Brackets

Team Standings

In a tournament that lasted nearly 12 hours, the host Statesmen finished sixth out of nine teams with 53 points. #9 nationally-ranked Grand View claimed the team title with 156.5 points, holding off a charge by #3 Missouri Valley, who finished with 152 points. Oklahoma City was a distant third with 118.5 points.

Grand View swept the Central Qualifying Group awards as 174-pounder Glenn Rhees was named Outstanding Wrestler and Nick Mitchell garnered Coach of the Year honors from his peers.

Chustz, who is ranked #9 in the NAIA and entered the tournament as the weight's #2 seed, did not let lengthy breaks keep him from his goal. The senior opened the day with a 16-1 technical fall win over Jared Steinbach of Bacone (Okla.) followed by a 6-1 victory over Alan Callahan of Baker (Kan.).

He then faced #3 seed Kidd Gomez of Oklahoma City in the semifinals and dispatched him with a 12-7 score to set up a contest with #1 seed and #4 nationally-ranked Paulie Hansen of Missouri Valley.

In a rematch of a meeting that the Statesmen grappler lost 3-2 in Oskaloosa last month, Chustz turned the tables on Hansen. He scored a takedown and a penalty point, all in the first period, and held on for a 3-2 victory to go 4-0 at the Qualifier.

Taylor Louie (Jr., West Covina, Calif., West Covina HS) also placed at 125 pounds, going 2-2 with a fall.

141-pounder Dustin Howa (Sr., Price, Utah, Carbon HS) joined Louie in fifth place with an identical 2-2 record, including two falls.

Heavyweight Ryan Groom (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) placed as well, taking sixth with a 2-1 record (two falls) before injury defaulting his final two matches.

David Crow (Jr., Baumholder, Germany, Baumholder HS), at 133 pounds, Alfredo Velazquez (Fr., Fontana, Calif., AB Miller HS), at 149 pounds, and Bobby Proffitt (Fr., Marshalltown, East Marshall HS), at heavyweight, did not place, but all three managed one win apiece. Crow claimed a technical fall victory, while Proffitt won his match via fall.

Next: Penn will now make its final preparations for nationals. Five Statesmen grapplers have qualified for the NAIA Wrestling National Championships, which will be held in Oklahoma City, Okla. from March 4-6.