By Tim Tushla, W.I.N. Writer

One out of four.
That is all Lindenwood University needed from its group of finalists at the NAIA national tournament to take its second consecutive national title. But a look of relief on the face of head coach Joe Parisi was very evident after his 133-pounder, Raymond Stephens, sealed the deal.

In one of the closer team races in years, the Lions (130 points) outdistanced McKendree University (109.5) and Dickinson State (107.5).

Parisi was rewarded with three national champions; Stephens, Ryan Moyer at 149 pounds and 174-pound Matt Cauley.

“It came down to the finals matches and if we had to pick four kids that could go do it for us, those guys definitely could,” noted Parisi.

This year’s scenario did not resemble what the Lions accomplished last year by having all 12 wrestlers gain All-American status. But they will take it.

And don’t think Parisi will be resting on his laurels any time soon. With an influx of new programs in the ever-growing NAIA ranks, the quality of the competition has obviously gotten people’s attention.

“The growth of wrestling in the NAIA is unlike any other division. The quality of athletes at this tournament is undeniable,” said Parisi. “We only have two seniors in this group but we are still going to hit the recruiting trail hard.”

Dickinson State senior-stalwart Justin Schlecht captured his third national title in impressive fashion with a pin of Andrew Sanchez of McKendree. His impressive three pins in four matches garnered the 197-pounder tournament Outstanding Wrestler and NAIA Wrestler of the Year honors.

“There is no way to describe how I feel right now. I have been working really hard with my teammates and after going against the quality guys we have in our room, Saturday nights seem a lot easier,” said Schlecht, whose younger brother, Stanton, dropped the title bout at 165 pounds to Robert Davis of Menlo.

McKendree University’s two finalists — Sanchez and national champion Kyle Jahn at 141 pounds — and seven total All-Americans propelled the Bearcats to the runner-up spot and gained head man James Kisgen NAIA Coach of the Year honors.

“Overall we wrestled well. We had a couple of bumps but our young guys stepped it up and came through for us,” said Kisgen. “We had three freshmen and three sophomores that placed for us out of seven All-Americans and only one senior and he was a national champion.

“The award feels good but I am not the one getting up in the morning and working out. It is a great honor but it really belongs to the boys. I am just the one sitting in the corner.”

Jahn, a three-time finalist, hadn’t expected to see Notre Dame College’s Adam Koballa in the finals. He had his eye on a returning champion.

“The only surprise I had was that I expected to wrestle Zach Flake (who finished sixth) in the final. I hadn’t seen this guy before so I just went out and did what I had to do,” said Jahn, who finished sixth a year ago. “I was a runner-up as a freshman and sophomore and this is a good way to go out. It was nice to be back up on the big stage and on top of the podium.”

Notre Dame, out of South Euclid, Ohio, and only in its second year of competition, had two finalists, Koballa and 157-pound champion Victor Crenshaw. Both are transfers from NCAA Division I programs, Koballa from Old Dominion and Crenshaw from Cleveland State.

The 2009 NAIAs, which will be held in Oklahoma City, Okla., will also see a change in qualifying standards, according to Scott McClure, NAIA Manager of Championship Sports.

“We are moving away from a regional championship format,” he said. “We will have eight to ten teams in four different locations qualifying into the championships.”