The Lindenwood wrestling team finished the 2022 NCAA Division II Super Region IV tournament in fifth place in Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.  Four Lions punched their ticket to the National Championships on March 11-12 in St. Louis, Mo.
 
OVERVIEW
Lindenwood accumulated 73 points in the standings, as Colby Smith claimed the 141-pound title.  Smith ran through his first two opponents with ease, earning an 18-3 tech fall, followed by a pin at the 6:32 mark in his next bout.  The Wentzville, Mo. native posted a 2-0 decision in the semifinal, and captured his third-consecutive regional crown with a 6-1 decision in the championship match.
 
Tanner Hitchcock took second place at 133 pounds, as he registered a 16-0 tech fall in his first bout.  The semifinal match was a battle, as the Bonner Springs product earned a 3-1 sudden victory to secure his status as a national qualifier.  Hitchcock lost by just two points in the championship match to No. 1 Tanner Cole of Central Oklahoma.
 
Nate Trepanier put his skills on display in his opening match, winning by a 12-2 major decision.  Trepanier won by a slim 4-2 margin in the semifinal bout, as he earned his way to the National Championship tournament.  The Oconto Falls, Wis. native fell by a 6-3 margin in the championship match to take second place.
 
Isaac Jacquez was the final Lion to secure a ticket to St. Louis, Mo. in March.  Jacquez pinned his first opponent in just 2:11, and went head-to-head with No. 2 Christian Mejia of McKendree.  A product of Aurora West in Aurora, Ill. pushed the pace and was down just 2-1 heading into the final round.  Jacquez was forced to fight his way back after a tough 10-5 loss in the semifinal.  Jacquez put himself in position to continue his season after winning his next match in a 6-2 decision.  Jacquez closed out the regional with a statement in a 13-5 major decision to earn his way to the National Championships.
 
Jack Tangen and Kyle Dickhaus each took sixth place in their respective weight classes.  Tangen had No. 1 Brik Filippo on the ropes in the 149-pound semifinal bout, but lost by just two points.  Dickhaus lost his first match of the day, but battled back to the consolation semifinals before finishing in sixth place.
 
UP NEXT
Smith, Hitchcock, Trepanier, and Jacquez will represent Lindenwood at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships at Chaifetz Center in St. Louis, Mo. on March 11-12.