(CLEVELAND, Ohio, Mar. 9) – The No. 4 McKendree University men's wrestling team finished in third place at the 2019 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships Saturday, March 9. Six of the Seven Bearcats competing earned All-American Status, while redshirt-senior Michael Pixley (Granite City, IL) won his first-ever National Championship in the 184-pound weight class.
 
Pixley becomes the second Bearcat since McKendree moved to NCAA DII to win a national title after Darren Wynn (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) secured the 141-pound title in 2016. The third-place finish marks McKendree's highest team placement at the National Championships since joining NCAA Division II ranks as well.
 
Along with Pixley, five other Bearcats were named NCAA All-Americans after advancing to day two of competition in Cleveland. In the 125-pound category, Marcus Povlick (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) was able to earn a fifth-place finish, along with senior Isaiah Kemper (Evansville, Ind./Central) who also finished fifth in the 149-pound class. Nate Smalling (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) took home a fourth-place finish in the 157-pound category, with Ryan Vasbinder (Grand Rapids, MI/Grandville) placing seventh in the 197-pound class.
 
Junior Nick Foster (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) advanced to the national title bout for the 174-pound weight class, but ultimately finished as national runner-up after dropping a 6-2 decision to Wheeling Jesuit's Connor Craig.
 
Pixley secured his first-ever title by a dominant performance, ending in a 4-1 decision over Notre Dame's Tony Vazzetti.
 
On top of this weekend's accolades, McKendree finishes the season with a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) title and a NCAA Division II super region title.
 
For full information on team scores and individual performances from this weekend, click here.