DES MOINE, Iowa — Three Montana-based college wrestlers took center stage at the NAIA national wrestling championships on Saturday, and all three return to the Treasure State with runner-up honors.
MSU-Northern brothers Matt and Brandon Weber finished in second place in their respective weight brackets — Matt at 141, Brandon at 157 — and University of Providence standout Adrian Lyons-Lopez was second at 174 pounds.
Matt Weber took the championship mats first, facing Tyler Fraley of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in the 141-pound championship. Fraley snagged a 2-0 lead in the opening minute, the result of a takedown, before Weber cracked the scoreboard with a one-point escape. Weber’s takedown with 43 seconds remaining in the open period gave him a 3-2 advantage, but Fraley managed an escape of his own to tie the match at 3-3 entering the second period.
Weber chose to be down to open the second frame, and took a 4-3 advantage on an escape 20 seconds into the period. After the lead held going into the final two minutes of regulation, Fraley used an escape of his own to tie the contest at 4-4, then nearly scored a takedown as time expired. Replay officials spent numerous minutes watching the play, but determined the clock had already expired before the takedown.
In the extra minute, Fraley managed another takedown near the end of the scoreclock. Officials determined the move was legal with nearly two seconds left, awarding Fraley the 6-4 SVO victory. Weber earned his second all-American honor for the Lights and coach Tyson Thivierge.
Two matches later, Brandon, the defending 157-pound champion, took the mat against top-seeded Nosomy Pozo of Life (Ga.). Neither scored in the opening period, with Weber taking a 1-0 lead on an escape point seconds into the second period.
Pozo maneuvered Weber with an impressive takedown near the out of bounds line, nearly positioning his way into a pinfall, but the out-of-bounds call pushed the action back to the center of the mats with Pozo up 2-1.
After a Weber escape tied the match at 2-2, Pozo scored two more for at takedown as the second-period buzzer sounded, taking a 4-2 lead into the final two minutes. That advantage held until the final seconds, as Weber looked for a tying takedown, but was only rewarded with a stalling point against Pozo in a 4-3 defeat.
Brandon Weber also captured his second all-American honor.
Caleb Schaeffer and the University of Providence waited until the 174-pound championship for Lyons-Lopez to take his opportunity at a national title. No. 1 seed Lucas Lovvorn of Baker (Kans.). Despite an inspired effort, Lyons-Lopez fell 6-2 to finish with runner-up and all-American honors.
MSU-Northern earned a fourth-place team finish in the tournament, scoring 81.5 points, five behind No. 3 Williams Baptist. Grand View (Iowa) won the national title for the seventh straight year.
The Lights added a trio of all-Americans to the Webers runner-up finishes. Their former Forsyth teammate Chris Nile made a run through the consolation bracket, finishing fourth overall at 174 pounds. Nile fell 8-2 in the consolation match to Anthony Orozco of Menlo (Calif.).
The Bartel brothers added to their impressive wrestling resumes, advancing to the consolation match in their respective brackets. Isaac Bartel earned a hard-fought third-place finish at 197 pounds, defeating Donavan Fouchey of Missouri Valley, while Andrew Bartel fell 3-1 in the 165-pound consolation.
Providence finished ninth in the team standings, tallying 47 points. Lyons-Lopez was joined by Casey Dobson in earning all-American status. The Great Falls native captured a third-place finish at 157 pounds, defeating Nick Drendell of Williams Baptist in the consolation match.
Sidney native Gresh Jones, who now wrestles for Dickinson State, placed fourth in the 133-pound bracket. Jones fell 11-9 to Robert Ozuna of York (Neb.).
125
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 4 Hayden Lee of Cumberlands (Ky.)
2nd Place – 10 Julian Gaytan of Midland (Neb.)
3rd Place – 11 Justin Portillo of Grand View (Iowa)
4th Place – 3 Olson Delisca of Southeastern (Fla.)
5th Place – 1 Mikel Perales of Menlo (Calif.)
6th Place – 7 Sawyer Miller of Indiana Tech
7th Place – 2 Matthew Nguyen of Grand View (Iowa)
8th Place – Jordan Martinez of Campbellsvile (Ky.)
1st Place Match
4 Hayden Lee (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 28-1, . over 10 Julian Gaytan (Midland (Neb.)) 13-3, . (Dec 9-2)
3rd Place Match
11 Justin Portillo (Grand View (Iowa)) 17-4, . over 3 Olson Delisca (Southeastern (Fla.)) 14-3, . (Dec 15-8)
5th Place Match
1 Mikel Perales (Menlo (Calif.)) 13-2, . over 7 Sawyer Miller (Indiana Tech) 30-10, . (Fall 3:27)
7th Place Match
2 Matthew Nguyen (Grand View (Iowa)) 26-6, . over Jordan Martinez (Campbellsvile (Ky.)) 19-14, . (Fall 5:25)
133
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Jake Sinkovics of Cumberlands (Ky.)
2nd Place – 2 Erique Early of Indiana Tech
3rd Place – 11 Robert Ozuna of York (Neb.)
4th Place – 3 Gresh Jones of Dickinson State (n.d.)
