By Scott Beasley/Delta Staff Writer

The Missouri Valley College men’s wrestling team put together a collection of wins at the Heart of America Athletic Conference championships in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The No. 5 ranked Vikings came away from the meet in second place overall and had two individuals advance to the championship match in their respective weight classes. Head Coach Mike Machholz was impressed with the performance of his team.

“The conference championships this year went off really well,” Machholz said. “We were able to qualify all 12 of our athletes to the national championships, which we haven’t done that a couple of years, had nine get automatic qualifications and three were voted in for wild cards. So we’re pretty fortunate.”

While none of the wrestlers took home the gold, Machholz said getting everyone through the qualifying round was itself a huge success.

“We did have two in the finals, but to be able to at least get everybody through that round, which is really kind of considered as our first round the national championships and now we’re off and running to Wichita here on March 4th and 5th,” he said.

Joshua Isaac, a sophomore who wrestles at 285 pounds, said he is going into nationals feeling “really prepared.”

“I feel confident in my abilities,” Isaac said. “I’m excited just to go out there and represent and bring back some gold to Valley. Just to go out there and let people know that I’m going to be a force to be reckoned with. I’m going to be all American and hopefully in the national finals.”

The wrestling team is now practicing and getting ready for the national tournament which will take place March 4 and 5 in Wichita, Kan.