CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – Grand View had more of the same going into day two of the 2025 NWCA national dual tournament on Saturday. The Vikings battled No. 3 ranked Southeastern in the semifinal dual and pitched a shutout to return to the finals! A sweet ending to the weekend, as the Vikings beat out No. 2 ranked Life University 32-3, only dropping one match. This performance was dominant the whole way through, earning their 12th NWCA National Dual Championship.
Grand View University's wrestling team once again proved their dominance on the national stage, securing their 12th NAIA National Duals title since 2012. The Vikings showcased an exceptional performance, finishing the tournament with a 37-3 record across all matches, including an impressive 28 bonus-point wins. Their victory was highlighted by six major decisions, 15 technical falls, six pins, and a disqualification win.
Throughout the competition, Grand View faced stiff competition, defeating 12 ranked opponents, including top-ranked wrestlers in the 133, 141, 157, 174, and 285-pound weight classes. Notably, they took down the #1-ranked wrestler at 133 pounds and 141 pounds, as well as the #4 and #5 wrestlers at 157 pounds, the #2 wrestler at 174 pounds, and the #3-ranked heavyweight.
SEMIFINALS VERSUS NO. 3 SOUTHEASTERN
The Vikings started rolling early on the second day, starting with No. 3 Gabe Gonzales controlling every position onto an 18-1 tech fall. No. 3 Jackson Cockrell was up next and showed his toughness in a 4-2 win. At 141 pounds, No. 2 Carson Taylor blanks his opponent with a 16-0 victory. No. 7 Elijah Larsen continued to wear on his matchup at 149 pounds and earned an 11-2 major decision. E'lan Heard continued his solid weekend with a 16-0 TF. No. 4 Cam Robinson took the mat for the Vikings at 165 pounds and earned another tech fall with a 21-4 win. No. 1 Alex Reynolds toed the line against No. 2 Graham Calhoun at 174 pounds and proved his toughness. Red was down early with a 7 point deficit to overcome. Along came the comeback, chipping away the whole match. Red received a couple takedowns in the third period to tie the match with 30 seconds left to go. Coach Mitchell and Red were on the same page to go for the win in regulation, giving an escape to Calhoun, but hunting the match ending takedown. No problem for top ranked Reynolds as he let out a yell. Jameel Coles was up next and received a 15-5 major at 184 pounds and kept his energy high off the mat too. No. 1 Garavous Kouekabakilaho broke his opponent as he found a 19-3 TF. To end the dual, No. 1 Greg Hagan faced No. 3 Gage Braun and went to war. Hagan kept his pressure high and controlled his hand fighting to find a 2-1 decision. A final team score of 42-0 to boost them into the NWCA finals.
GVU vs. SE
125, Gabe Gonzales (Grand View (Iowa)) over Brodie Christmas (Southeastern) TF 18-1, 5.0, 0
133, Jackson Cockrell (Grand View (Iowa)) over Aaron Lucio (Southeastern) Dec 4-2, 3.0, 0
141, Carson Taylor (Grand View (Iowa)) over Drew Jones (Southeastern) TF 16-0, 5.0, 0
149, Elijah Larsen (Grand View (Iowa)) over Chris Kelly (Southeastern) Maj 11-2, 4.0, 0
157, E`lan Heard (Grand View (Iowa)) over Michael Shannon (Southeastern) TF 16-0, 5.0, 0
165, Cam Robinson (Grand View (Iowa)) over Izac Martinez (Southeastern) TF 21-4, 5.0, 0
174, Alex Reynolds (Grand View (Iowa)) over Graham Calhoun (Southeastern) Dec 13-10, 3.0, 0
184, Jameel Coles (Grand View (Iowa)) over Jonathan Vanderbilt (Southeastern) Maj 15-5, 4.0, 0
197, Garavous Kouekabakilaho (Grand View (Iowa)) over Trillyon Fils-Aime (Southeastern) TF 19-3, 5.0, 0
285, Greg Hagan (Grand View (Iowa)) over Gage Braun (Southeastern) Dec 2-1, 3.0, 0
FINAL
GVU – 42 | SE – 0
CHAMPIONSHIP VERSUS NO. 2 LIFE UNIVERSITY
Grand View earned their ticket to the finals and the team was ready for a different outcome this January. Captain and No. 1 Aden Reeves knows how to bring the fire, with relentless pressure. Reeves earned a 22-5 TF and captured the first win of the dual. At 133 pounds there was a rematch opportunity for No. 3 Jackson Cockrell as he matched up against No. 1 ranked Thaddeus Long. Cockrell got the roar of the night with a beautiful attack in overtime to secure a 4-1 decision! No. 2 CT was up next and took care of business with an 11-1 win at 141. No. 3 Darnai Heard kept his focus despite a fire alarm interrupting the match and had no lack of heart on his way to a 12-5 win. Alex Ramirez took the mat at 157 pounds and controlled this match throughout opposing tough competition. A rematch of his "Juco" national finals. Ramirez finished the match with a 4-0 decision. No. 4 Cam Robinson with another close match but finding a way to win with a 4-2 decision. No. 1 Alex Reynolds kept showing why he is the top ranked guy at 174 pounds as he gets a major decision 9-0. After Jameel Coles came up just short in a tough match, Trayvonne Jackson went to work at 197. Jackson won the close battles in the match for 7 minutes and broke open the lead late, with a decisive 15-3 major decision. The last match of the night was a heavyweight bout featuring Cole Mair, and he earned the win, leaving it all on the mat in a 6-4 win. Grand View University took down No. 2 Life University, 32-3 and crushed hope all weekend.
YOUR 2025 NWCA NATIONAL DUAL CHAMPIONS.
GVU VS. LU
125, Aden Reeves (Grand View (Iowa)) over Adrian Morales (Life University) TF 22-5, 5.0, 0
133, Jackson Cockrell (Grand View (Iowa)) over Thaddeus Long (Life University) SV-1 4-1, 3.0, 0
141, Carson Taylor (Grand View (Iowa)) over Kaden Ramos (Life University) Maj 11-1, 4.0, 0
149, Darnai Heard (Grand View (Iowa)) over Kaleb Rahoi (Life University) Dec 12-5, 3.0, 0
157, Alex Ramirez (Grand View (Iowa)) over Fabian Padilla (Life University) Dec 4-0, 3.0, 0
165, Cam Robinson (Grand View (Iowa)) over Reese Jones (Life University) Dec 4-2, 3.0, 0
174, Alex Reynolds (Grand View (Iowa)) over Alexander Couto (Life University) Maj 9-0, 4.0, 0
184, Kendall Norfleet (Life University) over Jameel Coles (Grand View (Iowa)) Dec 9-4, 0, 3.0
197, Trayvonne Jackson (Grand View (Iowa)) over Tre Morrisette (Life University) Maj 15-3, 4.0, 0
285, Cole Mair (Grand View (Iowa)) over Nate Glass (Life University) Dec 6-4, 3.0, 0
FINAL
GVU – 32 | LU– 3
