NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships return to Cedar Rapids after 2 straight cancellations

CEDAR RAPIDS — The surreal transitioned to the unreal and became stark reality.

College wrestlers and coaches suffered the unthinkable when the NCAA canceled all 2020 winter championships due to the emerging coronavirus pandemic, pausing national title pursuits or bringing those dream to an instant halt.

After a two-year hiatus, the crown jewel of the NCAA Division III wrestling season returns to the same city and venue of that ill-fated tournament.

“It is kind of weird,” said Coe’s Brock Henderson, who qualified for the event two years ago and is in the 141-pound field this year. “I try not to really think about it. You control the things that you can control. Everything else, leave up to God.”

The NCAA D-III Wrestling Championships will be held for the first time since 2019 and at the same site where the crushing turn of events played out in 2020. Competition begins Friday at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse, beginning at 11 a.m.

“Honestly, there is a whole other level of general appreciation, gratitude and excitement, going into this weekend for me and our team,” Wartburg Coach Eric Keller said. “Like anything in life, you really don’t know what you have until it’s gone. How would you ever predict two years in a row you’re going to have your NCAAs swept from underneath your feet? You’d never predict that.

“Going into this weekend, everybody is extremely grateful to have the opportunity to compete in the (NCAA) national tournament again.”

Individuals and teams were on the precipice of the 2020 championships when the whirlwind of changes whipped around the day before first whistle. First, they learned of limited fans. Then, it was no spectators of all. Finally, the coup de gras that left many stunned and heartbroken.

“Everybody is looking forward and don’t want to bring up that bad memory,” Coe Coach John Oostendorp said with an uneasy laugh. “For some of our alumni and assistant coaches, that took away their last national tournament, so I don’t think you’ll ever completely wash it away.”

Wartburg’s Kyle Briggs was preparing for a second-straight All-America finish and contending for his first NCAA title in his hometown. Briggs called the decision “gut-wrenching” and found it hard to process the announcement. He said it was funny being back at the same place, but is glad to be back to take care of unfinished business.

“That was a crazy day,” the second-seeded 184-pounder said. “Honestly, nothing since then has been quite as a shock to the system. Last year wasn’t as disappointing as two years ago here.

“The goal hasn’t changed. I’m here and I want it as just as bad as I did then. I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a good weekend and I love that it’s back in Cedar Rapids.”

According to trackwrestling.com’s James Nelson, 22 of the 180 D-III national qualifiers return this year with the addition of a former D-II qualifier and another from the NAIA. Nine 2019 All-Americans are in the field, including Briggs, who was third, University of Chicago’s Ben Sarasin, who is a former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep, and Mount Union’s NCAA champion Jordin James, who is top-seeded at 141 and wrestled previously at Iowa Lakes. Henderson could face James in his second match.

Championships can be canceled but the dedication and effort throughout the year cannot be erased.

“The last two years have led me to not necessarily appreciate the championships more, but to appreciate the training that goes into it,” Briggs said. “It’s much harder to take away the training. It’s not just going into practices. It’s waking up, being disciplined. You have to take inventory. You have to audit of everything you’re doing. Is every decision toward becoming a champion or not? In doing so, you start to develop a routine.

“It’s more about being grateful for the opportunity that you get for every other day. It puts you in position to do well on this weekend.”

Some programs returned to competition last year, but the effects of the pandemic remained. Many did not have seasons or were unable to commit to the postseason. The NCAA canceled the event (the only division canceled in 2021) about a month before it was scheduled in La Crosse, Wis. The National Wrestling Coaches Association rallied and created its own national tournament held at Xtream Arena in Coralville. It was a bandage to a gaping wound to D-III wrestlers and the sport, in general.

Coe and Wartburg were among the lucky ones that fell back on the makeshift event. Not everyone had that luxury, shutting down for the entire season or being denied the chance to travel.

“One, it did feel like a national championship in terms of how it was run, the environment, experience and everything that went along with it,” Keller said. “It helped us being able to do that last year, but it is different having everybody in the country represented. That’s what you want as a competitor, an opportunity to compete against everybody out there and the best of the best.”

Henderson won the 133-pound title, joining his teammates Alex Friddle and Josh Gerke atop the NWCA podium. Briggs captured the 174-pound title, while the Knights’ David Hollingsworth won it at 157

Henderson, now at 141, Hollingsworth, Briggs at 184, Elmhurst’s Jimmy McAuliffe (141) and Millikin 165-pounder Bradan Birt, a former Western Dubuque state champion, are NWCA champions in this season’s field.

Briggs said he used to take time off after the season until the bitter ending of 2020. He has worked every day, deciding to come back for one more semester this year the day he found out last year’s NCAA tournament was scratched.

“I’ve been in the peak competitive state of my life,” said Briggs, a former Cedar Rapids Jefferson state medalist. “That is 18 to 20 years of training. I’ve been at the top of my game the last three years just waiting for this. I’ll be damned if I’m not going to be ready when the opportunity presents itself.”

Henderson has endured more than most, beginning with the premature end of the 2018-19 season due to a broken arm. He rebounded and climbed into the national rankings, obtaining an NCAA berth to a meet that wasn’t held.

Henderson has one more chance to reach the NCAA podium, which would be the culmination of a career that began when he was just 5 years old.

“The last 14 years has been wrestling all year long, trying to see how good of a wrestler I’ve become,” Henderson said. “It’s all coming to a point this weekend. It’s really exciting.

“It’s a full season of work but it’s more than that. I’ve been in wrestling for 17 years.”

Wartburg has seven qualifiers, all seeded fourth or better. The Knights have the depth and quality to claim their 15th NCAA crown and first since 2018.

“The seven guys we do have going are seven guys prepared and wrestling at their best of their ability at the end, which is always the goal,” Keller said. “If you look at our season and how the last couple weeks of January into February went for us, we continued to raise our level every week. It’s been fun for me just seeing our team continue to grow and jump levels each week.

“We know there has never been an easy national championship. We never expect it to be and that’s what makes it special.”

Coe has six qualifiers, including second-seeded and unbeaten heavyweight Kaleb Reeves. The Kohawks have a strong shot at a team trophy with a top-four finish.

“I feel good about this team,” Oostendorp said. “I feel anytime you go through our regional, wrestle our schedule and a lot of teams we compete with all year prepares you for this national tournament.”

Upper Iowa’s Tate Murty returns to D-II tournament

Upper Iowa’s Tate Murty will make a return trip to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday at Chafietz Arena in St. Louis. Murty will make his second straight nationals appearance, placing sixth for All-America honors last year, and is the only Peacock qualifier this season.

Murty is 13-2 this season, winning four straight consolation matches after a quarterfinal loss to earn third at the Super Regional qualifier and nab the final automatic berth at the weight. He will open with Findlay’s second-ranked Branson Proudlock (26-1) in a pigtail match. Proudlock was eighth a year ago, losing a consolation match, 11-4, to Murty.

Murty enters the tournament wth nine bonus-point victories, consisting of three pins, four technical falls and two major decisions.