SALEM, Ore. – The Mountaineers closed out Day 2 of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament with grit and momentum, turning in strong collective performances to close out the conference season. Eight of the team's 12 wrestlers fought their way back to the mat Saturday, and all eight finished in the Top 8. The Mountaineers totaled 74.0 points to secure sixth place overall and claimed four automatic bids to nationals.

Automatic qualifiers were awarded in each weight class based on regular-season conference ratings, with additional berths allocated according to the number of nationally ranked wrestlers per class.

At 133 pounds, Braden Carson battled his way to a runner-up finish. Entering the day 1-0, Carson earned a 5-2 decision over Blake Woolsey (UP) to lock up a national berth, as the top three advanced. He ultimately fell to No. 12 Jason Ramirez (ACU) in a 4-1 sudden victory decision, finishing second and securing his spot on the national stage.

At 149 pounds, Cole Cross also claimed second place. After starting the day 2-0, Cross defeated No. 18 Jr Downing (CRB) by 4-1 decision to clinch an automatic bid, with the top four advancing. He dropped the championship match to Carlos Stanton (ACU) by fall (3:23) but left Salem as a national qualifier.

Heavyweight Nico Rodriguez delivered one of the day's most impressive performances, placing third at 285 pounds to earn an automatic berth (top three qualified). After falling to No. 4 Kenneth Copley (ERAU) in a tiebreaker decision, Rodriguez responded with back-to-back statement wins—defeating No. 6 Ethan DeRoche (UP), 4-2, and knocking off No. 2 Antonio Garcia (CRB) in another tiebreaker—to secure his trip to nationals.

At 157 pounds, Carlos Valdez fought through the consolation bracket to take sixth place and claim the final automatic bid in his weight class (top six advanced). Valdez opened the day with a 14-7 decision over Gus Menne (CRB) before falling to No. 17 Irish Furthmyre (UP) by technical fall and later to Cole Zoller (SOU) by medical forfeit.

Though they fell just short of automatic qualification, four additional Mountaineers placed in the Top 8, strengthening their cases for at-large selection.

At 133 pounds, Kai Carson finished fifth, highlighted by a dominant 11-0 major decision over No. 9 Gavin Mitchell (WEST).

At 165 pounds, John Rudebaugh also placed fifth. After entering the day 1-1, he picked up wins over Jesse Rubio (CRB) by forfeit and Thomas Stadel (ERAU) by 4-3 decision.

At 125 pounds, Jackson Eylar claimed eighth place, while Eric Larwin (149) also finished eighth.

With conference tournaments complete, a 16-member selection committee will determine the remaining 66 at-large qualifiers. The full national field will be announced Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2025, by 5 p.m. (CST), with brackets and seeding released Friday, Feb. 27, 2025, on NAIA.org.

Those who qualify will compete at the 69th NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship, set for March 5–7, 2026, at Hartman Arena in Park City, where each weight class will feature a 32-wrestler bracket.

To view results: Individuals | Team Scores