(HAYS, Kan. – Mar.1) – McKendree University No.2 men's wrestling kicked off their postseason at the NCAA Division II Super IV Region Wrestling Championship and placed first overall and had four regional champions. This is the Bearcats' second consecutive regional title.

The Bearcats scored 126 team points, six Major Decision victories, three victories by Fall and two victories by Technical Fall. No.1 Marcus Povlick (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North), Juwan Edmond (Bellwood, IL), No.1 Nick Foster (Belleville, IL/Belleville West), No.1 Ryan Vasbinder (Grand Rapids, MI/Grandville) were named regional champions of their respective weight classes.

Below are the individual results for the Bearcats:

125-lb: No.1 Marcus Povlick (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) took the first round by a major decision win (MD 14-5) over Jake Patch of Newman. Povlick won by a 4-0 decision over Tyler Kreith of Maryville University. In the first-place match, Povlick won by a 5-3 decision over Mason Turner of Fort Hays State. Povlick placed first overall, went 3-0 on the day, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

133-lb: Christian Mejia (Elkhart, IN/) took the first round by a major decision win (MD 15-1) over Austin Cook of Kentucky-Wesleyan. Mejia was defeated by a 5-2 decision to Tanner Hitchcock of Lindenwood University. Mejia was defeated by a 7-5 decision to Anthony Pisciotta of Maryville University. Mejia did not place in the tournament and went 1-2 on the day.

141-lb: Charles McNeal (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers Catholic) was defeated in a 3-0 decision to Alex Waggoner of Maryville. McNeal won by major decision (MD 12-2) over Caleb Craig of Kentucky-Wesleyan. McNeal was defeated in a 7-4 decision to Baylor Smith of Newman. McNeal did not place in the tournament and went 1-2 on the day.

149-lb: Juwan Edmond (Bellwood, IL) too the first round by pin at 0:59 over Alex Thyes of Ouachita Baptist. Edmond won by a 13-8 decision over Brick Filippo of Central Oklahoma. In the first-place match, Edmond won by a 4-2 decision over Danny Swan of Lindenwood. Edmond placed first overall, went 3-0 on the day, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

157-lb: No.11 Nate Smalling (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) took the first round by a pin at 3:57 over Ben Stahlman of Drury. Smalling was defeated by a 10-4 decision to Kameron Frame of Newman. Smalling won by a 9-2 decision over Tanner Sparks of Maryville. In the third-place match, Smalling won by a 5-0 decision over Ben Stahlman of Drury. Smalling placed third overall, went 3-1 on the day, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

165-lb: No.1 Nick Foster (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) took the first round by a 3-2 decision win over Zachary Moore of Central Oklahoma. Foster won by a tie breaker decision (TB-1, 7-6) over Eric Beck of Bellarmine. In the first-place match, Foster win by a 6-0 decision over Tyler Harrington of Maryville. Foster placed first overall, went 3-0 on the day and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

174-lb: No.3 Joshua Jones (Chicago Heights, IL/Marian Catholic) took the first round by a technical fall win at 3:38 (TF 22-6) over Jack Goin of Central Missouri. Jones was defeated by sudden victory (5-3) to Martin Verhaeghe of Fort Hats State. Jones won by major decision (MD 12-4) over JD Johnson of Newman. In the third-place match, Jones won by a 4-3 decision over Tre 'Vaughn Craig of Central Oklahoma. Jones placed third overall, went 3-1 on the day, and qualified for theNCAA  DII National Championship.

184-lb: Daniel Filipek (Warrenton, MO/Warrenton) too the first round by a 10-6 decision win over Elijah Mahan of Lindenwood. Filipek won by a 3-2 decision over Aryus Jones of Fort Hays State. In the first-place match, Filipek was defeated by a 3-1 decision to Heath Gray of Central Oklahoma. Filipek placed second overall, went 2-1 on the day, and qualified for theNCAA  DII National Championship.

197-lb: No.1 Ryan Vasbinder (Grand Rapids, MI/Grandville) took the first round by a major decision win (MD 15-3) over Ivan Balavage of Newman. Vasbinder won by technical fall at 6:59 (TF 16-0) over John Anderson of Maryville. In the first-place match, Vasbinder won by a 5-0 decision over Dalton Abney of Central Oklahoma. Vasbinder placed first overall, went 3-0 on the day, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

285-lb: No.7 Caleb Gossett (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell Central) took the first round by a major decision win (MD 10-2) over Johnny Green of Ouachita Baptist. Gossett won by pin at 6:04 over Thor Balavage of Newman. Gossett won by a 3-1 decision over Jared Rennick of Drury. In the first-place match, Gossett was defeated in an 8-4 decision to Courvoisier Morrow of Lindenwood. Gossett placed second overall, went 3-1 on the day, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Championship.

The eight qualifying Bearcats will hit the mat next for the NCAA Division II National Championship. The tournament will be held Mar. 13-14 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, SD.