Waleska, Ga. (February 18, 2022) – The Truett McConnell University wrestling team had eight out of 12 wrestlers place on Friday at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament, which was hosted by tournament winner No.4 Reinhardt University. The Bears finished third overall with 59 team points, while the Eagles finished with 168.5 team points and runner-up Montreat College finished with 86 team points.
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Most notable, two Bears punched their ticket to the NAIA National Championships. Leonel Silvestre (NQ) finished fourth finished fourth in the 149-weight class, losing by a slim margin to NAIA No.1 Luallen from Reinhardt. Ethan Powell (NQ) secured a runner-up finish at 285, featuring a pin in the first period against St. Andrews. The NAIA National Championship Tournament will take place on Friday, March 4-Saturday, March 5 inside Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
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Three Bears worked their way into the finals, earning a runner-up finish (junior Brandon Navixay at 125, sophomore Hans Evatt at 184, and junior Ethan Powell at 285).
TMU also had three place third (Mitchell Thompson (165), freshman Will Parker (184) and junior Nolan Cook (197), while two Bears finished fourth (senior Leo Silvestre (149) and senior Ian James (174)).
See full results above.