By: Nick Pope
WICHITA, Kan. – The Life University men's wrestling team finished the 2025 NAIA National Championships in second place overall with 149 total team points over the three-day tournament. Thaddeus Long and JD Perez each captured individual national titles, as the Running Eagles led the NAIA with 10 All-American honors.
Life U entered the weekend as one of the top teams in the country, qualifying multiple wrestlers for the championships. Ten Running Eagles battled their way to All-American honors, securing podium finishes.
In the semifinals, three individuals won their matches to advance to the national title bouts. Thaddeus Long (133 lbs.), JD Perez (184 lbs.), and Khalil Abdushshakur (197 lbs.) each represented the Running Eagles under the lights on championship night.
Long and Perez both claimed national titles, while Abdushshakur finished as a runner-up.
National Champions
At 133 lbs., Thaddeus Long put together a dominant tournament run, earning 25 team points. He started off strong with a 17-3 major decision before adding a 23-4 tech fall in the second round. In the quarterfinals, he continued his dominance with a 15-5 major decision, then secured a 19-2 tech fall in the semifinals over the No. 3 seed. In the championship match, he avenged last year's national championship appearance with his first NAIA national title with a 4-1 sudden victory over the top-seeded wrestler from Texas Wesleyan.
At 184 lbs., JD Perez delivered a near-flawless performance, contributing 24 team points. After a bye in the first round, he quickly racked up two consecutive falls before winning a 7-4 decision over teammate Kendall Norfleet in the semifinals. Perez dominated the championship match with a 15-9 decision, finally capturing a National Title after three consecutive podium finishes the last three years.
All-American Finishes
At 197 lbs., Khalil Abdushshakur's incredible decade-long career ended with a NAIA runner-up finish. After reaching the semis, a hard-fought 9-6 sudden victory sent AbdushShakur into the finals where he was defeated by Grand View's top-seeded wrestler by a major decision (11-2).
At 149 lbs.,
Bret Minor placed 8th, scoring 5.5 team points. He won multiple matches in the consolation bracket, including a 4-1 decision over the No. 3 seed, before finishing his tournament in the placement round.
At 157 lbs., Fabian Padilla took 7th place, scoring 8.5 team points. After an intense back-and-forth match, he closed out his tournament with a 12-10 decision victory in his placement bout to end his tournament run with a win.
At 157 lbs., Steven Villalobos had an outstanding tournament, placing 4th and adding 19 team points. He stormed through the consolation bracket with a series of tech falls, earning his way to the third-place match before ultimately finishing 4th.
At 165 lbs., Reese Jones earned 8th place, scoring 6.5 team points in a tough 165 lbs. bracket. His tournament included a thrilling 14-11 sudden victory match in the second round, but he was unable to advance past the later rounds.
At 174 lbs., Tre Morrisette fought through tough competition to earn a 5th-place finish, scoring 12 team points. After picking up multiple wins in the consolation bracket, he ended his tournament with a victory by medical forfeit to claim 5th place.
At 184 lbs., Kendall Norfleet placed 3rd, tallying 17.5 team points. He won early rounds convincingly before falling to teammate JD Perez in the semifinals. He rebounded in the third-place match with a dominant 55-second fall to secure his spot on the podium.
At 285 lbs., Earnest Johnson earned 6th place, contributing 9 team points. After an impressive start, he fell in the semifinals and consolation rounds, but still secured a strong finish for Life U to be named an All-American.
Other Finishes
At 174 lbs., Alex Couto, and at 149 lbs., Pat Gould, also competed in the tournament, Couto scored 3.5 team points while Gould added a team point before exiting the tournament in the consolation rounds. Couto's tournament run was unfortunately ended just short of an All-American spot as he ran into Morrisette in the consolation bracket.
With a second-place team finish, two national champions, and ten All-Americans, the Running Eagles continued their dominance on the national stage with the second most National Champions and the most All-Americans this year.
