NAIA preview: Grand View seeks ninth straight national title, Viking star Hanson aims to be four-timer
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by Johnny Johnson, Special to TheMat.com
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NAIA Wrestling website
No. 1 Grand View (Iowa) men's wrestling will send 12 individuals to the 63rd annual NAIA Wrestling National Championship at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas, March 6-7. The Vikings are searching for their ninth-straight team title.
The Vikings of Grand View, led by head coach Nick Mitchell, secured the No. 1 spot in the final poll of season marking their 57th consecutive poll as No. 1 dating back to October 17, 2012.
The Grand View Vikings went wire to wire the last five years securing the No. 1 every poll from preseason to post season. They have won eight straight national titles as a program. Since 2001, only Grand View (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-2018, 2018-19, 2019-20), former members Notre Dame (Ohio) (2010-11) and Lindenwood (Mo.) (2006-07) have spent the entire season ranked No. 1. Grand View had four individual No. 1 wrestlers including Justin Portillo (125) Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (157), Kendon Lee (141) and Evan Hansen (197).
No. 1 Grand View traveled to Atchison, Kansas on February 22, and won their fifth-consecutive Heart of America Conference Championship title. Along with taking home the championship, they crowned six individual champions including Shea Ruffridge (FR/Pocahontas, IA) at 133, Kendon Lee (JR/Addis, LA) at 141, Tanner Abbas (FR/Kanawha, IA) at 149, Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (SR/Buffalo, NY) at 157, Kendrick Jones (SR/New Orleans, LA) at 184, and Evan Hansen (SR/Kimballton, IA) at 197. Finsihing as HACC runner-ups were 125 | Justin Portillo (JR/Clarion, IA) 157, Dalton Jensen (FR/Downs, IL) 165 Giovanny Bonilla (SO/Kissimmee, FL), and 285 Matt Kent (SR/Edwardsville, IL). Dante Tacchia (SO/Iowa Falls, IA) fought back after falling in the quarterfinals to secure his spot in the 2020 NAIA National Championship. The Vikings had six first-place finishes, four second-place finishes, and two third-place finishes. Grand View will send all 12 wrestlers to the 2020 NAIA National Championship in their respective weight division.
The Vikings full contingency of 12 student-athletes have half of their competitors ranked in the top two, and 11 wrestlers ranked in the top 5!!!
Grand View’s wrestlers, hometown, ranking, and record are as follows:
125: Justin Portillo (JR/Clarion, IA) | No. 1 | Record: 21-6
133: Shea Ruffridge (FR/Pocahontas, IA) | No. 2 | Record: 21-6
133: Dante Tacchia (SO/Iowa Falls, IA) | No. 5 | Record: 19-9
141: Kendon Lee (JR/Addis, LA) | No. 1 | Record: 18-4
149: Tanner Abbas (FR/Kanawha, IA) | No. 5 | Record: 28-8
157: Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (SR/Buffalo, NY) | No. 1 | Record: 19-4
157: Dalton Jensen (FR/Downs, IL) | No. 8 | Record: 23-7
165: Giovanny Bonilla (SO/Kissimmee, FL) | No. 2 | Record: 28-7
165: Kyle Caldwell (JR/Willard, MO) No. 5 | Record: 20-9
184: Kendrick Jones (SR/New Orleans, LA) | No. 5 | Record: 23-3
197: Evan Hansen (SR/Kimballton, IA) | No. 1 | Record: 14-0
285: Matt Kent (SR/Edwardsville, IL) | No. 4 | Record: 19-6.
Grand View rewrote the record book by winning its seventh-straight team title and set a new scoring record of 234.5 points during the 2018 NAIA Championships, blowing away their previous season’s marks of 210.0 in 2016. Last season, the Vikings scored 219 points. GV has either tied or set a new scoring record in five out of the last six years.
The Vikings are the first team in NAIA Wrestling history to win eight-consecutive national titles. Also, the Vikings are only the second program in collegiate wrestling history (NAIA, NJCAA, NCAA) to garner eight straight titles. The other program to do so are NCAA Division I Iowa (six-straight (1995-2000) and nine-straight (1978-1986). Grand View “over-took” NCAA Division I Oklahoma State (seven-straight (1937-1949) and NCAA Division II Cal Poly (seven-straight (1968-1974) last March, and has the second most consecutive title for any program regardless of division. In March they could become one of only two college programs to be in the “Nine is FINE” consecutive title club, joining the University of Iowa!
