WICHITA, Kan. -- Forget rankings, seeds and conference finishes. Nick Kunz proved none of the above mattered on Saturday evening, winning the NAIA 125-pound national wrestling championship at Hartman Arena.
Kunz, a former Helena Capital standout who placed second, third and fifth during his high school career, finished third in the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament and entered the national championships as the No. 10 seed in the 125-pound bracket.
Kunz won the title in his third straight trip to nationals, defeating top-ranked Justin Portillo of powerhouse Grand View 4-1 in the finale. The junior won matches by scores of 4-2, 7-5 (TB-1), 11-4 and 4-1 to cap an incredible run through the NAIA bracket.
MSU-Northern's Isaac Bartel was also a finalist and squared off against defending national champion Evan Hansen of Grand View in a rematch of last year's national title match. Hansen was the top-ranked 197-pound wrestler, while Bartel was No. 2.
Hansen led 3-1 late in the third period, then added back points by putting Bartel in a troublesome position before pinning him with some 22 seconds remaining. It was the fourth national title for Hansen, who became only the eighth four-time national champion in NAIA history.
Bartel, a junior, has now finished third, second and second in his MSU-Northern career.
University of Providence redshirt senior Casey Dobson placed runner-up at 157 pounds. After leading 5-4 with less than 10 seconds remaining in the match, Grand View's Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer scored an escape and went on to win in sudden victory, 7-5.
It was the third all-American finish for Dobson.
Providence also scored all-Americans in Justin Harbison and John Hensley. Harbison, a Missoula Sentinel grad, placed sixth in the 285-pound division, falling in his final match via pin at the 1 minute, 15 second mark. Harbison fell in the semifinals on Saturday morning.
Hensley lost in the quarterfinals of the 197-pound bracket but won his first consolation match. After falling in his second consolation bout, though, he fell to the seventh-place match and earned an 8-6 sudden victory.
Grand View won an impressive ninth consecutive team title behind two national champions and two runners-up. The Vikings amassed an incredible 157 points, besting runner-up Menlo's 84.5.
Providence finished 11th with 43 points, three better than MSU-Northern, which finished 12th.
Team scores and individual placers can be found below.
2019-20 NAIA national wrestling championships
Team scores
| Team | Abbr | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand View (Iowa) | GVIA | 157.0 |
| 2 | Menlo (Calif.) | MNCA | 84.5 |
| 3 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | RNGA | 83.0 |
| 4 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | CBSK | 78.5 |
| 5 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | LWKY | 76.5 |
| 6 | Baker (Kan.) | BAKA | 75.0 |
| 7 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | CBVK | 68.0 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City | OCOK | 53.5 |
| 9 | Southeastern (Fla.) | SEFL | 49.0 |
| 10 | Life (Ga.) | LIGA | 43.5 |
| 11 | Providence (Mont.) | PRMT | 43.0 |
| 12 | Montana State - Northern | MSUN | 40.0 |
| 13 | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | ERAZ | 38.5 |
| 14 | Graceland (Iowa) | GLIA | 38.0 |
| 15 | Concordia (Neb.) | CNRD | 37.5 |
| 16 | Missouri Valley | MVMO | 35.5 |
| 17 | Marian (Ind.) | MRIN | 29.5 |
| 18 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | CMTN | 26.5 |
| 19 | Indiana Tech | INTC | 26.5 |
| 20 | Doane (Neb.) | DNNE | 24.5 |
| 21 | Saint Mary (Kan.) | SMKS | 21.0 |
| 22 | Life Pacific (Calif.) | LPCA | 20.5 |
