(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Feb. 21)— The No. 2 McKendree University wrestling team finished in third place at the 2009 NAIA East Regional Qualifying tournament Saturday in St. Charles, Mo. Lindenwood University won the qualifier with 170 points and Notre Dame College (Ohio) was second with 130 points, ahead of the Bearcats' 110.

McKendree will compete next at the NAIA wrestling championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., on March 5-7.

No. 3 seed Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./) (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic) reached the 165 pound championship by pinning his first three opponents all in under two minutes. He won the 165 pound championship with a 10-3 decision win over No. 1 seed Chris Chionuma of Lindenwood.

No. 1 seed Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./) (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) won two matches by 2-1 decision at 197 pounds to win the championship. He is the No. 1 wrestler in the NAIA at 197 pounds. Unseeded Cedric Powell (Duncan, Okla./) (Duncan, Okla./Duncan) won three matches by decision to win the heavyweight championship over No. 4 seed Don Stocum of Notre Dame College (Ohio).

No. 2 seed Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) was pinned in the championship match at 133 pounds to finish in second place. No. 2 seed Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./) (Tuttle, Okla./Tuttle) also finished in second place after losing to No. 1 seed Matt Cauley of Lindenwood by fall at the 2:38 mark at 174 pounds.

Ryan Guillett (Poteau, Okla./) (Poteau, Okla./Poteau) came in fifth place at 125 pounds after defeating Larone Madison of Campbellsville University in a 5-1 decision. No. 4 seed Kyle Williams (Mascoutah, Ill./) (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) also finished in fifth place, defeating Woodrow Harris of Missouri Baptist by fall in 5:29.

After winning his first match by fall in 4:01, No. 1 seed Dan Moore (Rolla, Mo./) (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) came in sixth place at heavyweight after losing all his remaining matches by medical forfeit due to an injury.

-McK-