Central Oklahoma leads after day one at the NCAA DII National Championships

The NCAA DII National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, saw its first day of action come to a close. Now, 80 All-Americans are set to compete for placement on Saturday.

In the team race, Central Oklahoma leads the pack with 59.5 points. Following closely behind is Lander with 54.5 points. St. Cloud State holds their ground with 47.0 points, and McKendree sits in fourth with 42.5 points. Rounding out the top five is Nebraska-Kearney, with 40.0 points.

In the 125 pound bracket, all top four seeded wrestlers advanced to the second day of action. No. 1 seed James Joplin of Lander will take on No. 4 seed and 2023 National runner-up Jaxson Rohman of Augustana. Joplin cruised through the bracket with a technical fall and a major decision, outscoring his opponents 31-7. It’ll be an exciting matchup between the No. 2 seed Shane Corrigan of Wisconsin-Parkside and No. 3 seed Christian Mejia of McKendree on the other side of the bracket.

Jeremiah Echevarria of Gannon had himself a fantastic first day at 133 pounds, knocking off No. 2 seed Quentrevio Campbell of Chadron State in a 9-4 decision to open his tournament. Echevarria pulled out on top in a 5-4 quarterfinal decision over No. 7 seeded Elijah Lusk of Lander. He will meet No. 3 seed and 2023 National Champion Gavin Quiocho in the semifinals. Montevallo’s Gabe Hixenbaugh is making his mark on the DII wrestling scene, reaching the semifinals in his first-ever trip. Montevallo is a first-year program, and Hixenbaugh has made history twice now, becoming the program’s first ever national qualifier and All-American.

At 141 pounds, defending champion Zackary Donathan of Tiffin matches up against fifth-seeded Ronan Schuelke of McKendree. On the other side of the bracket, two-time All-American Nick James of Nebraska-Kearney will face another two-time All-American in Tate Murty of Upper Iowa.

The field at 149 pounds saw the biggest upset of the day after No. 1 seed and 2023 National runner-up Christian Small of Lake Erie dropped his opening match to Jalen Spuhler of Wisconsin-Parkside, 10-8. Spuhler was defeated by Colorado School of Mines’ lone national qualifier, Cody Thompson, in the quarterfinals. Thompson faces a tough opponent in two-time All-American and 2022 National Champion Zeth Brower of Lander, however, and must continue his momentum from day one to reach the finals.

Top-seeded and defending National Champion Nick Novak of St. Cloud State pushed his way into the finals at 157 pounds. Novak matches up against Guy Deleonardis of Glenville State in the semifinals. It’s No. 3 Gabe Johnson of Central Oklahoma in the semifinals against No. 2 Jack Haskin of Lake Erie.

At 165 pounds, the top four seeded individuals advanced to day two. Chase Luensman, Upper Iowa’s star, looks to defend his title against third seed Cory Peterson of McKendree. Undefeated top seed David Hunsberger of Lander will take on fifth-seeded Hunter Jump of Central Oklahoma.

No. 8 seed Brody Hemauer of Wisconsin-Parkside defeated top seed Scott Joll of UNC-Pembroke in the quarterfinals at 174 pounds. Hemauer matches up against fourth-seeded Josh Kenny of Grand Valley State. Anthony Des Vigne of Central Oklahoma bested Cole Hernandez of Western Colorado in sudden victory.

Ty McGeary of West Liberty, the No. 1 seed, defeated two-time All-American Billy Higgins of Nebraska-Kearney in an entertaining quarterfinal bout to advance to the semifinals at 184 pounds. McGeary will see No. 5 Reece Worachek of Wisconsin-Parkside tomorrow morning.

In the 197-pound bracket, Dalton Abney of Central Oklahoma is one step closer to his third consecutive national title after besting opponents from Glenville State and Nebraska-Kearney on the first day in Wichita. Abney will see Logan Kvien of McKendree in the semifinal round. Dominic Murphy of St. Cloud State pinned Tereus Henry of Fort Hays State in a rematch of last year’s third place match to reach the semifinals. Murphy meets Derek Blubaugh of UIndy, the 2023 National runner-up, in the first session on Saturday.

One of the biggest upsets of the tournament came in the 285-pound bracket as first-time National Qualifier Zach Peterson of Augustana reached the semifinals with wins over No. 1 Francesco Borsellino of West Liberty and No. 8 Taniela Feliciano-Takaf of Simon Fraser. Peterson faces a tough opponent in Juan Edmond-Holmes of Lander in the next session. 2023 National champion Shawn Streck of Central Oklahoma is back in the semifinals with wins over opponents from Gannon and Maryville. Streck is set to face No. 2 seed Isaiah Vance of Pitt-Johnstown in the semifinals.

All the action from Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas, can be followed on FloWrestling. For brackets and full results, visit the tournament page on Trackwrestling.

125 pounds

James Joplin (Lander) vs. Jaxson Rohman (Augustana (SD))

Christian Mejia (McKendree) vs. Shane Corrigan (Wisconsin-Parkside)

133 pounds

Gabe Hixenbaugh (Montevallo) vs. Reece Barnhardt (UMary)

Gavin Quiocho (Glenville State) vs. Jeremiah Echevarria (Gannon)

141 pounds

Zackary Donathan (Tiffin) vs. Ronan Schuelke (McKendree)

Nick James (Nebraska-Kearney) vs. Tate Murty (Upper Iowa)

149 pounds

Cody Thompson (Colorado School of Mines) vs. Zeth Brower (Lander )

Dylan Brown (Central Oklahoma) vs. Jacob Ealy (Pitt-Johnstown)

157 pounds

Nick Novak (St. Cloud State) vs. Guy Deleonardis (Glenville State)