| 23 | Missouri Baptist | MBMO | 18.0 |
| 24 | Warner Pacific (Ore.) | WPOR | 16.0 |
| 25 | Williams Baptist (Ark.) | WBAR | 12.5 |
| 26 | Calumet St. Joseph (Ind.) | CLSJ | 12.0 |
| 27 | William Penn (Iowa) | WPIA | 12.0 |
| 28 | Eastern Oregon | ETOR | 9.5 |
| 29 | York (Neb.) | YKNE | 8.0 |
| 30 | Northwestern (Iowa) | NWIA | 6.5 |
| 31 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | DISD | 5.5 |
| 32 | Morningside (Iowa) | MOIA | 5.5 |
| 33 | Vanguard (Calif.) | VGCA | 5.5 |
| 34 | Corban (Ore.) | CORB | 5.0 |
| 35 | Lourdes (Ohio) | LROH | 5.0 |
| 36 | Thomas More (Ky.) | TMKY | 5.0 |
| 37 | Ottawa University (Kan.) | OTTA | 4.0 |
| 38 | Brewton-Parker (Ga.) | BRPK | 3.0 |
| 39 | Jamestown (N.D.) | JTND | 3.0 |
| 40 | Arizona Christian | AZCR | 2.0 |
| 41 | Texas Wesleyan | TWTX | 2.0 |
| 42 | Bluefield (Va.) | BLVA | 1.5 |
| 43 | Cleary (Mich.) | CLRM | 1.5 |
| 44 | Briar Cliff (Iowa) | BRCF | 1.0 |
| 45 | Rochester (Mich.) | RCMI | 1.0 |
| 46 | Southern Oregon | SNOR | 1.0 |
| 47 | West Virginia Tech (W. Va.) | WVTE | 1.0 |
| 48 | Simpson (Calif.) | SPCA | 0.5 |
| 49 | Bethany (Kan.) | BEKA | 0.0 |
| 50 | Dakota Wesleyan (SD) | DWSD | 0.0 |
| 51 | Hastings (Neb.) | HANE | 0.0 |
| 52 | Keiser (Fla.) | KRFL | 0.0 |
| 53 | Midway (Ky.) | MWKY | 0.0 |
Individual results (all-American finishers)
NAIA - 125 pounds
- 1st Place - 10 Nick Kunz of Montana State - Northern
- 2nd Place - 1 Justin Portillo of Grand View (Iowa)
- 3rd Place - 2 Emmanuel Browne of Baker (Kan.)
- 4th Place - Jacob Mendoza of Menlo (Calif.)
- 5th Place - 4 Alexander Nunez of Life Pacific (Calif.)
- 6th Place - 6 Riley Siason of Menlo (Calif.)
- 7th Place - 3 Koby Milner of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 8th Place - 11 Jordan Martinez of Campbellsville (Ky.)
1st Place Match
- 10 Nick Kunz (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 1 Justin Portillo (Grand View (Iowa)) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match
- 2 Emmanuel Browne (Baker (Kan.)) won by decision over Jacob Mendoza (Menlo (Calif.)) (Dec 5-4)
5th Place Match
- 4 Alexander Nunez (Life Pacific (Calif.)) won by fall over 6 Riley Siason (Menlo (Calif.)) (Fall 4:49)
7th Place Match
- 3 Koby Milner (Reinhardt (Ga.)) won in tie breaker - 1 over 11 Jordan Martinez (Campbellsville (Ky.)) (TB-1 3-2)
NAIA - 133 pounds
- 1st Place - 4 Blaysen Terukina of Menlo (Calif.)
- 2nd Place - 6 Austin Wallace-Lister of Warner Pacific (Ore.)
- 3rd Place - 5 Jacob Seto of Cumberlands (Ky.)
- 4th Place - 12 Drake Foster of Oklahoma City
- 5th Place - 10 Alberto Garcia of Concordia (Neb.)
- 6th Place - 8 Sean Deshazer of Life (Ga.)
- 7th Place - 11 Conner Gimson of Indiana Tech
- 8th Place - Matt Gimson of Indiana Tech
1st Place Match
- 4 Blaysen Terukina (Menlo (Calif.)) won by decision over 6 Austin Wallace-Lister (Warner Pacific (Ore.)) (Dec 2-0)
3rd Place Match
- 5 Jacob Seto (Cumberlands (Ky.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 12 Drake Foster (Oklahoma City) (SV-1 3-1)
5th Place Match
- 10 Alberto Garcia (Concordia (Neb.)) won by forfeit over 8 Sean Deshazer (Life (Ga.)) (FF)
7th Place Match
- 11 Conner Gimson (Indiana Tech) won by forfeit over Matt Gimson (Indiana Tech) (FF)
NAIA - 141 pounds
- 1st Place - 3 Baterdene Boldmaa of Doane (Neb.)
- 2nd Place - 1 Kendon Lee of Grand View (Iowa)
- 3rd Place - 4 Brandon James of Marian (Ind.)
- 4th Place - 12 Trent Johnson of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
- 5th Place - 10 Trent Leon of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 6th Place - Connor Holman of Oklahoma City
- 7th Place - 9 Jody Mcalister of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 8th Place - John Fox of York (Neb.)
