La Crosse, WI — For as well as junior Tim Stewart wrestled to make it to the 2011 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, he sure couldn't catch a break once there.
After suffering a serious knee injury in the Empire Wrestling Conference Championships two weeks back, Stewart toughed it out and competed at Friday's opening day at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Lacrosse Center, only to face off against the fifth- and fourth-seeded wrestlers in the 184-pound weight class.
The result was a short stay for the Silver Springs, Maryland native, as Stewart fell to Wartburg College's Dylan Azinger by a narrow, 6-4 decision in his opening bout before dropping a 14-6 loss to Johnson & Wales University's Brennan Ward in the wrestle-back bracket, concluding his national championships experience.
“Tim wrestled really well, and had a good tournament, all things considered,” said Bryan Brunk, Messiah head coach. “He really made the most of his situation with his injury, and showed a lot of heart out here today. I'm proud of him.”
Wearing a large brace to help support an injured knee, Stewart nearly knocked off Azinger late Friday morning. Trailing by a 6-4 count near the end of the second period, Stewart looked to have recorded a take down near the edge of the mat, but the official did not see it as such.
Still trailing 6-4 to start the third period — and with Azinger choosing bottom — Stewart rode the Knights' sophomore for the duration, nearly turning him but unable to register any additional points.
“Tim wrestled (Azinger) to a great match,” Brunk said. “Whether or not the (second period) takedown should have counted? It was a judgment call. It wasn't a bad call per se, but it could have gone either way. Had it been ruled a takedown, the score would have been 6-6 going into the third. Who knows what would have happened? But to be that close to beating a returning All-American, we were pleased with how Tim started out.”
It was shortly after Stewart's match that a lack of luck returned, however, as Ward — the class's four seed — was pinned by Coe College's Seth Renn in the other half of Stewart's bracket. That pit Stewart against the defending national runner up in the consolation bracket, a daunting task for anyone.
Still, Stewart gave it his best shot, trailing Ward by four points in the waning moments of the match. Needing to go for a big move to try to extend his stay, Stewart was caught on his back, eventually succumbing to the 14-6 final.
And while Stewart fell short of becoming Messiah's 37th All-American, Brunk said the experience can only help as he enters his senior season.
“It was great for him to get here as a junior, and there's a lot to build off of as he goes into next year,” Brunk said. “I think this will only fuel his desire to work hard and get back here next year and place, and maybe even win it.”
