Men's Wrestling Hosts Annual Open Tournament
Marshall, Mo., (Feb. 7, 2026)- The No. 10 Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team hosted the annual Missouri Valley Open inside the Burns Athletic Complex throughout the day Saturday. The Vikings competed against NCAA Division I, II and NAIA programs in the tournament. Seven Vikings advanced to the placing rounds, with one individual in the championship match.
Sophomore Brayden Shelton (Centralia, Mo.)-165 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Luke Bower of Benedictine (Kan.) in a first period (1:56) pin.
Second Round: Defeated Unattached Brennen Green in an 11-1 major decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Unattached Cody Wagner in an 8-6 decision.
Semifinal: Defeated Dax Gentes of Central Missouri in a third period (6:29) pin.
Championship Match: Lost to Dominic Bambinelli of Missouri in an 11-4 decision.
Shelton finished second at 165 pounds.
Junior Blaine Ortiz (Pineville, Mo.)-141 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Kody Kretzer of Missouri Baptist in a first period (1:34) pin.
Second Round: Defeated teammate Ryker Smith in a 4-1 decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Unattached Will Burchard in a first period (0:55) pin.
Semifinal: Lost to Jace Roller of Missouri in a first period (2:29) pin.
Consolation Semifinal: Defeated Jayden Newell of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 10-7 decision.
Third Place Match: Defeated Unattached Will Burchard in a first period (2:43) pin.
Ortiz finished third at 141 pounds.
Junior Lloyd Epperson (Comanche, Okla.)-157 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Trae Tralar of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 20-4 technical fall.
Second Round: Defeated teammate Landen Lopez in a 7-0 decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Evan Atchley of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (1:43) pin.
Semifinal: Lost to Nate Pulliam of Missouri in a 17-2 technical fall.
Consolation Semifinal: Defeated Khalil Hampton of Graceland (Iowa) in a first period (0:49) pin.
Third Place Match: Defeated Jack Ferguson of Central Missouri in a 7-5 decision.
Epperson finished third at 157 pounds.
Sophomore Jackson Sapp (Wentzville, Mo.)-174 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Robert Rocha of Texas Wesleyan in a 15-0 technical fall.
Second Round: Defeated James Opitz of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in a 17-1 technical fall.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Gabe Kiddoo of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a 15-2 major decision.
Semifinal: lost to Kolten Oborny of Missouri in a first period (1:05) pin.
Consolation Semifinal: Defeated Jeraimiah Nyberg of Graceland (Iowa) by no contest
Third Place Match: Finished with a no contest match against teammate Matthew Kash Cobb
Finished in a tie for third place at 174 pounds.
Freshman Matthew Kash Cobb (Weiser, Idaho)-174 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Zeb Fulmer of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (1:51) pin.
Second Round: Defeated Addison Whyte of Avila (Mo.) in a first period (1:50) pin.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Rance Ridley of Benedictine (Kan.) in an 18-2 technical fall.
Semifinal: Lost to Danny Heiser of Missouri in a first period (2:13) pin.
Consolation Semifinal: Won by no contest over Grant Van Horn of Central Missouri
Third Place Match: Finished with a no contest match against teammate Jackson Sapp.
Finished in a tie for third place at 174 pounds.
Junior Isaac Church (Punta Gorda, Fla.)-141 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Guiseppe Minutillo of Carl Albert (Okla.) in a first period (1:39) pin.
Second Round: Defeated Kelton McDougal of Avila (Mo.) in a 15-4 major decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Jayden Nowell of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 10-3 decision.
Semifinal: Lost to Timothy Murabito of Texas Wesleyan in a 14-2 major decision.
Consolation Semifinal: Lost to Unattached Will Burchard in a 19-2 technical fall.
Fifth Place Match: Lost to Jayden Nowell of Ottawa (Kan.) by medical forfeit.
Church finished sixth at 141 pounds.
Sophomore Esteban Armenta (Bellflower, Calif.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Luke Ward of Avila (Mo.) in a 7-5 decision.
Second Round: Defeated Luis Garza of William Penn (Iowa) in a second period (4:29) pin.
Quarterfinal: Defeated teammate Christopher Dye in a 1-0 decision.
Semifinal: Lost to Caiden Saavedra of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in a first period (2:11) pin.
Consolation Semifinal: Lost to Luke Ward of Avila (Mo.) in a 7-1 decision.
Fifth Place Match: Lost to Chance Hensley of Drury (Mo.) in a first period (1:44) pin.
Armenta finished sixth at 149 pounds.
Freshman Caleb Parker (Rolla, Mo.)-125 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Christian Trujillo-Quintana of Graceland (Iowa) in a first period (2:37) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated Cameron Hooten of Central Baptist (Ark.) in a 9-7 decision.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Aiden Han of Indian Hills (Iowa) in a second period (4:01) pin.
Sophomore RaQuan Carson (St. Louis, Mo.)-125 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Aiden Han of Indian Hills (Iowa) in a second period (4:09) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Skyler Anderson of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 16-5 major decision.
