2024 NAIA National Championships

Grand View Rolls To 12th NAIA Title In 13 Years Behind 12 All-Americans

Grand View Rolls To 12th NAIA Title In 13 Years Behind 12 All-Americans

Grand View blew away the field at the NAIA Championships behind 12 All-Americans and three champions, while two other schools accomplished historic feats.

Mar 3, 2024 by Andy Hamilton
Grand View Rolls To 12th NAIA Title In 13 Years Behind 12 All-Americans

Grand View put the finishing touches on its 12th NAIA title in 13 seasons Saturday, locking up the team race in Saturday’s consolation session before capturing three individual titles later in the evening. 

All 12 Vikings earned All-America honors, eight placed fourth or better and Alex Reynolds (174), Isaiah Luellen (184) and Garavous Kouekabakilaho (197) won championship bouts Saturday night to help Grand View rack up 209.5 points — 55.5 more than second-place Life University. 

Kouekabakilaho defeated Grand View teammate Owen Braungardt, a returning champion, 4-2 in the finals.

Hartwell Taylor, the #15 seed at 141 pounds, defeated Southern Oregon’s Evan Potter 4-2 in the finals to become Saint Mary’s first national champion. 

Hunter Sparks scored a takedown in the closing seconds to win a 6-5 decision against Menlo’s Nicolas Aguilar in the finals at 125 to become Eastern Oregon’s first national champion since 1969. 

Menlo finished third with 95 points, followed by Southeastern (91), Doane (63).

A week after the death of team member Josiah Kilman, Campbellsville took sixth with 58 points and four All-Americans.  

Final Team Standings 

1. Grand View 209.5

2. Life 154

3. Menlo 95

4. Southeastern 91

5. Doane 63

6. Campbellsville 58

7. Missouri Valley 57

T-8. Cumberland 53

T-8. Providence 53

10. Indiana Tech 49.5

Championship Results 

125 — Hunter Sparks (Eastern Oregon) dec. Nicolas Aguilar (Menlo) 6-5 

133 — Jovan Garcia (Menlo) dec. Thaddeus Long (Life) 11-9

141 — Hartwell Taylor (Saint Mary) dec. Evan Potter (Southern Oregon) 4-2

149 — Chase Zollmann (Missouri Valley) dec. Jack Latimer Cumberland) 7-2 

157 — Brevin Balmeceda (Life) dec. David Rubio (Corban) 2-0 

165 — Jonathan Kervin (Indiana Tech) dec. Keller Rock (Embry-Riddle) 11-5

174 — Alex Reynolds (Grand View) dec. Graham Calhoun (Southeastern) 5-4 

184 — Isaiah Luellen (Grand View) dec. Kyle Homet (Life) 4-1 

197 — Garavous Kouekabakilaho (Grand View) dec. Owen Braungardt (Grand View) 4-2 

285 — Zane Lanham (Life) won by injury default Greg Hagan (Grand View)