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 6:36:00β―PM | Wrestling
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. β Central Michigan wrestler Mason Shrader is headed to Cleveland for the NCAA Championships.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
Β
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.
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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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Players Mentioned
Saturday, March 07
Saturday, March 07
Wednesday, March 04
Thursday, January 08