PARK CITY, Kan. -- Vanguard men's wrestling finished the NAIA National Championships on Friday, as all four wrestlers picked up their second defeat.  Bryant Avila went the furthest for VU, as he picked up a pair of wins in the consolation side of the bracket, but the Lions ended shy of the blood rounds.
 
125 Pounds
Dominic De'Altonaga and #9 Austin Franco of Cumberlands (Ky.) got going on Thursday morning and Franco quickly put De'Altonaga in a bind, as he went up 10-1 in the first period.  After the opening blitz, the Lion responded by keeping Franco off the board in the second, but he could not score himself.  While De'Altonaga got two points off of penalties in the third, Franco denied him any takedowns and got the riding time bonus point to advance with an 11-3 major decision.  Moving to the consolation part of the bracket, the Lion squared off against Clarence Lee Green of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) but Lee Green got the first takedown of the encounter.  De'Altonaga then got an escape and a point off a penalty to climb back into the fray, as he trailed 3-2 after one period.  But he would net only one escape in the third, as Lee Green picked up a 13-3 major decision victory to knock De'Altonaga out of the tournament.
 
149 Pounds
Avila and Tyler Okada of Waldorf (Iowa) tussled on Thursday and Avila got the first takedown 39 seconds into the matchup.  With neither wrestler scoring in the second, Avila took a 3-0 lead into the third frame.  After Okada got an escape, Avila swooped in for another takedown to surge ahead 6-1.  Though Okada picked up a point off a penalty, the clock ran out to send Avila through with a 6-2 decision win.  #6 Jace Luchau of Cumberlands was next for Avila and Luchau would get the first takedown in the next bout.  Avila then escaped to cut the gap to 3-1 entering the second period, where Luchau got an escape to put the lead at 4-1  Avila started in the down position to open the third and he made an escape to cut the deficit to 4-2 and then got another point thanks to a penalty to narrow the score to 4-3.  Unfortunately, Luchau made a takedown to pad his lead and advanced with a 7-3 decision.
 
With his first loss in the book, Avila had to face Jalen Vladic of Providence (Mont.) and Avila made the first takedown early in the first.  Vladic got an escape and then turned the tables by getting an escape and a takedown to open the second frame.  Down 5-3, Avila snuck away for an escape towards the end of the second frame to enter the third down 5-4.  The Cascade Collegiate Conference Champion would not be denied this fight, as he made an escape and a takedown to secure an 8-6 decision win.  That got him another bout and Avila would face Dallas Koelzer of Baker (Kan.).  Though Avila fought hard, he trailed 6-2 after one frame.  The VU champ rallied once more with a four-point second period to tie the score, but Koelzer made an escape to snag a 7-6 edge at the end of the second.  The Baker wrestler got an escape to open the third and though Avila gave it his all to generate a winning takedown, he only got a point off a penalty, as Koelzer survived with an 8-7 decision.
 
165 Pounds
Sunni Motas could not knock off Steven Villalobos of Life (Ga.), as he picked up only four escapes, with Villalobos winning 19-4.  Motas then faced #16 Elliott Rodgers of Marian (Ind.) and the Lion got a takedown to start the bout.  Motas continued to hold his own as the second period started but Rodgers made a takedown to tie things at 3-3.  Though Motas had a strong outing,  the Marian wrestler turned that takedown into a pin, knocking Motas out of the event.
 
197 Pounds
Isaiah Hernandez did his best against #1 Bradley Antesberger of Doane (Neb.), but the undefeated Antesberger would prevail 17-1.  Hernandez moved to the consolation side of the bracket and there faced Jake Rau of Jamestown (N.D.).  Hernandez put on a clinic, as he made four takedowns throughout the bout and only gave up escapes, as the Lion won 13-4.  Living another round, Hernandez took on #2 Demarco Lee of Life and Lee was fast out of the gate, as he would lead 7-0 after one frame.  Hernandez kept battling and got a reversal to get on the scoreboard in the second, but it would not be enough, as Lee advanced with a 13-2 major decision.

What was Said? Every year we come to nationals, we are reminded how tough it is to place at this tournament," said Head Coach Caleb Flores.  "We fell short of our goals, but fortunately, everyone is coming back next year and they have the opportunity to fix their mistakes over this off season and come back better."