Freshman Rylen Gonda (Waianae, Hawaii)-125 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Brian Hill of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a first period (0:43) pin.
Second Round: Lost to Unattached D'Andre Brown in a 22-10 major decision.
Consolation Second Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated Kallen Koelzer of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 10-4 decision.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Damel Martinez of Indian Hills (Iowa) in a 20-5 technical fall.
Sophomore Anthony Maldonado (Running Springs, Calif.)-133 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Jett Schwartz of Fort Hays (Kan.) in a second period (3:46) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Dominic Marqueze of Benedictine (Kan.) in a 15-0 technical fall.
Sophomore Easton DeMilia (Jefferson City, Mo.)-133 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Ezequiel Valadez of Texas Wesleyan in an 8-5 decision.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Aiden Pina of Avila (Mo.) in a 28-10 technical fall.
Junior Vincenzo Benenati (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)-133 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Davion Wilson of Graceland (Iowa) in a second period (4:46) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated Gabriel Martinez of Central Baptist (Ark.) in a 15-0 technical fall.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Unattached Adarein Hawkins by medical forfeit.
Senior Cole Patten (Lebanon, Mo.)-141 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Ryan McNeel of Avila (Mo.) in a first period (1:01) pin.
Second Round: Lost to Timothy Murabito of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (1:40) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Landon Holmes of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in a first period (0:28) pin.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Tacoma Augustine of Fort Hays (Kan.) in a third period (5:20) pin.
Junior Ryker Smith (Kansas City, Mo.)-141 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Caden Harrington of Drury (Mo.) in a 4-1 sudden-victory decision.
Second Round: Lost to teammate Blaine Ortiz in a 4-1 decision.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Corbin Porter of Graceland (Iowa) in a 13-4 major decision.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated Brad-Lee McAlister of Friends (Kan.) in a first period (2:11) pin.
Consolation Fourth Round: Won by medical forfeit against Drew Cooper of Central Methodist (Mo.).
Consolation Fifth Round: Lost to Unattached Will Burchard in a third period (6:01) pin.
Junior Ethan Franklin (El Paso, Texas)-149 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Camden Whitehead of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (2:07) pin.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Landon Morris of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a first period (2:10) pin.
Junior Jesse Shannon (Centralia, Mo.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Clay Crane of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in a first period (1:33) pin.
Second Round: Lost to Daniel Loizeaux of Benedictine (Kan.) in a 9-2 decision.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Luke Ward of Avila (Mo.) in an 18-2 technical fall.
Sophomore Bishop Rush (St. Joseph, Mo.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Gavin Holland of Texas Wesleyan in an 8-5 decision.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Alex Lopez of Central Baptist (Ark.) in a 19-4 technical fall.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Ethan Silva of Benedictine (Kan.) in a second period (4:40) pin.
Freshman Cameron Bruce (Arkansas City, Kan.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Wilfredo Lopez of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (1:27) pin.
Second Round: Lost to Gavin Shoush of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a 17-1 technical fall.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated teammate Aaron Urritia in an 18-2 technical fall.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Luke Ward of Avila (Mo.) in a second period (4:21) pin.
Freshman Aaron Urrutia (Mission, Texas)-149 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Thomas Vasquez of Friends (Kan.) in a second period (4:23) pin.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to teammate Cameron Bruce in an 18-2 technical fall.
Junior Christopher Dye (Cadot, Ark.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated Thomas Vasquez of Friends (Kan.) in a first period (1:29) pin.
Quarterfinal: Lost to teammate Estaban Armenta in a 1-0 decision.
Consolation Fourth Round: Defeated Landon Morris of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a 16-6 major decision.
Consolation Fifth Round: Lost to Mercy Ashley of Oklahoma City in an 18-2 technical fall.
Senior Eddy Ndayikengurukiye (Minneapolis, Minn.)-149 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Robert Meza III of Missouri Baptist in an 18-3 technical fall.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Gavin Holland of Texas Wesleyan in a 15-0 technical fall.
Freshman Aidan McKinney (Manhattan, Kan.)-157 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Landry Wilkinson of Texas Wesleyan in a second period (3:21) pin.
Second Round: Defeated John Santy of Benedictine (Kan.) in a third period (5:16) pin.
Quarterfinal: Lost to David Gleason of Missouri in a 19-3 technical fall.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Invi Bella of Graceland (Iowa) in a 16-13 sudden-victory decision.
Freshman Shawref Thomas (Hollywood, Md.)-157 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Nate Pulliam of Missouri in a first period (2:02).
Consolation First Round: Lost to Khalil Hampton of Graceland (Iowa) in a second period (4:32) pin.
Junior Landen Lopez (Rio Grande City, Texas)-157 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Hayden Basham of Benedictine (Kan.) in a 10-3 decision.
Second Round: Lost to teammate Lloyd Epperson in a 7-0 decision.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Peyton Asbury of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a 16-1 technical fall.
Freshman Seth Parry (Costa Mesa, Calif.)-165 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Kendall Taylor of Indian Hill (Iowa) in a second period (4:16) pin.