1st Place Match
- 3 Baterdene Boldmaa (Doane (Neb.)) won by fall over 1 Kendon Lee (Grand View (Iowa)) (Fall 6:46)
3rd Place Match
- 4 Brandon James (Marian (Ind.)) won by fall over 12 Trent Johnson (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) (Fall 1:54)
5th Place Match
- 10 Trent Leon (Reinhardt (Ga.)) won by fall over Connor Holman (Oklahoma City) (Fall 4:19)
7th Place Match
- 9 Jody Mcalister (Reinhardt (Ga.)) won by decision over John Fox (York (Neb.)) (Dec 6-2)
NAIA - 149 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Tres Leon of Cumberlands (Ky.)
- 2nd Place - 10 Denver Stonecheck of Life (Ga.)
- 3rd Place - 5 Devin Everk of Menlo (Calif.)
- 4th Place - 3 Tanner Abbas of Grand View (Iowa)
- 5th Place - 9 Michael Diemer of Campbellsville (Ky.)
- 6th Place - 4 Richard Pocock of Missouri Valley
- 7th Place - Joe Eads of William Penn (Iowa)
- 8th Place - Baltazar Loza of Oklahoma City
1st Place Match
- 1 Tres Leon (Cumberlands (Ky.)) won by decision over 10 Denver Stonecheck (Life (Ga.)) (Dec 12-5)
3rd Place Match
- 5 Devin Everk (Menlo (Calif.)) won by decision over 3 Tanner Abbas (Grand View (Iowa)) (Dec 4-1)
5th Place Match
- 9 Michael Diemer (Campbellsville (Ky.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 4 Richard Pocock (Missouri Valley) (SV-1 4-2)
7th Place Match
- Joe Eads (William Penn (Iowa)) won by fall over Baltazar Loza (Oklahoma City) (Fall 1:34)
NAIA - 157 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer of Grand View (Iowa)
- 2nd Place - 11 Casey Dobson of Providence (Mont.)
- 3rd Place - 7 Nolan Saxton of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 4th Place - 2 Derrick Smallwood of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
- 5th Place - 6 Dylan Chatterton of Southeastern (Fla.)
- 6th Place - 4 Dalton Jensen of Grand View (Iowa)
- 7th Place - 12 Jon McGowan of Oklahoma City
- 8th Place - Beau Blackham of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
1st Place Match
- 1 Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (Grand View (Iowa)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 11 Casey Dobson (Providence (Mont.)) (SV-1 7-5)
3rd Place Match
- 7 Nolan Saxton (Reinhardt (Ga.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 2 Derrick Smallwood (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) (SV-1 8-6)
5th Place Match
- 6 Dylan Chatterton (Southeastern (Fla.)) won by decision over 4 Dalton Jensen (Grand View (Iowa)) (Dec 5-2)
7th Place Match
- 12 Jon McGowan (Oklahoma City) won by decision over Beau Blackham (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) (Dec 6-0)
NAIA - 165 pounds
- 1st Place - 2 Brennan Swafford of Graceland (Iowa)
- 2nd Place - 1 Justin George of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 3rd Place - 4 Kyle Caldwell of Grand View (Iowa)
- 4th Place - 5 Isaiah Luellen of Baker (Kan.)
- 5th Place - 12 Elias Vaoifi of Missouri Valley
- 6th Place - 3 Giovanni Bonilla of Grand View (Iowa)
- 7th Place - Taylor Owens of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
- 8th Place - 6 Andrew Null of Northwestern (Iowa)
1st Place Match
- 2 Brennan Swafford (Graceland (Iowa)) won by decision over 1 Justin George (Reinhardt (Ga.)) (Dec 4-2)
3rd Place Match
- 4 Kyle Caldwell (Grand View (Iowa)) won by decision over 5 Isaiah Luellen (Baker (Kan.)) (Dec 9-3)
5th Place Match
- 12 Elias Vaoifi (Missouri Valley) won by medical forfeit over 3 Giovanni Bonilla (Grand View (Iowa)) (MFF)
7th Place Match
- Taylor Owens (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) won by decision over 6 Andrew Null (Northwestern (Iowa)) (Dec 5-4)
NAIA - 174 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Lucas Lovvorn of Baker (Kan.)
- 2nd Place - 2 Chase Vincent of Oklahoma City
- 3rd Place - 5 Nathan Walton of Cumberland (Tenn.)
- 4th Place - 4 Daniel Butler of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
- 5th Place - 10 Mahlic Sallah of Campbellsville (Ky.)
- 6th Place - 3 Michael Carew of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 7th Place - 11 Coleman Bryant of Southeastern (Fla.)
