TULSA, Okla. — Former Havre wrestler Parker Filius became an All-American on Friday at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships.
Filius, a sixth-year senior at Purdue, pinned Iowa State's Casey Swiderski in 6:05 at 141 pounds to become the 61st All-American in Boilermaker history. A 12th seed, Filius is the lowest-seeded Purdue wrestler to earn All-America status, joining Jason Silverstein who did it as a 12 seed in 1999.
On Saturday, Filius won the seventh-place match with a 8-4 decision over Ohio State's Dylan D'Emilio to close his collegiate career with a victory.
Filius wrestled at Class A Havre from 2013-17 where he became four-time individual state champion. His high school record was 169-13. Filius was the first four-time champion in Havre history. Filius dad Scott was a two-time All-American at the NAIA level at MSU-Northern and won a national championship at 167 pounds in 1991.
Filius and Purdue's Matt Ramos are the first pair of teammates to earn All-America status in the same year since 2006. Ramos placed second at 125 pounds.
