TRENTON, N.J. – Union County graduate Saul Ervin, a sophomore at the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, qualified for an automatic spot in the NCAA Championships with a fourth-place finish in the Mid-American Conference Championships Saturday.
Competing at 141 pounds, Ervin finished 3-2 in the tournament. He fell to Central Michigan’s Dresden Simon 8-4 in the semifinals and lost the third-place match to Allan Hart of Missouri 8-0.
“Saul competed well both days. He probably would like to have his match back with Missouri, get an early takedown and change the tempo of the match,” SIUE coach Jeremy Spates said.
Ervin defeated George Mason’s Shawn Nonaka in the first round by major decision 12-0, won his quarterfinal match by decision 10-3 over Caleb Brooks of Northern Illinois and then beat Edinboro’s Gabe Willochell in the consolation semifinals by decision 7-3.
Ervin, who is a three-time high school state champion in Kentucky, is now 10-5 on the season. He will compete in the NCAA Championships March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
