2022-2023 brought about many huge surprises in NAIA wrestling & no doubt about it, 2023-2024 will be no different. Without a doubt Baterdene Boldmaa of Doane coming up short of his fourth title topped them all, but it was far from the only shock. Two time champion Eric Vermillion of Indiana Tech finishing in 4th was quite unexpected. Gage Braun of Southeastern not even placing, I'd label surreal. We can sit an speculate, while making predictions until we're blue in the face, but the only thing we can really do is wait.
Heavyweight is a good mixture of talent both young and old. Plenty of seniors & juniors, with quite a few sophomores & no doubt about it, plenty of freshmen that will be making a name for themselves. Some look to defend their status, while others look to earn theirs.
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| Greg Hagan Grand View |
Greg Hagan returns for his final season as a Viking a two time NAIA finalist, having won the NAIA national title last season.
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| Gabe Jacobs Southeastern |
Among those looking to try and knock Hagan off of his throne will be Gabe Jacobs of South Eastern. 3rd in both the NAIA & the Appalachian Athletic Conference, he brought home gold at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He was also runner-up at the Patriot Open.
Two time All American ('22 7th & '23 5th) Daulton Mayer enters his senior season having won the Mid-South Conference last season. He was also 3rd at the Patriot Open.
Senior Earnest Johnson gave the young Keiser wrestling program a huge boost as he earned All American honors for the Seahawks with a 7th place finish at the NAIA championships. 3rd-4th thus far in Mid-South Conference showings, he was 5th at the Patriot Open.
The Iowa State transfer won a GPAC title last season, finishing within one match of being an NAIA All American.
He'll no longer have Josh Isaac in the room & I'm anxious to see what effect that ends up having on him. The importance of a good workout partner is so crucial to success. Nonetheless I do see Brooks Baker improving upon his 5th place Heart of America finish.
A wrestler I could definitely see stepping it up this season is Simpson's Jacob Vincent. Thus far the Red Hawk has hard back to back bronze medal showings within the Cascade Conference. 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, he was 3rd at the Mile High Open.
Antonio Garcia heads into his sophomore season having placed 5th in the Cascade Conference last season.
Another among the youth, sophomore Bruce Wagers was a Mid-South Conference runner-up last season.
Going into his junior season, River Henry has thus far been 5th & 3rd in the Mid-South Conference. He also placed 6th at the Life Open.
23-12 on the season last year, Justin Darter has made the KCAC finals three times in a row, capturing two silvers & a gold. He should be the favorite to win the title this season. He was also 3rd at the Dan Harris Open last year as well.
Sophomore Rocky Whitehead was 3rd at the KCAC last year as a freshman.
Qualls goes into his senior season having placed 4th at the KCAC last year.
The Louisiana native won a conference title last year for the Mustangs.
Junior Jakob Jarabek was a runner-up at the GPAC last season.
If I had to pick the best wrestler in the NAIA yet to All American, I think I would have to go with Brandon Antesberger. It's difficult for me to believe that going into his senior year, he has yet to nab a top 8 finish at the NAIA tournament. A GPAC champion in 2022, he was 3rd last year. 5th at the Doane Open, he won titles at the Mile High Open, The Falcon Open & the York Open.
Allen was 4th at the GPAC last season.
A match away from NAIA All American honors in 2021, Byron Pierce goes into his senior season having placed 3rd at the Life Open & 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year.
The New Hampshire native is making strides as he is helping to lead the fairly new Cornerstone wrestling program as it heads into its third season. He was an impressive 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season.
3rd at the WHAC in 2022, Braydon Urb won a Trine Invitational title last season, taking runner-up honors at the Findlay Open.
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| Daulton Mayer Thomas More |
Two time All American ('22 7th & '23 5th) Daulton Mayer enters his senior season having won the Mid-South Conference last season. He was also 3rd at the Patriot Open.
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| Earnest Johnson Keiser |
Senior Earnest Johnson gave the young Keiser wrestling program a huge boost as he earned All American honors for the Seahawks with a 7th place finish at the NAIA championships. 3rd-4th thus far in Mid-South Conference showings, he was 5th at the Patriot Open.
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| Hunter Dejong Morningside |
The Iowa State transfer won a GPAC title last season, finishing within one match of being an NAIA All American.
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| Brooks Baker Missouri Valley |
He'll no longer have Josh Isaac in the room & I'm anxious to see what effect that ends up having on him. The importance of a good workout partner is so crucial to success. Nonetheless I do see Brooks Baker improving upon his 5th place Heart of America finish.
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| Jacob Vincent Simpson (CA) |
A wrestler I could definitely see stepping it up this season is Simpson's Jacob Vincent. Thus far the Red Hawk has hard back to back bronze medal showings within the Cascade Conference. 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, he was 3rd at the Mile High Open.
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| Antonio Garcia Southern Oregon |
Antonio Garcia heads into his sophomore season having placed 5th in the Cascade Conference last season.
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| Bruce Wagers Rio Grande |
Another among the youth, sophomore Bruce Wagers was a Mid-South Conference runner-up last season.
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| River Henry Cumberland |
Going into his junior season, River Henry has thus far been 5th & 3rd in the Mid-South Conference. He also placed 6th at the Life Open.
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| Justin Darter Ottawa |
23-12 on the season last year, Justin Darter has made the KCAC finals three times in a row, capturing two silvers & a gold. He should be the favorite to win the title this season. He was also 3rd at the Dan Harris Open last year as well.
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| Rocky Whitehead Bethany |
Sophomore Rocky Whitehead was 3rd at the KCAC last year as a freshman.
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| Griffin Qualls Avila |
Qualls goes into his senior season having placed 4th at the KCAC last year.
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| Darron Harvey Central Baptist |
The Louisiana native won a conference title last year for the Mustangs.
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| Jakob Jarabek Morningside |
Junior Jakob Jarabek was a runner-up at the GPAC last season.
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| Brandon Antesberger Doane |
If I had to pick the best wrestler in the NAIA yet to All American, I think I would have to go with Brandon Antesberger. It's difficult for me to believe that going into his senior year, he has yet to nab a top 8 finish at the NAIA tournament. A GPAC champion in 2022, he was 3rd last year. 5th at the Doane Open, he won titles at the Mile High Open, The Falcon Open & the York Open.
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| Alton Allen Briar Cliff |
Allen was 4th at the GPAC last season.
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| Byron Pierce Midway |
A match away from NAIA All American honors in 2021, Byron Pierce goes into his senior season having placed 3rd at the Life Open & 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year.
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| Sterling McLaughlin Cornerstone |
The New Hampshire native is making strides as he is helping to lead the fairly new Cornerstone wrestling program as it heads into its third season. He was an impressive 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season.
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| Braydon Erb Indiana Tech |
3rd at the WHAC in 2022, Braydon Urb won a Trine Invitational title last season, taking runner-up honors at the Findlay Open.
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