Rochester Community and Technical College claimed the inaugural NJCAA DIII Wrestling National Championship in Council Bluffs, Iowa. MCAC rivals Ridgewater College and Minnesota North College-Itasca finished 4th and 5th respectively at the national tournament.

Leo Tukhlynovych, Coehn Wister, and Antony Tuttle put together huge performances for the Yellowjackets to secure the title. Tukhlynovych, who earned All-American status with his 3rd place finish, went 6-1 in the tournament with 3 pins, 2 tech falls, and a major decision to pace RCTC.  Wiste went 5-2 in the tournament to finish 4th place and earn All-American.  Wiste had four pins in his five wins for the Jackets. Tuttle also went 5-2 for the Jackets en route to his 5th-place finish and All-American status.  Tuttle had 3 pins and a pair of major decisions for RCTC.

The NJCAA Wrestling National Championship Tournament consisted of 55 NJCAA college programs competing in combined Division 1 and Division 3 brackets. RCTC won the Division 3 level with 86 points and finished 8th overall. Ridgewater College scored 49.5 points and finished 19th overall, 4th in D3. MNC-Itasca finished 5th in D3 and 20th overall with 46.5 points. 

Two additional MCAC programs competed in the tournament as well. Northland Community and Technical College scored 10 points and finished 35th overall, 9th in Division 3. Minnesota West Community and Technical College finished 47th overall and 13th in Division 3, scoring 4 points.

RCTC Yellowjackets coach, Andy Hackenmueller, was named the NJCAA DIII Coach of the Year.

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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.