WICHITA, KANSAS – The Grand View University wrestling squad under the direction of program starter,
Nick Mitchell, clinched the 2024 NAIA Championship in the final session of the 2024 67th Annual NAIA National Championship, in Wichita, Kansas. The Vikings clinched their 12th team title in the last 16 years of being a program. Along with the title,
Alex Reynolds (174),
Isaiah Luellen (184), and
Garavous Kouekabakilaho (197) brought home individual gold in the three-day event in Hartman Arena in Wichita, KS. Grand View recorded a 58-16 tournament record at a 0.7838 winning percentage, nearly 20 more match wins than second place.
174-pounder
Alex Reynolds claimed the first National Title of the evening. Reynolds earned a first-period takedown over Southeastern Fire wrestler Graham Calhoun. By the end of the first period, the Vikings would lead 3-0. After an escape from his deferral, Reynolds led the match 4-0. Calhoun would cut his deficit to one in the third period, but Reynolds would answer with another escape, comforting his lead as he danced out the time to claim his first title by a decision, 5-4.
The 5th year took the mat for the final match of his career.
Isaiah Luellen eyed Kyle Homet of Life University. Luellen landed a shot early, resulting in a takedown and an early first-period lead. Luellen would get charged a stall call, and Homet would see his first point on the board. Luellen would begin to taste his title as he recorded an escape to go up 4-1, a late shot by Homet wouldn't land as Luellen earned his first title after four National Tournament appearances. During his decorated career, Luellen earned 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd and will end his tenure with a final placing of first at 184 pounds.
At the 197-bout, The NAIA National Championship saw their 12th match between two opponents from the same team, the third involving Grand View. The senior for Grand View and reigning National Champion,
Owen Braungardt would face practice partner
Garavous Kouekabakilaho in his final match. Braungardt's took an early lead with an escape and caution to lead 2-0. At the end of the second period, Kouekabakilaho earned a takedown to take a 3-2 lead, followed by a escape point. As time expired Kouekabakilaho would go on to win his first ever title after not placing th year prior. The Championship Lifestyle was displayed at the conclusion of the match when senior-leader, Braungardt, raised his teammates hand in the closing moment – passing the torch at 197.
In the final title match of the evening,
Greg Hagan would meet with Zane Lanham of Life University. The match unfortunately wouldn't end the way the Vikings had hoped, due to an injury Hagan had suffered in the second period.
Grand View University's wrestling program has achieved great success since its inception in the 2008-2009 season. The team has won a total of 12 national championships out of the last 16. They have collected an impressive 2,285.5 team points over the past 16 years and have tied the all-time record for 36 individual national champions. This year, adding to their accomplishments, the team has produced 12 All-Americans, bringing their total number of All-Americans to 137 in just 16 years. This is the second time in school history that Grand View has produced 12 All-Americans and only the third time ever in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Mitchell's 16-year head coaching ledger for team finishes at NAIAs since program start is as follows: 2009 (8th), 2010 (T9), 2011 (5th), 2012 (1st), 2013 (1st), 2014 (1st), 2015 (1st), 2016 (1st), 2017 (1st), 2018 (1st), 2019 (1st), 2020 (1st), 2021 (2nd), 2022 (1st), 2023 (1st). Mitchell was also awarded his 8th NAIA Coach of the Year Honor at the conclusion of the tournament.
CLOSING QUOTES
HEAD COACH NICK MITCHELL
"This year took everything, it was really a work in progress all season, I owe so much of that to the kids and our coaching staff. The championship Lifestyle really is what its all about, its not about where you are at in the bracket, you take care of the business in front of you, and thats what they did all tournament long."
125-POUNDER ADEN REEVES
"I wouldn't trade a thing, I may not have ended where I wanted individually, but I would trade my individual success for our teams success anyday."
149-POUNDER BLAKE GONZALEZ
"Grand View is the greatest place to be, I dont know why you would want to go anywhere else."
174-POUNDER ALEX REYNOLDS
"Two years ago, I didnt get what I wanted, I said I would be back better, and I did that."
