The Keiser University wrestling team delivered a historic performance Saturday at the AAC Wrestling Championship in Miami Gardens, finishing third overall as a team, the highest conference finish in program history. The Seahawks also qualified five wrestlers automatically for the NAIA National Championships, another program record, capping off a breakthrough postseason showing.

Keiser totaled points across the lineup with 10 wrestlers earning podium finishes, highlighted by an individual conference champion and multiple top-three placers. The third-place team finish marks a significant milestone as the program continues its rapid rise within the AAC.

Anthony Santos, Josiah Fernandez, Jake Wyatt, Derrique Mytial, Rocco D'Ascoli, and Jett McCauley will now await potential at-large selections. Wildcard bids for the NAIA National Championships will be announced in the middle of next week.

With a third-place conference finish and five automatic qualifiers, the Seahawks continue to rewrite the program record book. Keiser now turns its focus to the NAIA National Championships as the historic 2026 season rolls on.

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• Patrick Jones (125) – 1st Place
  • Jones dominated his bracket, recording two technical falls in the semifinals and finals to claim the AAC title. He scored 20 team points and secured his national berth in emphatic fashion.
• Jordan Sommers (285) – 2nd Place
  • Sommers advanced to the finals with a semifinal win over Southeastern's Bryce Wheatley before finishing runner-up. His strong tournament performance earned an automatic bid to Nationals.
• Sam Libby (184) – 3rd Place
  • Libby battled back after a semifinal loss, defeating teammate Rocco D'Ascoli in the consolation semifinal and adding a 4-0 decision in the third-place match to qualify.
• Ronald Butler (174) – 6th Place
  • Butler had already secured his national bid on Day 1 by reaching the semifinals. He finishes as a national qualifier after another strong conference showing.
• Daguy Massillon (285) – 4th Place
  • Massillon fought through the consolation bracket, including a sudden victory win in the consolation semifinals, to earn his automatic bid.

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Patrick Jones | 3-0 | 1st Place

Champ. Round 1 - Patrick Jones (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Patrick Jones (Keiser University) won by fall over Tate Thomas (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) (Fall 3:56)
Semifinal - Patrick Jones (Keiser University) won by tech fall over Brandon Didat (Pikeville) (TF 21-3 6:49)
1st Place Match - Patrick Jones (Keiser University) won by tech fall over Tyler Ramos (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) (TF 19-4 6:45)

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Josiah Fernandez | 2-2 | 5th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) won in sudden victory over Stanley Lal (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) (SV 4-1)
Semifinal - #21 Leland Camp (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) won by major decision over Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) (MD 10-2)
Cons. Semi - Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) won by decision over Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) (Dec 4-3)
5th Place Match - Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) won by fall over Bryan Cates (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Fall 2:01)

Derrique Mytial | 3-2 | 4th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Zac Bosken (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) won by decision over Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) (Dec 4-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) won by major decision over Ethan Croom (Pikeville) (MD 16-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) won by medical forfeit over Jeremiah Chinyere-Okiyi (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (MFFL)
Cons. Semi - Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) won by decision over Josiah Fernandez (Keiser University) (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place Match - Zac Bosken (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) won by decision over Derrique Mytial (Keiser University) (Dec 9-4)

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Anthony Santos | 4-2 | 5th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Santos (Keiser University) won by fall over Conner Wright (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Fall 2:44)
Quarterfinal - #15 Drew Jones (Southeastern) won by decision over Anthony Santos (Keiser University) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Anthony Santos (Keiser University) won by major decision over Kullum Irvin (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (MD 9-1)
Cons. Round 3 - Anthony Santos (Keiser University) won by decision over Luke Carpenter (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi - #12 Mauro Michel (Life University) won by fall over Anthony Santos (Keiser University) (Fall 0:53)
5th Place Match - Anthony Santos (Keiser University) won by forfeit over Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) (For.)
 

Jake Wyatt | 2-3 | 6th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - #12 Mauro Michel (Life University) won by fall over Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) (Fall 0:38)
Cons. Round 2 - Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) won by fall over Conner Wright (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Fall 1:48)
Cons. Round 3 - Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) won by fall over Lane Wishart (St. Thomas University) (Fall 1:00)
Cons. Semi - #15 Drew Jones (Southeastern) won by fall over Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) (Fall 4:49)
5th Place Match - Anthony Santos (Keiser University) won by forfeit over Jake Wyatt (Keiser University) (For.)

