Rochester Community and Technical College took home their second consecutive NJCAA DIII national title by finishing as the highest scoring DIII program at the NJCAA Wrestling National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Rochester finished with a team score of 68, which was 24 points higher than the second place team (SUNY Niagara). This is the Yellowjackets' seventh national title in program history.
MCAC rival Ridgewater College finished fifth at the championship tournament with a team score of 27.
Each of the MCAC wrestling programs scored at the tournament. Bismarck State College scored 21.5 points, Minnesota West Community and Technical College scored 14, Minnesota North College-Itasca picked up 13 points, and Northland Community and Technical College had a team score of 6.5.
Andy Hackenmueller, head coach of Rochester, was presented the DIII National Coach of the Year award at the conclusion of the championship tournament. In addition, the NJCAA Region 13 coaches voted Hackenmueller as the Region 13 Coach of the Year as well.
Leo Tukhlynovych, 174 lb. wrestler for Rochester, was voted by the Region 13 coaches as the Region 13 Most Outstanding Wrestler. Tukhlynovych finished third at the national tournament at the 174 lb. weight class.
The NJCAA Wrestling National Championship Tournament consisted of 63 NJCAA college programs competing in combined Division 1 and Division 3 brackets. For all team and individual results, click the following link: https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/4075eddb-a234-4b07-92cd-569bf7f7bcb5
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.