By CRAIG PHILLIPS

Staff writer

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Clarion University junior Chris Horning began Friday on a three-part mission in the 75^th Anniversary NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Savvis Center.

Horning needed three wins in the wrestlebacks to attain All-American honors and he carved his way through the 157-pound consolations with a vengeance after dropping a disappointing 4-3 decision to Iowa State’s Trent Paulson in Thursday’s second round.

Horning, 30-5 on the season, won three bouts in succession before being pinned in 4:28 by Indiana’s Brandon Becker. Today he will wrestle for seventh place. The top eight finishers receive All-American honors.

Teammate Frank Edgar, making his fourth appearance at nationals, came within seconds and a single point of reaching All-American status. He was eliminated from the tournament with a 6-4 sudden victory double overtime loss to Cessio Pero of Illinois at 141 pounds.

But, first, the good news.

Horning began his journey through the wrestlebacks with a 19-2 technical fall over Oregon State junior Tony Hook in 6:10.

The Golden Eagle gave up the opening takedown, but rallied for six first-period points to hold a 6-2 lead entering the second. Horning, finding the top position to his liking, scored eight more near-fall points the rest of the way to tackle his first challenge.

Oklahoma State’s Kevin Ward was the next victim.

Ward, a junior and Big 12 champion entered on a three-bout win streak. However, he had no answers for Horning’s unorthodox style and got into trouble early when it appeared he had shot a textbook high-crotch takedown.

Horning, hipping into Ward and trapping his arms, countered by scoring a takedown and three near-fall points and was on his way to a 10-2 major decision.

The final obstacle between Horning and All-American status was Travis Piccard of The Citadel.

Piccard, 35-4 on the season and the Southern Conference champion, took the upperhand early with a pair of low double-leg takedowns, only to watch his lead disappear as Horning managed a pair of escapes and picked up a takedown when the Eagle pulled Piccard back on the mat at the edge with 1:33 left in the period.

Horning rode the rest the way and had 1:07 riding time advantage entering the second.

Horning locked up the bout in the second with a reversal and two near-fall points before hanging on for a 10-6 victory, clinching All-American status.

Now on a roll of his own, Horning’s next foe was Becker.

Despite being penalized one point in the first period for a technical violation, Horning took a 2-1 lead with a reversal in the second period. He then threw legs on the Hoosier and proceeded to apply pressure on his head and neck in an attempt to turn him for back points.

The strategy backfired as Becker caught Horning’s head and pulled him down for a defensive pin.

Clarion coach Ken Nellis, pleased with Horning’s new-found All-American status, feels the junior has performed well.

“He’s wrestling a good tournament,” Nellis said. “He’s lost two close matches, but he’s where we want him to be (wrestling-wise). He’s been confident and this is definitely the toughest weight class in the tournament. To be an All-American at 157 is quite an accomplishment.”

Nellis appreciated Edgar’s effort, despite two losses Friday which cost him All-American honors.

“(Frank) was a fraction from getting it done,” Nellis said. “He came so close at the end of the period a couple times. It’s unfortunate.”

Edgar was unable to solve top-seeded Nate Gallick’s single-leg offense and the Iowa State junior rolled to a 10-5 win over the Eagle in the quarterfinals.

Edgar then drew Pero, who first slowed down the action in the first period and was warned for stalling. Edgar couldn’t take advantage and it was Pero who connected for a takedown and 2-0 lead.

Edgar used a switch technique to escape :10 into the second and countered a Pero shot for a takedown and 3-2 edge with :06 remaining in the period. Pero, however, escaped in the third to force overtime.

The two then battled to a one-minute standoff with Edgar nearly picking up a deep single-leg shot before narrowing missing on a counter maneuver at the buzzer. Both wrestlers escaped in the tiebreaker to force a second overtime.

Edgar then saw his takedown attempt countered by Pero and in just :11 he career was over.

Edgar, who finished the campaign with a 40-9 record, posted a 120-55 career mark for the Golden Eagles.

Nellis felt his contributions extended much further than wins and losses.

“Assistant coach Jason (Robison) and I agree, (Frank) is everything that’s right about coaching,” Nellis said. “He’s the type of kid you can build a team around. I’d love to have 10 wrestlers just like him.”