Co-Most Valuable Performer - Kyle Briggs, Sr., 174lbs., Wartburg College
The 174lbs. third place finisher at the 2018-19 NCAA Championships, Briggs, climbed to the top of the podium in 2021. The senior dominated his way through this year's tournament field, collected falls in each of the first four rounds, and closing out the tournament with a major decision in the title match. Briggs' first round took a mere 10 seconds to pick up the pin against Floyd Miller of Buena Vista. His second round match didn't take much longer, sticking Augustana's Frankie Faasen to the mat in 16 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Briggs took slightly longer to find his pinning combination, earning the fall against Cornell College's John March in 2:12. The 174-pounder took out fourth-seeded Brian Shermeyer of Messiah by way of fall (5:23) in the semifinals, locking up a return to the national finals stage. Wrestling against second-seeded Solomon Nielsen of Augsburg in the championship, Briggs collected three takedowns, one escape, and a riding time point to earn an 8-0 major decision. Briggs closed out his senior campaign as a three-time All-American.
