HAVRE, Mont. – RESULTS | No. 16-ranked Eastern Oregon shocked the Cascade Collegiate Conference by winning the 2022 CCC Men's Wrestling Championship, presented by U.S. Bank – its first CCC title since the program was reinstated prior to the 2017-18 season.
The Mounties picked up the win with 130.5 points, followed by No. 9-ranked Menlo College with 123 points. No. 8-ranked Montana State University-Northern took third with 117 points, No. 19-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University grabbed fourth with 105.5 points, and Vanguard University rounded out the top-five with 98.0 team points. The University of Providence (95.5), Corban University (57.5), Southern Oregon University (57.0), Simpson University (41.0), Life Pacific University (24.0) and Arizona Christian University (20.5) filled in spots six through 11. Warner Pacific University did not receive any team points.
Menlo and MSUN tied with two individual champions, while ERAU, SOU, Corban, Vanguard, EOU and UP each saw a champion crowned.
Coach of the Year- Dustyn Azure-Eastern Oregon
Wrestler of the Tournament- Isaac Bartel- MSUN
Team Sportsmanship- Vanguard University
At 125 pounds, two teammates from Menlo squared off for the title as Gregory Viloria defeated Riley Siason 5-3 to win the championship.
At 133 pounds, Jacob Seto (ERAU) won the title match over Jacob Mendoza (Menlo) by a score of 7-2 in three overtimes. Seto posted a four-point near fall in the final OT period to grab the victory.
In the 141-pound class, Martin Wilkie (MSU-Northern) claimed a 12-1 major decision over Chad Muenzer (EOU) to win the championship.
Elijah Palacio (Menlo) claimed title honors in the 149-pound class with an 8-5 win over Michael Murphy (Corban).
At 157 pounds, Southern Oregon's Aaron Gandara defeated Arizona Christian's Carlo Castagnaro 8-1 to take home the championship.
In the 165-pound title match, David Rubio (Corban) posted a 3-2 close decision victory over Frederick Padilla (Vanguard) 3-2.
Armon Fayyazi (Vanguard) earned the 174-pound title over Nakoda Siegel (MSU-Northern) with a takedown in overtime, 3-1.
Eastern Oregon's Kyle Knudtson claimed the 184-pound title with a 5-2 decision over Hayden Schrull (Providence).
At 197 pounds, MSU-Northern's Isaac Bartel pinned Eastern Oregon's Jay Smith to defend his 2020 championship and remains the wrestler to beat heading into nationals.
K.C. Buday (Providence) defeated Noel Orozco (Eastern Oregon) 2-1 in the heavyweight championship.
CCC Champions
125 – Gregory Viloria (Menlo)
133 – Jacob Seto (Embry Riddle)
141 – Martin Wilkie (MSU-Northern)
149 – Elijah Palacio (Menlo)
157 – Aaron Gandara (Southern Oregon)
165 – David Rubio (Corban)
174 – Armon Fayyazi (Vanguard)
184 – Kyle Knudtson (Eastern Oregon)
197 – Isaac Bartel (MSU-Northern)
285 – K.C. Buday (Providence)
The CCC received a total of 34 automatic qualifiers to the NAIA National Championships across all weight classes, based upon how many representatives of the conference were ranked in each weight class in the most-recent individual top-20 poll.
CCC's Automatic Qualifiers
125 – Gregory Viloria (Menlo), Riley Siason (Menlo), Francisco Barrera (SOU)
133 – Jacob Seto (ERAU), Jacob Mendoza (Menlo), Nick Kunz (MSUN), Justin Coon (SOU), Joel Avila (UP), Zach Mauras (EOU)
141 – Elija Martin Wilkie (MSUN), Jaxon Morlan (EOU)
149 – Elijah Palacio (Menlo), Michael Murphy (Corban), Nicholas Camacho (Menlo)
157 – Aaron Gandara (SOU), Carlo Castagnaro (ACU), James Williams (ERAU), Abraham Del Toro (Menlo)
165 – David Rubio (Corban), Frederick Padilla (VU), Keller Rock (ERAU), Jordan Komack (UP), Chase Short (MSUN), Rysan Leong (Menlo)
174 – Armon Fayyazi (VU), Nakoda Siegel (MSUN), Keegan Mulhill (EOU), Gerardo Hernandez (VU)
184 – Kyle Knudtson (EOU), Hayden Schrull (UP), Baron Gaunt (VU)
197 – Isaac Bartel (MSUN)
285 – K.C. Buday (UP), Noel Orozco (EOU)
CCC's Wildcards
133 – Evan Potter (SOU)
141 – Jayce Cunha (ERAU)
174 – Gerardo Hernandez (VU)
184 – Carl Hansen (MSUN), Alan Badley (UP), Tyson Stover (Corban)
197 – Jay Smith (EOU)
Qualifiers from this weekend's event earned the right to compete at the 65
th Annual NAIA National Wrestling Championships in Park City, Kan. The tournament will be held at the Hartman Arena on March 6-7.