- 8th Place - 9 Armon Fayyazi of Vanguard (Calif.)
1st Place Match
- 1 Lucas Lovvorn (Baker (Kan.)) won by decision over 2 Chase Vincent (Oklahoma City) (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match
- 5 Nathan Walton (Cumberland (Tenn.)) won by major decision over 4 Daniel Butler (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) (Maj 10-0)
5th Place Match
- 10 Mahlic Sallah (Campbellsville (Ky.)) won by medical forfeit over 3 Michael Carew (Reinhardt (Ga.)) (MFF)
7th Place Match
- 11 Coleman Bryant (Southeastern (Fla.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 9 Armon Fayyazi (Vanguard (Calif.)) (SV-1 7-5)
NAIA - 184 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Anthony Orozco of Menlo (Calif.)
- 2nd Place - 7 Riley Jaramillo of Saint Mary (Kan.)
- 3rd Place - 3 Trevor Lawson of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
- 4th Place - 2 Antonio Stewart of Reinhardt (Ga.)
- 5th Place - 5 Kendrick Jones of Grand View (Iowa)
- 6th Place - 4 Colton Gonzalez of Marian (Ind.)
- 7th Place - 6 Jacob Smith of Baker (Kan.)
- 8th Place - 8 Eric Vermillion of Indiana Tech
1st Place Match
- 1 Anthony Orozco (Menlo (Calif.)) won by major decision over 7 Riley Jaramillo (Saint Mary (Kan.)) (Maj 8-0)
3rd Place Match
- 3 Trevor Lawson (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) won by decision over 2 Antonio Stewart (Reinhardt (Ga.)) (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match
- 5 Kendrick Jones (Grand View (Iowa)) won by decision over 4 Colton Gonzalez (Marian (Ind.)) (Dec 8-4)
7th Place Match
- 6 Jacob Smith (Baker (Kan.)) won by decision over 8 Eric Vermillion (Indiana Tech) (Dec 8-5)
NAIA - 197 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Evan Hansen of Grand View (Iowa)
- 2nd Place - 2 Isaac Bartel of Montana State - Northern
- 3rd Place - 9 Owen Braungardt of Missouri Baptist
- 4th Place - 5 Ramsey Bloy of Cumberlands (Ky.)
- 5th Place - 3 David Dow of Baker (Kan.)
- 6th Place - 7 Zach Linton of Campbellsville (Ky.)
- 7th Place - 6 John Hensley of Providence (Mont.)
- 8th Place - 4 Eric Deluse of Cumberlands (Ky.)
1st Place Match
- 1 Evan Hansen (Grand View (Iowa)) won by fall over 2 Isaac Bartel (Montana State - Northern) (Fall 6:37)
3rd Place Match
- 9 Owen Braungardt (Missouri Baptist) won by fall over 5 Ramsey Bloy (Cumberlands (Ky.)) (Fall 1:52)
5th Place Match
- 3 David Dow (Baker (Kan.)) won by decision over 7 Zach Linton (Campbellsville (Ky.)) (Dec 8-4)
7th Place Match
- 6 John Hensley (Providence (Mont.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 4 Eric Deluse (Cumberlands (Ky.)) (SV-1 8-6)
- NAIA - 285 pounds
- 1st Place - 1 Brandon Reed of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
- 2nd Place - 2 Tanner Farmer of Concordia (Neb.)
- 3rd Place - 9 Ashton Mutuwa of Campbellsville (Ky.)
- 4th Place - 3 Shawn Beeson of Graceland (Iowa)
- 5th Place - 5 Nick Fowler of Calumet St. Joseph (Ind.)
- 6th Place - 6 Justin Harbison of Providence (Mont.)
- 7th Place - Patrick Depiazza of Cumberland (Tenn.)
- 8th Place - 4 Matt Kent of Grand View (Iowa)
1st Place Match
- 1 Brandon Reed (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) won in sudden victory - 1 over 2 Tanner Farmer (Concordia (Neb.)) (SV-1 5-3)
3rd Place Match
- 9 Ashton Mutuwa (Campbellsville (Ky.)) won by decision over 3 Shawn Beeson (Graceland (Iowa)) (Dec 7-5)
5th Place Match
- 5 Nick Fowler (Calumet St. Joseph (Ind.)) won by fall over 6 Justin Harbison (Providence (Mont.)) (Fall 1:15)
7th Place Match
- Patrick Depiazza (Cumberland (Tenn.)) won by decision over 4 Matt Kent (Grand View (Iowa)) (Dec 9-3)
