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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 28, 2004 Three Raiders wrestle for NAIA titles today GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Top-ranked heavyweight Wes Balensifer was one of three Southern Oregon University wrestlers to reach today’s semifinals at the NAIA Championships. The sixth-ranked Raiders are in fifth place after Friday in the two-day national tournament. Host Montana State-Northern leads the field with 94½ points, followed by Menlo College, just half a point behind. Defending national champion Missouri Valley stands in third (71), while Dana College, Neb. (63), and Southern Oregon (59½ ) round out the top five. "A national title is probably out of reach right now," SOU head coach Mike Ritchey said. "We’re looking to shoot for a trophy." Balensifer improved to 40-2 and broke the school career win-by-fall record (27) by pinning Si Tanka (S.D.) Huron’s Wild Mike Pata in the first round, followed by a 4-2 decision over defending national champion Roger Miller of Lindenwood in the quarterfinals. Balensifer avenged a quarterfinal loss to Miller in last year’s tournament. Advertisement "It was a huge match for Wes," said Ritchey. "(Miller) had a hard style for Wes to wrestle. He had to take him down to beat him." The senior form Warrenton faces second-ranked Brandon Lemer of Jamestown, N.D., in the semis. The Raiders’ Brian Wilson (165) and David O’Brien (184) also reached the semifinals. Wilson went 3-0 on the day, clinched a back-to-back 30-win season (currently 31-9) and bagged fifth-ranked Drew Dickerson of Missouri Valley in the quarters. Wilson has a semifinal showdown against top-ranked Leister Bowling of Dickinson, N.D. O’Brien topped No. 6 Justin Williams in the quarterfinals and must contend with second-seeded Mario Thomas of Missouri Valley this morning. "(O’Brien) struggled in the first match," said Ritchey, "but he came through in the quarterfinals. He’s just being aggressive." SOU has three other wrestlers — Colin Murphy (149), Jimmy Grochowsky (157) and Josh Fitzgerald (174) — who are one consolation bracket victory away from achieving All-American status . "It’s kind of an average year for us at this point," said Ritchey. "Hopefully, we can finish with three national champions. That’s something we’ve never accomplished in one year." Softball SOUTHERN OREGON 3, BUTTE J.C. 2 — At Oroville, Calif., SOU’s scheduled appearance in the Bay Area’s Menlo tournament was nixed by heavy rains, so the Raiders played Butte Junior College. The Raiders (4-1) found the winning run when Kara Ray rapped her third hit, then scored from third base when a pickoff attempt hit her in the back, enabling her to scramble home in the top of the seventh inning. SOU posted four hits to Butte’s three, and freshman Megan Beugli earned the pitching victory by working the sixth inning. Miranda Gillaspie pitched the first five innings, then came back for the final two outs in the seventh to pick up a save. Leann Foster was the only Raider besides Ray to collect a hit. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s