ALLEN, TEX. – The Apprentice School wrestling team will have four National Collegiate Wrestling Association All-Americans as they currently sit in ninth place in the 78-team NCWA National Championships at the Allen Event Center.

Seniors Ty Ford (125) and Kyle Spruill (149) join sophomore Ian Jones (285) and freshman Phillip Porto (165) as NCWA All-Americans when all four advanced to Saturday's final rounds.  With those four, the Builders have now had 80 wrestlers named NCWA All-American since 1999.

Ford went 1-1 on Friday losing his quarterfinal match to Colton Howell of Lindenwood-Belleville in a 4-3 decision.  He earned his spot on the All-American podium with a win by fall over Brian Radli of Central Florida also in 5:00.  His first match on Saturday will be against Nicholas Wright of Mercer and will need to win three matches to finish third at 125 pounds.  This is his second NCWA All-American honor for the Norfolk, Va. native after finishing sixth last year.

Spruill also went 1-1 on the day after winning his 149 pound quarterfinal match by fall in 5:00 against Max Becks of Central Florida.  In the semifinals, he lost by fall to Derrick Weller of Lindenwood-St. Charles in 6:39.  He will have to win two matches on Saturday to finish third.  This is the first NCWA All-American honor for the Williamsburg, Va. native.

Porto split his two matches on Friday starting by losing 11-6 to Austin Geerlings of Grand Valley State University in the quarterfinals.  In the deciding round for All-American honors, he scored in the last 45 seconds to decision Everett Colbert of Middle Tennessee State University 3-1. Porto, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., will start on Saturday morning against Robert Clymer of Liberty University and will need three wins to earn third place. 

Jones started on Friday in the quarterfinals and won a 5-1 decision over Ethan Stanley of the U.S. Naval Prep Academy.  In the semifinals, he lost a 2-1 decision to Ross Janney of McKendree University.  On Saturday, he will need to win two matches to make third place.  This will be his second NCWA All-American honor for the Painesville, Oh. native after finishing seventh last year.  His loss in the semifinals snapped an 18-match winning streak dating back to January 5.

McKendree leads the event with 115.5 points with California Baptist (111.5) and Liberty (100) rounding out the top three.