After coming up short at the NAIA Championships a year ago, Oklahoma City University wrestler Nik Turner is poised to take home a national title this season.
Turner, a junior from Norman, Okla., is this week’s Super Star of the Week after winning the NAIA Central National Qualifying Group wrestling tournament championship at 157 pounds this past weekend. Turner, who earned all-American honors last season, has a record of 31-15 for the year.
He will likely be one of four No. 1 seeds at his weight in the NAIA Championships on March 4-6 at Abe Lemons Arena.
“It was bad because I lost in the semifinals, one step shy of reaching the finals,” Turner said of his performance at nationals last year. “I have used that as motivation. I made it that far my sophomore year, so I am thinking that I should go out there and try to win it all this year.”
To win the regional, Turner pinned Issiah Sullivan of Grand View (Iowa) in the semifinal round, before winning a 7-4 decision against Trae Reed of Grand View in the championship round. Turner said he realized the importance of his performance last weekend in helping to prepare him for nationals.
“It’s really important to do well in the regional and set yourself up for nationals,” Turner said. “Everything up to the regional is pretty much practice, but when you get there it’s pretty much a part of nationals because you have to get a good seed to set yourself up. You don’t want to have to face a tough guy in the beginning and catch yourself off guard.”
Turner thinks while there will be some pressure at nationals, it is just like any other tournament.
“There is maybe a little bit more pressure that you put on yourself and others put on you, but in the end it is just another tournament,” Turner said. “Everybody goes out and wrestles as hard as they can just like every other match.”
To see Turner's interview on this week's OCU Athletics Update, go here.
More on Nik:
Person whose brain I'd like to pick: Malcom X
What I put on my hamburger: Cheese, ketchup, mayo, mustard
The top of my to-do list: National title
Which is best, Chipotle, Moe's or Qdoba: Chipotle
My obsession: Winning
