(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., March 5)—The McKendree University wrestling team had six wrestlers advance to the quarterfinal round of the NAIA wrestling championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Thursday.

The Bearcats, ranked No. 5 in the final NAIA poll, currently sits in 6th place in the team standings with 20 points and trails Campbellsville University (Ky.) by one point. Defending champion Lindenwood University (Mo.) sits on top of the team standings with 37 points.

Advancing for McKendree to Friday's quarterfinals are sophomore Wade Lowe (Godfrey, Ill./) (Godfrey, Ill./Alton) at 133 pounds, junior Aaron Winning (Highland, Ill./) (Highland, Ill./Althoff Catholic) at 165 pounds, junior Josh Bryant (Tuttle, Okla./) (Tuttle, Okla./Tuttle) at 174 pounds, sophomore Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill./) (Shiloh, Ill./O'Fallon) at 197 pounds, and senior Dan Moore (Rolla, Mo./) (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) and junior Cedric Powell (Duncan, Okla./) (Duncan, Okla./Duncan) both at heavyweight. They will all wrestle Friday morning at 6 p.m. for the opportunity to wrestle in the championship semifinals during Friday's second session at 6 p.m.

Sophomore Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill./) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) was won his first match, but was defeated in the second round in a 4-1 decision by Brian Graham of Missouri Valley College. Junior Ryan Guillet (Poteau, Okla./Poteau), freshman Kyle Williams (Mascoutah, Ill./) (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah), senior Jermaine Waye (Altama, Ga./) (Brunswick, Ga./Glynn Academy), junior Chas Maloch (Corona, Calif./Santiago) (Corona, Calif./Santiago), and senior Tom Edwards (Belleville, Ill./) (Shiloh, Ill./Belleville East) all lost their preliminary matches and will wrestle tomorrow morning in the consolation preliminary round. Matches will begin at 9 a.m.

-McK-