Pueblo, CO – The pair of University of Mary wrestlers at the NCAA Division II championships advanced to the national semifinals, ensuring U-Mary will double its total of NCAA All-Americans. Both Trevor Johnson and Taylor Nagel are undefeated after two matches apiece and remain in the hunt for a national title.

As both Johnson and Nagel are assured to finish among the top eight wrestlers in their weight brackets, both will claim All-American status. Jesse Laber is the only other U-Mary wrestler to claim NCAA All-American status.

Johnson, ranked second in the nation at 141, opened the championships with a pin of Jack Bachman from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown at the 5:39 mark. The sophomore from Bismarck, ND, then improved his record this season to 33-6 with a 7-2 decision over Casy Rowell of the University of Central Oklahoma.

Next up for Johnson is a meeting with William Young from Newberry on Saturday in the semifinals. A sophomore, Young is 35-9 this season.

Nagel needed a comeback in his opening match of the day at 165. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, the senior from Victor, MT, came back to win 4-3 over Mitch Bullinger of Kutztown University. In another close match in the second round, Nagel knocked off Chris Watson of Central Oklahoma 4-2 and improved to 12-5 on the year.

Making his first NCAA tournament appearance, Nagel now faces Mason True from the University of Findlay in the semifinals. A junior, True is 26-14.

The championship semifinals are scheduled to begin at 10 AM mountain time (11 AM central) on Saturday, March 10.

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