Kyle Kwiat wins 174-pound title at NCAA III Wrestling Championships

By: Tim Glon

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LACROSSE, Wis. — Junior Kyle Kwiat wrapped up a magical season by winning the national title in the 174-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Saturday night at the LaCrosse Center.

Third-seeded Kwiat ends his season with a 39-1 record after his 7-4 victory over fourth-seeded Bradley Banks (30-4) of Wartburg (Iowa) in the finals.

Kwiat is Northern's fourth national champion and its third three-time All-American.

He also won a new award presented by the National Wrestling Coaching Association for the most technical falls in the nation with 16.

"Kyle came out and wrestled aggressive all week," ONU head coach Ron Beaschler said. "He maintained his composure. He got takedowns and did exactly what he was supposed to do and what you need to do to win at this level. We are very proud of him. He had a great season."

In the title match, Banks got a takedown just five seconds into the match to take a quick 2-0 lead, but that did not faze Kwiat.

He got a reversal about a minute later and a takedown later in the period to take a 4-3 lead.

Leading 5-4 in the third period, Kwiat got another takedown at the 1:05 mark and rode Banks the remainder of the match to grab the title.

"I'm on a cloud right now," Kwiat said. "I was really focused and tried to be aggressive. The early takedown might have gotten me down in the past but tonight I was going to be aggressive throughout and it paid off. I still can't believe it. It really hasn't sunk in."

Kwiat turned in an impressive performance to defeat second-seeded Michael Schmitz of host Wisconsin-LaCrosse in the semifinals Saturday morning.

Schmitz had defeated Kwiat in each of the two previous NCAA Championships tournaments, but it was Kwiat's turn in 2012.

Kwiat started strong with a takedown in the first 15 seconds of the match to take a quick 2-0 lead.

Schmitz countered with a reversal, and after a Kwiat escape, a takedown to go up 4-3.

Kwiat again escaped and the first period ended in a 4-4 tie.

Kwiat got a quick escape to begin period two and his second takedown of the match gave him a 7-4 lead heading into the third and final period.

The Polar Bear put the match away with a 2-point near fall midway through the period and rode out Schmitz to grab the riding time point and the 10-4 victory.

He guaranteed himself All-America honors with a 17-0 tech. fall victory over James Roach of Saint Olaf (Minn.) in the quarterfinals Friday night.

He defeated Ryan Dorman of Stevens (N.J.) 7-1 in the first round Friday morning and is 3-0 in the tournament.

Kwiat earned All-America honors with a fourth place finish in 2010 and accomplished the feat again with a fifth place finish in 2011.

Senior Mick Letcher (32-11) ended the tournament with a 2-2 record at 157 pounds and was one victory away from a top-8 finish and All-America honors for the second consecutive season.

He wrapped up his career with a 107-41 record in four seasons at ONU.

Senior Billy Painter went 0-2 at 165 pounds on Friday and ends his season with a 26-9 record.

In his four years as a Polar Bear, Painter boasts an 87-39 career record.

Junior Jeremy Jones went 0-2 Friday afternoon in the 133-pound weight class and ended his season with a 22-14 record.