After finishing just short in two matches last year of a trip to the national tournament, Pacific University junior Caleb Malychewski made sure that he would not miss out as a junior.
The 184-pounder became Pacific’s first national meet qualifier in seven years Saturday, placing second in his weight class to lead the Boxers at the NCAA Division III West Regional, held at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
The Camas High School graduate led the Boxers to eighth place in the team standings, their best team finish since 2006, with a total of 411/2 points.
Unlike the previous year where he wrestled six matches in a fourth place finish at 174 pounds, Malychewski needed just two victories to advance to final and punch his ticket to nationals. After a first round bye, Malychewski opened the day with a 7-1 quarterfinals victory over LaQuan Hightower of Wisconsin-Platteville.
The junior secured his trip to nationals with his 30th win of the season in the semifinals, a 3-1 decision over Matt Rieckhoff of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
The victory made him the Boxers’ first 30-match winner since Nick Locke won 31 matches during the 2007-08 season.
Malychewski finished just short of the Boxers’ first individual regional title since 2002, falling to Mitchell Hagen of St. John’s (Minn.) in a third-round fall.
Malychewski (30-8) will compete at the NCAA Division III National Championships, which takes place March 15-16 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena in Iowa.
CCC honors Concordia women’s track, field
The Concordia women’s indoor track and field team shared honors as Cascade Collegiate Conference team of the week with the College of Idaho squad, following last week’s NAIA indoor nationals in Geneva, Ohio.
The Concordia women’s team tallied 61 points for a third-place finish. The total eclipsed the former school best of 27 points scored during an eighth-place result last season. Included in the point total were individual championships won by Clark County athletes Gabi Dixson and Junia Limage.
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