SIOUX FALLS, S.D. | Denny Sanford Premier Center - McKendree University men's wrestling finished out the season this weekend at ther NCAA Division II National Championships, showing out with a Third Place team finish behind five All-Americans including two National Champions in 141
Ronan Schuelke and 184
Darion Johnson. The Bearcats pounced on the competition via their five National Qualifiers, putting four into the semifinals and pushing all five to All-American status in the Friday sessions. Overall, 133
Thaddeus Long, 141
Ronan Schuelke, 165
Sam Richardson, 184
Darion Johnson, and 197
Logan Kvien collected All-American nods as Long, Richardson, and Johnson all became first-time NCAA DII AAs. McKendree's championship matches made the difference for their team placement with Schuelke giving the Bearcats a bump to 71.0 before the tech fall by Johnson vaulted his squad into Third Place at 76.5 Team Points. The Third Place finish for the Bearcats tied the best finish at the NCAA Division II level after the team finished with the same placement in 2019 behind six AAs.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
141 |
Ronan Schuelke (Unseeded) | Redshirt-Senior | Carol Stream, Illinois
-
National Champion | 21.0 Team Points
- Champ. Round 1 - Schuelke (McKendree) 23-4 won by fall over [1] Johnny Lopez (San Fran. St.) 9-2 (Fall 6:12)
- Quarterfinal - Schuelke (McKendree) 23-4 won by decision over Kieran Thompson (Adams St.) 22-9 (Dec 8-3)
- Semifinal - Schuelke (McKendree) 23-4 won by decision over [5] Joseph Airola (Neb.-Kearney) 17-6 (Dec 5-3)
- 1st Place Match - Schuelke (McKendree) 23-4 won in tie breaker - 1 over [7] Khyvon Grace (West Liberty) 28-7 (TB-1 5-2)
*Three-Time NCAA Division II All-American (2024, 2025, 2026)
**First 141National Champion for McKendree since 2016 (Wynn)
184 |
Darion Johnson (3 Seed) | Redshirt Junior | Pasco, Washington
- National Champion | 23.5 Team Points
- Champ. Round 1 - [3] Johnson (McKendree) 26-3 won by decision over Kyler Pickard (Belmont Abbey) 17-8 (Dec 14-8)
- Quarterfinal - [3] Johnson (McKendree) 26-3 won by fall over [6] Branson Britten (Central Okla.) 24-6 (Fall 6:18)
- Semifinal - [3] Johnson (McKendree) 26-3 won by major decision over [2] Keegan Gehlhausen (Chadron St.) 18-3 (MD 12-2)
- 1st Place Match - [3] Johnson (McKendree) 26-3 won by tech fall over [4] Damon Ashworth (Central Mo.) 28-3 (TF-1.5 7:00 (17-2))
*First Time NCAA Division II All-American
**First 184 National Champion for McKendree since 2019 (Pixley)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
133 |
Thaddeus Long | 3-2, 8.0 Team Points - 7th Place / All-American (First DII AA)
141 |
Ronan Schuelke | 4-0, 21.0 Team Points - 1st Place / National Champion (Third DII AA)
165 |
Sam Richardson | 3-2, 11.5 Team Points - 4th Place / All-American (First DII AA)
184 |
Darion Johnson | 4-0, 23.5 Team Points - 1st Place / National Champion (First DII AA)
197 |
Logan Kvien | 3-2, 12.5 Team Points - 4th Place / All-American (Third DII AA)
OVERALL TEAM RESULTS
| 1 |
Neb.-Kearney |
83.0 |
| 2 |
Wis.-Parkside |
78.0 |
| 3 |
McKendree | 2 Individual National Champions, 5 All-Americans |
76.5 |
| 4 |
Central Okla. |
76.0 |
| 5 |
Lander |
64.5 |
| 6 |
St. Cloud St. |
61.0 |
| 7 |
Glenville St. |
56.5 |
| 8 |
UMary |
52.0 |
| 9 |
Gannon |
49.5 |
| 10 |
Adams St. |
43.5 |
| 11 |
West Liberty |
40.5 |
| 12 |
Grand Valley St. |
39.0 |
| 13 |
Pitt-Johnstown |
37.0 |
| 14 |
Colo. Sch. Of Mines |
33.0 |
| 15 |
Chadron St. |
32.0 |
| 16 |
Tiffin |
27.0 |
| 17 |
Central Mo. |
26.0 |
| 18 |
Minnesota St. |
24.0 |
| 19 |
Augustana (SD) |
23.5 |
| 20 |
Kutztown |
17.0 |
| 21 |
Maryville (MO) |
13.5 |
| 21 |
UNC Pembroke |
13.5 |
| 23 |
Colorado Mesa |
13.0 |
| 24 |
UIndy |
12.0 |
| 25 |
San Fran. St. |
10.5 |
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