Loras junior Zachary Thompson one win from national title match

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Loras junior Zachary Thompson of Perry attacks Messiah's Josiah Gehr in the round of 16 at the NWCA DIII Championships Friday. Photo courtesy Jay Nelson.

CORALVILLE –Wrestling at 133 pounds, Loras junior Zachary Thompson rallied from a 3-0 deficit to upset fourth-seed Charlie Pickell of Augsburg Friday in the NWCA DIII National Quarterfinals. Thompson earned All-American status with the triumph.

The victory moves the former Perry standout into Saturday’s semifinal against top-seeded Robbie Precin of North Central. A win moves Thompson into the championship match; he is now assure of finishing no lower than sixth place.

Thompson, a 2018 Perry grad, was coached for his first two prep seasons by current Duhawk assistant Trevor Kittleson, and by Mark Weber his final two campaigns.

The Loras star entered the round of 32 as the 12th seed. He quickly dispatched Carson Sariol of Dubuque, winning by a 14-0 major decision. An 8-4 win against Messiah’s Josiah Gehr — seeded fifth — sent Thompson into the quarterfinals against Pickell.

Second-seeded Brock Henderson of Coe College and sixth-seed Joshua Wilson of Greensboro are the other two semifinalists.

Loras junior Zachary Thompson controls Messiah’s Josiah Gehr in their round of 16 match at 133 pounds Friday during the NWCA DIII National Championships in Coralville. Photo courtesy Jay Nelson.

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