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Raider wrestlers take aim at national title Nine of 12 ranked among the best By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon University's wrestling team will go after its 18th straight top-eight finish in the NAIA national tournament this weekend. The Raiders, ranked third in the nation, are hoping to stockpile enough points by their top-seeded wrestlers to make a run at the title Thursday through Saturday at St. Charles, Mo. Of SOU's 12-man contingent, nine are nationally ranked. Southern Oregon won national titles in 1978, '83 and '94 under then-head coach Bob Riehm. Mike Ritchey, a former All-American wrestler and national champion for Riehm, has kept the program at a high level with national finishes of fifth, sixth and seventh the last three years. The Raiders have a good chance to finish third or higher, says Ritchey. Top-rated Montana State-Northern, the defending national champion, is favored to successfully defend its title. "They have a lot of wrestlers back, and they're tough," says Ritchey. "But we think we have a chance to get them. "A couple of our guys will be going head-to-head against their people. Those will be big matches that I think we can win." Ryan Escobar of Southern Oregon is top-ranked in the 125-pound division. The Raiders' sophomore has a chance to become an All-American (top-eight finish) for the second straight season. Escobar finished second in the nationals last year. Escobar takes a 26-3 record into the tournament. Two of his losses were to Pac-10 champion Moses Delphin of Cal State-Bakersfield and to Stephen Abas of Fresno State, the Big West champion at 125. "Ryan is in good position to win the national championship," says Ritchey. "He just needs to go do it now. If everything goes right, he could go right through the bracket and win it." Southern Oregon senior Jamie Haddon is ranked second in the nation at 197 pounds. He hopes to earn a spot in the title match against Montana State-Northern defending national champion Turk Lords. "I've beaten tougher guys than him this year," says Haddon. "I was pretty disappointed last year when I got fifth in the national tournament. "This is my last chance, and I think I'm good enough to win it. I need to be mentally tough and concentrate on having the best tournament of my career. If I do that, I should win it." Other Southern Oregon wrestlers scheduled to compete in the tournament are Victor Perry (ranked third in the nation at 184 pounds), Bill Wathen (fifth at 197), Josh Morton (fifth at 157), Brian Samhammer (fifth at 174), Dan Sturgell (eighth at 184), Justin Thurman (eighth at 133), Chris Bettineski (eighth at 141), Jessie Mindlin (fifth at 149) and Abe Haddon (unranked at 174). "Samhammer and Abe can give us the potential to score big points at 174," says Ritchey. "We need to get them seeded away from each other in the first round. That way, both of them can get us team points we need." Southern Oregon has produced 115 All-Americans since 1969, including 15 national champions. SOU had its 29th straight winning season in dual matches, going 7-3 record. They lost only to Oregon, Oregon State and Portland State. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.