Okada Grapples to 3rd at Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship, Heads to NAIA Nationals
Full Results
OSKALOOSA, IA – A Warrior is going to the nationals! Waldorf University's Tyler Okada grappled his way to an impressive third-place finish at the 149-weight class in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championshps and earned his spot at the NAIA National Championships for the third year in a row. Okada's finish is his highest of his decorated career at the conference event.
Okada was a decision-winning machine over the past two days. After defeating Baker College's Dallas Koelzer in the second round on Friday (5-4), Okada faced the 21st-ranked foe again in the Third Place Match on Saturday. The Warrior produced the same result, a one-point decision of 6-5, and clinched his spot on the HAAC podium and trip to the upcoming NAIA Nationals. In fact. Okada's run placed him higher than the No. 7 ranked wrestler Blake Haney of Grand View.
In the team standings, No. 1-ranked Grand View claimed the title with 212 team points with Graceland as the runner-up at 148.5. Behind Okada's four wins and two other single victories, Waldorf finished with 14 team points.
Okada improved his season mark to 26-12 after his four decision victories in five matches. After his first win of the championship came in a 5-1 decision over Central Methodist's Lukas Eagle, the Warrior national qualifier took Koelzer by a 5-4 finish to move into the semifinals.
In Saturday's semifinals, top-seed Blake Gonzalez (23-1) of Grand View scored the fall over Okada at 3:44 in the second period.
The loss did not deter Okada. The third-year Waldorf wrestler rallied to get past Baker College's Nikolas Slatoff by a 4-2 decision to head to the third-place bout. He scored the third victory of two points or less and caputred third place over Koelzer (6-5).
For the third time, Okada tests his mettle at the NAIA National Championships. The 67th version of the event will take place from February 29 – March 2 in Park City, Kansas' Hartman Arena.
A Warrior pair recorded a victory at the HAAC Championships in Malachi Wallway and Randry Mugisha. At 125, Wallway scored a 6-4 decision over Benedictine's Calvin Miller in the second consolation round. Mugisha registered a technical fall, 21-6, at 5:20 of the second period over Bricen Lee of Benedictine in the 174-pound weight class.
"We are proud of the team," said Waldorf Head Coach Ryan Dickinson. "They are young and have come a long way and we are not done growing. We saw a lot of fight and grit. Even though the overall goal wasn't met, we did have a lot of positives to take away. Senior Randry Mugisha earned a tech fall in his second match and Malachi Wallway made it to day 2 of the tournament which is no easy task.
The biggest positive was Junior Tyler Okada, who took 3rd place. He wrestled hard and smart. He wrestled to where we knew and planned he could be, despite the conference and nation thinking he would not qualify. He went 4-1 on the weekend beating the #21 ranked opponent twice and placing above the #7 in the country. He is dialing in on his wrestling, while he wrestled very well, just getting to nationals is not the end goal. There is more work to be done and coaches and Tyler are ready to get back to work."
-Warriors-