Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Who's Who of NAIA Collegiate Wrestling: Top Returnees 125 for 2024-2025

 


Aden Reeves
Grand View


His Great Aunt Bonnie dated my Grandpa Harry for about 10 years.  I can remember holding him as a baby as his Uncles were already predicting how great he'd be on the mat one day.  Sitting around a living room surrounded by individuals who had won Iowa and Missouri high school state titles, it was mesmerizing how much faith and confidence they had in someone who hadn't even learned to talk yet.  Here we are all these years later and it has all came to fruition.   Aden Reeves already IS a great wrestler, just as they predicted & this year, '24-'25, he has the ability to be the very best in the NAIA at the 125 lbs weight class. 

Last year Reeves took 3rd in the NAIA, winning titles at the Heart of America (HOA) & the Oppenheim Invitational.  He was 2nd at the Grand View Open. 

Trevor Marsman
Cornerstone

Trevor Marsman heads into his final season of competition now a two time NAIA All American with back to back 5th place finishes.  Also a two time Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) champion, he's been 2nd & 4th thus far at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  He won the Messiah Open, among mainly Division III competition last year as well. 

Allen Calderon
Indiana Tech

Heck of a rookie season for Allen Calderson last season who made the WHAC finals & took 6th place NAIA All American honors. 

Brody Gee
Saint Mary

Only a junior and already an impressive resume built up for Brody Gee of Saint Mary.  Earning 7th place NAIA All American honors last season, Gee heads into '24-'25 having won both the Missouri Valley Invitational as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) last season.  4th at the Oppenheim Invitational, he was the Falcon Invitational runner-up. 

Izaeah Beavers
Campbellsville


A Mid South Conference (MSC) champion last year,  Izaeah Beavers took 8th in the NAIA nation, also earning a 3rd place finish at the Life Open. 

Jose Gonzalez
Dickinson State

A HOA runner-up last season, Jose Gonzalez was one match away from being an NAIA All American & one match away from being top 8 in the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Conner Diamond
Lindsey Wilson 

8th in the NAIA nation in 2023, Conner Diamond came up just a hair short of his second All American honor this past season.  A two time MSC runner-up, Diamond won the Patriot Open. 

Braden Potts
Oklahoma City


Great start to the career of Braden Potts as he won the American Midwest Conference/Sooner Athletic Conference (AMC/SAC) title last season as a freshman. 

UPDATE:  Very disappointed to learn that because of medical reasons, Potts has decided to discontinue his wrestling career.  This sport can be rather rough on health at times, and unfortunately not everyone is able to enjoy a full career because of injuries/ect.  Potts will be replaced in the lineup by NEO A&M transfer Garrett Johnson. 

Angel Banda
Reinhardt

Angel Banda enters '24-'25 having posted 4th & 2nd place Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) finishes the past two seasons. 

Nick Rodriguez
Lourdes

Nick Rodriguez enters his junior season of eligibility having thus far posted 2nd & 3rd place finishes in the WHAC and 4th & 2nd place finishes at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Chris Busutil 
Cumberland 

Chris Busutil has been 3rd & 4th in the past two MSC championships. 

Landon Smith
Embry Riddle

The two time NAIA qualifier has posted back to back 5th place Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) finishes the past two seasons. A match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational, he earned runner-up finishes at Oppenheim, Mile High & Doane. 

Adonis Boyd
Cumberlands

The former Bellarmine Knight took a 3rd place finish at the MSC for the Patriots last season & he was 4th at the Patriot Open. 

Allan Hendricks
Embry Riddle


Women's freestyle Coach Stacy Behr believes that teams shouldn't be limited to only one wrestler per weight class in competitions, and here in the NAIA they aren't.  Like teammate Landon Smith, Allan Hendricks was an NAIA qualifier last season.  He took 3rd at the CCC & he was also 6th at Doane.  A match short of a top 8 finish at Missouri Valley. 

Vonn Fenn
Southern Oregon

An NAIA qualifier last season, Vonn Fenn was 4th in the CCC. 

Dom De'Altonaga
Vanguard

6th in the CCC, Dom De'Altonaga was an NAIA qualifier last season. 

Conner Hueck
St Thomas

The Miami, Florida native was an NAIA qualifier last season placing 4th in the AAC. 

David Corretjer
Central Baptist

David Corretjer was an NAIA qualifier for the Mustangs last season. 

Jeff Bailey
Cornerstone

15 wins on the season for Jeff Bailey who qualified for the NAIA championships with a 4th place WHAC finish.  He was also 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 



Brayden Boyd
Corban

24 wins on the season, 14 via fall, I consider Brayden Boyd one of the best in the NAIA at 125 last season to not make the NAIA tournament.  7th in the CCC which ended up taking the top 6, Boyd was 5th at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational.  He heads into '24-'25 with 1st & 3rd place finishes at the EOU Mountaineer Open. 

Seth I'nama
Briar Cliff


One of the best pieces of news I have received for the upcoming '24-'25 season, is learning that Seth I'nama has another year of eligibility.  It was hard watching things fall apart for him at the GPAC championships last season.  A GPAC runner-up in 2023, not only does I'nama have the talent & ability to be a GPAC champion this year, I believe he has the talent to be an All American.  He was 3rd at the Under Armor Invite last year. 

Gabe Grice
Morningside

The "Big Drop" made the GPAC finals last season for the Mustangs. 

Dante Rigal
Briar Cliff

I'nama isn't the only one the Chargers look to punch a ticket to the NAIA championships at 125 this season.  Dante Rigal, despite battling some injuries thus far throughout his career, managed a 3rd place showing at the GPAC last season.  He also made the Dakota Wesleyan finals. 


Bobby Estrada
Cumberland

The California native made the finals of the Hawk Classic last season. 


Gabe Gonzales
Grand View

As they always have, as they always will the Vikings of Grand View always have multiple talents at every weight class. 125 lbs is no exception. Didn't see a whole lot out of Gabe Gonzales but he was 5th at the GVU open last season.  Most impressive a 9-3 decision over two time NAIA All American Trevor Marsman. 

Justin Rodriguez
Hastings

The El Paso, Texas native would place 5th in his first GPAC tournament, also taking a 3rd place finish at the Hastings Open. 

Hunter Bennett
Doane

Hunter Bennett heads into '24-'25 having thus far placed 5th & 4th within the Mile High Invitational.  He was also 4th at the Friends Invite. 


Matteo Vargo
Cumberlands


Another tough Patriot at 125 lbs, Matteo Vargo went 15-3 on the season last year, collecting bronze medals at both the Patriot Open & the Lindenwood Open. 


Mikey Doerr
Life

Probably won't get a picture of Mikey Doerr in a Runnin' Eagle uniform for quite sometime, so going to have to make do with one from Southwestern Oregon.  8th in the NJCAA last season & 4th in the West District, Doerr will fill in for Brandon Orum, one of the most decorated wrestlers in Life wrestling history this season. 






































 

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