National Champions! Gabe Hixenbaugh of Montevallo, David Hunsberger of Lander Capture National Titles for Conference Carolinas Men's Wrestling
WICHITA, Kan. – The 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Wrestling Championships at Hartman Arena concluded with two new national champions for Conference Carolinas men's wrestling.
Top-seeded Gabe Hixenbaugh of Montevallo picked up the first national title in the history of the program at 133 pounds to finish off a perfect 31-0 season. Hixenbaugh basically led from start-to-finish in a 4-1 decision over Gavin Quiocho of Glenville State in the championship.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Division II Rookie of the Year last season, David Hunsberger of Lander finished fourth last year at the national championships. This year Hunsberger entered the championships as the top seed at 165 pounds and he made sure to collect the national title. He closed out his national championship with a thrilling 8-6 victory in the title match over Chase Luensman of Upper Iowa. Hunsberger concludes the season with a 33-1 record. The national title is the second for Lander.
The two individual national titles mark the first for Conference Carolinas since it started solely sponsoring the sport in the 2023-24 academic year.
The national titles are the third for Conference Carolinas since the league started sponsoring or collaborating on the sport in the 2018-19 academic year. Conference Carolinas collaborated with the South Atlantic Conference to sponsor the sport from the 2018-19 academic year to the 2022-23 academic year before taking over as a sole sponsor of the sport during this current academic year.
Isiah Royal of Newberry claimed the first national title for South Atlantic Conference Carolinas men's wrestling in 2021 at 141 pounds. Royal picked up the 2021 national title with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Joey Bianchini of St. Cloud State.
Zeth Brower of Lander captured the national title at 141 pounds at the 2022 NCAA Division II Men’s Wrestling Championships. Seeded fourth, Brower bested second-seeded Branson Proudlock of Findlay, 6-4, in the championship match to earn the first national championship in men’s wrestling for Lander.
To see the final results from the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Wrestling Championships, please visit here.