March 4, 2002
Two Members of the Truman Wrestling Team Make the National Cut
Two members of the Truman wrestling team have earned berths to the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships to be held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, in Kenosha on Friday and Saturday, March 8-9.
Freshman Merrick Meyer (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) earned his first trip to nationals by virtue of his top four finish at the Midwest regional championships in Aberdeen S.D., on Feb. 24. Meyer led the team with a 31-9 record, becoming just the ninth wrestler in school history to earn 30 or more wins in a season. He placed fourth at 141 pounds at the regional meet, going 3-1 for the day.
The top four place finishers at the regional meet earn automatic berths to the national meet. However, sophomore Grant Strickland (Wagoner, Okla.) will also be making the trip, despite finishing fifth at the regional meet with a 3-3 record for the tournament. Strickland earned his trip after the No. 1 finisher at 125 pounds from Central Missouri was disqualified from the national meet for cutting weight after weigh-ins had taken place at regionals.
Strickland takes a 16-21 record with him to the DII tournament.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 3-8 record in dual meets, but are sending individuals to nationals for the 10th-straight season.