The JPII Warriors hit the mat hard this past weekend at the National Preps Southeast Region Qualifier in Locust Grove, Georgia, looking to grapple their way to Nationals. The team made program history, with all four wrestlers placing in the top four of their weight classes, marking the most placers in JPII history. Even more impressively, two Warriors punched their tickets to the National Preps Wrestling Championship Tourney next weekend—Brian Orta and Daniel Snyder, both finishing in 3rd place.

Freshman Tripp Thiesen – 113 lbs (4th Place)

Thiesen came out swinging, winning his first match by pinning his opponent Ford Cellino of Brookstone. In the semifinals, he battled top seed and 4th-ranked National Preps wrestler Liam Davis from Lake Highland Prep but fell short. Thiesen bounced back in the consolation semis, securing a hard-fought 19-17 decision over SCISA state tournament 4th-place finisher Luciano Chavez. In the 3rd place match, he took on SCISA state champion Eli Lorang but lost by pin.

Despite the tough finish, Thiesen wrapped up his freshman season with a 28-10 record, setting the JPII record for most wins by a freshman.

Jack Hannagan – 150 lbs (4th Place)

Competing in one of the toughest weight classes of the tournament, Hannagan dominated his opening match with a 19-4 technical fall over Brody McLean of Strong Rock Christian School. In the semifinals, he faced five-time SCISA state champion Luke Martin but lost by technical pin. Undeterred, Hannagan fought through the consolation bracket, pinning Charlie Jones of Cardinal Newman to earn a shot at 3rd place.

In the finals, he squared off against James Palmer of Brookstone, ultimately losing by pin to finish 4th place with a strong 29-12 season record.

Brian Orta – 132 lbs (3rd Place, National Qualifier)

Orta delivered a standout performance, clinching 3rd place and securing his spot at the National Preps Championship. His decisive 12-9 victory over Sanford Horne of Stratford Academy sealed his ticket to Nationals.

With an outstanding 36-6 record, Orta now holds the single-season win record in JPII history, he will head to Nationals.

Daniel Snyder – 138 lbs (3rd Place, National Qualifier)

Snyder’s road to Nationals was a grueling battle against elite competition. He started with a tough loss to 18th-ranked Brock Gunnels of The King’s Academy before bouncing back with a dominant 19-3 technical fall over Jose Ayerdi of St. Ann’s Pacelli School. His next match pitted him against #1-ranked National Preps wrestler Jayce Paridon of Lake Highland Prep, where he fell in a hard-fought 18-3 technical fall.

Snyder’s resilience showed in the 3rd place match, where he staged a clutch comeback, scoring a late 3rd-period escape to seal a 9-8 decision over Georgia state runner-up John Brewer of Athens Christian. With this huge win, Snyder will make his return to the National Preps Wrestling Championship at Lehigh University this weekend. He now boasts a 26-9 season record.

The Road to Nationals

The National Preps Wrestling Championship kicks off this Friday and continues through Saturday at Lehigh University. With Orta and Snyder representing JPII on the national stage, the Warriors are ready to bring the heat!

Outstanding performance by all four wrestlers—way to leave it all on the mat, boys!