Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU senior Mason Shrader is headed to the NCAA Championships next week in Cleveland.
Photo by: Lauren Verellen
Shrader Earns NCAA At-Large Bid; Caves Named an Alternate
3/10/2026 6:36:00 PM | Wrestling
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan wrestler Mason Shrader is headed to Cleveland for the NCAA Championships.
Shrader, a senior who wrestles at 157 pounds, received an at-large bid to the tournament, which is Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Chippewas' Bryan Caves, a senior who wrestles at 285, was named an alternate will wrestle in the tournament should any of the 33 wrestlers in his weight class bows out before it begins.
CMU's Andrew Austin, a junior who wrestles at 133, is in the tournament as a result of his fourth-place finish last weekend at the Mid-American Conference Championships.
Shrader finished fifth at the MAC Championships. The top four wrestlers at the MAC tournament automatically qualified for the NCAA, leaving Shrader to wait for an at-large bid, which he received based on his season-long record and RPI.
Caves finished fifth at the MAC Championships. There were only two NCAA berths available at 285 at the MAC tournament. Caves was named an alternate after four at-large bids were granted at 285 for the NCAA Championships.
The NCAA Championships brackets for all 10 weight classes will be released on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at NCAA.com.
Shrader, a senior who wrestles at 157 pounds, received an at-large bid to the tournament, which is Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Chippewas' Bryan Caves, a senior who wrestles at 285, was named an alternate will wrestle in the tournament should any of the 33 wrestlers in his weight class bows out before it begins.
CMU's Andrew Austin, a junior who wrestles at 133, is in the tournament as a result of his fourth-place finish last weekend at the Mid-American Conference Championships.
Shrader finished fifth at the MAC Championships. The top four wrestlers at the MAC tournament automatically qualified for the NCAA, leaving Shrader to wait for an at-large bid, which he received based on his season-long record and RPI.
Caves finished fifth at the MAC Championships. There were only two NCAA berths available at 285 at the MAC tournament. Caves was named an alternate after four at-large bids were granted at 285 for the NCAA Championships.
The NCAA Championships brackets for all 10 weight classes will be released on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at NCAA.com.
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