Five wrestlers will return to the mat in Cedar Rapids to defend their title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the qualifiers for the 2011 NAIA Wrestling National Championships on Wednesday. 

The 54th annual event will take place at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 3 – 5. The first of six sessions is set to get underway at 11 a.m. CST on March 3. Brackets will be posted March 2 by 9 p.m.

Among the 323 qualifiers are 25 returning All-Americans, including five defending national champions. Vying for a second-consecutive title will be Campbellsville’s (Ky.) Tommy Pretty, Glenn Rhees of Grand View (Iowa) at 174 pounds and Notre Dame’s (Ohio) Jeffrey Pelton (149), Thomas Straugh (157) and Derek Foore (197). Pretty captured the 133-pound national championship a season ago, but has bumped up to 141 pounds in his junior season. 

Six of 2010’s All-Americans have shifted weight class, including Myles Mazurkiewicz of Great Falls (Mont.) shifting from 133 to 141 and Cumberland’s (Tenn.) James Casadaban moving from 157 to 165. Both Chris Chionuma of Lindenwood (Mo.) and Hastings’ (Neb.) Jameon Rush climbed to 174 after spending last season at 165.

Each weight class will have at least one returning All-American in action in Cedar Rapids, with both 141 and 165 pounds featuring five All-Americans.

Reigning team champion Notre Dame qualified 12 individuals to the national championships and two-time runner-up Southern Oregon will send 11. 

NeuLion will stream live all 10 individual weight class championship bouts on March 5 and will be available to view starting at approximately 7 p.m. A fee of $7.95 is set to view the finals. Click here for more information.

Qualifiers listed by weight

Qualifiers listed by school