WICHITA, Kan. - Marian wrestling fifth-year senior Anthony Hughes completed his dominant Marian career on Saturday afternoon, as the Indianapolis native ended his time in a Marian wrestling singlet in sixth place at the 2026 NAIA National Championship.

Anthony Hughes began the morning wrestling in the consolation semifinals of the 125 weight class bracket, competing against Braydon Pacheco of Friends University. The Falcon took the early lead on Hughes with a takedown, but Hughes quickly scored the reversal to get back within one. Despite getting within a point, Hughes was unable to escape from Pacheco in the second period, and in the third, Pacheco scored twice with an escape and riding time, sealing a 5-2 decision against the Knight.

The loss for the Marian senior pushed him into the fifth-place match, rematching against Wayland Baptist's Jesse Lewis. Neither wrestler scored in the first period, and in the second, Lewis managed the early escape point and takedown on Hughes, taking a 4-0 lead. The Marian senior chose neutral entering the third period needing points, and scored a takedown, but as the three came on the board with 24 seconds remaining, it was too late to overtake the lead, as Hughes fell by a 4-3 decision in the fifth place match.

Hughes finished his final run at the NAIA Championship in sixth place overall following Saturday's results, posting a record of 4-3 at the NAIA National Championship. Hughes is a two-time All-American for the Knights, one of two in program history as he joined Blake Mulkey this winter. 

Marian has one wrestler remaining in the NAIA National Championship, as Logan Wagner looks to make history and become the first-ever Knight to win a national championship in wrestling. The fifth-year senior competes around 8:20 p.m. ET against Embry-Riddle's Yoshiya Funakoshi for the national title at 141.

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