PARK CITY, Kan. | Hartman Arena - No.6 McKendree University men's wrestling finished off its season at the NCAA Division II National Championships, earning fourth place with 73.0 team points while claiming one individual title with redshirt senior Christian Mejia at 125 while tallying four more All-Americans at the national tournament. The individual national title by Mejia is the first by the Bearcats since 2021 while the fourth place team finish is the highest finish since 2019. McKendree brought eight wrestlers to the national tournament, all of whom tallied points towards the team finish while two wrestlers became three-time All-Americans, two notched first-time All-American status, and one earned his second All-American finish. 

125 NATIONAL CHAMPION
Christian Mejia, now a three-time All-American, finished off his collegiate career in style by winning not only the regional title two weeks ago but earning the program's first individual national title since 2021 when Ryan Vasbinder collected the title at 197lbs. The redshirt senior started his tournament with an 8-1 decision over Manuel Leija of Davenport before taking the championship quarterfinal over #6 Zachary Ourada (UNK) in TB-1, 3-1. The semifinal matched Mejia up against a familiar foe in #2 Shane Corrigan of UW-Parkside, who Mejia pinned at the 1:10 mark. He pushed through to the finals, where he got the first takedown, then rode and returned #4 Jaxson Rohman of Augustana (SD) to claim his 125lb National Championship. Mejia tallied 12 falls, eight majors, and three technical falls this season while claiming the 125lb belt, he led the team in majors and was tied for the lead in falls. 

2024 ALL-AMERICANS
Christian Mejia | 4-0, 3x All-American (2021, 2023, 2024) / 2024 125lbs National Champion
Ryan Ripplinger | 3-2, First-time All-American
Ronan Schuelke | 4-1, First-time All-American
Cory Peterson | 3-2, 3x All-American (2021, 2022, 2024)
Logan Kvien | 4-1, 2x All-American (2023, 2024)

TEAM RESULTS
1. Central Oklahoma
2. Lander
3. Nebraska-Kearney
4. McKendree - 73.0 Team Points
5. St. Cloud State

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
125 | Christian Mejia | 4-0, 1st Place - 21.0 Team Points
133 | Ryan Ripplinger | 3-2, 7th Place - 7.5 Team Points
141 | Ronan Schuelke | 4-1, 3rd Place - 16.5 Team Points
149 | Joey Semerad | 1-2, 0.5 Team Points
165 | Cory Peterson | 3-2, 4th Place - 12.5 Team Points
174 | Matt Ortiz | 1-2, 1.0 Team Points
197 | Logan Kvien | 4-1, 3rd Place - 13.5 Team Points
285 | Tyler Haynes | 1-2, 0.5 Team Points

NOTES
McKendree finishes in fourth place as a team, totaling 73.0 team points with five All-Americans, marking the highest finish since 2019 and the most AA placements since 2021. 

Redshirt senior 125 Christian Mejia earned the Bearcats' first individual national title since 2021 in his third All-American finish. Mejia went 4-0 with wins over the #6, #2, and #4-ranked wrestlers at 125 enroute to his national championship while tallying 21.0 team points. Mejia caps-off his career as the 2024 125lb National Champion, a four-time national qualifier, three-time All-American, and four-time first team selection in the GLVC.

Two other Bearcats added to their All-American mantels as 165 Cory Peterson became a three-time AA in his thrid nationals appearance and 197 Logan Kvien became a two-time AA in his second appearance. Peterson notched a fourth place finish in his weight class while Kvien earned his highest placement at third. 

133 Ryan Ripplinger and 141 Ronan Schuelke each became first-time All-Americans in their first nationals appearances with Ripplinger taking seventh and Schuelke taking third. Ripplinger was a regional champion to punch his ticket to the national championships while Schuelke was the runner-up at regionals. 

All eight national championship qualifiers scored points for the Bearcats and their fourth-place finish (73.0 team points), narrowly placing behind Nebraska-Kearney, who took third with 77.5 team points.

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