Lovvorn wins 174-pound national title

Sophomore+Lucas+Lovvorn+took+home+the+national+championship+in+the+174-pound+bracket+after+going+a+perfect+5-0+in+the+2018+NAIA+Wrestling+National+Tournament.+

Alex Fortuna

Sophomore Lucas Lovvorn took home the national championship in the 174-pound bracket after going a perfect 5-0 in the 2018 NAIA Wrestling National Tournament.

Story by Nathalia Barr, Managing Editor

Sophomore Lucas Lovvorn became Baker’s fourth wrestling national champion as he took the 174-pound bracket at the 2018 NAIA Wrestling National Championships on March 3.

Baker’s previous national champs include 133-pound Bryce Shoemaker in 2014, 149-pound Victor Hughes and 157-pound Colby Crank in 2016.

Lovvorn entered the national tournament as the top seed and ended his 5-0 run in a 6-2 decision in the final match over Providence’s Adrain Lyons-Lopez.

Four other Baker wrestlers competed at the national tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. Sophomore David Dow became a two-time All-American as he finished in fifth place in the 197-pound bracket. Sophomore Jacob Smith also earned All-American status with a sixth-place finish in the 184-pound bracket. Freshman Colby Johnson competed in the 149-pound bracket, and Johnson was named Baker’s Champion of Character. Freshman Dylan Pelland also competed for Baker in the 125-pound bracket.

Heart of America Athletic Conference rival Grand View took home first place for the seventh year in a row. As a team, the Wildcats finished 12th with 44.5 points.

Head coach Cody Garcia will take his wrestlers into his fourth season at Baker next year and hope to return to the national tournament.