COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa- Entering the NJCAA National Championships on Wednesday, the second-ranked Beavers brought wrestlers from all 10 weight classes as Pratt competed for a national title. As the initial action ensued, Pratt saw five of its own qualify for the national semifinals, while four of the five advanced to the championships rounds.
Michael Spangler, the 125-pound national champion in 2020, was the lone Beaver to win his championship bout, as the Wichita native became the fourth national champion in Pratt wrestling history. Spangler has won two of the four national titles in program history. Spangler's successful title defense began with a first period pin fall, and in the Round of 16, grinded out a 3-1 decision to advance to the quarterfinals. His concluding matchup on Wednesday resulted in a second period pin fall win to advance to Thursday's semifinal round.
Spangler never lost his No. 1 ranking at 125 lbs. throughout the 2021 season, and he showed ample evidence why on the last day of the tournament. The morning semifinal round saw Spangler dominate Indian Hills' Chris Busutil to the tune of a 18-2 technical fall win, a match that was called in the third period. Spangler followed his semifinal performance with an identical 18-2 score over Cameron Enriquez of Clackamas. Spangler's third takedown of the match, with the score 12-2 at that moment, was converted into four nearfall points, sealing the technical victory.
Three other Beavers, Jason Henschel, Jacob Beeson, and Dayton Porsch, qualified for the final round, but were unable to clinch the lasting win. Henschel, wrestling at 133 pounds, initially scored a first period takedown, though Clackamas' Zeth Brower escaped the position and a takedown of his own eventually became a late period pinfall. At 149 pounds, Beeson created early point-scoring opportunities, but saw a 3-1 decision go against him. Porsch ran into a buzzsaw against one-seed Isaiah Crosby, as the Hoxie native was on the wrong end of a 16-4 major decision.
Including the four previously mentioned, three other Beavers gained All-American status. Devon Dawson qualified for the semifinal round at heavyweight for the Beavers, and eventually placed fifth. Jacob Mitchell and Deston Miller placed eighth at 141 and 184 pounds, respectively. Cayden Atkins wrestled his way to the quarterfinal round at 174 pounds, but was downed by a 7-1 decision loss. Juan Urbina won his opening match at 165 pounds, though he lost via 10-4 decision in the Round of 16. Wrestling through injury, Bryce Westmoreland was bested in both of his appearances.
As a team, the Beavers finished fourth overall with 126.5 team points, a program record.