CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – University of Mary wrestlers Max Bruss, Matthew Kaylor and Reece Barnhardt wrapped up an incredible final day at the NCAA Division II National Championships as All-Americans. Bruss and Kaylor both finished fifth and Barnhardt seventh to earn well-deserved spots on the championship podium.
 
Bruss, seeded 2^nd at 174, dominated his first match of the day when he confidently countered his opponent, 5^th seeded Anthony Des Vigne of Central Oklahoma, with a spladle for a victory by pin at 3:31. In a battle to get to the third-place match, Bruss fell in a 7-6 decision to James Penfold of Lake Erie College, putting him in the fifth-place match. The 174-pounder prevailed over #6 Cole Hernandez with a commanding 11-5 decision. The De Pere, WI, native went 4-2 over the two-day battle, earning fifth place on the podium and being honored as an All-American for the first time in his career.
 
Kaylor gained his first victory on day two by a medical forfeit from #5 Cole Huss of Northern State University. The unseeded Kaylor fell by a 6-1 decision in an arduous battle against #3 Tereus Henry of Fort Hays State University in the consolation semi-finals. Moving to the fifth-place match, the 197-pounder wrestled his way to victory with a 3-2 decision. Kaylor, from Bismarck, ND, went 4-2 over the tournament to claim fifth place and earn All-American honors for the first time.
 
Barnhardt fell in his first matchup Saturday by a 6-1 decision to #2 Eric Bartos of Mercyhurst University. This put the sophomore in the seventh-place match, which he dominated with a 10-3 decision victory over #4 Elijah Lusk of Lander University. The 6^th seed from Bismarck, ND, Barnhardt went 3-2 overall at the national tournament and finished seventh for the 133-pound weight class to earn All-American honors for a second straight year.
 
UMary scored a total of 30.5 team points to finish 13^th overall. This marks the highest team finish in University of Mary wrestling NCAA DII era.
 
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