March 31, 2008

Dickinson State University's (N.D.) top-ranked wrestler Justin Schlecht (197), won his third straight national title when he pinned McKendree freshman Andrew Sanchez in the 2008 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Wrestling Championships.  Schlecht defeated four opponents total in completing his "three-peat" with three pins.  It was the 4^th time he earned All-American status.

 

For his efforts, Schlecht was named the meet's outstanding wrestler and also won his second consecutive National Wrestling Coaches Association NAIA wrestler of the year award. "I think of it as one year at a time," said the Sculpted Art Education major. "Winning three times feels great, but you have a new approach every year."

 

The senior from Whitewood, S.D., leaves a career at DSU in which he pinned his opponents 69 times in a 140-22 overall record. He was 17-1 at the national tournament with 13 pins.

 

The Blue Hawks finished in 3^rd place in the team standings with 107.5 points and had five other wrestlers earn All-American honors.  Schlecht became the NAIA's 16^th grappler to win three individual titles in its 51-year history of national tournaments.

 

Schlecht redshirted at DSU in 2001-02 and then served an extended, 16-month tour of duty in Iraq with the Army National Guard.  As a freshman in 2003-04, he tied the Blue Hawk all-time school record of 20 pins and went onto earn a 3^rd place at the national tournament.  He recorded 21 pins the following season, 10 in his junior year and 18 more in this campaign.

 

Schlecht holds or shares at least six school records, but remains grateful for his opportunity to have wrestled collegiately for Dickinson State, commenting, "It has been a great experience--lots of fun with a great bunch of guys."