Turner Kirby

Wrestling 2/28/2026 9:02:00 PM Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

#12 Lander Sets Team Points Record En Route to Fourth Straight Super Region Title

GREENWOOD – The 12th-ranked Lander University Wrestling team delivered a historic performance at the NCAA Super Region II Championship inside Horne Arena, winning the team title with 165.0 points and qualifying nine wrestlers for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship on March 13-14 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The 165.0 team points set a new tournament record, breaking the previous mark set by the 2023 team (164.0). Lander placed all 10 wrestlers for the second straight season and advanced all 10 to the semifinals for just the second time in program history, also accomplished in 2023.

The nine wrestlers who earned their way into the 18-man bracket at nationals were James Joplin, Elijah Lusk, Isham Peace, Reid Noble, David Hunsberger, Maxwell Kiel, Dylan Kohn, Marvelous Rutledge and Isaac Sheeren.

Lander crowned five individual regional champions, pushing the program's total to 25 all-time.

125 – Kaden Kuenzi (5th Place | 3-2)

Kuenzi opened with a fall in 1:39 and followed with a 15-0 technical fall in 3:29 in the quarterfinals. However a loss in the championship and consolation semifinals saw his qualification run end but the senior ended his career getting his arm raised with a forfiet win in the fifth-place match.

133 – James Joplin (1st Place | 4-0)

Joplin was dominant throughout. He recorded back-to-back first-period pins in 0:50 and 1:25 to reach the semifinals, added a 7-1 decision over UNC Pembroke's Logan Robinson to secure his third trip to nationals, and capped his run with a 19-2 technical fall in 4:20 in the championship bout.

141 – Elijah Lusk (2nd Place | 2-1)

After a first-round bye, Lusk rolled to a 15-0 technical fall in exactly 3:00 in the quarterfinals. He followed with a gritty 3-2 tiebreaker win in the semifinals to become the first four-time national qualifier in program history before falling 4-1 in sudden victory in the finals.

149 – Isham Peace (3rd Place | 3-1)

Peace began with a 9-1 major decision in the quarterfinals before dropping his semifinal by fall. He responded with a 15-0 technical fall in the consolation semifinals and secured third place with an 8-5 decision to clinch his third straight trip to nationals.

157 – Reid Noble (2nd Place | 2-1)

Noble controlled his bracket with back-to-back major decisions of 11-2 and 10-2 to reach the finals and book his first career trip to nationals. He came up just short in the championship match, falling 8-5.

165 – David Hunsberger (1st Place | 3-0)

The two-time national champion was once again in command. After a bye, Hunsberger posted a 19-1 technical fall in 1:33 and a 15-4 major decision in the semifinals to join Lusk as a four-time national qualifier. He claimed the regional title by forfeit, earning 19.5 team points and becoming the first four-time regional champion in program history.

174 – Maxwell Kiel (1st Place | 3-0)

Kiel opened with a 17-2 technical fall in 2:38 and followed with a 7-0 semifinal decision. In the finals, he edged Clinton Morrisette of King 4-2 to secure his fourth career trip to nationals — and first at Lander — along with his third regional title.

184 – Dylan Kohn (1st Place | 4-0)

Kohn stormed to the title with falls in 2:11 and 2:55 to open the tournament. He added a 12-1 major decision in the semifinals and secured the championship with a 1-0 decision in the finals, using a late third-period escape to claim the top step of the podium.

197 – Marvelous Rutledge (3rd Place | 3-1)

Rutledge began with a fall in 4:15 before dropping a 4-1 sudden victory bout in the semifinals. He rebounded with an 11-2 major decision and a 7-1 decision in the third-place match to earn his second straight trip to nationals in the Blue and Gold.

285 – Isaac Sheeren (1st Place | 4-0)

Sheeren powered through the heavyweight bracket, starting with a fall in 1:32. He added a 4-1 decision and a 10-0 major decision in the semifinals to clinch his national berth before closing with a 3-0 decision in the championship bout.

The Bearcats now turn their attention to the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship, set for March 13-14 in Sioux Falls, S.D., as they look to build on another record-setting regional performance.

Hear from Head Coach R.C. LaHaye after the tournament

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