March 18, 2003
Truman Wrestler Reaches NCAA Final; Bulldogs Complete Injury Plagued Season
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The 2002-03 Bulldog wrestling season ended on Friday as sophomore Merrick Meyer (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) became the first Truman wrestler to reach an NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship final since 1968 and placed second in the nation at 141 pounds. Meyer won three-straight matches, two by fall, to get to the final match and become the first 'Dog to garner all-America status in three years. It was his second trip the the NCAA tourney. He finished the year with a 33-3 record and is 65-14 over the last two seasons for the 'Dogs.
Senior Corey Crandall (Buckner, Mo./Fort Osage) also represented Truman at the DII championships and won his first match at 157 pounds, before losing his next two bouts. Crandall became the 11th Bulldog to post a 30-win season as he finished with a 30-12 record this year and has a career record of 93-65 since 1999.
Sophomore Gregg Nurrenbern (Fulton, Mo.) had the third-most wins on the team (26-7) and was ranked among the top eight in the nation at 184 pounds during the season. He was the only other Bulldog to place at the Midwest regional meet, besides Meyer and Crandall, taking fifth overall.
Truman struggled with injuries for nearly the entire season, forcing head coach Dave Schutter to move wrestlers around, especially at the heavier weight classes. Junior Kelley Latting (St. Anne, Ill./Bishop) and freshman Chris Pivirotto (St. Charles, Mo./Lindbergh) posted 13-13 and 17-17 records, respectively. Latting moved up to help at 165 this season after wrestling at 157 a year ago, while Pivirotto jumped up to the 174-pound class mid-season from 165.
The Bulldogs were 2-11 in duals for the 2002-03 season and will only need to find a replacement for one senior next season, Crandall.