Wrestling
The 2023-24 Mustangs won their second straight NJCAA National Championship with 161 points, which is the 5th highest point total in championship history. They also won their 7th straight Region 9/Plains District Championship. The Mustangs placed seven All-Americans including three National Finalists and one National Champion (Cody Phelps at 133lbs.) Cody Phelps was named the NJCAA Most Outstanding wrestler, River Wardle earned the Bruce Traphagen Award for the most pins in the least amount of time and Coach Castillo was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year for the 3rd time in his career.
The Mustangs graduated an astounding, six two-time All-Americans from last year’s squad. Bridger Ricks (2nd at 125lbs.) will attend Utah Valley University. 133lb. National Champion Cody Phelps will attend Michigan State University. Chris Lopez (4th at 157lbs.) will attend Life University. Jayden Luttrell (6th at 165) will attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Darion Johnson (2nd at 184lbs.) will attend McKendree University, and River Wardle 3rd at 141lbs., has decided to retire from competing. Additionally, Jake Fuentes will attend New Mexico Highlands University, and Anthony Fuentes will compete for Wayland Baptist University.
The Mustangs return two starters from last year in Council Bluffs. Dmarian Lopez finished 3rd at 285 lbs. and Tristan Stafford who was a Region 9 Champ and a National Qualifier at 149lbs. Also, Talmage Carman returns after a year off from competition. He placed 6th at 197lbs at Nationals in 2023 and was part of the 23’ National Championship team.
This summer Zach Marrero, who redshirted last season, earned a spot on the Puerto Rican National Team. He finished 3rd at the Pan American Championships and will compete at 63kg in Pontevedra, Spain at the World Championships in September.
The 2023-24 recruiting class has many new faces and has wealth of talent. With 25 state titles and 5 Fargo placings they are a highly decorated class. A few of the newcomers are 4x Colorado State Champ and Colorado wrestler of the year, D’Mitri Alarcon. Green River Wyoming’s first ever 4x State Champ, Kale Knezovich. 2X Wyoming Champ, Jake Hammer. 2X Colorado Champ Jake Glade. 2X UT State Champ Luke Schroeder. 2X Iowa State Champion, Blake Allen and two transfers, Kort Wilkinson from UVU and Kolton Malone from Iowa Western.
The Mustangs begin their season at the Mines Open on November 3rd in Golden, CO.
Follow along this season as the Mustangs prepare for the NJCAA national Championship in council Bluffs, IA on March 7th and 8th.
Go Stangs!