February 2, 1999

FIGHTING SCOT WRESTLERS GRAB THIRD PLACE AT ELMHURST

Three Monmouth College wrestlers earned individual second-place finishes to lead the Fighting Scots at last weekend's Elmhurst College Al Hanke Invitational Tournament. Monmouth placed third in the team standings with 60 points. It marked the squad's best tournament showing to date of the season.
Monmouth had five individuals score points at the tournament by placing among the top six wrestlers in their respective weight classes. Seniors Mike Burden (Erie,IL/HS) and Derek Harris (Romeoville,IL/HS) and junior Luke Burton (Monmouth,IL/HS) each posted 2-1 records in three dual matches to place second in their divisions. Burden collected his runner-up points in the 149-pound division and improved his season record to 15-10. Harris, competing at 165 pounds, upped his team-leading win total to sixteen (16-7 overall) and Burton improved to 9-3 in the 174-pound class. Senior A.J. Schmidt (Westmont,IL/HS) finished 2-2 for the day and earned 5th-place points in the 184-pound division and sophomore Jerrel Rutlin (St. Louis, MO/Horace Watkins) won three of five matches to take 6th place at 125 pounds.
The wrestlers will take to the mats again on Saturday as they travel north to compete in the University of Dubuque Tournament in Dubuque, Iowa.