After second day, sophomore Adam Joseph within reach of third place finish at NAIA National Championships

At the close of the second day of action on Friday, Mar. 2 in Des Moines, Iowa at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships, Concordia University (Neb.) sophomore Adam Joseph (Hastings, Neb.) is just two wins away from a third place finish in the 133-pound weight class.

Joseph began the day with an 8-5 loss in the quarterfinals to  8-5  Lindsey Wilson's Keith Klink. Undaunted, Joseph battled back to earn decisions over Brian Bitney of Missouri Valley, 11-4 and Menlo's Angel Garcia, 4-2.

Following his two victories in the consolation bracket, Joseph can advance to the third place match with a win over Tim Thurston (CBSV) on Saturday, Mar. 3.

Sophomore Dillon Heesch (Dayton, Iowa) went down by pinfall to Oklahoma City's Mike Brown at the 3:30 mark in the quarterfinals and dropped a consolation match to Leviticus Roberson of Midland by pinfall as well.

The toughest loss of the afternoon  was the 13-12 decision suffered by freshman Rio Rancho, N.M.)  in the 141-pound weight class.  Williams just missed overcoming Chris Teague of Campbellsville in the closing moments of the match.  Williams earned a consolation victory over Tommy Pretty of Campbellsville, via pin at the 6:44 mark.  However, was eliminated by Lindsey Wilson's DaMonte Riley in the ensuing consolation round.

Senior Julian Silva (Covina, Calif.) posted three victories in the 197-pound consolation bracket before finally succombing to Northwestern's Nic Leither via pinfall.  Silva began the day by out muscling Manuel Rocha of Wayland Baptist, 5-1.  Later he bested Central Baptist's John Lopez, by a 3-0 score, then defeated Courtney Freeman of Cumberlands, 12-8.

NAIA Wrestling National Championships Results for Concordia, Friday, March 2

133 - Adam Joseph
Quarterfinal - Keith Klink (Lindsey Wilson) won by decision over Adam Joseph (Concordia) (Dec 8-5)

Cons. Round 6 - Adam Joseph (Concordia) won by decision over Brian Bitney (Missouri Valley) (Dec 11-4)

Cons. Round 7 - Adam Joseph (Concordia) won by decision over Angel Garcia (Menlo) (Dec 4-2)

141 - Jacob Williams
Quarterfinal - Chris Teague (Campbellsville) won by decision over Jacob Williams (Concordia) (Dec 13-12)
Cons. Round 6 - Jacob Williams (Concordia) won by pin over Tommy Pretty (Campbellsville) (Pin 6:44)
Cons. Round 7 - DaMonte Riley (Lindsey Wilson) won by pin over Jacob Williams (Concordia) (Pin 2:11)

149 - Brandon Starkey
Cons. Round 4 - Mike Vassar (Great Falls) won by tech fall over Brandon Starkey (Concordia) (TF 18-3)

197 - Julian Silva
Cons. Round 2 - Julian Silva (Concordia) won by decision over Manuel Rocha (Wayland Baptist) (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Julian Silva (Concordia) won by decision over John Lopez (Central Baptist) (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Julian Silva (Concordia) won by decision over Courtney Freeman (Cumberlands) (Dec 12-8)
Cons. Round 5 - Nic Leither (Northwestern) won by pin over Julian Silva (Concordia) (Pin 2:54)

285 - Dillon Heesch
Quarterfinal - Mike Brown (Oklahoma City) won by pin over Dillon Heesch (Concordia) (Pin 3:30)

Cons. Round 4 - Leviticus Roberson (Midland) won by pin over Dillon Heesch (Concordia) (Pin 6:46)