PARK CITY, Kan.—Redshirt junior
Gage Braun found a way to give fans their moneys worth during the 2022 NAIA Wrestling National Championships this weekend.
Braun had three pins with two coming in the final seconds of a match and in the 285-pound championship match, it again came down to the final seconds.
With the match tied 3-3 after top-seeded Greg Hagan of Grand View secured a third period takedown and riding time, Hagan was called for a technical violation for locked hands with seven seconds left. Braun recorded an escape with three seconds left to win the match 5-4 and the third national championship in Southeastern wrestling history.
"I was thinking to myself that I had one minute for the rest of my life and I can either work hard for that one minute and be a champion forever or sell myself short and not get it done," said Braun. "(The penalty) gave me the idea that I was going to get out and win the match right here and it's not going to overtime."
Braun picked up a takedown in the first period after having one denied earlier in the period on an official's video review. Hagan chose bottom on Braun's deferred choice to start the second period and picked up an escape five seconds into the period to make it 2-1 Braun.
To start the third, Braun picked up an escape nine seconds in, but then was taken down 13 seconds later to even the match 3-3. Hagan was able to accumulate a riding time bonus, effectively putting Braun down a point before the locked hands call was made.
"Like I said yesterday, he's a gamer," said coach
Travis Patrick. "He's got a great wrestling IQ so the later it gets in matches, he figures guys out and finds a way to win."
Braun finished the season with an 18-3 overall record.
"My family has been so supportive every time I've competed," said Braun. "My coaches and my teammates push me to be better everyday and their support in my mind keeps me moving forward."
In the team race, Southeastern finished third for a new program best. The Fire accumulated 101.5 points during the two-day tournament.
"It's special, those team trophies are hard to get," said Patrick. "It's a special accomplishment for this team and it's a testament to the work they put in all year and a testament to the work the guys at home did. It takes an army to get that accomplished."
