INDIANAPOLIS – San Francisco State wrestler Johnny Lopez is coming home from the NCAA Division II National Championships as the National Champion at 141 lb. He won both of Saturday's bouts and finished 4-0 to stand atop the podium at the 2025 NCAA Division II Winter Festival, with the wrestling championships held inside Corteva Coliseum.

Lopez, who finishes the season 27-2, entered ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II at 141 lb. by the NWCA. After finishing Friday with two wins over Quincy's Sabian Russell and No. 10 Lake Erie's Christian Small, who was the top seed in the bracket. He becomes the 14th National Champion in program history and the program's first National Champion since Naveed Bagheri in 2013, also at 141 lb. This is the highest finish by a Gator since Jordan Gurrola (133 lb.) finished fourth in Cleveland in 2019.

Lopez's semifinal win over No. T25 Fairmont State's Colton Stoneking came down to the final seconds. Stoneking scored a takedown with eight seconds left to go up 5-4 but Lopez scored a reversal with one second left. The Fairmont coaches threw the challenge brick but the call was upheld and Lopez came away victorious, 7-5. In the first period, Lopez struck first with a takedown at the 40-second mark. Stoneking was close to scoring a reversal but was instead whistled for a technical violation for grabbing Lopez's headgear, resulting in a point for Lopez. However, Lopez's first takedown was wiped away after a coach's challenge. The violation still applied, and Lopez led 1-0 after the first period. Stoneking scored a reversal to begin the second period but Lopez answered with a reversal of his own to regain the lead, 3-2. With Lopez having over a minute of riding time banked and essentially up three points, Stoneking conceded an escape to begin the third period in hopes of scoring big. He did but Lopez's reversal punched his ticket to the finals.

Lopez won the championship bout 8-7 over No. 18 West Liberty's Khyvon Grace, who entered the day ranked No. 10. Lopez scored the first takedown of the bout, though Grace scored a reversal to end the first period 3-2. Grace scored another reversal to take a lead in the second period but Lopez escaped to tie the bout at 4-4, and scored a takedown with 13 seconds left in the period to head into the final two minutes up 7-4. Lopez began the third period in the down position and after Grace built up riding time, eventually conceded an escape with 48 seconds to go to make it 8-4. A penalty and caution cut Lopez's lead to 8-6 and Lopez avoided a takedown in the final seconds to hold on for the win.

As a team, the Gators finished 21st. Nebrasky Kearney took home the team title.

Quotables

"So happy for Johnny - we got it done! We've been on the right path for a while now, and it's great to finally see the results and have the affirmation that we've been doing the right things," said Head Coach Jason Welch. "I know this success is going to continue to push our program to the next level. Congrats to Johnny!"