Former Hound wrestler gets back to NAIA Nationals

Now in his junior season at Hannibal-LaGrange University, former Spoofhound state champion wrestler Bryce Alexander is bound for the NAIA National Championships once again.

Wrestling at 165 pounds, Alexander earned an at-large bid to nationals with a fifth place at the Central Qualifying Tournament over the weekend in Baldwin City, Kan.

Alexander came within one spot of clinching an automatic berth, which would've gotten him a national seed for a second straight year.

He finished the qualifying tournament 4-2, winning twice by decision and twice by pin.

In his opening match, he won an 8-6 decision over Trevor Dice (Bethany). A second round loss sent him to the consolation bracket where he won each of his first two matches by pin over Tylor Pitcher (William Penn) and William Lutz (Bacone). He suffered his second loss of the tournament by a 4-3 decision to Gian Traverso of Missouri Valley, but bounced back to beat Nathan Sommer (Baker) 7-0 in the fifth place match.

Both two-time qualifiers, Alexander and teammate Nathan Downs will take part in the National Wrestling Championships Mar. 1-2 in Des, Moines, Iowa.

As a sophomore, Alexander went 1-2 at nationals in the 165 pound bracket and finished with the most wins for a season in school history with 33.

Alexander is the older brother of current Spoofhound wrestler Nate Alexander, a two-time state qualifier who recently earned his first career state medal with a fifth place finish at the Class 1 State Tournament.

During his final two years at MHS—2009 and 2010—Bryce Alexander won back-to-back state championships at 160 pounds.