CHADRON - The Chadron State Eagles hope to make a strong showing Saturday during the West Regional/RMAC Wrestling Tournament that will be hosted by New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas.
Chadron State coach Scott Ritzen said this will be an extremely competitive tournament led by the teams that are third, fourth and fifth in the latest NCAA Division II rankings and featuring 24 wrestlers who are ranked among the top eight nationally in their weight classes.
Two Eagles are high in the rankings. Josh Majerus is at the top of the 197-pound list and Brett Hunter is second at 165 pounds. Majerus placed second and Hunter was the champion at those weights at last year's national tournament.
Majerus is 30-3 and Hunter is 28-3 this season.
"It will be a big upset and we'll be extremely disappointed if these two don't qualify for nationals again," said Ritzen.
Other top wrestlers for CSC are Devlon Webb (14-11) at 125 pounds, Jimmy Savala (4-1) at 133, Max Baker (26-12) at 149, Willy Jones (23-11) at 174, Sam Udell (15-20) at 184 and Shaine Odell (13-6) at heavyweight. Webb has qualified for nationals each of the past two years, Jones went as a true freshman in 2005 and Odell qualified last year.
At least on paper, the team title shapes up as a showdown between three teams. Adams State is ranked third, Western State fourth and Nebraska-Kearney fifth in the latest Division II poll. At 17th, the Eagles are the only other West Region team that is ranked.
