Wrestling

Ficht Heads to Nationals

          EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- John Ficht (Burbank) placed fourth in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ashland, Ohio, Saturday, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II championships.
          Ficht will compete at Kearney, Neb., March 9-10.
          Ficht placed fourth in the 165-pound division. He started the tournament with a loss to Truman State's Blake Peterson in a 5-1 decision, but he fought back in the wrestlebacks to defeat Justin Shannon, of Findlay, in a 3-1 decision and Vince Bertucci from Central Missouri in a 12-2 major decision to qualify.
          "I think he has a chance to be an All-American if he wrestled like he did last weekend," said SIUE wrestling Assistant Coach Ron Bessemer.
          To earn All-American status, Ficht must place among the top eight in the national tournament.
          "If you are able to place in the top eight among the top Division II wrestlers you are in the elite. It is not a small task by any means," said Bessemer.
          Ficht has two weeks to prepare for nationals, and the whole team will rally around him to help him prepare.
          "We are going to try and give him some new things to work on," said Bessemer.
          The NCAA Division II Championships will start Friday, March 9, at 11 a.m. in Kearney, Neb.
                    -siue-