Men's Wrestling Produces National Finalist, Three All-Americans at National Championship
Wichita, Kan. (Mar. 1, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team competed on day two at the 2024 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship in Wichita, Kan., Friday. The team produced three All-Americans, one National finalist and enters the final day in the top ten.
No. 3 Senior Chase Zollmann (Poway, Calif.)- 149 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Mike Loney of Indiana Tech in a 15-0 technical fall.
Second Round: Defeated No. 14 AJ Rockwell of Eastern Oregon in an 18-0 technical fall.
Quarterfinal: Defeated No. 6 Jace Luchau of Cumberlands (Ky.) in a 5-0 decision.
Semifinal: Defeated No. 2 Nathan Lendt of Doane (Neb.) in a 4-1 decision.
Zollmann becomes an All-American and advances to the National championship match against No. 5 Jack Latimer of Cumberland (Tenn.).
No. 12 Sophomore Elijah Hynes (Broken Arrow, Okla.)- 197 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated No. 5 Sawyer Hobbs of Providence (Mont.) in a 5-0 decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated No. 4 Nathan Critchfield of Indiana Tech in a 12-9 sudden victory decision.
Semifinal: Lost to No. 8 Garavous Kouekabakilaho of Grand View (Iowa) in an 11-3 major decision.
Hynes becomes a two-time All-American, including a 2023 All-American finish at Central Methodist (Mo.).
No. 5 Senior Joshua Isaac (Woodbridge, Va.)- 285 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated No. 12 Carlos Figueroa of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in a 4-2 decision.
Quarterfinal: Lost to No. 4 Gabe Jacobs of Southeastern (Fla.) in a first period pin.
Consolation Fourth Round: No. 15 Defeated Braydon Erb of Indiana Tech in a first period (0:49) pin.
Consolation Fifth Round: Defeated No. 11 Kenneth Copley of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) in a first period (0:51) pin.
Isaac becomes a three-time All-American for the Missouri Valley men's wrestling team.
No. 14 Freshman Haden Hernandez (Huntington Beach, Calif.)- 133 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Roman De La Cruz of Saint Mary (Kan.) in a 15-0 technical fall.
Second Round: Lost to No. 3 Sammy Shires of Cumberland (Tenn.) in a 13-10 decision.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Jarrod Gilliam of Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a 9-4 decision.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated No. 11 Jeramiah Steele of Menlo (Calif.) in a 10-6 decision.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to No. 8 Andrew Voiles of Southeastern (Fla.) in an 8-6 decision.
No. 13 Junior Donavan Parn (Brookfield, Mo.)- 141 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Luke Jensen of Corban (Oreg.) in a 16-0 technical fall.
Consolation First Round: Defeated Zach Zitek of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in an 11-0 major decision.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated No. 3 Tyree Johnson of Life (Ga.) in a 9-0 major decision.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to No. 12 Edrich Nortje of Dickinson State (N.D.) in a 17-7 major decision.
Junior Brenden Parks (Elburn, Ill.)- 174 pounds:
First Round: Lost to No. 9 Alex Hernandez of Southern Oregon in a 13-6 decision.
Consolation First Round: Lost to Tyson Stover of Corban (Oreg.) in a 12-11 decision.
Senior Drake Tipton (Grain Valley, Mo.)- 184 pounds:
First Round: Lost to No. 11 Alan Badley of Providence (Mont.) in a 4-1 decision.
Consolation First Round: Defeated No. 6 Hayden Wempen of Morningside in a second period (3:12) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to No. 12 Jackson King of Dickinson State (N.D.) in a third period pin.
Zollmann becomes the program's first National finalist since Andrew Simmons at 165 pounds in 2018, and looks to become the program's first National champion since Riley Boomer at 174 pounds in 2016. The three All-Americans is the most for the program since the 2021 season.
As a team, Missouri Valley sits at No. 7 in the standings with 50 points. As it stands, the program is nearly 30 positions higher in the standings compared to the finish in 2023, when the Vikings placed No. 34 overall.
The 2024 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship competition will continue tomorrow, Saturday, inside the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan., at 11 a.m., with Consolation finals and placement matches for third, fifth and seventh, followed by National championship matches, starting at 7 p.m.
Results-Click Here
About Missouri Valley College
Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.