Anchoring the Vikings is Senior Evan Hansen, a three-time NAIA National Champion who looks to go four-for-four at 197 pounds in Kansas. Hansen won his third individual national title last March, defeating Montana State-Northern’s Isaac Bartel, 6-4, at 197 thanks to takedowns in the second and third period. Only seven other wrestlers have done that in NAIA history. The last one was Southern Oregon’s Brock Gutches, who won four-straight at 174 from 2012-15. For all of Grand View’s success, the Vikings have never had a four-time champ.
But Hansen wouldn’t even entertain the thought last Saturday.
“Never,” Hansen said. “Mitchell and I, we always focus on the next thing, and for me. I’m never looking ahead on anything. It’s always the next thing — the next match, next practice, next class. I just try to focus on what’s in front of me.”
Well, next up for Hansen in the NAIA championships and a history making opportunity!
As in the most recent NAIAs, the real race could be for the silver with the remaining top five teams; No. 2 Reinhardt (Ga.), No. 3 Cumberlands (Ky.), No. 4 Life (Ga.) and No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).
Reinhardt (Ga.) joins Grand View with a full 12-athlete roster. Menlo (Calif.) is taking the third-most wrestlers with 11, while Campbellsville (Ky.), Life (Ga.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Southeastern (Fla.) are a close fourth, taking a roster of 10.
The Mid-South Conference led all conferences with 61 individual qualifiers. The Cascade Collegiate Conference was second with 51 qualifiers. Cumberlands (Ky.) won its second Mid-South Conference Championships at Ephram White Park Gymnasium in Bowling Green, Ky. on Saturday. The Patriots led the 10-team field with 176.5 team points, followed by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in second with 158 points and Southeastern (Fla.) finished third with 135 points. Campbellsville (Ky.) and Life (Ga.) tied for fourth overall with 131 points, while Cumberland was sixth with 94 points Brewton-Parker (Ga.) and Thomas More each totaled 58.5 points to tie for seventh.
At the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, second ranked Reinhardt soared to 165 points to win the AAC crown, 99 points ahead of the nearest team, West Virginia Tech. The Eagles also swept the individual awards with Koby Milner earning Wrestler of the Year, Nic Jarvis Freshman of the Year and Jeff Bedard was named Coach of the Year once again. Congrats to AAC Freshman of the Year Nic 'Lil Country' Jarvis and AAC Wrestler of the Year Koby Milner.
"Very proud of our guys and our coaches Matt Moley and JR Virnich," Bedard said. "Ten champs and two runners-up are very impressive. It's our first time qualifying all 12, so we are excited for nationals. We just need to stay focused on the big prize – a national team title – and I believe in our guys and coaches."
The Mid-South wrestling championship concluded with No. 3 Cumberlands claiming their second MSC tournament title in the last three years. As a team they scored 176.5 points earning four individual titles, two second place finishes, and one third place finish. The Patriots also swept the post season awards winning wrestler of the year, freshman of the year, and coach of the year. Ranked #1 at 149, senior Tres Leon earned his third career MSC First-Team All-Conference award. He went 4-0 in this year's tournament winning his first two matches by fall, his semi-final with a 18-6 major decision, and the final with a 9-4 decision. The dominant performance from Leon all year landed him his third MSC Wrestler of the Year award. The Kaukauna, WI native defeated two ranked wrestlers en route to being the top wrestler at 149.
Starting his UC career off right, Bryce Nickel earned the MSC Freshman of the Year Award. Nickel was the only freshman to win his weight class for the Patriots. He improved to 30 wins on the year after he went 3-0 in the 141-weight class bracket- ranked 11th. The 197 final featured two Patriots, the only finals to have two wrestlers from the same team. Both Ramsey Bloy and Eric Deluse have been top performers all year ranked fifth and fourth respectively. Deluse's one loss of the season came from Bloy earlier in the year, but Deluse took the win this time with a 4-2 decision claiming the 197 championship. This is his first career MSC First Team All-Conference award.
Heavyweight, Aaron Johnson, ranked 8th, has his highest finish at the MSC tournament coming in second. He earned three wins to put him into the finals against the #1 wrestler, Brandon Reed. Johnson would lose by a 3-1 to earn MSC Second-Team All-Conference honors. The only third place finisher was Austin Franco at 125, ranked 5th nationally. Head Coach Jordan Countryman won his first career MSC Coach of the Year Award. The team won the MSC North Regular Season title as well as the 2019-2020 tournament.
