LA CROSSE, Wis. — Having cemented his name in the Lycoming College wrestling record book as the Warriors’ first three-time NCAA Division III All-American Friday, senior 165-pounder Nolan Barger ended his outstanding four-year career with a sixth-place finish in the La Crosse Center Saturday afternoon.
The former Clearfield Area High School standout kept alive his hopes for a third consecutive bronze medal with a stunning 9-8 victory over Andrew Steiert of Wartburg (Iowa) College in the consolation quarterfinals.
Steiert scored all his points in the first period with a takedown, reversal and four-point near fall off a double arm bar and was leading 8-4 late in the third period when Barger hit a gator roll with just 20 seconds remaining to earn a four-point near fall of his own.
The riding time clock showed Barger with a 58-second advantage, but Warrior coach Roger Crebs appealed and, after a video review, three more seconds were tacked on, giving Barger the winning point.
The sixth seed’s consolation semifinal opponent was Messiah’s Larry Cannon, who had handed him all three of his losses prior to the tourney. And the No. 4 seed triumphed for the fourth time in five meetings this season, 10-2, with two takedowns and a four-point near fall keying the major decision.
In the fifth-place match, Barger was taken down early by Baldwin Wallace’s unseeded Anthony Arroyo (32-6), who worked a guillotine into a fall at 2:12.
Barger was 13-5 in three trips to the nationals and finished 38-6 for a career record of 138-28.
His win total is second in Lycoming history, as are his 47 falls and 13 technical falls. His 23 major decisions rank fourth.
Logan Hermsen (35-2) of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the host school, repeated as 165 champion with a 4-2 (OT-SV) win over No. 3 seed Stephen Jarrell (44-3) of Johnson & Wales (R.I.) University.
Cannon (37-8) was pinned at 1:29 of the his third-place bout with unseeded Lucas Jeske (26-8) of Augsburg (Minn.) College.
No. 8 seed Steiert (16-3) took seventh with an 11-3 major decision over unseeded Davon Jackson (26-13) of Olivet (Mich.) College.
Lycoming senior 149-pounder Seth Lansberry (41-2) placed fourth after being seeded No. 2 with an undefeated record.
The Line Mountain High School grad and Barger combined for 24.5 points, good for 16th place in the standings of the 68 teams that were represented.
Warburg amassed 129.5 points to easily win the team title for the 13th time, including six in the last seven years. The champs had one gold medalist, two silver medalists and six other placewinners.