The Northern State University wrestling team will send three student-athletes to the NCAA National Championships, following a fifth-place team finish from the NCAA Super Region V Tournament. The Wolves scored 94.5 points on the day, one point behind fourth place finisher, Augustana.
Northern tallied eight podium finishes on the day, including a pair of Super Region V titles by Sloan Johannsen (125) and Rudy Lopez (149). This is the first year where multiple Northern State Wolves won regional titles since the format began. Griffin Lundeen was the final national qualifier for NSU, taking third in the 157-pound bracket.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sloan Johannsen advanced to the first National Championships of his career winning the 125-pound title with a 3-0 record and victories over Ben DeForest of UMary (Dec 12-6), Jacob Fitzpatrick of Minnesota State (Dec 2-0), and Benjamin Aranda of St. Cloud State (SV-1 11-8)
- Rudy Lopez went 3-0 en route to his 149-pound championship with victories over three ranked opponents in No. 13 Walker Bents of Minnesota State (Dec 9-5), No. 2 Jalen Spuhler of Parkside (Dec 12-11), and No. 8 Ethen Doty of Upper Iowa (Dec 2-0)
- As the final Wolf to qualify for the NCAA Championships, Lundeen posted a 4-1 record and third place finish in the 157-pound bracket with wins over Cooper Sanders of Sioux Falls (Maj 14-0), No. 8 Caleb Meunier of Minnesota State (Dec 2-1), Preston Klostermann of Upper Iowa (Maj 17-9), and Meunier for the second time in the third place match (Dec 7-2)
- Wrestling at 174-pounds, Damen Pape went 3-2 on the day, closing out his NSU career with victories over Noah Jensen of Southwest Minnesota State (TF 22-5), Anthony Sykora of MSU Moorhead (Fall 1:57), and No. 2 Dajun Jonson of Parkside (Fall 6:25)
- Brady Westall finished fifth in the 184-pound bracket with three wins over True Tobiasson of Sioux Falls (TF 15-0), DJ Rock of Southwest (TF 19-3), and Sam Bruss of UMary (MFF)
- Ryan Hirschkorn added a fifth place finish in the following weight class, going 3-2 with victories over Xander Kenworthy of Southwest (TF 16-0), Hank Meyer of Sioux Falls (TF 15-0), and Jaquan East of Minnesota State (Dec 9-2)
- Teagan Block wrested to a sixth place finish at 133-pounds with a 3-3 record, notching wins over Cole Faircloth of Minot State (Dec 7-5), Chase Hanson of Southwest (Maj. 12-3), and Braiden Kort of Augustana (Dec 4-1)
- The second sixth place finish of the day came via Krayle Stormer at 141-poinds with a 2-3 record and wins over Jordon Oehme of Sioux Falls (Dec 7-2) and Tanner Arjes of Upper Iowa (Maj. 12-3)
