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Nine in a row for Vikings

PARK CITY, Kan. — The Grand View wrestling team remains the program to beat at the NAIA level.

Behind three former area standouts, the Vikings scored their ninth consecutive national championship here Saturday inside Hartman Arena, finishing with 157 points.

Nick Mitchell and Grand View faced little resistance in the race, as Menlo was second with 84.5 followed by Reinhardt and Cumberlands.

Justin Portillo, a former state champion for Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, placed second at 125 pounds. Portillo fell to Nick Kunz of Montana State in the finals, 4-1.

Kunz earned a takedown in the first and a reversal in the second for the winning match points and the returning All-American.

Portillo went the distance in each of his four matches at nationals, downing Jacob Mendoza of Menlo (1-0), Cagen Wallace of Lindsey Wilson (5-1) and Alexander Nunez of Life Pacific (4-3). He ends the year 24-7 overall.

Abbas placed fourth at 149 pounds, finishing the tournament 4-2 overall. The redshirt freshman fell to Devin Everk of Menlo in the third place bout, 4-1.

A four-time state placewinner for Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, Abbas recorded 14.5 points in the team race for the Vikings. He earned a fall and three decision wins during the past two days, going 32-10.

Kendrick Jones, who competed for Iowa Central, placed fifth at 184 pounds and scored 13 team points. Jones bested Colton Gonzalez of Marian, 8-4.

Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer claimed the 157-pound title for the Vikings, with Evan Hansen securing his fourth national title at 197. Kendon Lee placed second at 141.

Ruffridge, a former state champion for Pocahontas Area, did not place at 133 pounds, going 2-2 and reaching the quarterfinals. He finished his redshirt freshman season 23-8 overall.

Grand View matched the run of the University of Iowa from 1978-86 when the Hawkeyes won nine consecutive NCAA Div. I titles. The victory also broke a three-way tie with Adams State and Central State for the most NAIA team championships all-time.

Earlier this year, the Vikings claimed their ninth straight national duals crown, fifth straight Heart of America Conference crown and are unbeaten in their last 88 dual matches.

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