Posted: Mar 03, 2024
Park City, Kan. - The Central Methodist Men's Wrestling team concluded its season at the 2024 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championships this weekend in Park City, Kansas.
Central sent four wrestlers to the championships, two of which earned All-America status. As a team, the Eagles placed 20th with 25 total points, the third highest finish for any team in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Representing the Eagles at this year's championships were James Griffin (157), Roman Garcia (165), Cameron Cornman (197) and Austin Foye (285).
Both Garcia and Cornman took home All-American honors.
Garcia won his first two bouts in the 165 pound bracket before losing 4-1 to No. 2 Rysan Leong (Menlo) in the quarterfinals. The true freshman battled back in the consolation side of the bracket and won his next two matches which secured his All-America status.
After losing in the consolation semifinals to No. 1 seeded Steven Villalobos of Life University, Garcia pinned No. 6 Shadrick Slone (Campbellsville) in the fifth place match in just 54 seconds securing a fifth-place finish. As an unseeded wrestler in his bracket, Garcia pinned three of his opponents in a time of 7:25. The effort paid off when he was selected as the Manuel Gorriaran Memorial Award Winner, awarded to the wrestler who has the most pins in the least amount of time for the tournament.
Cornman secured an eighth place finish in the 197 pound bracket, which included an upset victory over No. 2 seeded Demarco Lee (Life) in the second round to advance to day two. He lost to Heart rival Malachi Karibo of Baker in the quarterfinals to move into the knock rounds of the bracket.
However, the junior earned a tough 2-1 victory against Nikolas Perovic (Lindsey Wilson) to secure All-America status. He ultimately finished in eighth place.
Garcia and Cornman become just the third and fourth All-Americans in program history.
Junior James Griffin finished the tournament with a 3-2 record at the 157 pound bracket, just one victory short of earning All-America honors.
Freshman Austin Foye also competed for the Eagles at 285 pounds, posting a 1-2 record.
To view the full results for CMU at this year's NAIA National Championships, please see below.
157 Pounds
15 James Griffin's place is unknown and has scored 2.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - 15 James Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over Noah Styskal (Morningside) (Dec 5-2)
- Champ. Round 2 - 2 Antwuan Burns (Campbellsville) won by decision over 15 James Griffin (Central Methodist) (Dec 5-4)
- Cons. Round 2 - 15 James Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over Eli Clemmons (Cumberland) (Dec 8-2)
- Cons. Round 3 - 15 James Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over Dylan Straley (Southern Oregon) (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Round 4 - 4 Kanaipono Tapia (Menlo) won by decision over 15 James Griffin (Central Methodist) (Dec 8-2)
165 Pounds
Roman Garcia's place is 5th and has scored 16.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by decision over 10 Kevon Freeman (Ottawa) (Dec 7-1)
- Champ. Round 2 - Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by fall over 7 Braeden Baller (Texas Wesleyan) (Fall 3:57)
- Quarterfinal - 2 Rysan Leong (Menlo) won by decision over Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) (Dec 4-1)
- Cons. Round 4 - Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by decision over 13 Hunter Hobbs (Providence) (Dec 3-1)
- Cons. Round 5 - Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by fall over Zander Ernst (Morningside) (Fall 2:34)
- Cons. Semi - 1 Steven Villalobos (Life) won in sudden victory - 1 over Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) (SV-1 4-1)
- 5th Place Match - Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by fall over 6 Shadrick Slone (Campbellsville) (Fall 0:54)
197 Pounds
15 Cameron Cornman's place is 8th and has scored 5.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) won by decision over Michael Moreno (Arizona Christian) (Dec 7-2)
- Champ. Round 2 - 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) won by decision over 2 Demarco Lee (Life) (Dec 4-2)
- Quarterfinal - 7 Malachi Karibo (Baker) won by major decision over 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) (Maj 12-2)
- Cons. Round 4 - 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) won by decision over 13 Nikolas Perovic (Lindsey Wilson) (Dec 2-1)
- Cons. Round 5 - 6 Kasten Grape (Doane) won by fall over 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) (Fall 2:40)
- 7th Place Match - 1 Bradley Antesberger (Doane) won by major decision over 15 Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) (Maj 11-2)
285 Pounds
Austin Foye's place is unknown and has scored 2.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - 2 KC Buday (Providence) won by tech fall over Austin Foye (Central Methodist) (TF 18-1)
- Cons. Round 1 - Austin Foye (Central Methodist) won by fall over Tanner Hawkins (York) (Fall 2:19)
- Cons. Round 2 - 16 Jackson Schenk (Rochester) won by fall over Austin Foye (Central Methodist) (Fall 2:15)
#TakeFlight
