By: Ally Salzwedel

PARK CITY, KS – Men's Wrestling showed out in their last performances of the 2022-23 season in Park City, Kansas at the NAIA National Championships where they placed 4th as a team with 66 points. The Oaks traveled 11 wrestlers across 9 weight classes. At the end of day 1 Menlo had 3 still alive in the Semifinals and 1 in wrestle backs. At the culmination of the tournament Menlo walks away with 4 All-Americans with 2 Champions, a 5th placer, and a 7th placer. It has been a ride this season and the Oaks are deserving of their accomplishments this tournament to represent it all! 

Gulomjon Abdullaev - 133 Champion

A new Oak this Winter, Gulomjon Abdullaev remains undefeated going 5-0 on the weekend to earn the 133 Champion Title as the 3rd-seed in the National Tournament. Abdullaev tallied 3 tech falls against Dillon Witt (Missouri Baptist, 19-2), 14-th seed Joel Avila (Providence, 18-0), and 6th-seed Jovan Garcia (Menlo, 17-1) on Day 1. In the Semifinals Gulomjon faced Cascade Collegiate Conference foe Evan Potter (Southern Oregon) and was victorious by major decision (11-0). It was Gulomjon vs Carson Taylor (Grand View) the reigning national champion and 1st-seed of the tournament. Early on, Abdullaev was ahead 2-1 when Martinez successfully used the challenge to earn a 2-point takedown to go up 4-1. Abdullaev finished the match on top, winning by decision (7-3). This will be his first National Championship Title as an Oak and earns his first All-American status as a freshman.

Rysan Leong - 165 Champion

Rysan Leong earns the 165 Championship title after going 5-0 on the weekend as the 6th-seed. After a first round bye, Leong earned 2 decision wins, against 11th-seed Wyatt Higgins (Reinhardt, 3-2), 3rd-seed Cole Smith (Cumberland, 4-1). On Day 2, Rysan earned an upset win by decision over the 2nd-seed Marty Margolis (Grand View, 5-4) in the semifinals. In the championship match, Leong faced the 4th-seed David Rubio (Corban) where he tallied a point for riding time to win by decision 3-2. This earns Rysan Leong Champion and All-American status at 165 for his first time as an Oak!   

Riley Siason - 5th place 125

The Senior 14th-seed put on a show for the second time at a National Tournament going 4-2 on the weekend. On day 1, Siason won by decision in all three matches (13-7, 2-0, and 6-4). Day 2, Riley battled back in the 5th place match against Esco Walker (Grand View) where he won by decision, 3-1. This 5th place win earns Riley Siason All-American status for the second time as an Oak, last time in 2020 where he placed 6th at 125. 

Jovan Garcia - 133 7th place

The junior transfer made his first appearance at a National Tournament with Menlo and took 7th at 133 after going 4-2 on the weekend as the 6th-seed. After falling short to Gullomjon Abdullaev at the end of Day 1, Garcia had to wrestle back in order to compete for the 7th place match. Garcia started Day 2 off with a win by decision against Vraden Carson (Eastern Oregon) by decision, 10-4. In the 7th place match Garcia faced Matt Gimson (Indiana Tech) where he dominated by decision, 9-4. This win earns him All-American status for the first time as an Oak!