Tommy Pretty has been climbing out of the basement since middle school. Saturday, he reached the rooftop as an NAIA National Champion, defeating fourth-ranked Myles Mazurkiewicz by major decision, 13-3 in Oklahoma City. He is Campbellsville University's second national champion in the wrestling program's six-year history.

"I stuck to my game plan and set him up a lot. I knew if I got taken down, I'd be able to reverse him," Pretty said. "With the proper game plan and studying, I was able to take it to him without any hesitation and go right at him."

Pretty rebounded from being taken down early to jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first period. And after Mazurkiewicz scored an escape in the second period, Pretty added a pair of take downs to finish off the major decision.

"I was really happy that he won, but was really impressed with how he did," CU head coach Franky James said. "A lot of times guys get real tentitavie and scared and don't go after it. Tommy was really relaxed ... Instead of being nervous or scared he was excited, pumped and focused. He wrestled his best and it's hard to wrestle your best in a pressure situation like that. That's why you're a national champion."

That's because nerves over a match is not part of the genetic makeup of the guy James calls the "nicest guy in the world."

"When I go out there I try not to be nervous. I just try to go out there and have fun like a kid on a playground," Pretty said. "Every match is fun to me. That's always been my philosophy."

That kid-like philosophy has been there ever since Pretty's father Tom put a mat in his basement in middle school. Since then, Pretty has worked with his father to learn more about the sport each day.

"As the years went, it was night and day," said Pretty, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio. "We went from camp to camp to camp together."

The mat and camps were the foundation for Pretty's stair steps to the top. First, it was qualifying for the Ohio state tournament in 2006, then placing in 2007 and winning the Ohio 125-pound title in 2008. Pretty came to Campbellsville upon graduation from Elder High School, and broke onto the NAIA scene as a freshman in 2009 with an eighth-place, All-American finish at the 2009 NAIA National Championships.

"To this day we've been evolving. It never stops," Pretty said. "Now that I've beaten 133, I want to gain weight, get stronger and see how I can do in the other classes."

Following the win, Pretty shook hands with his opponent and coaches before jumping in his dad's arms.

For Tom, a Cincinnati fireman and former boxer, the win was a special finish to a decade of hard work.

"We've become best friends through this," Tom said. "Every time he comes home we practice and we discuss game plan and technique over the phone. He pretty much calls me every night … He came out really aggressive (tonight). The coaching staff has done a great job getting him prepared, and he has done all the extra stuff.

James said he believes it is the close family support group that helped lead Pretty to victory.

"(Tom's) fallen in love with wreslting and he studies it inside out. He and Tommy are really close," James said. "Tommy has such confidence and that comes from having such a strong support center."

While James points to the family as the strong support, Tom applauds the university.

"I'm real thankful of the Campbellsville coaching staff. The whole administration of Campbellsville has been real supportive of the wrestling team, and that's what makes kids want to go here."

While Pretty is only the second national champion for the Tigers, joining Zach Flake from 2007, James sees more for the program in the near future, despite producing only one All-American this year. CU had three returning All-Americans fail to place this season.

"We're in a much better spot now to keep getting more champions," James said. "You'd like to see the whole team wrestle better, but it's nice to get a national champion. We have a young team. Our guys work so hard and we've got talented enough wrestlers that we should be able to get one every year."

For complete tournament results for Campbellsville, click here. 

CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO GALLERY