Salem, Ore.- Arizona Christian University Wrestling delivered a statement performance at the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Championships, finishing fourth as a team while advancing six wrestlers to the NAIA National Tournament. Competing against nationally ranked opponents across the two-day event, the Firestorm combined physicality and depth to cap the strongest conference showing in program history. Head Coach Michael Butterfield praised his team's competitive focus throughout the weekend.

"I am extremely proud of the Firestorm wrestlers for the way they competed at the Cascade Conference Championships. We set the tone for where this program is headed and how we intend to compete at the national level."

 

Champions Lead the Way

ACU crowned two individual conference champions, each in commanding fashion.
At 133 pounds, JJ Ramirez secured the CCC title with an overtime victory over the No. 10-ranked wrestler in the country from Eastern Oregon. In a tightly contested final, Ramirez executed when it mattered most, controlling the extra session to claim the championship. 
At 149 pounds, Carlos Stanton delivered one of the most dominant runs of the tournament. Stanton pinned and technical-fell his way through the bracket, finishing the weekend as conference champion. His aggressive pace and scoring ability immediately positioned him as a national contender.
 

Podium Finishes and All-Conference Honors

The Firestorm placed four wrestlers in the top three to earn All-Conference recognition.
At 174 pounds, Leo Galasso advanced to the championship final before falling in a close match to the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the country. His runner-up finish demonstrated his ability to compete with the nation's elite.
At 141 pounds, Mikee Trujillo responded to adversity with resilience, battling through the consolation bracket and avenging his only loss of the tournament in the third-place match against a tough opponent from Southern Oregon. His performance reflected the grit that defined ACU's weekend.
 

Securing National Berths

Two more Firestorm wrestlers secured automatic bids through decisive true placement victories.
Channing Porter and senior Rico Robles each won critical matches to punch their tickets to nationals. Robles provided one of the most dramatic moments of the championships, scoring a takedown with just 15 seconds remaining in his final match to guarantee qualification.
In total, nine Firestorm wrestlers earned top-six finishes, demonstrating depth throughout the lineup. Julio Gonzales and Kaiden Cisneros each placed one spot shy of automatic qualification and now await potential national wildcard selections.

With six automatic qualifiers secured, Arizona Christian now turns its attention to the NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championships, set for March 5–7 in Wichita. The three-day championship event will feature the nation's top NAIA wrestlers competing for individual and team titles.