Eads Places Seventh for All-America Award
Wichita, Kan.–Joe Eads (So., Morrison, Ill., Biology) overcame unlikely odds to get on the podium in his first-ever trip to the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship Friday and Saturday.
The sophomore 149-pounder posted a 4-2 record to finish seventh. In doing so, he became the 43rd All-American in program history and the first since 2015.
Eads had to all of his work with his back against the wall in the consolation bracket, following a 15-0 technical fall loss to #2 seed (#3 in the final regular season poll) Shonn Roberts of Providence (Mont.). Ironically, in the end, Eads finished higher that Roberts at the Championship.
The sophomore, who concluded his season at 28-18, started his long road to All-America status by edging #7 nationally-ranked, yet unseeded, Marcel Sierra of Life (Ga.), 9-6. He trailed 4-0 entering the final period before putting Sierra on his back twice to rally for the victory.
Eads caught fire from there, pinning #20 Brandon Aragon of Jamestown (N.D.) in a time of 3:53 before securing his All-America laurel with another fall. This time it came against Jalen Soto of Southeastern (Fla.) in 2:18.
The 149-pounder nearly tripped up another ranked foe, but came up short against Missouri Valley’s Richard Pocock by a 3-1 decision. Pocock entered nationals fourth in the nation.
Finally, in the seventh-place match, Eads stuck unranked Baltazar Loza of Oklahoma City in a time of 1:34. He concluded his year with 20 pins, which ends up one shy of tying the school record for single-season pins.
Grand View topped the team standings with 157 points for its ninth national title in a row. Menlo (Calif.) was a distant second with 84.5 points. Batterdene Boldmaa of Doane (Neb.) was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship.
