CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY
HASTINGS COLLEGE
Head coach Terrel Wilbourn’s Eagles are off to an 0-2 dual start through an early-season schedule roadblocked with postponements and cancellations due to COVID-19 protocols. They dropped a 2718 decision to Benedictine College of Kansas and were averted by Baker University of Kansas 33-21. Looking among CMU’s individual highlights, the upper weight combination of 197-pounder Trevor Bodine and heavyweight Brenden Shelton has led the way so far. They are both 2-0 in dual competition, and Shelton has styled a pair of pins in the process.
The Broncos, coached by Josh Erickson, bring a 1-5 record into today’s competition. Their victory occurred over Midland University in late November Great Plains Athletic Conference action by a 39-15 count. Among the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ “Others Receiving Votes” on the recent national poll, HC has two wrestlers ranked in their weight classes, too, as 141-pounder Edrich Nortje is No. 13 and 157-pounder Taygen Smith is No. 10. Thomas Stevenson, also competing at 157 pounds, is coming off an individual championship at the program’s open on January 9.
UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN
MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE
Head coach Dan Lovell’s Jimmies have only seen dual-action once. They knocked off Northwestern College 24-22 in a GPAC thriller in late November. Heavyweight Ramiro Macias’ ultimate tiebreaker victory proved the winning team points against the Red Raiders. In other individual headlines, 133-pounder Anthony Ruiz led UJ at their most recent outing, the Doane Open on December 5, with a runner-up finish. Today’s meet spotlights their first competition since early December.
The Vikings, coached by Mike Machholz, are off to a flying start this season. They sport an 11-1 dual record and No. 7 national ranking on the current NAIA poll. Their lone loss was to top-ranked Grand View College. Nine of their grapplers are ranked individually, too, led by No. 1 Elias Vaoifi at 165 pounds. They have two listed at 165, with William Seibert sitting at No. 7, while Donovan McElligott and Dayton Brown are No. 13 and 14 at 197.
MIDLAND UNIVERSITY
MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE
Head coach Larry Nugent’s Warriors seek their first dual victory of 2020-21, sporting an 0-5 record. They narrowly missed a triumph in their opener, falling to York College of Nebraska 30-22 in late November. Tyson Beauperthuy’s title at the Hastings College Open last weekend was a highlight for MU, as the 184-pounder knocked off No. 8 ranked Luke Jenness of Northwestern College in the finale.
The host Mustangs, coached by Jake Stevenson, has had numerous highlights to begin their campaign. They’re out to a 7-2 dual record with only a 31-7 loss to top-ranked Grand View College and a narrow 26-18 defeat at the hands of No. 17-ranked Montana StateNorthern being blemishes. Their week began with a 28-18 victory in GPAC action against crosstown rival Briar Cliff University. The Maroon has two individuals ranked among the NAIA weight class polls, as 149-pounder John Diener is No. 12 and 174-pounder Jonah Egli is No. 11.
SCHEDULE RD 1 Morningside vs Missouri Valley Midland vs Montana St.-Northern Jamestown vs. Central Methodist RD 2 Midland vs Central Methodist Jamestown vs. Missouri Valley Hastings vs. Montana St.-Northern
MONTANA STATE – NORTHERN The Lights, standing No. 17 on the national poll and featuring three ranked wrestlers, are coached by Tyson Thivierge. They’re off to a 4-0 dual record, having defeated Concordia University of California, Doane University, Morningside, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University at the Concordia University of Nebraska Duals early last month. Due to that outing, Thivierge reached 100 career victories at the helm. Their trio of nationally-noticed wrestlers is led by Isaac Bartel, who is No. 1 at 197. Chase Short (No. 19 – 174) and Nick Kunz (No. 4 – 133) round out the group.
RD 3 Missouri Valley vs Montana St.-Northern Hastings vs. Central Methodist RD 4 Morningside vs Central Methodist Missouri Valley vs. Hastings Montana St.-Northern vs. Jamestown
64TH ANNUAL NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE FRIDAY, MARCH 5 10 a.m. 2021 Parade of Champions Session #1: 1st Round - Championship 2nd Round - Championship 2nd Round - Consolation 6:00 p.m. Session #2: 3rd Round - Championship Quarterfinals 3rd Round - Consolation 4th Round - Consolation
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 10 a.m. Session #3: 4th Round - Championship Semifinals 6th Round - Consolation Semifinal Placement Round Matches – 3rd, 5th and 7th place 6 p.m. 2021 Parade of All-Americans
7 p.m. Session #4: Championship Finals Closing Ceremonies & Awards Presentation
For more information visit https://www.naia.org/sports/ mwrest/2015-16/releases/20160111ttw8m
MARCH 5-6, 2021 HARTMAN ARENA PARK CITY, KANSAS
Hartman Arena is located north of Park City, Kan., just 8 miles from downtown Wichita. Located on I-135, Hartman Arena is conveniently accessed via the 77th St or 85th St. exits.