The No. 4 nationally ranked Life University men's wrestling team will send a program-best 10 Running Eagles to the 2020 NAIA National Championships after finishing fourth at the Mid-South Conference Championships over the weekend. The men captured the MSC South Division title in the regular season and now will send the most athletes to the national tournament in program history. Leading the way at the MSC Championships was junior Sid Ohl who captured the MSC title at 165 lbs. Denver Stonecheck also made it to the finals at 149 lbs. and garnered 2nd Team All-MSC honors.
No. 5 ranked Lindsey Wilson wrestling team posted a second-place finish at the 2020 Mid-South Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Ephram White Gymnasium. The Blue Raiders finished with 158 total team points to finish behind only Cumberlands (Ky.) with 176.5 points. Derrick Smallwood, Trevor Lawson and Brandon Reed each claimed individual titles and First Team All MSC honors for their performances. Cagen Wallace took second place, adding second-team honors at the event. Based on the results from the championship, 10 Blue Raiders earned automatic qualifying bids to the NAIA Nationa Championship. Wallace, Bacon, Whorton, Johnson, Smallwood, Koontz, Butler, Dodd, Lawson and Reed each picked up the bids.
Rounding out the top 10 are 6th ranked Menlo (Calif.), No. 7 Southeastern, No. 8 Baker (Kan.), No. 9 Providence (Mont.) and 10th ranked Campbellsville (Ky.).
Looking to repeat: Returning NAIA Champions who finished last year at No. 1 also seek to end this season at No. 1: Josh Wenger of Grand View (149), Lucas Lovvorn of Baker (174) of Baker, Anthony Orozco of Menlo (184) and Brandon Reed (285) of Lindsey Wilson (285), in addition to Evan Hansen (197).
Head Coach Nick Mitchell's feelings haven't changed since his first season as a Grand View Coach, still eager for what the upcoming season brings.
Coach Mitchell comments, "I feel the same way in year number 12 as I did going into year number 1. I'm anxious to get into competition!”
Special thanks to the NAIA and NAIA member schools for contributions to this story.
NAIA Wrestling website
No. 1 Grand View (Iowa) men's wrestling will send 12 individuals to the 63rd annual NAIA Wrestling National Championship at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas, March 6-7. The Vikings are searching for their ninth-straight team title.
The Vikings of Grand View, led by head coach Nick Mitchell, secured the No. 1 spot in the final poll of season marking their 57th consecutive poll as No. 1 dating back to October 17, 2012.
The Grand View Vikings went wire to wire the last five years securing the No. 1 every poll from preseason to post season. They have won eight straight national titles as a program. Since 2001, only Grand View (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-2018, 2018-19, 2019-20), former members Notre Dame (Ohio) (2010-11) and Lindenwood (Mo.) (2006-07) have spent the entire season ranked No. 1. Grand View had four individual No. 1 wrestlers including Justin Portillo (125) Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (157), Kendon Lee (141) and Evan Hansen (197).
No. 1 Grand View traveled to Atchison, Kansas on February 22, and won their fifth-consecutive Heart of America Conference Championship title. Along with taking home the championship, they crowned six individual champions including Shea Ruffridge (FR/Pocahontas, IA) at 133, Kendon Lee (JR/Addis, LA) at 141, Tanner Abbas (FR/Kanawha, IA) at 149, Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (SR/Buffalo, NY) at 157, Kendrick Jones (SR/New Orleans, LA) at 184, and Evan Hansen (SR/Kimballton, IA) at 197. Finsihing as HACC runner-ups were 125 | Justin Portillo (JR/Clarion, IA) 157, Dalton Jensen (FR/Downs, IL) 165 Giovanny Bonilla (SO/Kissimmee, FL), and 285 Matt Kent (SR/Edwardsville, IL). Dante Tacchia (SO/Iowa Falls, IA) fought back after falling in the quarterfinals to secure his spot in the 2020 NAIA National Championship. The Vikings had six first-place finishes, four second-place finishes, and two third-place finishes. Grand View will send all 12 wrestlers to the 2020 NAIA National Championship in their respective weight division.
The Vikings full contingency of 12 student-athletes have half of their competitors ranked in the top two, and 11 wrestlers ranked in the top 5!!!
