Grand View senior Brad Lower has been named the final NAIA National Wrestler of the Week for 2012, the national office announced Wednesday. Lower was selected based on his performances from Feb. 13 – 19. The weekly honor marks the third such award for a member of the Vikings this season.

Lower recorded pins in all three of his matches at the Central Group Qualifier hosted by Grand View on Feb. 18 on the way to an individual title. The Burlington, Iowa, native, ranked No. 1 in the 165-pound weight class, cruised to victory over Bethany's (Kan.) Kyle Allen in his first match (0:54) and then past sixth-ranked Rashad Moss of Waldorf (Iowa) (2:50) in his second battle. Then, in a showdown with No. 1 Kevin Hardy of Oklahoma City, Lower again triumphed (1:39) by way of a fall.
 

Grand View tightened its grip on the No. 1 position in the final regular-season edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. With 133 points, the Vikings locked down the top ranking for the fourth-consecutive week heading into the NAIA National Championships

The 55th annual event, hosted by Grand View, will take place March 1 - 3 at the Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

The Vikings are trying to become the second-straight program in the last three years (Notre Dame (Ohio) to win the title while holding the No. 1 ranking. Behind three individuals listed at the top of their respective weight class, Grand View looks poised to take home its first team championship in school history. A constant at either the No. 1 or No. 2-ranked spot in the Heavyweight division, Eric Thompson is 31-0 on the year. He is joined at No. 1 by teammates TJ Moen (27-6) at 149 pounds and Brad Lower (33-8) at 165 pounds.

The Viking wrestlers defended their title at the Central Qualifying Tournament held today in Des Moines. Eleven Grand View wrestlers placed in the top six, five claimed championships, and GV scored 208.5 points to finish first in the field of eleven teams.

The Vikings were 59 points ahead of second place Oklahoma City (149.5).  Missouri Valley (147.5), Baker (127), and Waldorf (87.5) rounded out the top five.

Five Grand View wrestlers won individual titles - Omi Acosta (133), Gustavo Martinez (141), TJ Moen (149), Brad Lower (165), and Eric Thompson (285).

Following the tournament, Lower was voted as the Outstanding Wrestler. Lower pinned all three of his opponents en route to the 165 pound title.

For the third straight poll, the Grand View wrestling team holds the No. 1 ranking in the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top 20, the national office announced Wednesday.

With 143.5 points, the Vikings are more than 42 ahead of second-place Campbellsville (Ky.) in the sixth edition of the poll. The point differential is the most between the No. 1 and 2-ranked teams this season.