SIOUX FALLS, SD - It was a special night for the #16 University of Mary wrestling team as the Marauders earned three All-Americans on day one of the 2026 NCAA Championships, tying a program record.

Jacob Strausbaugh went 2-0 and will have a chance to win the national title on Saturday, March 14. Sean Solis and Lane Ewing both finished with a 2-1 record and will get the opportunity to finish as high as third place. UMary sits in 12^th place with 22 team points.

#7 Strausbaugh began the day with a dominant 18-0 tech fall victory over Grand Valley State's Jake Keller at 133 pounds. The freshman from Soldotna, AK, then earned another shutout in the quarterfinals, defeating Gannon's #2 Jeremiah Echevarria by a 5-0 decision. Strausbaugh won both of his matches by a combined score of 23-0. He will take on Central Oklahoma's #3 Jason Henschel in the semifinals tomorrow.

#7 Solis opened his tournament with a 14-8 decision win over Shorter's Brayden Gibson in the 141-pound weight class. The match was tied at 6-6 in the third period, and Solis would then land a takedown and score a four-point near fall to secure the win. The junior from Long Beach, CA, fell in his quarterfinals match by an 8-5 decision to Lander's Elijiah Lusk. Solis showcased his grit by coming back to pin Belmont Abbey's Luke Kunath after 4:44 of action. He will compete against Glenville State's #8 Ethan Hardy in the next round.

Ewing fell by a 12-2 major decision to Tiffin's #1 Nolan Gessler in his first match in the 165-pound weight class. The sophomore from Douglas, WY, showed grit by coming back to defeat Newberry's Bo Perkins by a 12-0 major decision. Ewing then earned All-American status when he took down Central Missouri's #7 Gage Bernall by a 7-3 decision. His next match will be against Ashland's Nate Barrett.

In his opening match, #7 Luke Tweeton grinded out a 5-4 win over UIndy's Cale Gray at heavyweight. The senior from Frazee, MN, fell in his next match to Nebraska Kearney's #2 Crew Howard by an 8-0 major decision. Tweeton would miss out on All-American status in heartbreaking fashion, falling 2-1 to UNC Pembroke's James Bankston. Tweeton finishes his UMary career as a four-time national qualifier, earning All-American Status in 2024.

UP NEXT
The Marauders compete in day two of the 2026 NCAA Championships on Saturday, March 14. The semifinals and consolation rounds begin at 10 am, and the finals are set for 7 pm.