Men's Wresting Set For National Championship
Marshall, Mo., (Feb. 24, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling will travel to Wichita, Kan., for the 2026 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship. A total of nine men's wrestlers will compete for a possible National championship, with the tournament beginning March 5.
Leading the team is Junior Haden Hernandez (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 125 pounds. Hernandez earned an automatic berth into the National championship, winning the 125 pounds Heart championship, last Saturday. He enters the competition with a 17-1 record on the season. This is his third appearance at the National tournament, finishing with a 5-4 all-time at the event.
Senior Elijah Hynes (Broken Arrow, Okla.) competes at 197 pounds and is 15-2 on the season. Hynes earned an automatic berth into the National championship with his second placement at the Heart championship. He is a three-time All-American, and this is his fourth appearance at the National championship with an 13-6 record in his previous appearances.
Junior Robert Albert (Cape Coral, Fla.) will compete at 125 pounds. He earned an automatic berth into the National championship, placing third at the Heart championship, and he enters the tournament with a 18-6 record. Albert is making his second appearance at the National championship, with a 0-2 record at the event.
Freshman Tuvshinjargal Zuunbayan (Arlington Heights, Ill.) will compete at 133 pounds. He earned an automatic berth into the National championship placing fifth at the Heart championship, and is making his first appearance at the National championship. He enters the competition with a 16-4 on the season.
Junior Kristofer Arrey (Riverside, Calif.) will compete at 149 pounds and is 15-8 on the season. Arrey earned an automatic berth into the National championship with his third placement at the Heart championship. This is his second appearance at the National Championship, finishing with a 1-2 record in the tournament.
Senior Francis Morrissey (Warner Robins, Ga.) competes at 157 pounds, and enters the competition with a 9-4 record on the season. Morrissey is a two-time All-American, and this is his third appearance at the National championship. He is 7-5 all-time at the event at 174 pounds.
Sophomore Brayden Shelton (Centralia, Mo.) competes at 165 pounds, and is going 10-4 into the National championship. He earned an automatic berth in the tournament as he placed third at the Heart championship. This is his second appearance at the National championship, with a 2-2 record in his previous appearances.
Senior Dayton Hill (Broken Arrow, Okla.) will compete at 165 pounds, and enters the competition with a 17-3 record on the season. He earned an automatic berth into the National championship placing fifth at the Heart championship. This is Hill's fourth appearance in the tournament, but first as a Viking.
Senior Randy Gonzalez (Lakewood, Calif.) competes at 285 pounds and is 23-5 on the season. He earned an automatic berth into the tournament with fourth placement at the Heart championship. This is Gonzalez's second appearance at the National Championship, going 0-2 last year.
The 2026 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship is a three-day event, beginning Thursday, March 5, and lasting through Saturday evening, March 7 inside the Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kan.
Thursday:
Session I at 11 a.m.: Championship first round and Consolation first round.
Session II at 6 p.m.: Championship second round and Consolation first round.
Friday:
Session III at 11 a.m.: Championship quarterfinal and Consolation third round.
Session IV at 6 p.m.: Championship semifinal, consolation fourth round and consolation fifth round. All Americans will be determined during Session IV.
Saturday:
Session IV at 11 a.m.: Consolation final and placing matches for third, fifth and seventh.
Session VI at 7 p.m.: National Championship matches for all ten weight classes.
About Missouri Valley College
Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.