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SOU is third after first day at NAIA tournament GREAT FALLS, Montana - The Southern Oregon University wrestling team has 11 competitors still alive after the first day of the NAIA National Championships on Friday. SOU, the defending NAIA champions, put four wrestlers into the championship bracket semfinals and still have seven others still alive in the consolation bracket. "We lost some guys that we thought would help us," said SOU coach Mike Ritchey. "It's been an up and down tournament for us. "It's been fun, that's for sure, but we're not where we want to be right now." The Raiders stand in third place overall with 103.5 points. Lindenwood University is in first with 120 points and tournament host Montana State University-Northern stands in second with 107. SOU's Jordan Ottow picked up two victories at 133 pounds, including a 14-6 upset win over top-seeded Andrew Medders of Cumberland College in the quarterfinals. Ottow faces Embry-Riddle's Dustin Sanders today in the semifinals. At 184, fifth-seeded Abe Haddon had two wins and will face top-seeded Montana State Northern's Tyson Thivierge in today semifinal. Also at 184, Devin Parks is still in line for high placing and faces Nick Small of Jamestown College today. Fourth-seeded Michael Sills squares off against No. 1 Michael Irving of Cumberland today in a championship bracket semifinal at 197, while teammate and second-seeded Wesley Balensifer remains in the hunt for a consolation finish with a matchup against Robert Buggs of Huron today. Second-seeded Michael Whitehead remains in position for a title at 285 after two victories on Friday. He faces No. 3 Dan Maynard of Embry-Riddle today in a semifinal match. At 141, Colin Murphy faces Gabe Re of Huron today in the consolation bracket, while SOU teammate Nolan Harris faces Tony Churchill of Simon Fraser today at 125 in other consolation action. At 165, Ryan Henry faces Jason Labrie of Mary today in the consolation bracket, while Chris Huntley remains alive with a consolation match against David Destefano of Cumblerand today. Teammate Shannon Slover matches up with Montana State-Northern's Bobby Mantle today in consolation at 149. TOP 10 TEAM RESULTS Lindenwood University 120, Montana State University-Northern 107, Southern Oregon 103.5, Missouri Valley College 81, University of Wisconsin-Parkside 80.5, Embry-Riddle 69, University of Mary 67, Menlo College 49.5, Simon Fraser 47.5, Cumberland College 46. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.