Lander University

Farrah Sheeren

Wrestling 3/15/2025 10:14:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

Hunsberger Wins Second National Title as #8 Lander Takes Fourth at NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - David Hunsberger got a takedown at the end of his 165-lb National Championship match to make it 10-2, and while those points didn't mean much in the match as Hunsberger had all but secured his second consecutive national title, the eight-point major decision meant another point toward Lander's team total, going along with his first-place points, putting them at 57.5 points and in sole possession of fourth place—half a point ahead of #3 Central Oklahoma for the final team trophy.

This marks the third straight season where the Bearcats have brought a team trophy back to Greenwood, finishing second in 2022 and 2023.

With his decisive 10-2 major decision, Hunsberger became the first Lander wrestler to become a two-time national champion. In his four matches, he outscored his opponents 39-11 and picked up three bonus-point wins.

His first match of the day was a little closer, however, as he entered the third period trailing to Nick Novak of St. Cloud State. But Hunsberger was able to secure a quick escape and then a takedown a few seconds later to take a 4-1 lead. Despite a late stalling penalty point against him, Hunsberger secured his spot in the finals with a 4-2 decision. The win marked the fourth straight season that Lander has had a wrestler in the final session wrestling for a national title.

In the national title match against second-seeded Jack Haskin of Lake Erie, Hunsberger got a takedown right before the first-period horn to close the first three minutes with a 3-0 lead. After a quick escape from Haskin, Hunsberger attacked quickly and earned another takedown, which made it 6-2 after another escape from Haskin going into the third period. Hunsberger chose down to start the third, but Haskin elected to go neutral, giving Hunsberger an escape point to make it 7-2. After several deep shots, Hunsberger was able to get the crucial takedown with 11 seconds on the clock to secure the major decision and a team trophy for the Bearcats.

Isham Peace and Christian Davis both fell in overtime heartbreakers in their semifinal matches. Both men had deep offensive shots in the sudden victory period but could not secure the points needed to end the match.

Davis bounced back in his consolation semifinal against Hector Serratos of Nebraska-Kearney as he got a takedown with 90 seconds to go in the third period to earn an 8-5 decision and send him into the third-place match.

In the third-place match, Davis left no doubt, dominating in a 19-6 major decision and earning another key bonus point in the team race for Lander.

Peace fell in his consolation semi and fifth-place match to finish his second NCAA Championships in sixth place.

Marvelous Rutledge suffered a setback in his opening match of the day but bounced back and earned a key team-point win in sudden victory to secure a seventh-place finish.

This season, Lander wrestlers amassed 373 wins, 229 of which came via bonus point margins—a conversion rate of 61.4%.

In the program's six-year history, the Bearcats have won 10 team trophies: four conference titles, three NCAA Super Region titles, and three team trophies at the NCAA Championships.

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Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger: Junior; 157

Isham Peace: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis: Freshman; 133

Marvelous Rutledge: Junior; 197

Players Mentioned

David Hunsberger
: Junior; 157

Isham Peace
: Redshirt Junior; 141

Christian Davis
: Freshman; 133

Marvelous Rutledge
: Junior; 197