After yet another season of being ranked among the best in the country, the Centenary Cyclones wrestling team sent Keevon Berry, Danny Haws, and Xavier Pena, three of the top wrestlers in the nation, to compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Championships in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 16.

To celebrate this outstanding accomplishment, Centenary Athletics organized a send-off for all athletes to cheer on the Cyclones as they boarded the van headed for the airport.

“The turnout was great. It was a great way to celebrate the hard work they’ve been putting in,” said Rich O’Brien, a fellow Cyclone.

Unfortunately, in Wisconsin, things did not go according to plan, with all three wrestlers losing their matches.

“It may not have gone the way that we wanted it to go, but we will continue to climb that ladder... Our guys competed with the best, with some beating the best during the season,” Coach John Garriques said. “The most important thing is that we learn from this, grow from our experiences, and not only become better athletes, but better people.”

Berry, Haws, and Pena were dominant for the Cyclones all season long, earning national recognition from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), D3 Wrestle, and The Open Mat newspaper. 

The Cyclones wrestling team ranked as high as twelfth in the nation this past season.

As the Cyclone wrestling team continues to grow, they will look to be back at the NCAA National Championships next year.