5th Place – 4 Giovanni Castillo of Concordia (Neb.)
6th Place – 5 Trevor Murano of Grand View (Iowa)
7th Place – 8 Brady Moser of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
8th Place – Ethan Owen of Southeastern (Fla.)
1st Place Match
1 Jake Sinkovics (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 25-0, . over 2 Erique Early (Indiana Tech) 34-5, . (Dec 9-6)
3rd Place Match
11 Robert Ozuna (York (Neb.)) 16-6, . over 3 Gresh Jones (Dickinson State (n.d.)) 28-4, . (Dec 11-9)
5th Place Match
4 Giovanni Castillo (Concordia (Neb.)) 15-6, . over 5 Trevor Murano (Grand View (Iowa)) 19-9, . (Dec 3-1)
7th Place Match
8 Brady Moser (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 20-8, . over Ethan Owen (Southeastern (Fla.)) 17-7, . (Dec 4-1)
141
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 3 Tyler Fraley of Williams Baptist (Ark.)
2nd Place – 5 Matt Weber of Montana State-Northern
3rd Place – 6 David Berg of Midland (Neb.)
4th Place – 7 Taylor Moeder of Kansas Wesleyan
5th Place – 1 Josh Wenger of Grand View (Iowa)
6th Place – 9 Mason Calvert of Life (Ga.)
7th Place – 8 Gaige Torres of Indiana Tech
8th Place – David Salazar of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
1st Place Match
3 Tyler Fraley (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 15-2, . over 5 Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 33-11, . (SV-1 6-4)
3rd Place Match
6 David Berg (Midland (Neb.)) 23-5, . over 7 Taylor Moeder (Kansas Wesleyan) 31-3, . (MD 13-4)
5th Place Match
1 Josh Wenger (Grand View (Iowa)) 21-4, . over 9 Mason Calvert (Life (Ga.)) 18-7, . (Fall 1:49)
7th Place Match
8 Gaige Torres (Indiana Tech) 32-9, . over David Salazar (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 17-17, . (Fall 4:56)
149
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Cam Tessari of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
2nd Place – 2 Tres Leon of Cumberlands (Ky.)
3rd Place – 3 Devin Reynolds of Grand View (Iowa)
4th Place – Joseph Alexander of Simpson (Calif.)
5th Place – Austin Roper of Benedictine (Kan.)
6th Place – 11 Chandler Michael of Southern Oregon
7th Place – 10 Justin Atkinson of Indiana Tech
8th Place – 5 Richard Pocock of Hastings (Neb.)
1st Place Match
1 Cam Tessari (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 23-1, . over 2 Tres Leon (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 23-2, . (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match
3 Devin Reynolds (Grand View (Iowa)) 23-3, . over Joseph Alexander (Simpson (Calif.)) 26-16, . (Fall 2:04)
5th Place Match
Austin Roper (Benedictine (Kan.)) 20-6, . over 11 Chandler Michael (Southern Oregon) 31-11, . (Dec 12-7)
7th Place Match
10 Justin Atkinson (Indiana Tech) 29-13, . over 5 Richard Pocock (Hastings (Neb.)) 9-4, . (Dec 9-6)
157
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Nosomy Pozo of Life (Ga.)
2nd Place – 7 Brandon Weber of Montana State-Northern
3rd Place – 12 Casey Dobson of Providence (Mont.)
4th Place – 8 Nick Drendel of Williams Baptist (Ark.)
5th Place – 11 Kenny Boyd of Missouri Valley
6th Place – 4 Chris Vaughan of Hastings (Neb.)
7th Place – Dylan Chatterton of Southeastern (Fla.)
8th Place – 10 Thomas Garty of Indiana Tech
1st Place Match
1 Nosomy Pozo (Life (Ga.)) 26-1, . over 7 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 26-8, . (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place Match
12 Casey Dobson (Providence (Mont.)) 19-13, . over 8 Nick Drendel (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 20-4, . (Dec 3-1)
5th Place Match
11 Kenny Boyd (Missouri Valley) 33-10, . over 4 Chris Vaughan (Hastings (Neb.)) 30-12, . (Dec 4-3)
7th Place Match
Dylan Chatterton (Southeastern (Fla.)) 14-4, . over 10 Thomas Garty (Indiana Tech) 25-10, . (Dec 6-2)
165
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Grant Henderson of Grand View (Iowa)
2nd Place – 3 Andrew Simmons of Missouri Valley
3rd Place – 7 Diorian Coleman of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
4th Place – 5 Andrew Bartel of Montana State-Northern
5th Place – 8 Andrew Null of Northwestern (Iowa)
6th Place – 12 Brett Johnson of Marian (Ind.)
7th Place – 9 Mitch Roadruck of Indiana Tech
8th Place – 11 Angel del Cueto of Southeastern (Fla.)
