TCNJ Athletics announced on Tuesday that the NCAA has vacated the 2026 Division III 174-pound individual national championship title previously held by wrestler Hunter Mays. The decision follows an undisclosed violation of NCAA policy, leading the governing body to remove the achievement from official record books.
Mays, who completed the 2026 season with an undefeated 28-0 record, had originally secured the title after defeating Bryce McDonough of Luther College with an 8-6 victory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Despite the vacating of the title, the NCAA has confirmed that the runner-up, McDonough, will not be elevated to champion status; his position in the tournament bracket remains unchanged.
The announcement impacts TCNJ’s historical wrestling records, as Mays was initially recognized as the school’s first-ever 174-pound national champion. TCNJ Athletics stated that while the specific nature of the violation remains confidential, the university acknowledges that further sanctions from the NCAA may be forthcoming.
Mays transferred to TCNJ prior to the 2024-25 season from Lehigh. The ruling marks a significant shift in the outcome of the 2026 tournament, which had otherwise been celebrated by the university alongside Garrett Totten’s championship win in the 133-pound weight class.