Alaska/Kodiak) (149), Justin Mills (Lakeport, Calif./Clear Lake) (149), Tommie Hooper (Burns, Ore./Burns) (157), Austin Vanderford (Ninilchik, Alaska/Ninilchik) (174), Ron Lee (197) and John Bates (Oregon City, Ore./Oregon City) (Hwt.)

Johnson will be going for his third All-American title and his third third-place finish at the Nationals.

“Right now Barry is healthy,” Ritchey said. “He has a lot of experience at the Nationals and I'm excited to see how he will perform this year.”