The tournament was held in conjunction with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference with the best finishers from each conference crowned champions.
The Rams racked up 145.5 total points, 12.5 points ahead of second place and last year’s winner (No. 17) Oklahoma City and 25.5 points more than third place Wayland Baptist. Ottawa University had the most points with 157, winning the KCAC title.
Two TXWES grapplers won their respective individual titles automatically qualifying for nationals in La’Stot Pleasant (141-lb.) and Don Doyle (174-lb.). Enis Ida (157-lb.) finished runner-up, also punching his ticket to nationals.
The top two individuals in each weight class automatically qualify for nationals. The NAIA will announce 4 at-large individual qualifiers from each weight class on Feb. 23.
Pleasant was also named Wrestler of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He went 13-3 this season, and in the finals, he won over Jaxen Gilmore (Oklahoma City) in an 8-3 decision.
Doyle is 10-7 in his sophomore campaign and won over Jesse Daniel Perez (Ottawa University) in the finals by sudden victory in overtime 12-10. Doyle had the most single match points at the tournament with 19.
Ida has an 8-5 record his junior season and fell to OCU’s Drake Vannoy in a 7-0 decision. Ida had two pins during the weekend.
Head coach Ray Bedford was named Coach of the Year.
Two Rams placed third in No. 12 Dracius McKee (165-lb.) and Brahn Howard (184-lb.).
Isaac Stalcup and Rylan Bonds placed 4th. Christian Espinoza, Ja’Marcus Thomas and Deandre Rucker finished 5th, and Kobe Nelms in 6th.
The NAIA Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-6 at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
Sooner Athletic Conference Awards
Wrestler of the year: La’stot Pleasant, Texas Wesleyan
Tournament outstanding wrestler: Billy Sullivan, Oklahoma City
Freshman of the year: La’stot Pleasant, Texas Wesleyan
Newcomer of the year: Johnathan Ortegon, Wayland Baptist
Coach of the year: Ray Bedford, Texas Wesleyan
Most falls, tournament: Jon McGowan, Oklahoma City, four
2021 SAC/KCAC Championships Team Results |
||
1 | Ottawa University (KCAC) | 157.0 |
2 | Texas Wesleyan | 145.5 |
3 | Oklahoma City | 133.0 |
4 | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 120.0 |
5 | York (Neb.) | 68.5 |
6 | Bethany (Kan.) | 62.5 |
6 | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 62.5 |
8 | Central Christian College (Kan.) | 15.5 |
9 | University Of Saint Mary (Kan.) | 0.0 |
125
1st Place – Billy Sullivan of Oklahoma City
2nd Place – Johnathon Ortegon of Wayland Baptist (Texas)
133
1st Place – Bobby Robinson of Ottawa University
2nd Place – Kaden Goff of Bethany (Kan.)
141
1st Place – La`Stot Pleasant of Texas Wesleyan
2nd Place – Jaxen Gilmore of Oklahoma City
149
1st Place – John Fox of York (Neb.)
2nd Place – Ryan Delforge of Ottawa University
157
1st Place – Drake Vannoy of Oklahoma City
2nd Place – Enis Ida of Texas Wesleyan
165
1st Place – Connor Holman of Oklahoma City
2nd Place – Seth Dixon of Wayland Baptist (Texas)
165
1st Place – Connor Holman of Oklahoma City
2nd Place – Seth Dixon of Wayland Baptist (Texas)
184
1st Place – Cameron Young-Leggett of Ottawa University
2nd Place – Chase Vincent of Oklahoma City
197
1st Place – Easton Rendleman of Oklahoma City
2nd Place – Carson Savage of Ottawa University
285
1st Place – Benito Hernandez of Ottawa University
2nd Place – Dalton Sikes of Ottawa University