Jones Earns All-American At Wrestling Nationals

SPARTANBURG, SC - The Spartanburg Methodist College wrestling team came home from nationals this past weekend with a Top 30 finish and its newest All-American.

With an eighth place finish at nationals, in the 133 weight class, Chris Jones (Travelers Rest HS/Greenville, SC) became SMC's sixth All-American wrestler.

Despite a 4-0 loss to Muskegon College's Tom Webster in the first round,  Jones went on to win the next four rounds in consolation by defeating Ali Mohammed  (North Iowa Area CC) 8-6; Ryan Layton (Gloucester County College) 10-1; Emesto Omelas (Mercyhurst College North East) 18-8; and Donnie Curtis (Labette CC) 8-1.  Jones's streak was stopped by a 9-1 loss to Southwest Oregon CC's Ryan Arnad.

Jones took a 5-2 loss to Craig Chilies, of St. Louis CCC-Meramec, in the battle for seventh place and finished instead at eighth in his weight class. Jones had finished first in his weight class at the Eastern 2 division to qualify for nationals.

"Chris wrestled great this year and I am extremely proud of him.  It was very exciting watching him wrestle the match to get into the All-American round. He was wrestling at toughest weight in the tournament where there were six returning All-Americans. But we have had at least one All-American for the past four years now and Chris kept that tradition going," said head coach Robbie Higdon.

Freshman wrestler Luke Campbell also put points on the board at nationals for SMC in the 125 weight class.
 
Campbell (Laurens HS/ Enoree, SC) suffered a 13-8 loss in the first round to Ricardo Gomez, of Nassau CC, but won 2-1 in consolation against Gloucester County College's Andre Thompson.  Campbell fell out of the bracket in the next round with a 34-second pin by Justin Purves, of Highline CC.  Both Gomez and Purves went on the become All-Americans.

SMC freshman Andrew Tillman (Abbeville HS / Abbeville, SC), who placed third in the 141 weight class at districts, went out at nationals in two rounds. Tillman was pinned in 2:32 in the first round by McCade Ford, of Northwest Wyoming CC; he was eliminated from the tournament in the consolation bracket by Jared Ernst (Rend Lake College), on a 9-2 decision.

Freshman Nick Voss (Buford HS/ Buford, GA) wrestled a 7-3 loss to Hayden Peterson (Western Wyoming CC) in the first round in the 149 weight class. Voss fell out of the tournament in the consolation round when he was overpowered 17-7 by Jake Zeiher (Rochester Community & Technical College).

"Andrew and Nick wrestled tough but lost both matches. But I am very proud of all the guys - they have all wrestled extremely well all season long," added Higdon.

The Pioneers finished as a team 29th for the second year in a row behind the champion, Harper with 137 points.

Spartanburg Methodist College is in its 99th year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment.  More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.   

For more information contact the SMC Office of Sports Information at (864) 587-4008.