BOSSIER CITY, LA – Menlo Men's Wrestling outclassed the entire competition at the NCWA National Championship, taking the team title for the second year in a row with an incredible 6 individual national champions, national runner-up, and two other placements in the top 8 to make it 9 total All-Americans.
 
Senior Jeramiah Steele ended his wrestling career by earning his second All-American honor by placing 5^th in the tournament at 133. Steele would go on to begin the first day with a 14-2 decision to get into the quarterfinal. On day two, Steele would pick up a quick :41 second fall over Kenneth Lambart to claim All-American status and put himself in the semifinal. The senior would drop his semi bout and the bout after to put himself in the 5^th/6^th place bout. Steele would pick up a 13-0 major decision to end a sensational career.
 
Another senior in Michael Torres would put on a clinic to earn his first All-American honor and his first national title. Torres earned bonus points in every single bout he wrestled throughout the weekend, earning two falls and a tech fall to get into the quarterfinals. Torres would earn a major and fall in 4:55 to place himself in the finals. In the first-place bout, Torres controlled the match from start to finish, earning a 9-1 major to claim the 141lb title.
 
At 149lbs, true freshman Tyger Taam is already on pace to make history. Taam would go on pick up the national title with three more years still to go in his career. Taam put on an absolute clinic in the first two days of the tournament, picking up five bonus point victories to get into the finals with 3 tech falls and two pins. In the finals, he would pick up the lone takedown to earn a 4-0 decision to pick up the national title. Taam would also outscore his opponents 61-2 in match points to further solidify his dominance.
 
Ezekiel Lara would go on to earn a more than impressive runner-up finish to end his collegiate wrestling career. Lara would pick up two techs and a major to begin his tournament to get into the quarterfinals. Lara would then earn an 11-4 to solidify All-American honors and followed with a 20-5 techfall to get into the finals. In the first place match, Lara would come close to earning the deciding takedown but fell short and claimed 2^nd place to close out his season.
 
Another senior in Kanaipono Tapia would go on to earn another national title for Menlo. Tapia's offense was pin point the entire weekend, outscoring his opponents 75-13. Tapia would walk through the entire frontside of the bracket, picking up four tech falls to get into the finals. Tapia would be put to the test in the final, giving up the first takedown of the match to fall behind in points. Tapia responded to earn a clutch third period takedown and a ride out to earn the riding time point to help secure a 6-5 decision to claim the national title.
 
At 174, Isaiah Morales would also put on an offensive clinic in the field. Morales would go on to pick up four falls on his way to the semifinals, where he would go on to pick up a 19-4 technical fall. Morales again would pick up another fall in the finals to make it five in the tournament to claim first national title and All-American honor.
 
Mathias Collins began his day showcasing his offense, picking up two technical falls. Collins was put to the test in the quarterfinals and picked up a 4-3 win to claim All-American honors. Collins would fall short in the semis but bounced back with an 8-3 win on the backside to place himself in the third-place bout. Collins would battle his way into sudden victory and picked up the takedown to win 4-1 and claim third at 184lbs.
 
Returning national finalist Diego Morales would put himself back into the finals to get another chance at the national title. Morales would pick up a decision and two bonus point wins to get into the quarters. He would pick up another major to get into the semis where the sophomore would go and earn the pin. In the final, Morales would finally get the title by earning a 5-0 decision.
 
At 285, Javier Martinez would claim the crown in his first season with the Oaks. Martinex would pick up a fall before earning a gritty 6-3 sudden victory win to get into the quarterfinal. Martinez would then earn another fall as well as a decision to place himself into the finals. After giving up the first takedown, Javier would go on to score  13 unanswered points to major his opponent and claim the title.
 
The Oaks displayed an impressive showing at the national championships, claiming the team title and going 42-5 out of the three days from all ten wrestlers. Head Coach Joey Martinez would also be honored as the NCWA Coach of the Year as well as Kanaipono Tapia being recognized as the NCWA Male Wrestler of the Year. With a dominant performance on the national stage, the Oaks will now turn its focus toward the future, carrying momentum, experience, and a championship mindset into the next season.