TEAM SCORES:
1. Grand View University - 209.5
2. Life University - 154.0
3. Menlo University - 95.5
4. Southeastern University - 91.0
5. Doane University - 63.0
125
ADEN REEVES - THIRD PLACE // ALL-AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Aden Reeves received a bye (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Allen Calderon (Indiana Tech) won by decision over Aden Reeves (Dec 12-6)
- Cons. Round 2 - Aden Reeves won by fall over Gabriel Gray (Wayland Baptist) (Fall 0:27)
- Cons. Round 3 - Aden Reeves won by fall over Angel Banda (Reinhardt) (Fall 1:50)
- Cons. Round 4 - Aden Reeves won by major decision over Antonio Saldate (Life) (Maj 11-2)
- Cons. Round 5 - Aden Reeves won by major decision over Brody Gee (Saint Mary) (Maj 14-6)
- Cons. Semi - Aden Reeves won by major decision over Allen Calderon (Indiana Tech) (Maj 16-5)
- 3rd Place Match - Aden Reeves won by decision over Brandon Orum (Life) (Dec 7-2)
133
CARSON TAYLOR – THIRD PLACE // ALL-AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Carson Taylor won by tech fall over Cooper Mahaffey (Oklahoma City) (TF 16-1)
- Champ. Round 2 - Carson Taylor won by tech fall over 16 Nate Becker (Lindsey Wilson) (TF 18-2)
- Quarterfinal - Carson Taylor won by decision over Andrew Voiles (Southeastern) (Dec 10-3)
- Semifinal - Thaddeus Long (Life) won by major decision over Carson Taylor (Maj 14-3)
- Cons. Semi - Carson Taylor won by decision over Jackson Cockrell (Dec 4-1)
- 3rd Place Match - Carson Taylor won by tech fall over Dominic Chavez (Texas Wesleyan) (TF 16-1)
133
JACKSON COCKRELL - SIXTH PLACE // ALL-AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Jackson Cockrell won by tech fall over Anthony Hughes (Marian) (TF 21-3)
- Champ. Round 2 - Freddy Barajas (Saint Mary) won by decision over Jackson Cockrell (Dec 4-3)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jackson Cockrell won by tech fall over Devan Johnson (Cornerstone) (TF 17-2)
- Cons. Round 3 - Jackson Cockrell won by major decision over Braden Carson (Eastern Oregon) (Maj 12-3)
- Cons. Round 4 - Jackson Cockrell won in sudden victory - 1 over Alex Pena (Wayland Baptist) (SV-1 13-10)
- Cons. Round 5 - Jackson Cockrell won by tech fall over Sammy Shires (Cumberland) (TF 20-3)
- Cons. Semi - Carson Taylor won by decision over Jackson Cockrell (Dec 4-1)
- 5th Place Match - CaRon Watson (Briar Cliff ) won by decision over Jackson Cockrell (Dec 9-4)
149
BLAKE GONZALEZ – FOURTH PLACE // ALL-AMERICAN
149
BLAKE HANEY – FIFTH PLACE // ALL AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Blake Haney won by decision over Aundre Beatty (Marian) (Dec 9-4)
- Champ. Round 2 - Drake Vannoy (Oklahoma City) won by decision over Blake Haney (Dec 18-16)
- Cons. Round 2 - Blake Haney won by tech fall over Ethan Krey (Briar Cliff ) (TF 18-3)
- Cons. Round 3 - Blake Haney won by decision over Dawson Bates (Reinhardt) (Dec 8-4)
- Cons. Round 4 - Blake Haney won by decision over Jace Luchau (Cumberlands) (Dec 2-1)
- Cons. Round 5 - Blake Haney won by decision over Bryce Nickel (Cumberlands) (Dec 5-1)
- Cons. Semi - Blake Gonzalez won by decision over Blake Haney (Dec 8-2)
- 5th Place Match - Blake Haney won by fall over Nathan Lendt (Doane) (Fall 7:00)
157
DYLAN WHITT – EIGHTH PLACE // ALL AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Whitt won by major decision over Weston Melvin (Cumberlands) (Maj 9-1)
- Champ. Round 2 - Dylan Whitt won by decision over Aaron Gandara (Southern Oregon) (Dec 7-2)
- Quarterfinal - David Rubio (Corban) won by decision over Dylan Whitt (Dec 5-0)
- Cons. Round 4 - Dylan Whitt won in sudden victory - 1 over Aden Graves (Providence) (SV-1 8-5)
- Cons. Round 5 - Nate Wheeler (Indiana Tech) won by major decision over Dylan Whitt (Maj 15-5)
- 7th Place Match - Francis Morrissey (Ottawa) won by decision over Dylan Whitt (Dec 8-3)
174
ALEX REYNOLDS - NATIONAL CHAMPION // ALL AMERICAN
184
JAMEEL COLES - SEVENTH PLACE // ALL-AMERICAN
- Champ. Round 1 - Jameel Coles won by tech fall over Tobias Garrison (Cumberlands) (TF 19-2)
- Champ. Round 2 - Isaiah Morales (Menlo) won by decision over Jameel Coles (Dec 7-5)
- Cons. Round 2 - Jameel Coles won by major decision over Luke Jenness (Northwestern) (Maj 19-7)
- Cons. Round 3 - Jameel Coles won by major decision over Austin Vanek (Montana State-Northern) (Maj 11-3)
- Cons. Round 4 - Jameel Coles won in sudden victory - 1 over Tyson Beauperthuy (Doane) (SV-1 4-1)
- Cons. Round 5 - Daryus Webb (Avila) won by decision over Jameel Coles (Dec 10-3)
- 7th Place Match - Jameel Coles won by decision over Kyle Knudtson (Eastern Oregon) (Dec 8-6)
184
ISAIAH LUELLEN - NATIONAL CHAMPION // ALL AMERICAN
197
GARAVOUS KOUEKABAKILAHO - NATIONAL CHAMPION // ALL AMERICAN
197
OWEN BRAUNGARDT - RUNNER-UP // ALL AMERICAN
285
GREG HAGAN – RUNNER-UP // ALL AMERICAN
