This is where things get really interesting! 141 lbs is going to be a lot of fun this year! Let's take a look at the top returnees!
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| Julian Hernandez Jordan Mitchell Jody Mcalister Life |
Talk about a room full of talent! Holy cow! The Runnin' Eagles have three All American candidates on their team & unless one of them goes a different weight, come the post-season, at least one will unfortunately not be competing. First off we have two time NAIA All American Julian Hernandez who 5th in 2022 was 2nd in the nation last year. Jordan Mitchell was 5th at both the Missouri Valley Invitational & the Grand View Open. Jody Mcalister was 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, winning the Life Open, with All Americans Patrick Gould, Chasen Brown & David Pierce all featured in his bracket. All three wrestlers, Hernandez, Mitchell & Mcalister are seniors this season.
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| Patrick Gould Keiser |
A returning All American, Patrick Keiser was 4th in the NAIA nation last season. 3rd in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, he won the Patriot Open.
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| Cade Manion Oklahoma City |
The two time All American ('22 4th, '23 5th) is only a junior this season as he looks to earn his third spot on the national award stand. He was also 3rd at the Missouri Invitational last season.
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| Asa Garcia Logan Wagner Marian |
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| David Pierson Thomas Williams St. Thomas |
They say iron sharpens iron, & here's another example at 141 lbs in the NAIA where we have two outstanding wrestlers, same weight, same team. Pierson was a Mid-South Conference champion last season, earning the Bobcats their first All American honor with an 8th place finish. Thomas, a great addition as a transfer from Davis & Elkins, was runner-up at the tough Dakota Wesleyan tournament.
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| Adrian Ayala Lindsey Wilson |
A match shy of All American honors last season, Adrian Ayala goes into his final season looking for that top eight finish. Runner-up in the Mid-South Conference, he was 6th at the Grand View Open.
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| Austin Kolvek Ottawa |
One of the few underclassmen among many upperclassmen, Austin Kolvek put together a 20-8 freshman campaign last season which saw a KCAC title & an NAIA R12 finish.
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| Parker Dobrocky Southeastern |
Dobrocky was a three time NJCAA All American for Rochester Tech & nearly earned his first NAIA All American honor last year when he finished one match shy of placing at the national tournament. Runner-up at the Appalachian Athletic Conference, he defeated two NCAA DI wrestlers in route to a 4th place finish at the Citadel Open. Wagner who defeated NAIA champ Ruffridge 8-2, Dobrocky defeated him 9-4.
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| Kael Brisker Southeastern |
Dobrocky isn't alone either. Kael Brisker went to High School currently about a 40 minute drive from where I type this very sentence. Difference is, come this winter, he'll be enjoying the beautiful Florida sunshine, while I continue to freeze my balls off here in Iowa. Can't help but admit I'm envious. Nevertheless, happy to see an Iowa kid with the opportunity & of course I always love see the locals do well. 4th at the Life Open & 5th in both the AAC as well as the Patriot Open, his true highlight of the season was at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He made the finals with an impressive 6-5 decision in the semis over two time NAIA All American Cade Manion. If he wrestles like that all season, he truly will be on fire.
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| Creighton Baughman Concordia (NEB) |
25-10 on the season last year, the former two time NJCAA All American for Iowa Western had himself a pretty good introduction to the NAIA. He was 3rd at the Doane Open & 2nd in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
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| Bryce Nickel Cumberlands |
Here's a guy I would definitely keep an eye on this season. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see it a year of redemption for Bryce Nickel. An NAIA finish of 7th in 2021 & an NAIA finish of 6th in 2022, he failed to make the award stand last season. Twice champion & once runner up in the conference, he settled for 3rd place. 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational in 2022, he was 8th last year. Can't help but think he goes into this final season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and look out, whoever it is that has to step on the mat with him.
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| Kyler Adams Midway |
2nd in the Mid-South conference in 2022, Kyler Adams was 4th last season. He was also runner-up at the Central Baptist Invitational.
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| Jared Dinh Cumberland |
The Florida native was 5th at both the Life Open as well as the Mid-South Conference.
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| Donte Lopez Oklahoma Wesleyan |
Daniel Cormier trained while in high school, Lopez is one of Coach Carr's hopes for a 2024 All American. Runner-up in the KCAC, he won a Central Baptist Invitational with a 10-8 victory over Kyler Adams.
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| Nick Walters Morningside |
Another talented underclassmen in this mess of upperclassmen, Nick Walters was 3rd in the GPAC last season.
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| Tyree Johnson Life |
And here you thought we were done discussing Life wrestling at 141 lbs. No...we...are...not. Runner-up finishes at both Grand View & The Blue Raider Opens, he was 3rd at the Patriot Open & 4th at the AAC. Winning the varsity spot at Life might as well have a plaque & a certificate of its own.
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| Jaxon Morlan Eastern Oregon |
I think Jaxon Morlan may have redshirted last year, but I don't know for sure. What I do know is that he was 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational & I don't recall seeing much of him other than that. 2nd in the Cascade Conference in 2022, he was also NAIA R12 that season as well.
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| Hartwell Taylor Saint Mary |
A KCAC champion in 2022, Hartwell Taylor was 2nd at the Doane Open last year.
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