Ferrum Wrestler Finishes as NCAA Runnerup

Courtesy: Gary Holden-Ferrum

La CROSSE, Wisc. -- Ferrum's Zach Beckner (125 lbs) advanced to the finals of the 2017 NCAA Div. III Wrestling Tournament with a 5-2 semifinal win this morning over #3 seed Zac Denny of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Beckner then fell 5-1 to #1 Lucas Malmberg of Messiah in tonight's national championship match, his first collegiate loss. Beckner closed his rookie campaign with a 15-1 mark, and becomes Ferrum's second All-American wrestler. Three-time NCAA qualifier Logan Meister earned Ferrum's first All-America honor a year ago with a sixth-place finish at 157 pounds.

Beckner is Ferrum's first-ever national finalist in any sport since the College joined the NCAA ranks in 1985. Ferrum's football team advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 1988 and 1989. Ferrum won football NJCAA national titles as a junior college in 1965, 1968, 1974, 1977 and was national runner-up in 1966.