For the first time since the 2004-05 inaugural season, Campbellsville University will have only one All-American at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships. However, that one All-American is 133-pound Tiger sophomore Tommy Pretty (31-4), who has a shot at a national title Saturday.

The championship round begins at 6:30 p.m. CST in Oklahoma City University's Abe Lemons Arena. The match can be watched live by clicking here.


Pretty advanced to Saturday's championship by pinning 10^th ranked Cameron Ream of Oklahoma City in 2:06 during the quarterfinal, and then dominating a mat battle for a 9-3 decision over sixth-ranked Bryan Jacob of Southern Oregon in the semifinal.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native entered the tournament Thursday ranked No. 5 in the nation, but on the opposite side of the bracket from those ranked above him.

"Winning the East Region really put him in a good spot for this bracket. He felt confident coming in and he was ready," CU head coach Franky James said. "He puts in so much extra time, and that's what you have to do to win in this sport. You've got to love it."

Pretty, who finished eighth last season, is the third Tiger wrestler to advance to a championship match in program history, following Zach Flake (2007, 2009) and David Clemons (2007). Flake is the only Tiger to bring home a national title, winning it all in 2007 as a sophomore.

"We want another national champion on that wall in our room," James said. "I'm tired of looking up there and seeing just one."

Pretty's final won't be easy, as he faces fourth-ranked Myles Mazurkiewicz of Great Falls (Mont.). Mazurkiwicz advanced to the final by defeating the two wrestlers tied for seventh place in the nation, Michael Schultz of Grand View and Anton Prater of Missouri Baptist. Schultz was pinned in 1:59 in the quarterfinal, while Prater fell by major decision, 9-0, in the semifinal.

"It's going to be a real tough match-up. It's going to be a real clash of styles," James said. "Myles is a real physical, bruiser type and Tommy is very technical. One guys going to be trying to start a fight and the others going to try to be a technician."

Campbellsville entered the third session of the tournament Friday night with seven wrestlers still fighting.

All seven though failed to place, as Johnny Papesh, Bryan Wells, Spencer Adams and Jeremiah Fennel came within one win of becoming an All-American.

Fennel, a senior from Sandusky, Ohio, picked up a big win to close the morning session, taking down Cumberland University heavyweight B.J. Stewart for a 12-3 major decision. It was the first time in three tries this season that Fennel beat his Mid-South Conference foe.

"That's the best I've seen him wrestle all year," James said. "That made the weekend right there. Jeremiah's wrestling more confident than he's ever wrestled."

Fennel, who could not quit grinning after the win, credited it to a successful game plan.

"It's all because I have the best coach in the NAIA," he said.

This was Fennel's first trip to the NAIA Championships. He competed at NCAA Division I Campbell University out of high school before transferring to defending national champs Lindenwood University for last season. This was his first and final year with the Tigers.

"He says this is the first team he's felt a part of. It's good to see him fit right in and become one of the guys right away in one year," James said.

This week was a homecoming for James, who graduated from Choctaw High School about 15 minutes from OCU. Next year's event will move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"I wish it was in Oklahoma City more often," said James, who graduated from Choctaw High School 15 minutes away. "It's been a well run tournament. I wish we could have wrestled better."

As a team, Campbellsville is No. 16 of 36 after two days. For complete Campbellsville results, brackets and team standings, click here.