After a heart-breaking 3-2 first-round loss to the seventh seed Friday, Rutledge earned a bye in the opening round of the consolation draw. Later that afternoon, he defeated Ryan Bowers, from Heidelberg College, 8-5 to secure All-American honors. The top eight in each weight class earn All-American recognition.
Saturday in the consolation quarterfinals, Rutledge defeated Wade Hammen, from Buena Vista University, 3-2 in overtime. Rutledge then defeated the draw's second seed, Arkadiy Levitin from Hunter College, 4-3 in dramatic fashion in the consolation semifinals. Trailing 3-2, Rutledge scored a takedown as the clock expired to earn the 4-3 decision. Levitin entered nationals with a 36-1 record. In the third-place match, Rutledge ended his season in spectacular fashion, pinning fifth seed Trevor Hiffa (Oneonta State) in 4:01. Thanks to his efforts, Knox placed 25th in the nation. Sixth-three Division III schools were represented at the championships.
Besides becoming the first Knox College wrestling All-American, Rutledge was the first Knox wrestler to compete at the National Wrestling Championships in 27 years. Tom MacMillan was the last Knox wrestler to reach nationals. He did so as a sophomore in 1979 and again as a junior in 1980. MacMillan lost in the first round both times. Rutledge qualified for nationals by winning the individual heavyweight championship at the Great Lakes Regional on February 17.
Rutledge, a five-time Knox College Prairie Fire Performer of the Week, finished with a 36-5 record and won individual titles at the Central College Invitational and the Northern Wrestling Association Tournament to go along with his regional championship this season. Rutledge was an alternate qualifier for last year's national tournament after a third-place showing at regionals.
More information on the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, including complete results, is available at http://depts.loras.edu/sports/2007ncaawrestling/index.html.
Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 46 states and 50 nations. Knox's 'Old Main' is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.
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