Second Round: Lost to Sam Duling of Friends (Kan.) in a 17-1 technical fall.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Charles Webb of Central Baptist (Ark.) in a second period (4:12) pin.
Consolation Third Round: Defeated Tevin Minney of Williams Baptist (Ark.) in a second period (3:22) pin.
Consolation Fourth Round: lost to teammate Olson Anderson in a first period (1:22) pin.
Junior Olson Anderson (Orting, Wash.)-165 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Kaden Miller of Friends (Kan.) in a first period (1:11) pin.
Second Round: Defeated Keenan Tumbarello of Avila (Mo.) in a 19-4 technical fall.
Quarterfinal: Lost to Christopher Bauer of Missouri Baptist in a 13-11 decision.
Consolation Fourth Round: Defeated teammate Seth Parry in a first period (1:22) pin.
Consolation Fifth Round: Lost to Brody Gomez of Texas Wesleyan in a first period (2:43) pin.
Junior Alec Schmuck (Kingwood, Texas)-165 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Dax Gentes of Central Missouri in a 14-5 major decision.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Joseph Beck of Drury (Mo.) in an 11-4 decision.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Trey Ladymon of Missouri Baptist in a 21-5 technical fall.
Freshman Tre'Vyon Chatman (St. Louis, Mo.)-174 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Griffin Mitchell of Fort Hays (Kan.) in a 17-2 technical fall.
Consolation First Round: Defeated Leonides Ruvalcaba of Missouri Baptist in a third period (6:02) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Defeated Addison Whyte of Avila (Mo.) in an 11-2 major decision.
Consolation Third Round: Lost to Robert Rocha of Texas Wesleyan in a 16-0 technical fall.
Sophomore Braelen Toles (Reno, Nev.)-174 pounds:
First Round: Defeated Dean McMahen of Missouri Baptist in a first period (1:08) pin.
Second Round: Defeated Spencer Rochelle of Ottawa (Kan.) in a first period (1:20) pin.
Quarterfinal: Lost to Danny Heiser of Missouri in an 18-2 technical fall.
Consolation Fourth Round: Defeated Robert Rocha of Texas Wesleyan in a 7-2 decision.
Consolation Fifth Round: Lost to Jeraimiah Nyberg of Graceland (Iowa) in a third period (6:57) pin.
Junior Uriah Clay (Lafayette, La.)-174 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Hunter Song of Missouri Baptist in a 10-1 major decision.
Consolation First Round: Lost to Cam'ron Morris of Avila (Mo.) in an 8-4 decision.
*Sophomore Lorcan Keatley (Gladwin, Minn.)-184 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Lost to Jackson Sweetman of Benedictine (Kan.) in a second period (3:55) pin.
Consolation Second Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Third Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Jaelyn Sides of Ottawa (Kan.) in a second period (4:13) pin.
Junior Kamond Manning (Kissimmee, Fla.)-197 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated Noah Crossman of Avila (Mo.) in an 11-5 decision.
Quarterfinal: Lost to Landon Dobson of Central Methodist (Mo.) in a first period (0:43) pin.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Unattached Roger Smith-Bergsrud in a 23-5 technical fall.
Junior Emmanuel Ayi-Bonte (Woodbridge, Va.)-197 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated Espyn Sweers of Ottawa (Kan.) in an 8-5 decision.
Quarterfinal: Lost to Owen Uppinghouse of Quincy (Ill.) in a first period (2:46) pin.
Consolation Fourth Round: Lost to Mencali En of Friends (Kan.) in a 17-5 major decision.
Junior Nicholas Martinez (Houston, Texas)-197 pounds:
First Round: Received a bye.
Second Round: Defeated Amiri Mumba of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 9-1 decision.
Quarterfinal: Defeated Unattached Timothy Merchant in a 21-6 technical fall.
Semifinal: Lost to Landon Dobson of Central Missouri in a second period (4:55) pin.
Junior Abraham Preston (Wetumpka, Ala.)-285 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Wilbert Martin of Texas Wesleyan in a 15-3 major decision.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Lee Smith, Jr. of Indian Hills (Iowa) in a 5-0 decision.
Freshman Reginald Thomas (St. Louis, Mo.)-285 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Steven Elwell of Ottawa (Kan.) in a second period (3:37) pin.
Consolation First Round: Received a bye.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Cooper Webb of Ottawa (Kan.) in an 11-0 major decision.
Junior Julian Bilezikjran (Whittier, Calif.)-285 pounds:
First Round: Lost to Cooper Webb of Ottawa (Kan.) in a 13-2 major decision.
Consolation First Round: Defeated Skyler Young of William Penn (Iowa) in a 10-2 major decision.
Consolation Second Round: Lost to Steven Elwell of Ottawa (Kan.) in a third period (6:05) pin.
The Jon White Most Outstanding Wrestler Award and the Steve Allen Most Outstanding Wrestler award were given to Jace Roller at 141 pounds and Dominic Baminelli at 165 pounds, both from Missouri
Up next, the Viking men's wrestling team will compete in its final dual of the season, against William Woods (Mo.), Tuesday at 7 p.m., in Fulton, Mo.
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