KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The York University wrestling team put forth a tremendous effort Friday at the KCAC Championships, taking third place with 138.0 points.

The Panthers were paced by Brayden Smith's championship in the 149-lb. class. The victory propels Smith to the NAIA National National Tournament.

Smith received a bye into the semifinal. There, he posted a 14-2 major decision victory over his foe from Saint Mary. In the championship, Smith wasted little time dispelling his counterpart. He notched a win via pin fall in just 36 seconds, securing a spot at the NAIA National Tournament.

Ernest Grant posted a second-place finish in the 125-lb. division. In the quarterfinals, he recorded a victory via fall in 2:14. In the semifinals, he dominated his foe from Friends University 7-1. However, he lost in the championship match via submission.

Marce Vasquez was second in the 285-lb. division, picking up 14 points. He registered a win in just 2:49 in the quarterfinal. Vasquez earned a hard fought 2-0 win over his opponent from Jamestown in the semifinal. He lost an 8-3 contest in the championship match.

Kade Wersland earned a third-place finish in the 165-lb. division. He tallied an 8-2 decision in the quarterfinal. In the consolation semifinals, Wersland notched a technical fall win in 7:00 with a 25-10 win. He garnered a win via fall in 4:39, earning the bronze medal with his performance.

Caleb Davis upended the competition en route to his third-place finish. He opened with a 16-1 technical fall victory over an opponent from Avila. In the consolation semifinals, Davis took down his opponent from Saint Mary by a 7-1 count. Davis bested teammate Dayton Fraser by a 13-5 major decision for third place.

Tanner Hawkins picked up a third-place finish for 17.5 points in the 197-lb. class. In the quarterfinal, he posted a win in just 4:01. Hawkins registered a win in just 2:56 in the consolation semifinals. He was just as impressive in the third-place match, taking down his opponent from Jamestown in 5:48.

Dayton Fraser posted a fourth-place finish in the 17-4lb. class. He opened the meet with an 18-3 technical fall win over his opponent from Jamestown. In the consolation semifinals, he shut down his foe with a 7-0 victory.  Fraser lost a 13-5 major decision contest to teammate Davis.

Barrett Stickelman snagged a fourth-place finish in the same class. In the consolation bracket, Stickelman garnered a win via fall in 3:00. In the consolation semifinals, he earned a 7-4 win over his opponent from Friends University before losing the third-place match.

Johnathon Vincent registered 10.5 points with a fourth-place finish in the 157-lb. class. He opened the tournament with a 12-6 win over his opponent from Friends University. In the consolation semifinals, Vincent took down his opponent from Aila in 4:58, earning a spot in the third-place match. Vincent dropped the bronze medal match by a 9-4 decision.

Hector Holguin picked up a point for the Panthers after notching a 12-5 win over his opponent from Oklahoma Wesleyan. Cade Wathke secured 13.5 points in the 141-lb. division. In the quarterfinal, he registered a win with a fall in just 1:11. Wathke delivered another pin fall, this time in the consolation semifinals, in just 2:08. Wathke succumbed to his foe in the third-place match.

The Panthers return to action March 6-8 at the NAIA National Tournament.