SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The lone Greyhound standing after day one at the 2026 edition of the NCAA DII National Championships, Cale Gray, wrestled his way to a seventh place finish. 

Gray claimed his All-American status yesterday after his comeback win over Colorado Mesa's Tyler Doyle, that was in result of a late take down in the third period with 16 seconds left to send it to sudden victory where he would capture the winning take down just 25 seconds into overtime. Today he competing for at best a third place finish, and began his day against the No. 5 seed Freddie Retter from Kutztown. 

In his opening match he fell behind early, 3-0 after the first period, and battled his way through the second period to attempt to escape the grasp of Retter. Retter was able to eclipse over two minutes of riding time after keeping control for all two minutes of the second period. Retter chose bottom in the third, knowing Gray needed at least four points to send the match to sudden victory. Gray was unable to do that, and eventually fell via major decision, 11-2. 

His defeat against Retter set up a rematch against the No. 6 seed Isaiah Vance from Pitt-Johnstown in the seventh-place match. The two have faced off only twice before, once at the 42nd edition of the Midwest Classic in 2021, and at last year's national championships. 

Vance ultimately forfeited the match, giving Gray a seventh place finish at the 2026 DII national championships. This marks his second career top-8 finish at the national championships in his illustrious six-year Greyhound career, with the other time coming in his 2022-23 season.

Gray's career at UIndy has come to close, but for the rest of the Greyhound national qualifiers; Nathan Smith (125), Gavin Garcia (149), Michael Ortega (157), and Ethan Farnell (197), they will look to showcase why the Greyhounds will continue to a presence on the national stage yet again next year.