Written by Colton O'Hern
BVU Athletics Communications, Student Assistant

Indianola, Iowa (Nov. 1, 2025)- The Buena Vista University men’s wrestling team kicked off the season at the Luther Hill Invitational on Saturday inside of Blake Fieldhouse. The team wrestled very tough, and freshman Jack Decker was able to take a 4th place finish at the 133 weight class in the freshman/sophomore bracket. 

With a pin in Decker’s first match, he rode the momentum with a decision into the semifinals. Decker came up short in that match, however, to the winner of the whole bracket, but he didn’t let that stop him on the backside of the bracket, as he picked up a impressive forty-nine second pin to pave his way to the third place match. Decker fell short again in that third place match, but has started off his career with a 3-2 record and two pins. 

The remaining members of the team also wrestled tough. Freshman Justin Burnett had a nice win in the 141 Freshman/Sophomore bracket on the backside with a 8-3 decision over his opponent. At 149 in the Freshman/Sophomore bracket, the Beavers picked up another nice win with freshman Ben Bouaphakeo having a nice underhook toss to put his opponent on his back getting the pin. Senior Hayden Stout was also able to pick up a win in the 149 Open Bracket in his opening match of the year. Stout was down early and able to fight back in the match to secure a 9-6 decision. 

The men’s wrestling team will be back in action next Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. as it takes on Briar Cliff University in a dual in Sioux City, Iowa.