The 2022-2023 NAIA Wrestling Season was a blast & this season will be no different! So many great wrestlers return & who knows how unpredictable things will turn out. Let's take a look at the best of the best returning this year.
 |
| Hunter Sparks Eastern Oregon |
Seems every time Sparks makes a dramatic change in his life, it is for the better. Ever since moving down to 125 lbs, he's been quite dominant. Now that Brandon Orum of Life has graduated, he is most certainly the forerunner to win an NAIA national title. 2nd in the nation last season, he owns a dominating 9-2 decision over NAIA 3rd place finisher Trevor Marsman of Cornerstone.
 |
| Trevor Marsman Cornerstone |
The Golden Eagle had himself a very nice sophomore campaign last season which saw a WHAC title & a 3rd place finish at the NAIA championships. As of now Sparks seems to be his Achilles heel & he has shown himself to be susceptible at other times as well. Talent & ability wise, could make the NAIA finals.
 |
| Dennis McNeal Brewton Parker |
The two time All American ('22 7th & '23 4th) has proven himself to be NAIA finals worthy. The Baron defeated Marsman 11-10 at the Grand View Open. Twice 3rd in the Appalachian Athletic, now that both Life's Brandon Orum & Southeastern's Isaac Crowell have graduated, he should dominate the conference.
 |
| Conner Diamond Lindsey Wilson |
The California native was able to capture his first All American honor with an 8th place finish at the national tournament last year. Along with looking for a second All American honor, having finished 3rd & 2nd thus far in the Mid South, he will also look for his first conference title.
 |
| Colton King Central Methodist |
King had a fairly solid season last year that ended one match shy of NAIA All American honors. 3rd in the Heat of America, he'll look to earn the plaque that eluded him last year.
The future looks bright for the Grey Wolves of Lourdes at 125 lbs. Both only sophomores, Nick Rodriguez & Trevor Hisey are both NAIA All American candidates. Rodriguez came close last season, finishing one match shy at nationals. Between the two, it was Hisey who won a 4-2 decision at the Patriot Open. The two were to meet again in the Baldwin Wallace finals, but Hisey medical forfeited. Rodriguez took command with a 5-2 decision over Hisey in the WHAC semi-finals ultimately finishing 2nd to Hisey's 4th. Of the teams that put two wrestlers at the same weight on the award stand at nationals, Lourdes would be one to do it.
 |
| Nick Rodriguez Trevor Hisey Lourdes |
The future looks bright for the Grey Wolves of Lourdes at 125 lbs. Both only sophomores, Nick Rodriguez & Trevor Hisey are both NAIA All American candidates. Rodriguez came close last season, finishing one match shy at nationals. Between the two, it was Hisey who won a 4-2 decision at the Patriot Open. The two were to meet again in the Baldwin Wallace finals, but Hisey medical forfeited. Rodriguez took command with a 5-2 decision over Hisey in the WHAC semi-finals ultimately finishing 2nd to Hisey's 4th. Of the teams that put two wrestlers at the same weight on the award stand at nationals, Lourdes would be one to do it.
 |
| Diago Hernandez Ottawa |
It's only appropriate that Diago Hernandez is from Garden City, Kansas, because he often likes to "plant" his opponents shoulders to the mat. The Brave is thus far a two time KCAC champion, winner of the Gregorian Award (most falls, least amount of time). He'll look for his third title this season & his first All American honor.
A broken heart & a mind that still doesn't want to believe it, I am still in shock about what happened at Iowa Wesleyan. A program that worked so hard to reinstate their men's program & build a women's program, gone after all of the effort that was put into it. I can only imagine that Heart of America runner-up Lane Scorpil ends up somewhere to finish out his collegiate career. We used to wrestle Columbus Junction when I was in High school & my cousin Robby competed for them as well. Like most in this sport, I like watching local guys do well. Hopefully he pops up elsewhere.
 |
| Lane Scorpil Unknown At This Point |
A broken heart & a mind that still doesn't want to believe it, I am still in shock about what happened at Iowa Wesleyan. A program that worked so hard to reinstate their men's program & build a women's program, gone after all of the effort that was put into it. I can only imagine that Heart of America runner-up Lane Scorpil ends up somewhere to finish out his collegiate career. We used to wrestle Columbus Junction when I was in High school & my cousin Robby competed for them as well. Like most in this sport, I like watching local guys do well. Hopefully he pops up elsewhere.
 |
| Brayden Boyd Corban |
Only a sophomore, Brayden Boyd wasted no time in getting acquainted with NAIA wrestling last season. An impressive 26-7 rookie season saw titles won at the Mat Cat Invitational as well as the Mountaineer Open, taking runner-up honors at the Mike Clock Open. His only blemish at the Cascade Conference was a finals loss to eventual NAIA runner-up Hunter Sparks.
Another tough sophomore who had an impressive freshman campaign. Terrence earned runner-up honors at the Life Open, taking 4th place finishes at both the Menlo Open & the Cascade Conference.
Things might not have ended quite the way he wanted them to last season, but nonetheless I'd still call it a pretty good start for the four time Alaska high school state champ. Winning a Falcon Invite title with an impressive win over Jonathan Ortegon of Wayland Baptist, he was an NAIA qualifier with a 5th place finish in the Cascade Conference.
Basutil was an NAIA qualifier for the Phoenix last season, placing 3rd at the Mid South Conference.
