Lakeland College

Renon ready for National Tournament

Athletics - posted on 3/5/2012

Lakeland College junior wrestler Ryan Renon has proved he belongs in the discussion of the nation's best Division III wrestlers at 165 pounds. Now he's focused on achieving his goal of becoming an All-American at the NCAA Division National Championship Tournament on March 9-10 in La Crosse, Wis.

Renon made it five straight years that Lakeland's program has sent a wrestler to the National Tournament. Renon qualified for his first trip to Nationals after winning the title at 165 at the Great Lakes Regional on Feb. 25 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Renon is just the seventh wrestler in the program's history to wrestle at the National Tournament, and he'll make his debut at the La Crosse Convention Center in La Crosse, Wis.

He'll will look to top off his prolific career with a top-six finish at Nationals, which would make him Lakeland's third All-American.

The Wrightstown, Wis., native enters Nationals with a 31-4 record. Renon won his third consecutive Northern Wrestling Association Title on Feb. 18, placed first at the Muskie Invite on Nov. 12 and the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invite on Dec. 3.

Renon finished second at the Concordia Open on Nov. 19, with his only loss coming to top-seeded Landon Williams of No. 1-ranked Wartburg College. The Concordia Open is one of the largest NCAA Division III tournaments and consisted of roughly 350 wrestlers and 30 teams from seven different states.

He six technical falls this season are tied for ninth in the nation, and Renon has been ranked seventh by both d3wrestle.com and the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Brute - Adidas Individual Ranking.

In just three seasons on the wrestling team, Renon has accumulated 342 nearfall points to set a new career record in program history. He has tallied 203 career takedowns, which ranks fifth, 314 team points, which ranks sixth, and 81 wins, which ranks seventh.

Head coach Mike DeRoehn believes Renon has what it takes to become an All-American. See what DeRoehn says about Renon's tremendous season:http://youtu.be/ekTeYhxfPjc

What would becoming an All-American mean to Renon? Find out here:http://youtu.be/ieUTiKjiVR0

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