Park City, Kan. – The Central Methodist men's wrestling team opened competition Thursday at the 2026 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championships in Park City, already making program history before the first matches began.

The Eagles qualified nine wrestlers for the national tournament — the most competitors Central Methodist has ever sent to the national stage.

Representing CMU on day one was Arojae Hart (141), Drake Jenkins (157), Kevin Olavarria (165), Eric Hodge (165), Roman Garcia (174), Griffin Ray (184), Cameron Cornman (197), Garine Gibson (285), and Austin Foye (285).

Two Eagles have qualified for the championship quarterfinals heading into day two: Arojae Hart and Roman Garcia.

Hart entered the tournament as the No. 12 seed in the 141-pound bracket and opened his run with a 4-0 win by decision over Daryl Mills of Missouri Baptist. He followed that performance with one of the day's biggest wins, defeating No. 5 seed Marckis Branford of Grand View by a narrow 3-2 decision in the closing moments of the third period. 

Hart will begin day two action against No. 13 seed Tyler Rhue of Southern Oregon.

Garcia, the No. 2 seed in the 174-pound bracket secured a first-round victory by fall over Landon Buchanan of Indiana Tech at the 3:59 mark. Garcia then advanced with a 4-1 decision over No. 15 seed Nate Bukovich of Reinhardt.

He will open the second day of competition with a matchup against No. 7 seed Weston Melvin of Cumberlands.

Day two begins Friday, March 6, at 11:00 a.m. CT with Session III, featuring quarterfinals and consolation matches.

To view individual results from day one, please see below:

NAIA 141

12 Arojae Hart's place is unknown and has scored 2.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 12 Arojae Hart (Central Methodist) won by decision over Daryl Mills (Missouri Baptist) (Dec 4-0)
• Champ. Round 2 - 12 Arojae Hart (Central Methodist) won by decision over 5 Marckis Branford (Grand View) (Dec 3-2)

NAIA 157

Drake Jenkins's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Drake Jenkins (Central Methodist) won by decision over 13 Antwaun Burns (Campbellsville) (Dec 9-6)
• Champ. Round 2 - 4 Hagen Heistand (Concordia) won by tech fall over Drake Jenkins (Central Methodist) (TF 22-5)
• Cons. Round 2 - Irish Furthmyre (Providence) won by tech fall over Drake Jenkins (Central Methodist) (TF 21-3)

NAIA 165

16 Kevin Olavarria's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Napolitano (Truett McConnell) won by fall over 16 Kevin Olavarria (Central Methodist) (Fall 2:53)
• Cons. Round 1 - Dayton Hill (Missouri Valley) won by decision over 16 Kevin Olavarria (Central Methodist) (Dec 9-3)

Eric Hodge's place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 6 Anthony Federico (Southeastern) won by tech fall over Eric Hodge (Central Methodist) (TF 19-1)
• Cons. Round 1 - Benjamen Mitchell (Simpson) won by fall over Eric Hodge (Central Methodist) (Fall 5:38)

NAIA 174

2 Roman Garcia's place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 2 Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by fall over Landon Buchanan (Indiana Tech) (Fall 3:59)
• Champ. Round 2 - 2 Roman Garcia (Central Methodist) won by decision over 15 Nate Bukovich (Reinhardt) (Dec 4-1)

NAIA 184

Griffin Ray's place is unknown and has scored 2.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 6 Sam Libby (Keiser) won by fall over Griffin Ray (Central Methodist) (Fall 2:18)
• Cons. Round 1 - Griffin Ray (Central Methodist) won by fall over Jeremiah Voliva (Avila) (Fall 1:49)
• Cons. Round 2 - Doug Dittmer (Georgetown) won by fall over Griffin Ray (Central Methodist) (Fall 4:15)

NAIA 197

Cameron Cornman's place is unknown and has scored 2.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 9 Kasten Grape (Southeastern) won by decision over Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) (Dec 7-4)
• Cons. Round 1 - Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) won by fall over Chase Stieb (Doane) (Fall 5:25)
• Cons. Round 2 - 10 Jaren Jackson (Doane) won in sudden victory - 1 over Cameron Cornman (Central Methodist) (SV-1 4-1)

NAIA 285

7 Garine Gibson's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 7 Garine Gibson (Central Methodist) won by decision over Collin Sullivan (Lourdes) (Dec 5-1)
• Champ. Round 2 - 10 Austin Silva (Cumberlands) won by decision over 7 Garine Gibson (Central Methodist) (Dec 14-11)
• Cons. Round 2 - 9 Luke Cox (Georgetown) won by decision over 7 Garine Gibson (Central Methodist) (Dec 5-4)

3 Austin Foye's place is unknown and has scored 1.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 3 Austin Foye (Central Methodist) won by decision over Phillip Terrell (Truett McConnell) (Dec 7-2)
• Champ. Round 2 - 14 Ethan DeRoche (Providence) won by decision over 3 Austin Foye (Central Methodist) (Dec 5-1)
• Cons. Round 2 - Steven Elwell (Ottawa) won by fall over 3 Austin Foye (Central Methodist) (Fall 6:43)

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