Gabe Johnson (Central Oklahoma) vs. Jack Haskin (Lake Erie)

165 pounds

David Hunsberger (Lander ) vs. Hunter Jump (Central Oklahoma)

Cory Peterson (McKendree) vs. Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa)

174 pounds

Brody Hemauer (Wisconsin-Parkside) vs. Josh Kenny (Grand Valley State)

Anthony Des Vigne (Central Oklahoma) vs. Trey Sizemore (Indianapolis)

184 pounds

Ty McGeary (West Liberty) vs. Reece Worachek (Wisconsin-Parkside)

Matt Weinberg (Kutztown) vs. Damon Ashworth (Central Missouri)

197 pounds

Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma) vs. Logan Kvien (McKendree)

Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) vs. Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis)

285 pounds

Zach Peterson (Augustana (SD)) vs. Juan Edmond-Holmes (Lander)

Shawn Streck (Central Oklahoma) vs. Isaiah Vance (Pitt-Johnstown)

125 pounds

James Joplin (Lander) maj. dec. Isaiah Gamez (Adams State), 13-4

Jaxson Rohman (Augustana (SD)) dec. Dayson Torgerson (Colorado Mesa), 11-4

Christian Mejia (McKendree) won in tie breaker over Zachary Ourada (Nebraska-Kearney), TB-1 3-1)

Shane Corrigan (Wisconsin-Parkside) dec. Anthony Aniciete (Tiffin), 9-5

133 pounds

Gabe Hixenbaugh (Montevallo) maj. dec. Thierno Diallo (Frostburg State), 11-1

Reece Barnhardt (UMary) dec. Devin Flannery (Millersville), 9-3

Gavin Quiocho (Glenville State) dec. Ryan Ripplinger (McKendree), 4-2

Jeremiah Echevarria (Gannon) dec. Elijah Lusk (Lander ), 5-4

141 pounds

Zackary Donathan (Tiffin) tech. fall Isham Peace (Lander ), 24-4

Ronan Schuelke (McKendree) pin Cayden Henschel (Wisconsin-Parkside), 6:17

Nick James (Nebraska-Kearney) won in tie breaker over Dylan Lucas (Central Oklahoma), TB-1 2-1

Tate Murty (Upper Iowa) dec. Hunter Burnett (Augustana (SD)), 6-5

149 pounds

Cody Thompson (Colorado School of Mines) dec. Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin-Parkside), 13-11

Zeth Brower (Lander ) won in sudden victory over Nico Taddy (West Liberty), SV-1 8-5

Dylan Brown (Central Oklahoma) dec. Chris Donathan (Grand Valley State), 18-11

Jacob Ealy (Pitt-Johnstown) won in sudden victory over Colby Njos (St. Cloud State), SV-1 5-2

157 pounds

Nick Novak (St. Cloud State) dec. Bailey Gimbor (Kutztown), 5-2

Guy Deleonardis (Glenville State) dec. Devin Bahr (Northern State), 8-6

Gabe Johnson (Central Oklahoma) tech. fall Drew Wiechers (Ashland), 17-2

Jack Haskin (Lake Erie) dec. Maxwell Kiel (Belmont Abbey), 4-1

165 pounds

David Hunsberger (Lander ) dec. Aaden Valdez (Adams State), 7-3

Hunter Jump (Central Oklahoma) dec. Nicholas Coreno (Gannon), 4-2

Cory Peterson (McKendree) maj. dec. Dalton Gimbor (Kutztown), 15-5

Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) dec. Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State), 7-3

174 pounds

Brody Hemauer (Wisconsin-Parkside) dec. Scott Joll (UNC Pembroke), 12-10

Josh Kenny (Grand Valley State) won in sudden victory over Matt Ortiz (McKendree), SV-1 4-1

Anthony Des Vigne (Central Oklahoma) won in sudden victory over Cole Hernandez (Western Colorado), SV-1 4-1

Trey Sizemore (Indianapolis) dec. Seth Brossard (Northern State), 12-6

184 pounds

Ty McGeary (West Liberty) maj. dec. Billy Higgins (Nebraska-Kearney), 14-5

Reece Worachek (Wisconsin-Parkside) dec. Cole Gray (Western Colorado), 4-2

Matt Weinberg (Kutztown) maj. dec. Jaquez Bostic (Limestone), 15-3

Damon Ashworth (Central Missouri) won in tie breaker over Daniel Beemer (Ashland), TB-1 8-6)

197 pounds

Dalton Abney (Central Oklahoma) maj. dec. Jackson Kinsella (Nebraska-Kearney), 8-0

Logan Kvien (McKendree) dec. Dakoda Rodgers (Pitt-Johnstown), 5-2

Dominic Murphy (St. Cloud State) pin Tereus Henry (Fort Hays State), 4:17

Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis) dec. Max Ramberg (Augustana (SD)), 9-4

285 pounds

Zach Peterson (Augustana (SD)) won in sudden victory over Taniela Feliciano-Takafua (Simon Fraser), SV-1 4-1

Juan Edmond-Holmes (Lander) won in tie breaker over Crew Howard (Nebraska-Kearney), TB-1 3-2

Shawn Streck (Central Oklahoma) maj. dec. Ryan Herman (Maryville), 13-3

Isaiah Vance (Pitt-Johnstown) dec. La`Ron Parks (Notre Dame (Ohio)), 3-0

1. Central Oklahoma: 59.5 points
2. Lander: 54.5 points
3. St. Cloud State: 47.0 points
4. McKendree: 42.5 points
5. Nebraska-Kearney: 40.0 points
6. Wisconsin-Parkside: 32.0 points
7. Pitt-Johnstown: 30.0 points
8. Augustana (SD): 29.0 points
9. Indianapolis: 22.5 points
10. Glenville State: 20.0 points