Falcon Inivite Recap & Review

 

Friends, Falcons, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.....Or in this particular case, your eyes.  The Falcon Invite took place this past weekend & quite a few interesting things happened that I think are worth talking about in the world of NAIA wrestling. 

Jackason Burks knocks off last year's Gold, Silver & Bronze To Claim Title At 125 lbs 

I was talking earlier in another recap & preview how former NJCAA wrestlers doing well is an advertisement for the NJCAA school they competed for.  Jackason Burks defeated last year's 3rd place finisher Russell Nickerson 11-4 in the quarters.  The he defeated last year's champion Ladon Smith 7-2 in the semi-finals. Won his title over last year's runner-up with another 7-2 decision over Brody Gee of Saint Mary.  Now competing for Central Missouri, the former Reiver of Iowa Western markets well for the NJCAA. 

Surprisingly enough, neither Nickerson or Smith came back through the consolation to earn a second Falcon Invite placing.  Both were eliminated from the tournament by eventual 4th place finisher Hunter Bennett of Doane.  A 10-4 decision over Nickerson, Bennett eliminated Smith 4-2. 

Alex Pena Wins 133 lbs 

 Alex Pena of Wayland Baptist won the 133 lbs bracket as Roman De La Cruz of Saint Mary picked up another bronze medal, same as he did last season. 

It's An All Saint Mary Final At 141 lbs 

One of the things I love about NAIA wrestling is that it is set up to avoid medical Forfeits. By it's very nature, in the fact that teams can represent more than one wrestler at qualifiers, we get to see matches between teammates. More often than not at other levels, we don't get to see these matches.  Very cool to see this match unfold. It was a 7-3 decision for Hartwell Taylor over Freddy Barajas.  Barajas was also a runner-up here last season as well. 

149 lbs....no real thoughts. 

Welcome to the NAIA Cam Robinson

I had no idea until I saw it earlier today that Cam Robinson was no longer at Iowa State. His transfer to Grand View totally slipped past me. I know now though.  He walked through what was in all reality a pretty tough bracket.  Stomped Conner Johnston of Central Missouri 13-2 in the finals.  The other surprise here for me was Kael Bunce, a runner up last year for William Penn, failing to place this season.  I was also shocked to see Sheldon Cole of Embry Riddle down at 157 lbs.  He was 3rd last year at 174.  Took 4th this year, although his consolation final was a MFF to Dylan Whitt who he defeated earlier in the tournament 3-1. 

Newman's New Man

Jace Fisher really stepped it up a notch this tournament.  Last year he was 3rd to Keller Rock's 1st & Ben Dobler's 2nd.  Fisher would have none of that this past weekend. He defeated Dobler 10-3 in the quarterfinals & then turned around and defeated Keller Rock in the semi-finals.  He then won the title with victory over Braeden Baller of Texas Wesleyan who finished in 4th place last year.  The other surprise here was Cameron Hargrove of William Penn failing to place.  Lost a wild 15-14 match to Rock (who himself MFF'd out of the tournament) before losing via fall to Jovan Mitchell of Grand View.  Didn't see the match, but curious if it was a takedown, turn pin or if Mitchell might have caught him in something. 

And that's another title in the record books for Grand View

In what was probably the best match of the finals, Alex Reynolds overcame a tough Braden Anderson of Ottawa to win the 174 lbs title.  I was shocked when it was teammate Tom Even who took 3rd & teammate Caleb Swalla didn't even place.  After dropping a 5-2 decision to Anderson in the semis, he was eliminated by Daniil Gorshkove 7-6 in the match to medal. 

J.D. Perez Dominant In 184 lbs Final 

I was really looking forward to the J.D. Perez Vs Tyson Beauperthy final here at 184 lbs.  I honestly thought this was gonna be a really good, tight match. One that might even come down to sudden victory, if not tiebreakers. I couldn't believe how Perez just manhandled him.  I was not expecting a 17-4 thrashing at all.  Damn did Perez look good against a very good wrestler. 

Doane's Brad Antesberger Only '22 Champ to Repeat 

After I saw the brackets come out, I thought that Garavous Kouekabakilaho of Grand View might give him a challenge in the finals. Hell, GK didn't even place.  Antesberger did have a s.v. scare along the way, but once he recollected himself it was gold for the Tiger. 

Greg Hagan Easily Wins HWT

Not a whole heck of a lot to say concerning Greg Hagan winning the title at HWT.  It's like watching a guy with an uzi 9 millimeter up against a group armed with straws and spitwads. No one was gonna touch him this tournament and no one did.