Shay Horton, the redshirt junior from Verona, Kentucky, has been named an at-large bid at 125 pounds by the NAIA for the National Championship Tournament. This marks the third straight season that Horton has qualified for nationals, a testament to his skill and determination as a wrestler.
Horton had a solid showing at the Mid-South Conference Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky, going 2-2 and finishing fourth in the 125-pound weight class. He won one match by forfeit and the other by a 4-3 decision over Campbellsville University’s Izaeah Beavers.
This season, Horton has a record of 17-13, with five falls, two technical falls, and one major decision victory. In duals, he is 9-4, while he has gone 8-9 in tournament action.
Horton joins four other teammates, Ryan Moore, Wilder Wichman, Kailan Keith, and Daulton Mayer, in qualifying for the national tournament. Wichman has qualified four times, while Mayer and Moore have each qualified three times. For Keith, this is his first time qualifying.
Together, these five wrestlers have a combined record of 85-36, with an impressive 49 falls. The NAIA National Tournament will be held on March 3rd and 4th at the Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
For Horton and his fellow qualifiers, the tournament will present a new set of challenges and opportunities to showcase their skills on a national stage. With their collective talent and experience, they will look to make their mark and bring home some well-deserved victories for their school and team.