Grand View’s wrestlers, hometown, ranking, and record are as follows:
125: Justin Portillo (JR/Clarion, IA) | No. 1 | Record: 21-6
133: Shea Ruffridge (FR/Pocahontas, IA) | No. 2 | Record: 21-6
133: Dante Tacchia (SO/Iowa Falls, IA) | No. 5 | Record: 19-9
141: Kendon Lee (JR/Addis, LA) | No. 1 | Record: 18-4
149: Tanner Abbas (FR/Kanawha, IA) | No. 5 | Record: 28-8
157: Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (SR/Buffalo, NY) | No. 1 | Record: 19-4
157: Dalton Jensen (FR/Downs, IL) | No. 8 | Record: 23-7
165: Giovanny Bonilla (SO/Kissimmee, FL) | No. 2 | Record: 28-7
165: Kyle Caldwell (JR/Willard, MO) No. 5 | Record: 20-9
184: Kendrick Jones (SR/New Orleans, LA) | No. 5 | Record: 23-3
197: Evan Hansen (SR/Kimballton, IA) | No. 1 | Record: 14-0
285: Matt Kent (SR/Edwardsville, IL) | No. 4 | Record: 19-6.
Grand View rewrote the record book by winning its seventh-straight team title and set a new scoring record of 234.5 points during the 2018 NAIA Championships, blowing away their previous season’s marks of 210.0 in 2016. Last season, the Vikings scored 219 points. GV has either tied or set a new scoring record in five out of the last six years.
The Vikings are the first team in NAIA Wrestling history to win eight-consecutive national titles. Also, the Vikings are only the second program in collegiate wrestling history (NAIA, NJCAA, NCAA) to garner eight straight titles. The other program to do so are NCAA Division I Iowa (six-straight (1995-2000) and nine-straight (1978-1986). Grand View “over-took” NCAA Division I Oklahoma State (seven-straight (1937-1949) and NCAA Division II Cal Poly (seven-straight (1968-1974) last March, and has the second most consecutive title for any program regardless of division. In March they could become one of only two college programs to be in the “Nine is FINE” consecutive title club, joining the University of Iowa!
Anchoring the Vikings is Senior Evan Hansen, a three-time NAIA National Champion who looks to go four-for-four at 197 pounds in Kansas. Hansen won his third individual national title last March, defeating Montana State-Northern’s Isaac Bartel, 6-4, at 197 thanks to takedowns in the second and third period. Only seven other wrestlers have done that in NAIA history. The last one was Southern Oregon’s Brock Gutches, who won four-straight at 174 from 2012-15. For all of Grand View’s success, the Vikings have never had a four-time champ.
But Hansen wouldn’t even entertain the thought last Saturday.
“Never,” Hansen said. “Mitchell and I, we always focus on the next thing, and for me. I’m never looking ahead on anything. It’s always the next thing — the next match, next practice, next class. I just try to focus on what’s in front of me.”
Well, next up for Hansen in the NAIA championships and a history making opportunity!
As in the most recent NAIAs, the real race could be for the silver with the remaining top five teams; No. 2 Reinhardt (Ga.), No. 3 Cumberlands (Ky.), No. 4 Life (Ga.) and No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).
Reinhardt (Ga.) joins Grand View with a full 12-athlete roster. Menlo (Calif.) is taking the third-most wrestlers with 11, while Campbellsville (Ky.), Life (Ga.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Southeastern (Fla.) are a close fourth, taking a roster of 10.
The Mid-South Conference led all conferences with 61 individual qualifiers. The Cascade Collegiate Conference was second with 51 qualifiers. Cumberlands (Ky.) won its second Mid-South Conference Championships at Ephram White Park Gymnasium in Bowling Green, Ky. on Saturday. The Patriots led the 10-team field with 176.5 team points, followed by Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in second with 158 points and Southeastern (Fla.) finished third with 135 points. Campbellsville (Ky.) and Life (Ga.) tied for fourth overall with 131 points, while Cumberland was sixth with 94 points Brewton-Parker (Ga.) and Thomas More each totaled 58.5 points to tie for seventh.
