WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – For the third consecutive year, Notre Dame College's heavyweight
La'Ron Parks will be heading to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Parks grabbed third place in his weight class at the Super Regional III Tournament, on Saturday. Also placing at regionals were
Matthew Kaufmann (4th place at 157 lbs.),
Ethan Aguiniga (5th place at 165) and
JaRi Campbell (6th place at 125).
To start the day, Campbell won his first match, taking down Davis & Elkins' Nicholas Ammirati, with a 3-2 decision. After a loss in the quarterfinal, he defeated Bluefield State's Luke Roberts, by decision. Campbell would get injured in the consolation semifinal, but still took sixth place at 125 lbs.
Kaufmann had an impressive day. After losing to Glenville State's No. 6 ranked Guy Deleonardis in the quarterfinal, he won three straight bouts in the consolation bracket. The senior moved past Davis & Elkins' Gabriel Pujadas (tech fall), Davenport's Jamarco Moore (tech fall) and West Liberty's Jamar Williams (major decision). In the 157 lbs. Third Place Match, he erased an early deficit with a nearfall and trailed by just one point, 7-6, at the end of the first period. However, Ashland's No. 5 ranked Drew Wiechers was able to get the victory with a pin.
Kyle Richards wrestled at 197 and he grabbed a win with a pin of Bluefield State's Jordan Ruedi, just over a minute into the match.
Finally,
La'Ron Parks put on another show at heavyweight. After receiving a bye in round one, the senior moved past Lake Erie's Dylan Norris with a 10-3 decision in the quarterfinal. A close 4-1 match in the semifinal went to Glenville State's Gavin Shamblin in sudden victory. But, Parks did not skip a beat in the consolation bracket, as he pinned Giulian Bodiu (Findlay), in less than two minutes. He then faced Tiffin's Clayton Ours in the Third Place Match. The Falcons' grappler built a steady lead and then, at the 4:50-mark in the match, he pinned Ours to punch his ticket to the national tournament.
Parks will wrestle for a National Championship, on March 15 and 16, in Park City, Kansas.
