Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame

Viking

The 1996 Missouri Valley College men’s wrestling team was the first NAIA recognized team in Missouri Valley College history to win a team national championship.  This team propelled Missouri Valley College wrestling into the national spotlight and set the stage for future national recognition.  The 1996 team produced 7 All-Americans and 3 individual National titlists.   As a result of this championship MVC was invited to participate the following year in the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s National Dual Championship as the NAIA representative competing against the NCAA Division I, II, III National Champions, and 12 other top NCAA DI teams. 

Of the 10 members of the 1996 team, nine earned All-American honors, five of the 10 became individual national champions during their careers, and one became a World Military Silver Medalist representing the United Stated Army. 

Additionally, this team returned the following year to dominate the championships and set a national team point scoring record placing eight athletes in the top four nationally with six finalists.