Redtails Show Grit at NJCAA Coaches Duals

The RedTail men's wrestling team faced a gauntlet of top-tier competition at the 2026 NJCAA Coaches Association Duals, held on January 9. Competing against a field of national powerhouses, the Redtails demonstrated significant individual improvement and a "never-quit" attitude across intense dual meet action.

Individual Highlights

Several Redtails turned in standout performances that kept Hawkeye competitive in every dual:

• Josh Vis (285): Vis was a force in the heavyweight division, securing a dominant win over A. Menard from Fort Hays Tech Northwest with a 16-1 technical fall. He followed that up with a 12-3 major decision over M. Marin of Clackamas and a pin against L. Buchanan from Barton.

• Austin Pfantz (174): Pfantz showed incredible versatility, racking up wins in multiple ways. He earned a technical fall against T. Passetti, a gritty 14-13 decision over A. Foster, and a pin against P. Farr.

• MaCael Bear (141): Bear displayed high-scoring offense, notably securing a 15-0 technical fall over A. Almanza and another 17-1 technical fall against J. Villarreal.

• Johnathan Kelly (197): Kelly added crucial team points with a 12-4 major decision over A. Ramazan and a 18-3 technical fall over R. Perez.

Dual Results Summary

The Redtails battled through five tough team matchups:

• vs. Fort Hays Tech NW: Lost 27-22

• vs. Barton: Lost 35-21

• vs. Northeastern JC: Lost 41-16

• vs. Clackamas CC: Lost 41-10

• vs. Northeast Oklahoma: Lost 46-3

"I'm incredibly proud of how our guys stayed aggressive against some of the best programs in the country," said Head Coach Dan Lovell. "Seeing Josh Vis and Austin Pfantz dominate their matches shows that our training is paying off. We had some tough team scores, but the individual growth we saw this weekend gives us a lot of momentum as we head toward the post-season."