GRIMES, IOWA - Top-ranked Grand View University hosted its annual Grand View Open this past weekend, the largest Open in the NAIA, hosting teams from all levels, including a few well-known programs. In their open, the Vikings saw seven wrestlers forge ahead to the finals, with two earning a first-place finish at the end of the day.
Grand View saw seven wrestlers make the open division finals including, No. 8 (125)
Aden Reeves, No. 1 (133)
Carson Taylor, No. 1 (149)
Blake Gonzalez, No. 10 (157)
Tanner Abbas, No. 2 (184)
Isaiah Luellen, No. 13 (197)
Garavous Kouekabakilaho, and No. 1 (285)
Greg Hagan. Of the seven final wrestlers, only one did not face a foe from NCAA DI Iowa State or the University of Northern Iowa.
Carson Taylor emerged victorious over his division one opponent, now at Iowa State but formerly at the University of Virginia. At the heavyweight division, top-ranked
Greg Hagan posted three pins to a championship match where he defeated No. 3 Kc Buday in sudden victory 4-1.
Runner-ups for the Vikings included Reeves, Gonzalez, Abbas, Luellen, and Kouekabakilaho. Earning 3rd place for GVU was (174 - Fresh/Soph)
Will Cox, (Open-133)
Jackson Cockrell, (Open-141)
Amado Castellon, (Open-157)
Cole Ferguson, (Open-165)
Justin McCunn, and (Open-174)
Alex Reynolds. Finishing fourth was (Open-157)
Dylan Whitt after falling to teammate Ferguson by a decision, 4-2, (Open-197)
Trayvonne Jackson, (Fresh/Soph-197)
Carter Smuck, (Open-125)
Lucas Rodriguez, (Open-133)
Daniel Leal, and (Open-141)
Marckis Branford. Collecting 5th place was (Open-149)
Blake Haney, (Open-165) Richard Mack, (Fresh/Soph- 184)
Lucas Hageman, and (Open-125) Gabe Gonzalez.
UP NEXT:
No. 1 Grand View will hit the road to Fayette, MO, for a tri-dual between the Eagles of Avila University and Central Methodist on Wednesday, November 15th starting at 5:00 p.m.