COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The postseason awards for wrestling in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation were released today, and the VU men's squad received two major awards.  Zachary Klarcyk was named as the Freshman of the Year, and Head Coach Caleb Flores was named the Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 season.  These are the first major awards in program history at the MPSF level, and the first coaching award in the rebirth of the program.
 
Klarcyk had a 20-4 record in his first collegiate campaign and had stellar showings in duals and tournaments.  He did not lose to any MPSF foes and picked up three technical falls and two major decision wins during the year.  He began the season with a 4-0 showing at the Menlo Open, including two wins over Division I foes, to take the 133-pound bracket and claim his first MPSF Wrestler of the Week award.  He then won in a dual against Western Colorado before a 3-2 record at the Younes Hospitality Open, with his two defeats coming from Garret Rinken of Northern Iowa.  Those were his only defeats until the NCAA Regional, as he cruised through the next few months.  He was named the WOTY for the second time on January 27 after beating Josh Neiwrt of Cal Poly Humboldt as the Lions claimed a 21-18 win in the dual.  While he was held out of the MPSF Tournament, he went to the regional with an 18-2 record and concluded with a 2-2 showing to place fourth, though he just missed making the National Tournament by one placement. 
 
"I'd like to thank God for bringing me to where I am today and providing me with the family, relationships, and people around me to get me where I am today," relayed Klarcyk.
 
Coach Flores has never been named a Coach of the Year and has continued to net program-firsts after restarting wrestling at VU.  With the first conference Freshman of the Year added to his ledger, he had three conference champions during the team's time in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, one CCC Wrestler of the Year, and one NAIA National Champion.  This year, he got two fourth-place finishers at the Regional, along with one wrestler in sixth place.  At the MPSF Tournament that VU hosted, the Lions got three second-place finishers and got the first MPSF dual victory in Vanguard history at CPH on January 23rd.  "I am honored by this award," said Flores.  "This award really belongs to my assistant, Coach Kevin Kelly, and our wrestlers.  I am thankful for all their hard work and the sacrifices that have produced this recognition."