Three Norse earn All-American honors

Helping the Norse secure 10th place at NCAA III National Wrestling Championships March 5-6 were Allyn Plattner (‘10), Jason Pyle (‘11) and Jason Swanson (‘11).

Each wrestler took sixth place in his respective weight division while also earning All-American honors.

Plattner, who returned to compete in his final year of eligibility after graduating last spring, advanced to the quaterfinals before losing 4-6 in an overtime decision to John Helgerson of Wartburg College.

In the semifinals of the consolation bracket, Plattner avenged last year’s season ending loss to Andrew Witzel of Augsburg by pinning him in 4:05. Plattner lost the final two matches of the tournament, dropping him to sixth place in the deepest weight class of the weekend.

“That was the best I’ve ever seen Plattner wrestle this spring,” Head Coach Dave Mitchell said. “He gained a lot of fans across the country with his heart and will to fight.”

Plattner’s last match with Witzel, who beat him in last year’s national tournament was one most controversially officiated national tournament matches in the past decade.

“Plattner called me and said ‘I want to come back and finish this off,’” Mitchell said. “He didn’t want to end his career like that.”

Pyle’s sixth place finish earned him All-American honors for the second straight season.

Seeded third entering the tournament, Pyle and Mitchell thought he had a good chance of winning it all.

“Pyle had a great season,” Mitchell said. “He’s dissapointed he didn’t win first, though.”

Pyle lost in a tight semifinals match to Tony Valek of Augsburg College. Then, he had to wrestle back-to-back matches against two tough opponents, including the defending national champion.

“Next year, Pyle will be in the mix to be the national champion,” Mitchell said.

Jayson Swanson was the cinderella story in the tournament, grabbing sixth place after coming in unranked.

Two years ago, Swanson didn’t place at the IIAC Junior Varsity tournament—now he’s an All-American.

“Swanson is a good example of a guy who continues to improve,” Mitchell said. “He wins on guts and fight. He is not the most technically sound or talented athletically, but he’s strong and goes hard.”

Next year, the Norse should be back in the top 10 and hope to make even more noise on the national stage, returning two of their three All-Americans.