1st Place Match
1 Grant Henderson (Grand View (Iowa)) 23-2, . over 3 Andrew Simmons (Missouri Valley) 14-5, . (Dec 6-2)
3rd Place Match
7 Diorian Coleman (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 16-5, . over 5 Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 41-12, . (SV-1 3-1)
5th Place Match
8 Andrew Null (Northwestern (Iowa)) 27-10, . over 12 Brett Johnson (Marian (Ind.)) 32-17, . (Fall 0:35)
7th Place Match
9 Mitch Roadruck (Indiana Tech) 28-9, . over 11 Angel del Cueto (Southeastern (Fla.)) 17-8, . (TF-1.5 4:12 (15-0))
174
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Lucas Lovvorn of Baker (Kan.)
2nd Place – 10 Adrian Lyons-Lopez of Providence (Mont.)
3rd Place – 4 Anthony Orozco of Menlo (Calif.)
4th Place – 9 Chris Nile of Montana State-Northern
5th Place – 2 Lawton Benna of Grand View (Iowa)
6th Place – 3 Justin Brown of Campbellsvile (Ky.)
7th Place – 6 Dylan Blackford of Grand View (Iowa)
8th Place – 7 Colton Gonzalez of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
1st Place Match
1 Lucas Lovvorn (Baker (Kan.)) 36-4, . over 10 Adrian Lyons-Lopez (Providence (Mont.)) 31-10, . (Dec 6-2)
3rd Place Match
4 Anthony Orozco (Menlo (Calif.)) 27-6, . over 9 Chris Nile (Montana State-Northern) 21-9, . (Dec 8-2)
5th Place Match
2 Lawton Benna (Grand View (Iowa)) 12-4, . over 3 Justin Brown (Campbellsvile (Ky.)) 32-5, . (Dec 6-3)
7th Place Match
6 Dylan Blackford (Grand View (Iowa)) 21-11, . over 7 Colton Gonzalez (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 15-8, . (Dec 4-1)
184
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 2 Charles Sharon of Campbellsvile (Ky.)
2nd Place – 4 Zach Linton of Doane (Neb.)
3rd Place – 3 Joshua Chiles of Williams Baptist (Ark.)
4th Place – Antonio Stewart of Reinhardt (Ga.)
5th Place – 1 Cameron Jones of Cumberlands (Ky.)
6th Place – 6 Jacob Smith of Baker (Kan.)
7th Place – Dylan Bollinger of Missouri Baptist
8th Place – 8 Tyler Noon of Menlo (Calif.)
1st Place Match
2 Charles Sharon (Campbellsvile (Ky.)) 34-2, . over 4 Zach Linton (Doane (Neb.)) 33-3, . (Dec 10-3)
3rd Place Match
3 Joshua Chiles (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 23-3, . over Antonio Stewart (Reinhardt (Ga.)) 25-10, . (Dec 8-1)
5th Place Match
1 Cameron Jones (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 14-2, . over 6 Jacob Smith (Baker (Kan.)) 27-13, . (Fall 1:22)
7th Place Match
Dylan Bollinger (Missouri Baptist) 21-8, . over 8 Tyler Noon (Menlo (Calif.)) 18-11, . (Dec 9-3)
197
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Evan Hansen of Grand View (Iowa)
2nd Place – 2 Dalton Bailey of Life (Ga.)
3rd Place – 5 Isaac Bartel of Montana State-Northern
4th Place – 4 Donavan Fouchey of Missouri Valley
5th Place – 6 David Dow of Baker (Kan.)
6th Place – 7 Eric Fan of Eastern Oregon
7th Place – 8 Eric Deluse of Cumberlands (Ky.)
8th Place – Elias Mason of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
1st Place Match
1 Evan Hansen (Grand View (Iowa)) 28-2, . over 2 Dalton Bailey (Life (Ga.)) 25-3, . (MD 17-4)
3rd Place Match
5 Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 39-9, . over 4 Donavan Fouchey (Missouri Valley) 21-9, . (Dec 3-2)
5th Place Match
6 David Dow (Baker (Kan.)) 27-7, . over 7 Eric Fan (Eastern Oregon) 21-11, . (Dec 9-4)
7th Place Match
8 Eric Deluse (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 19-10, . over Elias Mason (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 16-12, . (Dec 6-0)
285
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – 1 Dean Broghammer of Grand View (Iowa)
2nd Place – 2 Demetrius Thomas of Williams Baptist (Ark.)
3rd Place – 3 Jeremiah Gerl of Hastings (Neb.)
4th Place – 10 Brandon Reed of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
5th Place – 4 Jesse Gomez of Missouri Valley
6th Place – 5 Quandre Chisolm of Cumberlands (Ky.)
7th Place – Gaige Johnson of Oklahoma City
8th Place – 7 Bryson McGowan of Oklahoma City
1st Place Match
1 Dean Broghammer (Grand View (Iowa)) 27-3, . over 2 Demetrius Thomas (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 27-4, . (Dec 8-4)
3rd Place Match
3 Jeremiah Gerl (Hastings (Neb.)) 34-3, . over 10 Brandon Reed (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 19-8, . (Fall 2:02)
5th Place Match
4 Jesse Gomez (Missouri Valley) 30-11, . over 5 Quandre Chisolm (Cumberlands (Ky.)) 24-7, . (Dec 3-0)
7th Place Match
Gaige Johnson (Oklahoma City) 21-13, . over 7 Bryson McGowan (Oklahoma City) 22-13, . (Dec 7-3)
