Former LaFayette High School state wrestling champion Ian Stephens won the 184-pound title for Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) on Saturday at the NAIA East Qualifying Group Tournament, which was held at St. Andrew’s University in North Carolina.

Stephens, a junior, went 4-0 in the tournament to grab Most Valuable Wrestler honors and stay unbeaten against NAIA competition this season. He won the title with an 8-2 victory over Trey Hicks of Life University (Ga.).

Lindsey Wilson finished with 155.5 points to win the team title, and they qualified 10 of 12 wrestlers for the NAIA Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa on March 1-2. Campbellsville (Ky.) was second with 146.5 points, while Cumberland (Tenn.) and Missouri Baptist rounded out the top four with 103 points each.

Stephens qualified for the NAIA Nationals last season, losing in the 174-pound finals to Brock Gutches of Southern Oregon, 6-4. Stephens came to Lindsey Wilson after winning the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) 184-pound championship with Tennessee Temple University during the 2010-2011 season.

As a team, the Blue Raiders placed fourth in Des Moines last year with one champion and two runners-up. It was the program’s best-ever finish at nationals.