INDIANAPOLIS  Western Colorado's Dean Noble earned an All-American honor Saturday at the 2025 NCAA Division II Men's Wrestling Championships, placing fourth in the 149-pound bracket to earn national honors in consecutive years.

Noble started Saturday in the semifinal round of the bracket, squaring off against Cael Larson from Augustana (S.D.) University. Larson in the second period registered the only takedown of the match in his 4-3 decision, shifting Noble to the consolation side of the bracket.

Guaranteed no worse than sixth place, Noble needed a win to elevate into the 3rd/4th-place match.

He took a 3-0 lead in the opening period against University of Indianapolis' Jackson Hoover, and held a 4-3 advantage going into the final period. Hoover scored a takedown with 49 seconds left to take the lead, but Noble notched a reversal as time was expiring to tie the score at 6-6 and force overtime.

It was Noble that scored the deciding takedown, winning 9-6 in sudden victory to move into that 3rd/4th-place bout.

The match pitted Noble against Brennan Watkins of King (Tenn.) University Saturday afternoon.

Noble scored first with a takedown but Watkins pulled the escape to trail only 3-1 entering the second period. Watson deferred to begin the second and Noble elected to start in the down position, one in which, though, Watson took advantage of by scoring a 4-point nearfall.

Noble earned an escape with 30 seconds in the period then added a takedown in the final second to inch back in front, 7-5, going into the final period.

Watkins pulled within a point with an escape, but the score then remained unchanged for more than a minute until Watkins scored a takedown with 15 seconds left in the match. Noble managed a quick escape but time ran out on him as Watkins would finish out the match with a 9-8 victory.
    
Noble's All-American fourth-place finish improves upon his All-American seventh-place finish at last year's national tournament.