Smith and Stradling Both Advance to Day Two of NAIA National Tournament

Smith and Stradling Both Advance to Day Two of NAIA National Tournament
March 6, 2025

(Park, KS)-- Cleary Cougar wrestling has two individuals that qualified to the NAIA National Tournament, and both will be wrestling on day two after each had 2-1 days.

Ja'Marcus Smith in 125:

  • Ja'Marcus Smith's first match was against the 14-seeded Matteo Vargo of Cumberlands.  Vargo would get the better of Smith, earning an 11-1 major decision, and sending Smith to the consolation bracket.
  • In the consolation bracket first round, Smith was paired with Chase Ayers of Lindsey Wilson College.  Smith would trail 4-3 after the first period, and Ayers was leading 6-5 after two periods.  Smith would rally with two takedowns and a four-count nearfall to earn eleven third period points to take the match by a 16-10 score
  • Smith's second round consolation bracket match was against Landon Smith of Embry-Riddle.  Smith would earn a pin in 3:10 to qualify for day two of the tournament

Louden Stradling in 149:

  • Louden Stradling's first match was against 9-seeded Bret Minor of Life University.  Neither wrestler would earn a point in the first period, and Minor would earn a single escape point in the second period to take a 1-0 lead into the final two minutes.  Stradling would tie the match with an escape in the third period, but Minor would earn a point on a Stradling stalling penalty with twelve seconds left in the match to hand Stradling the defeat.
  • In Stradling's consolation bracket opening match, he was paired with Brayden Smith of York.  Stradling would earn a takedown in the first period, added another point for an escape in the second period, and got two more points in the final period to win the match 6-2
  • Stradling's second round consolation match was against 7-seeded Jonah Chew of Embry-Riddle.  Chew would earn a point for an escape in the first period, but Stradling would tie the match with an escape of his own in the second period.  The match would be tied after regulation at 1-1, and in overtime, Stradling earned an escape point and then three critical takedown points to win the match 5-2, advancing to day two in the process.

The matches will resume on Friday, March 7 at 12:00 PM ET.  Ja'Marcus Smith will take on Jack Eylar of Eastern Oregon in match 363, while Louden Stradling will take on 15-seeded Jaxon Morlan of Eastern Oregon in match 373.