Keegan Gehlhausen becomes an NCAA Division Wrestling All-American
by Con Marshall, Chadron State College
March 19, 2026
Chadron State College senior Gehlhausen of Pinedale, Wyoming, was the 184-pound runner-up at the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Tournament in 2025, and clinched his second All-American honor and a top-four nationals finish by winning his first two matches on Friday the 13th March at the National Tournament at Sioux Falls, South Dakota on March 13 and 14, 2026.
That’s when he decisioned Brad Mayse of Grand Valley State in Michigan 12-5 and won 5-3 over Pat Jackson of Gannon in Pennsylvania on a takedown with just 17 seconds left in the quarterfinal tussle.
Gehlhausen’s third foe of the tourney the next day was Darion Johnson of McKendree in Illinois. They had met in the semifinals at the Midwest Classic in December with Gehlhausen winning 8-5.
This time Johnson prevailed, although the match was closer than the 12-2 major decision score indicates. Gehlhausen trailed 5-2 late and, in his desperation to find a match-tying takedown, attacked, but he was prone to Johnson’s strong counter attack which allowed Johnson to earn three points for a takedown plus a four-point near-fall in the final seconds. Johnson went on to win the 184-pound national championship in dominating fashion, beating Central Missouri’s Damon Ashworth by a 17-2 tech fall.
Gehlhausen rebounded in his next match, defeating Nebraska-Kearney’s Kaden Hart for the third time this season by a 6-4 score to advance to the third-place bout. Waiting there was Colorado Mines’ Wyatt Reisz, who won the clash by a 10-5 decision.
Gehlhausen is now Chadron State’s fifth grappler to win two All-American honors, joining Mike Max, Tony Dammen, Jeff Rusher and Brett Hunter, the Chadron State head wrestling coach and a two-time national champion. Bob Waldner, Josh Majerus and Travis McDermott have won the honor three times. Dammen was from Cody, Wyoming, and McDermott has lived in Thermopolis most of his life. Keegen finished his senior season with an 18-3 record.
Gehlhausen’s results at Nationals:
184—Keegan Gehlhausen, CSC, dec. Bradley Mayse, Grand Valley, 12-5; Gehlhausen dec. Patrick Johnson, Gannon, 5-3; Darion Johnson, McKendree, major dec. Gehlhausen 12-2; Gehlhausen dec. Kaden Hart, UNK, 6-4; Wyatt Reisz, Colorado Mines, dec.Gehlhausen10-5 for third place.
Gehlhausen’s career records:
2022-23—16-12. He qualified for Nationals and was named the Region 6 Freshman of the Year.
2023-24—9-4. Missed the first half of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery at the end of his freshman season.
2024-25—22-3. Won Region 6 184-pound title and was runner-up at Nationals.
2025-26—18-3. Won Region 6 184-pound title and placed fourth at Nationals.
65-22 career record. One was Chadron State’s five two-time All-Americans. Three others were three-time All-Americans.
Keegan was a three-time state tournament champion when he was at Pinedale High School.
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