WICHITA, Kan. - (PDF Brackets) Hartman Arena was the site of the largest field to date in the NAIA National Championships. The 65th Annual event got underway on March 4th and despite a delay in the start of the competition, the first two sessions were action packed. Grand View (Iowa) leads the team race once again, with reigning champions Life (Ga.) firmly in second place thanks in large part to qualifying a full 12-man roster.

Southeastern (Fla.) sits nearly 30 points behind the Running Eagles, while Indiana Tech holds onto the fourth position. Only one point separates Reinhardt (Ga.) from the sixth-place tie of Doane (Neb.) and Montana State-Northern.

• During Session I, championship dreams began the day from 280 wrestlers representing 62 member schools. 
• St. Ambrose (Iowa) and Cornerstone (Mich.) made their debut as first year programs.
• Two unseeded wrestlers have reached the semifinals 141 - Cade Manion (Oklahoma City) and 157 - Trevord Burdick (Reinhardt).
• Eight of the 10 top seeds are into the semifinals as Cole Luallen (149) and Nate Wheeler (157) were knocked off.
• Six reigning National Champions are still in the hunt - Isaac Bartel, Brandon Orum, Conner Grimson, Eric Vermillion, and Baterdene Boldmaa.
• Due to the extra year of eligibility, Justin Portillo (Grand View) and Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) are the first wrestlers in NAIA history to earn All-American status for the fith time in their career..
• Martin Wilkie of Montana State-Northern is the lowest seeded wrestler to reach the semifinals
• Vanguard (Calif.) saw teammates meet with a spot as an All-American on the line; Armon Fayyazi clinched his third Top Eight finish which increases his school record.
• Twelve wrestlers fought through the consolation bracket to advance to Day Two.
• The 80 wrestlers advancing to Saturday have combined for 62 All-American finishes. 
• Evan Potter of Southern Oregon (133) is the only All-American finisher who did not enter the tournament as an automatic qualifier.