March 3, 2007

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Lindenwood University (Mo.) scored 177 points, 67 points more than runner-up Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.), to win the 2007 NAIA National Wrestling Championship. The win is their second national championship in three years. After tonight, Lindenwood has won 21 individual championships in its program's history, good for seventh all-time.

Delrico Choats (31-4) of University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) defeated Cory Borges (13-8) of Montana State University-Northern in a 7-5 decision to win his second consecutive 125 lbs. NAIA championship. Choates was a runner-up in 125 lbs. in 2005.

In the 133 lbs. class, three time All-American Mike Miller (28-5) of McKendree College (Ill.) defeated Burke Barnes (26-4) by fall at 2:58 to become the first wrestling National Champion at McKendree. Barnes came in at 3^rd place last year in the 125 lbs. class.

Zach Flake (20-2) of Campbellsville University (Ky.) won a 7-6 decision over Brad Cooper (37-4) of the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the 141-pound division. The individual championship was also the first for Campbellsville in wrestling. Cooper was a three-time All-American, placed third in 2004, and was runner-up in 2006.

Waldorf (Iowa) College's Brad Stockton (22-4) won a 6-3 decision over Darren Cotton (33-3) of William Penn University (Iowa). Stockton, a runner-up in 2005, and fourth place finisher in 2004 and 2006, has defeated 5 national champions in his college career. Darren Cotton was a four-time All-American, two-time runner up (2005, 2007) 3^rd place finisher in 2006, and fourth place finisher in 2004. Stockton was also named the 2007 Gorriaran Memorial Most Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's (Ariz.) Hayden Harrison (43-9) won a 12-7 decision over David Clemens (34-2) of Campbellsville University (Ky.). Harrison gave Clemens his only two blemishes on his record this season.

Jake Dieffenbach (37-3) of Lindenwood was also a repeat champion after taking a 9-8 decision over Shane Bennett (28-8) of Dickinson State University (N.D.). Dieffenbach, a runner-up in 2005 was a three-time All-American.

In the 174-pound class, John Salter (38-7) of Lindenwood defeated teammate Matt Cauley (26-8) in a 3-1 decision. Salter was a three-time qualifier, while Cauley was a two-time qualifier.

Morningside (Iowa) College's career win leader Jake Stevenson (23-1) took a 3-1 decision over three-time All-American and 2005 runner-up Joffre Lander (30-12) of Embry-Riddle.

Justin Schlecht (34-3) of Dickinson State, defending 197-pound champion, repeated as champion by fall at 4:35 over Brian Fritchman of Montana State-Northern. Fritchman came in eighth place in 2006. Schlecht was also named NAIA-NWCA Outstanding Wrestler of the Year.

In the last match of the evening, Eric Flinchum (32-1) of Cumberlands (Ky.), a four-time All-American and runner-up in 2005 and 2006 at 197 lbs., defeated Lance Shunia (42-9) of Lindenwood in a 9-1 major decision.

Award winners on the night included Lindenwood's Head Coach Joe Parisi, the recipient of the 2007 NAIA National Coach of the Year award, Calvin DeVault of Embry-Riddle won the Most Falls/Least Time award, Jamestown College (N.D.) received the Buffalo Funds Champions of Character Team Award, and Northwestern College (Iowa) received the Team Sportsmanship Award.

For more information and results, visit www.naia.org.