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Julian Gonzales | 1-2

Champ. Round 1 - Julian Gonzales (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - #7 Rocky Raby (Life University) won by tech fall over Julian Gonzales (Keiser University) (TF 21-6 2:34)
Cons. Round 2 - Julian Gonzales (Keiser University) won by fall over Curtis Smith (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (Fall 3:49)
Cons. Round 3 - Nate Napolitano (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) won by decision over Julian Gonzales (Keiser University) (Dec 6-0)

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Ronald Butler | 3-1 | 6th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Ronald Butler (Keiser University) won by tech fall over Gailan Wilds (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (TF 16-1 5:32)
Champ. Round 2 - Ronald Butler (Keiser University) won by major decision over Tyler Crow (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) (MD 15-4)
Quarterfinal - Ronald Butler (Keiser University) won by decision over #9 Konlin Weaver (Life University) (Dec 9-2)
Semifinal - #7 Ty Rodriguez (Southeastern) won by injury default over Ronald Butler (Keiser University) (Inj. 1:14)
Cons. Semi - #18 Husam Mustafa (Southeastern) won by medical forfeit over Ronald Butler (Keiser University) (M. For.)
5th Place Match - Nathan Bukovich (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) won by medical forfeit over Ronald Butler (Keiser University) (M. For.)

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Rocco D'Ascoli | 4-2 | 5th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) won by fall over Shemar Barthelus (St. Thomas University) (Fall 2:54)
Quarterfinal - #2 Kendall Norfleet (Life University) won by fall over Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) (Fall 1:57)
Cons. Round 2 - Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) won by major decision over Spencer Fields (Truett-McConnell (Ga.)) (MD 15-6)
Cons. Round 3 - Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) won by decision over Zahquel Davis (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Semi - #6 Sam Libby (Keiser University) won by decision over Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) (Dec 5-1)
5th Place Match - Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) won by medical forfeit over Diogo Ramos-Padilha (St. Thomas University) (M. For.)
 

Sam Libby | 3-1 | 3rd Place

Champ. Round 1 - Sam Libby (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Sam Libby (Keiser University) won by fall over Jonathon Paramore (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) (Fall 2:48)
Semifinal - #3 Tre Morrisette (Life University) won by decision over Sam Libby (Keiser University) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Semi - Sam Libby (Keiser University) won by decision over Rocco D'Ascoli (Keiser University) (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match - Sam Libby (Keiser University) won by decision over August Batson (Southeastern) (Dec 4-0)

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Jett McCauley | 2-3 | 6th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Jett McCauley (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - #8 Efren Arizmendez (Life University) won by fall over Jett McCauley (Keiser University) (Fall 4:08)
Cons. Round 2 - Jett McCauley (Keiser University) won by fall over William Stricklin (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (Fall 0:51)
Cons. Round 3 - Jett McCauley (Keiser University) won by decision over Brandon Lively (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Dec 9-3)
Cons. Semi - #7 Kasten Grape (Southeastern) won by fall over Jett McCauley (Keiser University) (Fall 3:00)
5th Place Match - #8 Efren Arizmendez (Life University) won by fall over Jett McCauley (Keiser University) (Fall 2:32)

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Jordan Sommers | 3-1 | 2nd Place

Champ. Round 1 - Jordan Sommers (Keiser University) won by decision over Max Underwood (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal - Jordan Sommers (Keiser University) won by tech fall over Grayson Burleson (Montreat College) (TF 15-0 3:44)
Semifinal - Jordan Sommers (Keiser University) won by decision over #15 Bryce Wheatley (Southeastern) (Dec 4-1)
1st Place Match - #19 Gage Cook (St. Thomas University) won by decision over Jordan Sommers (Keiser University) (Dec 4-2)

Daguy Massillon | 3-2 | 4th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) received a bye (Bye)
Quarterfinal - #15 Bryce Wheatley (Southeastern) won by decision over Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Round 2 - Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) won by fall over Adams Turpin-Abdulrazaaq (WVU Tech (W.Va.)) (Fall 4:56)
Cons. Round 3 - Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) won by decision over Ja'Quavian Daniels (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi - Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) won in sudden victory over #22 Caleb Pruitt (Reinhardt University (Ga.)) (SV 2-1)
3rd Place Match - #15 Bryce Wheatley (Southeastern) won by decision over Daguy Massillon (Keiser University) (Dec 5-1)

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Head Coach Cole Manion praised the team's growth and post-season performance:

What a great performance this weekend from our wrestlers at the toughest conference championship and national qualifier in the country. We had 11 placers, with every single wrestler winning crucial matches and scoring big points to help us secure a third-place finish and a record-setting year for the program. We're wrestling our best at the most important time of the season, and I couldn't be more proud of these guys and the progress we've made. With that said, we're not done yet. We'll get back in the room next week, clean up a few areas, put the final touches on this 25–26 season, and finish the year with a bang.

 

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Seahawks will return to action when they head to Wichita, Ks. for the NAIA National Tournament, on March 5th.

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