Grand View holds slight edge over Life after Day 1 at NAIA National Championships

WICHITA, Kan. -- [Brackets | Team Scores] After a hard fought first day, Grand View (Iowa) finds itself in a familiar position, resting atop the team standings with 98 points at the conclusion of Friday. Life University (Ga.) pushed the nine-time national champions throughout the day including holding a slight edge in the team race after the conclusion of the quarterfinals. The Running Eagles totaled 95.5 points after Day 1.

Both Life and Grand View had ten student-athletes earn All-America status. The Running Eagles have seven wrestlers in the semifinals tomorrow while the Vikings have four.

Team Standings (After Day 1):
Grand View (Iowa) 98.0
Life (Ga.) 95.5
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 64.5
Reinhardt (Ga.) 50.0
Indiana Tech 43.0
Cumberland (Tenn.) 38.5
Cumberlands (Ky.) 36.5
Southeastern (Fla.) 35
Thomas More (Ky.) 32.5
Graceland (Iowa) 31

Day 1 Highlights

A total of 244 wrestlers from 52 institutions from 24 different states were represented in the field on day one of competition.

History, upsets and program firsts all took place on day one of the 64th annual NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championship

Life had the lead after the quarterfinals but Grand View rallied in the consolations earning eight points to gain a 2.5 point lead to end the day.

In the second round of the championship bracket at 149 Jack Latimer of Arizona Christian upset No. 1 seed Trent Johnson of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) by decision (6-4). Latimer went on to defeat John Deiner of Morningside (Iowa) to become the first All-American in Arizona Christian school history.

Thomas More (Ky.) made program history today starting in the quarterfinals of the 141 bracket when No. 7 seed Ryan Moore defeated No. 2 seed Kendon Lee of Grand View (Iowa) to become the first All-American in school history. Teammate, Wilder Wichman (157) quickly followed defeated Tanner Abbas of Grand View to become the second All-America for the Bears.

Brandon Reed of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) earned most pins in least about of time with three pins in a total of 5:59

Giovanni Bonilla of Grand View provided the most team points to the Vikings today totaling 15 points.

Baterdene Boldmaa of Doane (Neb.) scored the most single match points with 22

Nick Henneman of Lourdes had the fastest tech fall at 1:54 ss well has most tech falls in least about of time with three in 11:02

Up Next
Day 2 is scheduled to get started at 10 a.m. at the Hartman Arena. The Championship session will follow and begin at 7 p.m., broadcast live on ESPN3.