SALEM, Ore. -- The University of Providence men's wrestling program had nine athletes qualify for the NAIA National Championships on Saturday.

Seniors Kobi Johnson, Ethan DeRoche, Blaze Sumiye, juniors Pig Hobbs, Jalen Vladic, Brady Ellison, Irish Furthmyre, Noah Poe-Hatten, and freshman Boden Banta all qualified for the NAIA National Championships.

The highlight of the day was junior Pig Hobbs who defeated Irish Futhmyre 8-0 to advance to the Championship and clinch his spot at the NAIA National Tournament. In the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship at 157, Hobbs fell to #6 Avant Stepherson in sudden victory.

After falling in the semis, Johnson pinned Kyle Sieminski in 3:28 to advance to the third-place match to clinch his spot at the NAIA National Tournament.

Banta went 2-0 on Saturday defeating Julio Gonzalez 8-5 and Christopher Calderon 5-1 to advance to the third-place match to clinch his spot at the NAIA National Tournament. Johnson and Boden double-forfeited in the third-place match at 125.

After falling in the semis, Furthmyre defeated Carlos Valdez 18-3 to advance to the third-place match to punch his ticket to the NAIA National Tournament. Furthmyre defeated Ryan Graves 11-8 to finish in third.

Sumiye and Vladic both fell in the semifinals but rallied with Vladic defeating Thomas Stadel 19-4 and Sumiye defeated John Rudebaugh 5-1 as they both advanced to the third-place match to clinch their spots at the NAIA National Tournament. Vladic and Sumiye double-forfeited in the third-place match at 165.

Poe-Hatten went 2-0 on Saturday defeating Bronson Swan 15-0 to advance to the third-place match where he defeated Cade Gubler 9-2 to punch his ticket to the National Championships.  

DeRoche went 2-1 on Saturday, pinning Alonzo Cardona in 2:07 before falling to Nico Rodriguez in the consolation semifinals. With a national's bid on the line in the fifth-place match DeRoche defeated Kaiden Cisneros 14-4 to punch his ticket to the National Championships.

Ellison went 1-2 on Saturday defeating Andres Nicacio but fell to Orion Thivierge in the consolation semifinals. Ellison fell in the fifth-place match to Jackson Potts but secured the sixth allocation at 174 to punch his ticket to the National Championships.

The Argos will be back in action March 5-7 when they head to Park City, Kansas for the NAIA National Championships.

RESULTS
Men 125
3^rd - Kobi Johnson (1-1)
3^rd - Boden Banta (2-0)

Men 133
4^th - Blake Woolsey (1-2)

Men 149
7^th - Cade White (1-1)

Men 157
2nd - Pig Hobbs (1-0)
3^rd - Irish Furthmyre (2-1)

Men 165
3^rd - Jalen Vladic (1-1)
4^th - Blaze Sumiye (1-1)

Men 174
6^th - Brady Ellison (1-2)

Men 184
3^rd - Noah Poe-Hatten (2-0)

Men 285
5^th - Ethan DeRoche (2-1)