Thus far the Kentucky native is a two time NAIA qualifier with Mid-South finishes of 6th & 4th as he enters his final season as a Saint. Another highlight on the '22-'23 season was an impressive 6th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
Pretty impressive rookie season for the three time Oklahoma high school state champ. Made his first NAIA nationals trip by making the finals of the KCAC.
Another tough sophomore that returns to the ranks of 125 lbs, is Georgia State champ Angel Banda. In one of the toughest conference brackets in the NAIA, Banda took 4th in the Appalachian which featured three All Americans. He was also 4th at the Pembroke Open.
 |
| Matt Terrence Vanguard |
Another tough sophomore who had an impressive freshman campaign. Terrence earned runner-up honors at the Life Open, taking 4th place finishes at both the Menlo Open & the Cascade Conference.
 |
| Landon Smith Embry Riddle |
Things might not have ended quite the way he wanted them to last season, but nonetheless I'd still call it a pretty good start for the four time Alaska high school state champ. Winning a Falcon Invite title with an impressive win over Jonathan Ortegon of Wayland Baptist, he was an NAIA qualifier with a 5th place finish in the Cascade Conference.
 |
| Chris Basutil Cumberland |
Basutil was an NAIA qualifier for the Phoenix last season, placing 3rd at the Mid South Conference.
 |
| Shay Horton Thomas More |
Thus far the Kentucky native is a two time NAIA qualifier with Mid-South finishes of 6th & 4th as he enters his final season as a Saint. Another highlight on the '22-'23 season was an impressive 6th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
 |
| Brody Gee St Mary |
Pretty impressive rookie season for the three time Oklahoma high school state champ. Made his first NAIA nationals trip by making the finals of the KCAC.
 |
| Angel Banda Reinhardt |
Another tough sophomore that returns to the ranks of 125 lbs, is Georgia State champ Angel Banda. In one of the toughest conference brackets in the NAIA, Banda took 4th in the Appalachian which featured three All Americans. He was also 4th at the Pembroke Open.
 |
| Seth I'Nama Briar Cliff |
The Alaska native racked up a series of placements in various tournaments last season including 5th place-finishes at the Buena Vista Open, the Central Under Amour Open & the Luther Hill Invitational. He took runner-up finishes at both the Dakota Wesleyan Open as well as the Great Plains Athletic Conference. He was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the very competitive UNK-Hospitality Open. Look for the Charger to challenge for a conference title in his final season.
Right there to challenge I'nama for the GPAC title will be Evan Shell of Morningside. The Mustang got the Charger 3-2 in the dual, but lost 3-1 s.v. in the semi-finals at conference. He's thus far been 2nd-3rd in the GPAC & will most likely face his adversary in this year's finals.
Both from Indianapolis, the Knights are sitting in pretty good shape via 125 lbs. Sophomore Alex Cottey was an NAIA qualifier last season with a 3rd place finish at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. A tough customer in his own right, Anthony Hughes was a WHAC champ in '22 & won a title at the Grand View Open last year.
LaPlante returns for his sophomore season having placed 5th at the WHAC championships. He was also 6th at the Albion Invite.
If you've been following JT#1 for very long, you know that I've been waiting a long time to see what Aden Reeves can do on the NAIA mats. I'm very excited to see him finally compete this season. Cousin Kaleb recently ended his NCAA DIII career with national finishes of 3rd-3rd-2nd. If Reeves wrestles up to his potential, no doubt he'll end the season an All American. Perhaps a little bit biased, I think he'll prove himself to be national championship material.
Daniel Vargas has now graduated, but you know good and well that the Tigers already have someone else waiting in wings. I believe that someone will be junior Russell Nickerson. He was 3rd at both the York Open as well as the Falcon Invite where he defeated Brody Gee in the consolation finals.
13-4 on the season last year, the Alabama native made the finals of the Patriot Open, winning a Life Open title with a victory over Matt Terrence in the finals.
 |
| Evan Shell Morningside |
Right there to challenge I'nama for the GPAC title will be Evan Shell of Morningside. The Mustang got the Charger 3-2 in the dual, but lost 3-1 s.v. in the semi-finals at conference. He's thus far been 2nd-3rd in the GPAC & will most likely face his adversary in this year's finals.
 |
| Anthony Hughes Alex Cottey Marian |
Both from Indianapolis, the Knights are sitting in pretty good shape via 125 lbs. Sophomore Alex Cottey was an NAIA qualifier last season with a 3rd place finish at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. A tough customer in his own right, Anthony Hughes was a WHAC champ in '22 & won a title at the Grand View Open last year.
 |
| Zach LaPlante Siena Heights |
LaPlante returns for his sophomore season having placed 5th at the WHAC championships. He was also 6th at the Albion Invite.
 |
| Aden Reeves Grand View |
If you've been following JT#1 for very long, you know that I've been waiting a long time to see what Aden Reeves can do on the NAIA mats. I'm very excited to see him finally compete this season. Cousin Kaleb recently ended his NCAA DIII career with national finishes of 3rd-3rd-2nd. If Reeves wrestles up to his potential, no doubt he'll end the season an All American. Perhaps a little bit biased, I think he'll prove himself to be national championship material.
 |
| Russell Nickerson Doane |
Daniel Vargas has now graduated, but you know good and well that the Tigers already have someone else waiting in wings. I believe that someone will be junior Russell Nickerson. He was 3rd at both the York Open as well as the Falcon Invite where he defeated Brody Gee in the consolation finals.
 |
| Chandlar Akins Cumberlands |
13-4 on the season last year, the Alabama native made the finals of the Patriot Open, winning a Life Open title with a victory over Matt Terrence in the finals.
No comments:
Post a Comment