Aho leads Marauders to back-to-back top 10 team finishes

Frazee’s Luke Tweeton opened with a victory but suffered back-to-back losses to end his UMary wrestling career at the NCAA Division II wrestling championships in Sioux Falls.

By Chris Cody

UMary Athletics Communications

and Robert Williams

Editor

Frazee’s Luke Tweeton (Class of 2020) finished his wrestling career at the NCAA Division II wrestling championships in Sioux Falls March 13-14 with a tournament record of 1-2.

Head Wrestling Coach Adam Aho, center, and Assistant Coaches Braydon Huber and Reece Barnhardt celebrate Jacob Strausbaugh national championship victory Saturday, March 14, in Sioux Falls.

In his opening match, No. 7 Tweeton grinded out a 5-4 win over UIndy’s Cale Gray at heavyweight. 

The senior fell in his next match to Nebraska Kearney’s #2 Crew Howard by an 8-0 major decision. Tweeton would miss out on All-American status in heartbreaking fashion, falling 2-1 to UNC Pembroke’s James Bankston to end his senior season with a record of 25-7. 

Tweeton finishes his UMary career as a four-time national qualifier, earning All-American Status in 2024. Overall, Tweeton was 92-38 as a Marauder and the lone senior on this year’s team.

Jacob Strausbaugh put himself in the history books as the true freshman became the second University of Mary wrestler to win an NCAA Division II National Championship in the 133-pound weight class. Strasbaugh joins assistant wrestling coach Reece Barnhardt, who also won a national championship at 133 pounds last year, as the only two NCAA champions in Marauder history.

“He (Strausbaugh) just continued to get better and better as the season went along,” said Head Coach Adam Aho (Frazee Class of 2004). “It also helped having Reece in the room for him being able to mentor Jacob, not only with wrestling but also his lifestyle, his diet, everything encompassing what it takes to be on top of the podium.”

Lane Ewing took third place in the 165-pound weight class to earn All-American status for the first time in his career. Sean Solis placed fourth at 141 pounds to become a two-time All-American.

As a team, Aho’s Marauders placed eighth overall making back-to-back top 10 national finishes. UMary placed sixth in 2025. Aho completed his 13th season at the helm of the program.

“When I first got here 13 years ago, it’s been a  journey,” Aho said. “A lot of hard work. A lot of people have helped. It just wasn’t me in that process.”