CHADRON, NEB. – Chadron State College freshman Keegan Gehlhausen was selected as the Division II Super 6 Rookie Wrestler of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association on March 28.

Gehlhausen, a redshirt freshman, is now one of six finalists for the National Rookie of the Year Award. NCAA Division II wrestling coaches will vote on the winner of the award.

Gehlhausen is the first Chadron State wrestler to win the Super 6 Rookie Wrestler of the Year. The Super 6 region includes more than a dozen teams across the western half of the United States.

“Keegan has committed himself to the sport of wrestling and to our program,” said Chadron State College Head Wrestling Coach Brett Hunter. “This is a testament of his hard work and discipline.”

The Pinedale High School alumnus, Class of 2021, was an NCAA national qualifier at 184 pounds after finishing as runner-up in the Super Region 6 Wrestling Championships hosted by Chadron State College on Feb. 25.

Gehlhausen went 1-2 at the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 10-11. He upset the No. 6-ranked wrestler in the nation in the first round.

Gehlhausen was named first-team All-Conference and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Freshman of the Year. He finished the 2022-2023 season with a 16-12 record.

Gehlhausen is a three-time Wyoming state high school wrestling champion and All-State recipient. He earned his first championship at 106 pounds as a freshman in 2018, won the gold medal again in 2019 at 126 pounds and triumphed as the 170-pound champion as a senior. Gehlhausen posted an undefeated 51-0 record his senior year at Pinedale High School. His cumulative high school wrestling record was 168-28.

Gehlhausen is majoring in rangeland management with an option in wildlife management.