complete results

The Lindenwood men's wrestling team placed second at the NAIA East Qualifier on Saturday at Hyland Arena. The regional was the toughest in the NAIA as it featured four of the five top ranked teams. Chris Chionuma and Steven Butler captured individual titles to lead Lindenwood.

The defending national champion and current No. 1 team in the country Notre Dame won the event with 178 points. Lindenwood was runner-up with 142. Close behind the Lions were No. 4 McKendree and No. 5 Campbellsville.

Chionuma had to win just two matches for his title at 174 pounds. After winning his first two matches by major decision and technical fall, Chionuma received two forfeits in the semifinals and finals. He will head to the national tournament with a record of 36-3.

Butler won his championship in dramatic fashion. In the final bout of the day, he scored a last second takedown for a 3-2 win over the favorite at heavyweight, Orlando Scales. He also earned a major decision and decision victory on the day and improves to 21-13 on the season.

Three Lions were runner-up in their respective weight classes. Clayton Macfarlane upset two ranked wrestlers before falling in the 165 pound finals. Dirk Hurrin made it an all-Lindenwood final at 174 pounds. Deron Winn pinned the defending national champion at 197 pounds before falling in the finals by just a single point.

Other Lindenwood wrestlers to place were Vince Hannon in fourth, Brandon Benvenuti, Derrick Weller, Donald Woods, and Drae Cox in fifth, and Jacob Janes in sixth.

The NAIA East Regional Coach of the Year was Notre Dame's Frank Romano and the Regional Wrestler of the Year was McKendree's Andrew Sanchez. The tournament's Most Valuable Wrester was Cumberland's Corey Bleaken and the Most Falls was three to Notre Dame's Jeffrey Pelton.

The NAIA National Championship will take place on Mar. 3-5 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.