Men's Wrestling Finishes 3rd at Nationals

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Iowa Western Men's Wrestling matched the highest team finish in program history, taking 3rd place at the 2023 NJCAA National Wrestling Championships at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.  

The team finished with six NJCAA All-Americans, breaking a school record.  Sophomore Fabian Padilla earned the honor for the 3rd straight year due to the covid-19 eligibility extension, while also winning the national title at 157 lbs, defeating Benjamin Mitchell of North Idaho by decision, 5-4.  The Reivers' added another national champ to the mix with Brett Mower winning the 197 lb class over Ibrahim Ameer of Cloud County, also by decision 10-9.

Sophomore Jakason Burks also made the finals at the 125 lb weight class but fell to Northwest Kansas Tech's Jett Strickenberger by decision, 7-6.

This is the first time that Head Coach Josh Watts has had multiple national champions at nationals.