HAYS, Kan. - Two former area wrestlers helped the Central Missouri Mules to a fifth-place finish Sunday in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament.
Tyler Loethen (Helias High School) finished third at 165 pounds and Hunter Neighbors (Jefferson City High School) came in fourth at 133 to help the Mules finish with 43.5 team points. Nebraska-Kearney won the title with 109 points, followed by Lindenwood (84.5), Central Oklahoma (67.5) and the host, Fort Hays State (63). Following the Mules were Newman (4) and Truman (.5).
Loethen opened the event with a 4-1 win against Truman's Devon Fenstermaker before falling 13-7 to Chris Watson of Central Oklahoma.
Loethen then came back to beat Bradley Little of Fort Hays State by an 8-4 score before topping Lindenwood's Luke Roth 7-3 in the third-place match.
Neighbors also posted a first-round victory, as he pinned Fort Hays State's Symon Seaton in 4:59. Neighbors then lost by fall in :49 to Daniel DeShazer of Nebraska-Kearney, but responded with a 3-0 win against Newman's Kris Workman.
Neighbors then lost by fall in 2:16 in the third-place match to Lindenwood's Matt Katusin.
Cory Dauphin of Central Oklahoma was named MIAA Wrestler of the Year after winning the title at 157 pounds. Fort Hays State's Jon Inman, who finished second at 184 pounds, was selected Freshman of the Year.
Lindenwood's Chad Smith was named Coach of the Year.