Saturday, August 17, 2024

Who's Who of NAIA Collegiate Wrestling: Top Returnees 197 for 2024-2025

Garavous Kouekabakilaho
Grand View

Man, I hope I spelled that right.  Garavous Kouekabakilaho has thus far proven himself to be a phenomenal collegiate wrestler & per the records, he's only a junior.  An NAIA runner-up last season, he was 3rd in the Heart of American (HOA), as he took runner-up finishes at both the Oppenheim Invitational and the Grand View Open.  Winning the Missouri Valley Invitational, he was also 3rd there in 2023. 

Kaston Grape
Doane

Kaston Grape had himself one heck of a season last year.  4th in the NAIA, he was the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) runner-up & he won the Oppenheim Invitational. 

Elijah Hynes
Central Methodist

Only a junior himself, Elijah Hynes is collecting enough hardware to one day have his own section in the Eagles trophy case.  8th & 5th thus far in the NAIA nation, he's been 3rd & 4th in the HOA.  Winning the Hastings Open, he was 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational and 5th at the Grand View Open. 

Brad Antesberger
Doane

Another guy who has collected quite a bit of hardware thus far in his collegiate career has been Brad Antesberger.  The Tiger has thus far been 3rd & 7th in the NAIA nation, collecting back to back GPAC titles.  Also a two time Friends Falcon Invitational champion, he won the Mile High Invitational as well. 

Cameron Cornman
Central Methodist

Standout season for Cameron Cornman last year as he shared the NAIA award stand with teammate Elijah Hynes, taking 8th place All American honors. 5th in the Hart of America, he was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational & he was the Missouri Valley Open runner-up. 

Nathan Critchfield
Indiana Tech

A Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) champion last season, Nathan Critchfield finished one match shy of NAIA All American honors.  He won the Trine Invitational. 

Sawyer Hobbs
Providence 

The two time CCC champion was 5th in the NAIA nation in 2023, but came up a little short of a second All American honor this past season. 

Demarco Lee
Life

Demarco Lee won an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) title last season. 

Ryker Blackburn
Saint Mary

2nd at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), Ryker Blackburn also earned 5th place honors at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Carter Kroll
Lourdes

Carter Kroll made the WHAC finals last season.  Although he did not place at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, he was 4th there in 2023. 

Mason Garcia
Concordia (NEB)

15 wins on the season for Mason Garcia who was 3rd at the GPAC & 2nd at the Hastings Open. 

Isaiah Hernandez
Vanguard

Isaiah Hernandez was 5th in the CCC this past season. 

Caleb Werner
Providence

A match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Caleb Werner was 6th at the CCC. 

John Lovett
Reinhardt

John Lovett was an NAIA qualifier last season. 

Gentry Smith
Southeastern

Gentry Smith was an NAIA qualifier for the Fire last year. 

Kaleb Lind
Northwestern (IA)

22 wins on the season, Kaleb Lind heads into '24-'25 having posted 2nd & 5th place finishes within the GPAC. 



Hunter James
Menlo

10 wins on the season, Hunter James was 4th in the CCC. 


Liam Swanson
Providence

Hey, Life & Grand View can't be the only teams with more than two talents at a weight.  Providence is certainly stacked here at 197.  Liam Swanson took 8th at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational. 


Tristan Middlebrook
Southeastern

Another talent for the Fire at 197, Tristan Middlebrook was 3rd at last year's Patriot Open. 

Justice Cash
Marian


Justice Cash was one match shy of a top 8 finish at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Hunter Hall
Oklahoma Wesleyan

Oklahoma Wesleyan picked up a tough wrestler in former Carl Albert State NJCAA qualifier Hunter Hall. 





















 











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