Cleary's Wrestlers Bow Out On Day Two of NAIA National Tournament

(Wichita, KS)-- The Cleary Cougar wrestling team had two wrestlers fighting for a spot on the podium, but their season would be cut short one day early, as they both suffered defeats to end their season.

Jordan Rodriguez would open the tournament with a pin victory in 2:01 in his opening round match against Missouri Valley's Robert Albert.  He then suffered an 8-3 decision defeat to Haden Hernandez of Missouri Valley, sending him to the consolation bracket.  In the consolation bracket, Rodriguez would earn a 5-2 decision victory over Malachi Aispuro from Waldorf, keeping his season alive.  A dramatic victory by fall in 5:57 would be Rodriguez's fourth victory of the tournament, as he pinned Saoul Prado of Baker.  In Rodriguez's final match, he would lose by sudden victory to Braden Ledford of Friends by a 4-1 score, falling one round short of All-America status.

Grayson Sonntag started off the tournament with an 11-1 major decision victory of Brady Duling from Friends University.  He would then keep it going with a 6-1 decision victory over Nikolas Slatoff from Baker, setting up a matchup with the defending national champion in the 149-lb. class.  In that matchup, Sonntag lost 17-2 in a technical fall to Elijah Larsen from Grand View, sending Sonntag to the consolation bracket.  Sonntag would then have a WHAC Championship rematch with Cornerstone's Cole Karasinski, and Karasinski won round two with a 10-7 decision victory, ending Sonntag's season, as he fell one round short of All-America Status.