Avila Concludes Regular Season at Missouri Valley Open

MARSHALL, Mo. – In the final event of the 2023-24 regular season, Avila men's wrestling sent a half dozen athletes over to Marshall to compete in the Missouri Valley Open this Saturday.

This event will serve as a final tune-up for some Eagles as they prepare for the KCAC Championships in a couple of weeks, and, for those that won't be in Avila's final 12, it serves as the final chance to compete in a true event this academic year.

Working his way back into the lineup in recent weeks, Jake Callahan had the Eagles' best showing on Saturday to cap off a very strong week overall. After winning both of his matches in Avila's duals earlier in the week, Callahan paced the squad by winning three of his five matches in the open, running his record on the week to 5-2.

Callahan lost his first match of the day to Cullen Koedam of Grand View but bounced back by winning his next three contests – all by pin, an impressive streak. He defeated two wrestlers from William Penn and one from Central Methodist before running into another Grand View Viking, ending his run in the fourth round of the consolation bracket at 165.

Tyler Johnson has also been steadily working his way into his new weight, dropping down to 125 over the course of this season, and turned in a strong week in preparation for the conference tournament later this month. Johnson dropped his first match to Gabe Gonzales of Grand View but, after a bye, bounced back by winning his next two matches in dominant fashion.

First, Johnson earned a resounding 19-1 tech fall over Denias Johnson of Graceland, and followed that by pinning William Penn's Gentry Walston in just 31 seconds. His run was also ended in the fourth round of the consolation bracket at 125.

Ryan McNeel (133), Seriah Hall-Brown (141), Michael Crowder (149), and Joshua Martinez (197) were also all in action for the Eagles.

This event marks the end of the regular season for Avila men's wrestling, which will now turn its attention to the KCAC Championships coming up on Saturday, February 17 in York, Nebraska. Details on that event, including how to watch and follow along, will be posted on our social media channels and our website, avilaathletics.com, when they become available.