KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Senior
David Key (184) claimed All-America honors for placing eighth in his respective weight class at the 93rd NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Key garnered the 65th All-America nod in team history and the first since Tanner Skidgel (141, 2nd team) and Spencer Carey (174, Honorable Mention), who were named All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) following the 2020 season when the tournament was canceled due to Covid-19. The Norcross, Ga., native became the first Navy wrestler to reach the podium since Mathew Miller (184), who earned All-America distinction in 2016 for finishing in fifth place. Additionally, he is the third mid to be named an All-American at 184 pounds.
Key was seeded 25th in his respective weight class for the championship and posted the second-largest seed to place difference (17) amongst the field of 330 wrestlers. He was one of only four wrestlers seeded 20th or higher to place in the top eight in their respective weight class.
Key ended the tournament with a 3-3 record. He began the championship with a huge upset over a service academy rival. Key defeated Air Force's No. 7 Sam Wolf by a 4-1 decision after scoring the match-winning takedown with 28 seconds remaining in the third period.
The senior recorded another late takedown in his next match against No. 20 Shane Liegel of Wisconsin. Key scored a takedown with 17 seconds to go in the match to defeat Liegel by a 4-2 decision.
After a loss to No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals, Key claimed his second victory over a top-10 opponent in the blood round. He beat Missouri's No. 9 Colton Hawks by a 2-1 decision to guarantee an eighth-place finish.
The senior fell in his final two matches of the tournament to No. 8 Bennett Berge and No. 10 TJ Stewart of Virginia Tech.
Key had a remarkable postseason run to cap off his career. He qualified for nationals after placing third at the EIWA Championship with a 4-1 record. He placed in three of his four appearances at the EIWA tournament (2nd - 2021; 3rd - 2023; 3rd - 2024) to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championship three times in his career.
Key compiled an 8-4 record between the EIWA and NCAA Championships. He won six matches over ranked opponents in the two tournaments, three of which were ranked in the top 10.
The Mids finished in a tie for 26th place of 68 teams at nationals. Navy's five NCAA qualifiers combined to post a record of 12-11.
Navy Wrestling 2024 NCAA Championship Results
141 - (11) #11 Josh Koderhandt (3-2, Did Not Place)
• Rd of 32: defeated (22) #17 CJ Composto, Penn / Dec / 4-1 SV1
• Rd of 16: lost to (6) #9 Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina / Dec / 8-5
• Cons. Rd 2: defeated (28) #29 Greyson Clark, Purdue / Dec / 6-0
• Cons. Rd 3: defeated (14) #15 Jesse Vasquez, Arizona State / Dec / 9-5
• Cons. Rd 4: lost to (9) #8 Brock Hardy, Nebraska / Dec / 7-3
165 - (11) #12 Andrew Cerniglia (2-2, Did Not Place)
• Rd of 32: lost to (22) #18 Noah Mulvaney, Bucknell / Dec / 10-9
• Cons. Rd 1: defeated (27) #28 Blaine Brenner, Minnesota / Dec / 6-0
• Cons. Rd 2: defeated (12) #15 Garrett Thompson, Ohio / Dec / 7-3
• Cons. Rd 3: lost to (20) #25 Hunter Garvin, Stanford / Tech Fall / 19-2 (6:18)
174 - (27) #31 Danny Wask (2-2, Did Not Place)
• Rd of 32: lost to (6) #6 Rocco Welsh, Ohio State / Dec / 4-2
• Cons. Rd 1: defeated (22) #21 Peyton Mocco, Missouri / Dec / 8-1
• Cons. Rd 2: defeated (21) #19 Tyler Eischens, North Carolina / Dec / 10-8 TB2
• Cons. Rd 3: lost to (14) #16 Gaven Sax, North Dakota State / Major / 10-0
184 - (25) #23 David Key (3-3, 8th Place)
• Rd of 32: defeated (8) #7 Sam Wolf, Air Force / Dec / 4-1
• Rd of 16: defeated (24) #20 Shane Liegel, Wisconsin / Dec / 4-2
• Quarterfinals: lost to (1) #1 Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa / Tech Fall / 22-6 (6:22)
• Cons. Rd 4: defeated (11) #9 Colton Hawks, Missouri / Dec / 2-1
• Cons. Rd 5: lost to (9) #8 Bennett Berge, South Dakota State / Tech Fall / 17-2 (5:47)
• Seventh Place: lost to (7) #10 TJ Stewart, Virginia Tech / Tech Fall / 20-4 (6:50)
285 - (17) #20 Grady Griess (2-2, Did Not Place)
• Rd of 32: defeated (16) #20 Cory Day, Binghamton / Dec / 4-1 SV1
• Rd of 16: lost to (1) #1 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State / Major / 9-1
• Cons. Rd 2: defeated (18) #24 David Szuba, Rider / Fall / 4:09
• Cons. Rd 3: lost to (26) #17 Hunter Catka, Virginia Tech / Dec / 6-2
