INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - A lone Hawk made the trip to Indiana to represent Quincy University for the NCAA DII National Championships, as Sabian Russell ended a single season drought of national championship qualification for the Hawks with a third-place finish at the Super Region IV tournament in the 141 pound division to earn Quincy's first berth at the national championships since Phillip Sims became the program's first national tourney participant in the 22-23 season. 

Russell opened the tournament with a 5-1 decision over Nicholas Cottone of Millersville to enter the main bracket facing the No. 8 overall seed in Johnny Lopez of San Francisco State. 

Lopez got the better of Russell by a 13-5 major decision to send the Hawks' sophomore to the consolation bracket. 

Next was a 20-4 tech fall defeat at the hands of Luke Kunath of Belmont Abbey to bring Russell's season to a close as the Hawks' second national tournament qualifier in the program's three seasons of existence. 

Although he fell short of earning QU's first All-American nod on the men's side, Russell put together one of the most successful seasons in the young history of men's wrestling at Quincy University, as the Yuma, Arizona native compiled a 31-9 overall record while bringing home a championship finish in the 141 pound division of the Benedictine College hosted Service Salute Open back on 11/9/24, one of eight championship finishes for Quincy this season.