2025 NJCAA Wrestling Tournament Catwalk Photo
2025 NJCAA Wrestling Tournament Catwalk Photo at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA
February 16, 2026

Reivers Qualify Ten for Nationals; Finish Third at District Tournament

Mason City, IA — Iowa Western Men's Wrestling punched its ticket to the biggest stage of the season on Saturday, qualifying all 10 wrestlers for the NJCAA National Championships while finishing third overall with 148 team points at the NJCAA North District Qualifier.

In one of the nation's most competitive districts, the Reivers showed depth, grit, and postseason composure. The result? A full lineup heading home to Council Bluffs for Nationals.

The NJCAA National Championships will take place March 6–7 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA, giving Iowa Western a rare opportunity to compete for national hardware on its home mats.

District Champion

197 — Tony Palmer

T. Palmer delivered a statement performance, dominating his way to a district title and solidifying himself as one of the most dangerous upper-weights in the country heading into nationals. His championship run provided a major momentum boost for the entire lineup.

District Finalists

149 — Logan Crowther

174 — Matteo Nikolov 

L. Crowther battled through a loaded bracket to reach the finals, continuing his strong postseason push. His consistency and scoring ability make him a serious contender heading into March.

Nikolov once again proved he belongs among the elite at 174, advancing to the championship match and scoring crucial team points throughout the weekend.

Third-Place Finishers

125 — Noah Jones

133 — Isaac Ekdahl

141 — Hudson Palmer

Each of the three bronze medalists battled back through the consolation side to secure podium finishes and automatic national bids, with the possibility of also earning a seed placement at the national tournament.

Fourth-Place Finishers

157 — Braxton Peacher

165 — Andrew Crowther

184 — Cal Wells

285 — Kolby Scott

 
Crowther advanced deep into the bracket before finishing fourth due to a medical default in the placement match, but still secured his qualification to nationals. The remaining fourth-place finishers added valuable team points to the Reivers' total.

TEAM RESULTS

  1. Indian Hills — 179
  2. Iowa Central — 175
  3. Iowa Western — 148
  4. NIACC — 103.5
  5. Iowa Lakes — 103
  6. Hawkeye — 61
  7. Ellsworth — 35
  8. Southeastern — 31

Qualifying an entire lineup is not easy. Doing it in the North Central District is even harder. Now, the stage shifts to Council Bluffs. The Mid-America Center will host the NJCAA National Championships on March 6–7, and the Reivers will have the rare advantage of competing for a national title in front of their home fans!