After a strong run through the Heart of America Conference Championships, Diego Machado saw his season come to a close at the 2024 NAIA Championships in Park City, Kan., Thursday.

Machado earned a tough draw, squaring off against the 165-pound bracket's No. 2 seed Rysan Leong of Menlo (Calif.) in the opening round. The Bee junior from Sparks, Nev., lost by tech fall to drop to the consolation bracket. Then, after a bye, Machado faced Cameron Hargrove from William Penn, who was ranked No. 19 in the final NAIA coaches poll and had upset the draw's No. 16 seed 16-11 in the championship's first round. The third match between Machado and Hargrove this season was the closest as Hargrove advanced with a 9-3 decision.

Machado finished the season with 14 wins and took true second at the Heart Championships to earn his first bid to the National Tournament.

The Bees have qualified at least one wrestler at Nationals in each of the last three seasons since St. Ambrose brought back its wrestling program in 2021-22. In 2022, Mick Chagnon, Matt Robertson and Jayden Terronez represented St. Ambrose, and last year, Jayden and Daniel Terronez both qualified.