INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- Jace Fisher represented Newman Wrestling at the 2025 Division II National Championships. This was Fisher's second time qualifying for Nationals in his collegiate career. At Nationals, Fisher was able to secure All-American status with a 6th place finish. Fisher's All-American honors is the first for Newman Wrestling since 2020. This is Fisher's first time placing at Nationals and earning All-American status.
Fisher started off his Nationals tournament against the No. 2 seed from Lake Erie, Jack Haskin. Haskin was 25-3 on the year. Though Fisher put up a fight, Haskin took the match by 10-4 decision. Haskin was able to secure the victory with help from three take downs. Fisher scored his four points off of escapes. This first round loss pushed Fisher to the first round of consolation.
In consolation round one, Fisher faced No. 7 seed Trent Munoz of Nebraska Kearney. Fisher and Munoz matched up earlier this season where Munoz was able to take the match by decision at 4-2. This time out against Munoz, over time was needed to decide the victor after both Fisher and Munoz scored two points a piece off of escapes. In the first 30 seconds of the tie break, Fisher was able to earn the advantage with an escape in seven seconds. In the final 30 seconds of tie break, Fisher did not allow Munoz to escape until eight seconds remained in the match. This secured Fisher the win in UTB (ultimate tie breaker).
This win over Munoz pushed Fisher to round two of consolation. A win in this round would secure Fisher All-American status. Fisher faced Nate Barrett of Ashland in the consolation second round. Fisher scored the first three points with a take down with a minute left in the first period. Barrett was able to score one point with an escape to make it 3-1 to end the period. In the second period, Fisher scored a point off of an escape at the 1:57 mark. This made it 6-1 still in favor of Fisher. At the 41 second mark, Fisher added three more points to his lead to make it 7-1 to end the second period. Barrett was able to record an escape in the third period to make it 7-2. However, Fisher was able to hold the lead through the remainder of third period to secure his victory at 7-2. This win earned Fisher All-American honors and punched his ticket to day two of the tournament.
On day two, Fisher first matched up with Bailey Gimbor of Kutztown in the consolation third round. Gimbor scored the first three points with a take down with 22 seconds left in the first period. Fisher was able to score a point off of an escape to end the period with the 3-1 deficit to come back from. Gimbor extended his lead to 4-1 with an escape in the second period. In the third period, Fisher was able to cut into this deficit with a take down and escape point that ultimately tied the score at 5-5 to force overtime. With 49 seconds left in overtime, Fisher was able to record a take down to give himself three points and the sudden victory at 8-5. This win clinched Fisher a spot in the consolation semifinals match.
In the consolation semifinal, Fisher took on No. 6 seed Dajun Johnson of Wisconsin Parkside. Johnson took the first points with a take down to make it 3-0. In the second period, Fisher earned an escape point to make it 3-1. Johnson took his lead to 4-1 with an escape to start the third period. Fisher was able to battle through and tie the match at 4-4 with a take down. Fisher allowed Johnson the escape in the closing minute to allow himself position for a take down for the win. However, Fisher was unable to score for the remainder of the period. Johnson would take the match by decision at 6-4.
Fisher would earn his way to the fifth place match following the consolation semifinal loss. In the fifth place match, Fisher faced No. 8 seed Cory Peterson of McKendree. In the fifth place match, both Fisher and Peterson remained scoreless through the first three minutes. Peterson was able to score six points in the second period with two take downs, but Fisher was able to secure two points off of two escapes to make it a 6-2 score at the end of the second period. In the final period, Peterson was able to record one more point off of an escape to take the score to 7-2. Fisher battled until the end of the match, but was unable to make up the difference. Jace Fisher would secure 6th place at the NCAA DII National Championships.
