Air Force Academy
West Regionals
Hoy, McKim Qualify for NCAA wrestling championships
3/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 8, 2003
CHARLESTON, IL -- The Air Force wrestling team finished in second place at the West Regional wrestling tournament, but are only sending two wrestlers to nationals. Kevin Hoy (Hwt) and Heath McKim (125) each won their weight classes to earn an automatic bid to the 2002-03 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
The Panthers tallied 126 points to beat the Air Force Academy (59.5), Fresno State (53.5), Wyoming (51) and host Eastern Illinois University (27.5).
Heavyweight Kevin Hoy from the Air Force Academy was selected the 'Outstanding Wrestler' after winning both of his matches against ranked opponents, 7-2 over Brad Steele of Wyoming and 6-4 over Paul Hynek of UNI in the championship match.
Heath McKim defeated Northern Iowa's Chris Helgeson with a 5-3 decision to win the 125-pound weight class. Luke Lefever (184) won second place but was snubbed for an at-large bid. It marks the third consecutive season that an Air Force wrestler won second place at the 184-pound weight class but did not receive an at-large bid.
Brad Penrith of Northern Iowa was voted the West Regional 'Coach of the Year'. UNI won seven of the ten weight classes.
The weight class champions are as follows:
125 - Heath McKim (Air Force) beat Chris Helgeson (Northern Iowa), 5-3 decision
133 - Pat Garcia (Northern Iowa) beat Pat Dowty (Eastern Illinois), 6-2 decision
141 - Dylan Long (Northern Iowa) beat Casey Olson (Fresno State), 3-0 decision
149 - Jon Garvin (Northern Iowa) beat Zhon Kuraspediani (Fresno State), 12-4 major decision
157 - Chris Bitetto (Northern Iowa) beat Jim Medeiros (Fresno State), 5-3 decision
165 - Levi Prevost (Wyoming) beat Drew Kelly (Northern Iowa), 3-2 decision
174 - Eric Hauan (Northern Iowa) beat Eddy Gifford (Fresno State), 10-6 decision
184 - Jordan Holm (Northern Iowa) beat Luke Lefever (Air Force), 10-2, major decision
197 - Sean Stender (Northern Iowa) beat Kevin Kessner (Wyoming), 5-4 decision
Hwt - Kevin Hoy (Air Force) beat Paul Hynek (Northern Iowa), 6-4 decision.
They advance to the NCAA National Championship Thursday-Saturday, March 20-22 at Kansas City's Kemper Arena.
Eleven 'wild card' selections also were chosen to compete in the NCAA championship meet. They are Pat Dowty (EIU) at 133, Casey Olson (Fresno State) at 141, Jim Medeiros (Fresno State) and Andy Shuler (Wyoming) at 157, Drew Kelly (Northern Iowa) and Ben Baca (Fresno State) at 165, Eddy Gifford (Fresno State) at 174, Kevin Kessner (Wyoming) and Marcio Botehlo (Fresno State) at 197, Brad Steele (Wyoming) and Paul Hynek (Northern Iowa) at heavyweight.
