Merkley preps for national tourney

The odds might have seemed against him this postseason, but Fallon’s Colin Merkley didn’t flinch.

The ex-Greenwave state wrestling champ placed fourth in the NAIA West Regional on Saturday to qualify for the national tournament in Topeka, Kan., next weekend. Merkley, a senior at Embry-Riddle, forfeited his final match of the regional to nurse an injury but settled for fourth place in the 157-pound weight division.

The Eagles finished third as a team with seven national qualifiers.

“I would have liked a little better performance but I wrestled tough and lost a close semi-final match in overtime, so that killed a little bit of momentum,” Merkley said. “After that I had to bounce back and win one more match and I was in, so I went out and took care of that to get my spot.”

Merkley decisioned Travis Patrick of Southern Oregon, 13-10, to make it to the semifinals but fell short against Great Falls’ Chad Cebulski. Cebulski, ranked No. 5 in the country, defeated Merkley in overtime, 5-3.

But Merkley stormed back to win the consolation semifinals match and guarantee his spot in the national tournament. He beat Montana State-Northern’s Tommy Cooper, 9-3, but injury-defaulted to Simpson’s Richard Ortiz in the third place match. With the tournament, Merkley improved his record to 24-9 for the season.

“I was prepared to win that tournament and fell short again so I’m disappointed but that finish doesn’t matter,” Merkley said.

Merkley made the jump in weight classes this year where he’s found success but not as consistent as last year. Merkley, though, will get his first and only shot at winning multiple All-American honors when he wrestles in Kansas next weekend. Only the top eight finishers in each weight class earn that status.

“It’s all about Kansas in two weeks so I’m going to be ready to go out take care of business and give myself a shot at a national title,” Merkley said. “It will be my last collegiate tournament so I’m excited. I just want to feel good and have fun. And in my sport the only way to have fun is to win.”