Redshirt-freshman, Pernevlon Sheppard (141-pounds) won his first two matches by technical fall (18-0) and major decision (13-3), and that led to a semi-final matchup against the nationally ranked No. 3 wrestler, Bryce Killian from King University. Sheppard edged out the No. 1 seed, 11-10, winning the match with riding time. In the weight class finals, Pernevlon had 1-0 lead after the first two rounds, but closed out the match 3-2 claiming the first Championship of the day for the Rangers.
In the 165-pound weight class, Nick Fishback walked into the division championship match with three wins including a tech fall and a major decision. The finals featured two nationally ranked wrestlers, Fishback ranked third and Matt Vandermeer ranked seventh from Lake Erie College. The match was tied 0-0 after the first round. Vandermeer started on top in the second round and took a 1:01 edge in riding time before Fishback took the lead with a one-point escape. Fishback started the third round on top, and he rode Vandermeer the entire two minutes to secure the 1-0 victory. Fishback will now head back to the NCAA Division II Championships for the second year in a row; last year he earned All-American honors at the event.
Nick Becker (174-pounds) walked into the Super Regionals undefeated at 33-0, and he walked out of the event with four additional wins each by major decision. Becker is ranked first in the nation, and he went head-to-head against the fourth ranked Blaze Shade of UNC-Pembroke in the championship match winning 9-1.
In his first two matches, Montrail Johnson (184-pounds) made short work of his competition winning the first match by major decision (14-2) and he pinned his second opponent at 4:14 in the match. The weight class finals saw No. 3 ranked Huston Evans of Newberry College up against Parkside's Johnson ranked No. 7 in the nation. After being accused of stalling while tied 0-0 in the second round, Johnson wasted no time collecting four points with a near fall, and went on to win the championship 5-1.
The first Ranger to punch their ticket to the NCAA Championships was 125-pounder, Ronzel Darling. After winning his first match 5-3, Ronzel dropped his next match 3-2, to fifth ranked Josh Kieffer of University of Indianapolis. On the consolation side of the bracket, Darling won his next match by pin fall (5:39). In the third place match, Ronzel found himself trailing 6-5 in the third round, but managed to get a two-point takedown with less than ten seconds left in the match, winning 7-6 and securing his place at nationals.
Joseph Her (133-pounds) started off the Regional Championship going 3-1 in his first four matches, including two major decision wins and advancing to the third place match. There Her was going up against eighth ranked, Derrick Nelson of Coker College. Her won his third place match 6-4 with a late third round takedown.
UW-Parkside earned its first Regional Championship in team history with an overall score of 121 points. Second place Ashland University finished with 106.5 points and Newberry College took third with 97 points. At the event, Sheppard earned the Freshman of the Year award, and coach Gregg Lewis was named Regional Coach of the Year.
The six qualifying Rangers will head to Sioux Falls, SD for the NCAA Division II Championships, which begin on March 11.
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