ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Nebraska Kearney and Central Oklahoma finished first and second at the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships while 18 MIAA student-athletes earned All-American honors.
 
Nebraska Kearney claimed its fourth NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship winning the 2022 National Championships on Saturday, March 12 with a total of 127 team points. The championship is the Lopers’ and MIAA’s first wrestling title since 2013.
 
Nebraska Kearney fell just short of its fourth national championship last year, falling to St. Cloud State by a mere 1.5 points. This year, the Lopers left no doubt, winning the championship by 41 points.
 
Central Oklahoma earned the second-place finish at the 2022 Division II Championship with a team point total of 86. It was the Bronchos’ best national finish since 2007 and the ninth runner-up showing in program history to go along with 15 titles.
 
West Liberty finished third with 75.5 points while St. Cloud State totaled 67 points for fourth place and Adams State rounded out the top-five with 65 total team points.
 
The Lopers lead the MIAA with a league-high eight All-Americans. Josh Portillo (125), Sam Turner (149) and Matt Malcom (165) all competed for the individual national championships at their respective weight classes to lead the charge for the Lopers. Malcom was the lone Loper to take home the individual title, but the trio helped Nebraska-Kearney pile up 127 points in the victory.
 
The Bronchos finished the national championships with a league-high two individual titles and six total All-Americans. Gray claimed his second straight championship at 184 pounds and Abney took the crown at 197.
 
Fort Hays State and Central Missouri each claimed two All-Americans. The Tigers have had at least one All-American in the last nine seasons while the Mules picked up their first All-Americans since 2017.
 
Below is a complete list of the MIAA’s 18 All-Americans from the 2022 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Champions. To see the final results at each weight class, click here.
 
125 lbs. Bracket
2nd Place – Josh Portillo – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
4th Place – Paxton Rosen – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
 
133 lbs. Bracket
3rd Place – Wesley Dawkins – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
 
141 lbs. Bracket
5th Place – Nick James – Nebraska Kearney, R-So.
 
149 lbs. Bracket
2nd Place – Sam Turner – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
5th Place – Brik Flippo – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
8th Place – Darick Lapaglia – Central Missouri,  R-So.
 
157 lbs. Bracket
4th Place – John Ridle – Central Missouri, So.
 
165 lbs. Bracket
1st Place – Matt Malcom – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
 
174 lbs. Bracket
3rd Place – Austin Eldredge – Nebraska Kearney, R-Jr.
6th Place – Alex Kauffman – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
 
184 lbs. Bracket
1st Place – Heath Gray – Central Oklahoma, Sr.
3rd Place – Billy Higgins – Nebraska Kearney, R-So.
5th Place – Martin Verhaeghe – Fort Hays State, Sr.
 
197 lbs. Bracket
1st Place – Dalton Abney – Central Oklahoma, So.
 
285 lbs. Bracket
5th Place – Lee Herrington – Nebraska Kearney, R-Jr.
6th Place – Shawn Streck – Central Oklahoma, So.
7th Place – AJ Cooper – Fort Hays State, Sr.