Lakeland College

Renon regional champ at 165

Athletics - posted on 2/25/2012

Junior Ryan Renon became the second wrestler ever in the Lakeland College wrestling team's history to win his weight class at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional when he took the 165-pound weight class Saturday in Minneapolis, Minn.

Renon becomes Lakeland's seventh grappler to earn a trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament and will look to become the college's third All-American on March 9-10 in La Crosse, Wis.

The Wrightstown, Wis., native placed first after a dominant showing in every round, blowing past his competition in every match. The No. 1 seeded Renon earned a 14-0 major decision over Casey Kenealy of Concordia University Wisconsin in the first round and recorded a 16-3 major decision over Josten Coleman in round two.

In the semi-finals, Renon took a 7-2 decision over Matt Burns of Augustana and in the championship match he earned a 12-6 decision over Tom Teigen of the No. 4-ranked Augsburg College.

Renon enters Nationals with an impressive 31-4 record.

Senior Robby Frias (Oak Lawn, Ill.) finished fifth in a highly competitive 149-pound class after he earned a 12-6 decision over Ryan Arne of No. 8 Saint John's University. Frias advanced to the semi-final match, but fell in a 4-2 decision to Alberto Quiros of Augstana.

Frias ends a prolific season with 33-15 record and will serve as an alternate at Nationals

Sophomore Grant Franson (Lindenhurst, Ill.) placed sixth at 125 after falling 7-3 in the fifth-place match to Wesley Azariah to round out Lakeland's place winners.

Lakeland finished 10th in the 15-team regional with 40.5 points.

The grapplers return to the mats as Renon heads to the National Tournament on March 9-10 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.

Team Scores:
1. Augsburg (Minn.) 172.5
2. St. John's (Minn.) 110.5
3. Elmhurst (Ill.) 108.5
4. St. Olaf (Minn.) 89.0
5. Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) 87.5
6. Augustana (Ill.) 67.5
7. North Central (Ill.) 53.0
8. Univ. of Chicago (Ill.) 49.5
9. Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) 41.0
10. Lakeland (Wis.) 40.5
11. Wheaton (Ill.) 31.5
12. Pacific (Ore.) 17.5
13. Concordia-Wisconsin 16.5
14. Knox (Ill.) 9.5
15. Maranatha Baptist Bible (Wis.) 8.0