Hawks Place 14th at NJCAA National Championship, Finish Runner-Up Among Non-Scholarship Programs

Council Bluffs, IA: The Hawks wrestling team closed out its 2025-26 season with a 14th-place finish overall at the NJCAA National Championship, competing against both scholarship and non-scholarship programs. More notably, the Hawks came within striking distance of a national title on the non-scholarship side, finishing second by just half a point behind Niagara, 58.5–58.0.

It was a tight race throughout the weekend, with Niagara narrowly edging Harper, while Rochester placed third among non-scholarship programs with 46.0 points. Region 4 rival Triton, competing in the scholarship division, finished with 37.5 points.

Vesey Leads the Way
Truth Vesey (125 lb) delivered the Hawks' top individual performance, placing fourth to earn Honorable Mention All-American honors. His tournament run was a grind, both physically and mentally.

Vesey opened with two convincing wins before running into a familiar opponent in Santana Ramon, who handed him a loss that dropped him into the consolation bracket. From there, Vesey embodied the resilience that has defined Harper wrestling—rattling off five consecutive wins to fight his way back into All-American position and a shot at third place.

In his ninth and final match, Vesey ultimately ran out of steam, falling to Stockton Allen to finish fourth. His performance, however, was central to Harper staying in contention for the non-scholarship title deep into the tournament.

Cohen Battles Through Adversity
Aiden Cohen (165 lb) placed eighth overall, but his path was anything but typical. Cohen went 3-1 on day one, recording three pins and positioning himself for a deep run. However, he was unable to make weight on day two, cutting short what had been one of the more dominant starts in the bracket. Even so, his early bonus-point wins proved valuable in the team race.

Key Contributors Across the Lineup
Harper received contributions throughout the lineup, with several wrestlers picking up key wins:

Samuel Sikorsky (133 lb), Lennon Steinkuehler (141 lb), Maguire Hoeksema (157 lb), Noah Brockie (184 lb), and Joshua King (285 lb) each went 2-2 over the course of the tournament. Michael Galloway (149 lb) and Tyson Poyer (174 lb) each went 1-2, adding valuable team points in tight matchups. Michael Merevick (197 lb) went 0-2 in his national tournament appearances.

Closing Perspective
Falling just half a point short of a non-scholarship national title is a tough outcome, particularly for a program with Harper's expectations. Still, the Hawks proved they can compete with anyone in the country, placing firmly in the national top 15 and pushing Niagara to the brink.

With a mix of experienced leadership and proven postseason performers, Harper once again demonstrated the standard of its program. The result may not have ended with a trophy, but it reinforced that the Hawks remain firmly in the national conversation—and within reach of their next championship.

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Players Mentioned

Aiden Cohen: Sophomore

Lennon Steinkuehler: Sophomore

Noah Brockie: Freshman

Michael Galloway: Freshman

Maguire Hoeksema: Freshman

Tyson Poyer: Freshman

Samuel Sikorsky: Freshman

Truth Vesey: Sophomore

Michael Merevick: Freshman

Joshua King: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Aiden Cohen
: Sophomore

Lennon Steinkuehler
: Sophomore

Noah Brockie
: Freshman

Michael Galloway
: Freshman

Maguire Hoeksema
: Freshman

Tyson Poyer
: Freshman

Samuel Sikorsky
: Freshman

Truth Vesey
: Sophomore

Michael Merevick
: Freshman

Joshua King
: Freshman