SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. – An already successful 2023-2024 season for Bellarmine wrestling finished in a fitting way on Saturday night in Louisiana as the Knights defended their NCWA National Champion status, winning as a team for the second straight year while six Bellarmine wrestlers secured individual titles.

"This season has been incredible to see the progression in each member of our team," said Bellarmine head coach Ned Shuck. "These 10 men represented their teammates really well this week! They won with class and lost with dignity. They battled and enjoyed every challenge their opponents brought to them."
 
Bellarmine dominated the event, winning the team title with 245.5 points. Liberty finished as runner-up with 182 points, a whopping 63.5 points behind the Knights. Thomas More rounded out the team podium, placing third with 143.5 points.

Over the three-day tournament, the Knights accumulated 48 total wins and earned bonus points in 44.

Redshirt freshmen Damion Ryan (125), Trayce Eckman (133), Gray Ortis (157) and Grant O'Dell, junior Cole Nance (174) and redshirt sophomore Sam Schroeder (184) all took home individual national titles in their respective weight classes. For Nance, the win marks his second title in as many years.
 
In addition to the Knights winning national titles, redshirt sophomore Zac Cowan (149) took home a second-place finish while sophomores Chase Hall (141) and Thadd Huff (285) brought home a third-place finish and fourth-place finish, respectively.

As a team, Bellarmine racked up 23 pins, led by Cowan and Hall with four each. Eckman, Nance and Huff recorded three pins each while Ortis and Schroeder tallied two apiece. Ryan and redshirt freshman Luke LeClerc (197) added one pin each.
 
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