At the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, second ranked Reinhardt soared to 165 points to win the AAC crown, 99 points ahead of the nearest team, West Virginia Tech. The Eagles also swept the individual awards with Koby Milner earning Wrestler of the Year, Nic Jarvis Freshman of the Year and Jeff Bedard was named Coach of the Year once again. Congrats to AAC Freshman of the Year Nic 'Lil Country' Jarvis and AAC Wrestler of the Year Koby Milner.
"Very proud of our guys and our coaches Matt Moley and JR Virnich," Bedard said. "Ten champs and two runners-up are very impressive. It's our first time qualifying all 12, so we are excited for nationals. We just need to stay focused on the big prize – a national team title – and I believe in our guys and coaches."
The Mid-South wrestling championship concluded with No. 3 Cumberlands claiming their second MSC tournament title in the last three years. As a team they scored 176.5 points earning four individual titles, two second place finishes, and one third place finish. The Patriots also swept the post season awards winning wrestler of the year, freshman of the year, and coach of the year. Ranked #1 at 149, senior Tres Leon earned his third career MSC First-Team All-Conference award. He went 4-0 in this year's tournament winning his first two matches by fall, his semi-final with a 18-6 major decision, and the final with a 9-4 decision. The dominant performance from Leon all year landed him his third MSC Wrestler of the Year award. The Kaukauna, WI native defeated two ranked wrestlers en route to being the top wrestler at 149.
Starting his UC career off right, Bryce Nickel earned the MSC Freshman of the Year Award. Nickel was the only freshman to win his weight class for the Patriots. He improved to 30 wins on the year after he went 3-0 in the 141-weight class bracket- ranked 11th. The 197 final featured two Patriots, the only finals to have two wrestlers from the same team. Both Ramsey Bloy and Eric Deluse have been top performers all year ranked fifth and fourth respectively. Deluse's one loss of the season came from Bloy earlier in the year, but Deluse took the win this time with a 4-2 decision claiming the 197 championship. This is his first career MSC First Team All-Conference award.
Heavyweight, Aaron Johnson, ranked 8th, has his highest finish at the MSC tournament coming in second. He earned three wins to put him into the finals against the #1 wrestler, Brandon Reed. Johnson would lose by a 3-1 to earn MSC Second-Team All-Conference honors. The only third place finisher was Austin Franco at 125, ranked 5th nationally. Head Coach Jordan Countryman won his first career MSC Coach of the Year Award. The team won the MSC North Regular Season title as well as the 2019-2020 tournament.
The No. 4 nationally ranked Life University men's wrestling team will send a program-best 10 Running Eagles to the 2020 NAIA National Championships after finishing fourth at the Mid-South Conference Championships over the weekend. The men captured the MSC South Division title in the regular season and now will send the most athletes to the national tournament in program history. Leading the way at the MSC Championships was junior Sid Ohl who captured the MSC title at 165 lbs. Denver Stonecheck also made it to the finals at 149 lbs. and garnered 2nd Team All-MSC honors.
No. 5 ranked Lindsey Wilson wrestling team posted a second-place finish at the 2020 Mid-South Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Ephram White Gymnasium. The Blue Raiders finished with 158 total team points to finish behind only Cumberlands (Ky.) with 176.5 points. Derrick Smallwood, Trevor Lawson and Brandon Reed each claimed individual titles and First Team All MSC honors for their performances. Cagen Wallace took second place, adding second-team honors at the event. Based on the results from the championship, 10 Blue Raiders earned automatic qualifying bids to the NAIA Nationa Championship. Wallace, Bacon, Whorton, Johnson, Smallwood, Koontz, Butler, Dodd, Lawson and Reed each picked up the bids.
Rounding out the top 10 are 6th ranked Menlo (Calif.), No. 7 Southeastern, No. 8 Baker (Kan.), No. 9 Providence (Mont.) and 10th ranked Campbellsville (Ky.).
Looking to repeat: Returning NAIA Champions who finished last year at No. 1 also seek to end this season at No. 1: Josh Wenger of Grand View (149), Lucas Lovvorn of Baker (174) of Baker, Anthony Orozco of Menlo (184) and Brandon Reed (285) of Lindsey Wilson (285), in addition to Evan Hansen (197).
Head Coach Nick Mitchell's feelings haven't changed since his first season as a Grand View Coach, still eager for what the upcoming season brings.
Coach Mitchell comments, "I feel the same way in year number 12 as I did going into year number 1. I'm anxious to get into competition!”
Special thanks to the NAIA and NAIA member schools for contributions to this story.
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