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| Gabe Hixenbaugh Montevallo |
A kid from Alabama, wrestling for an Alabama school, winning an NCAA Division II title. In terms of growing our sport & venturing out to unknown lands, this is about as good as it gets. Not only did Hixenbaugh put Montevallo on the map last season by winning a national title, he also did an assortment of other firsts for the Falcons. 28-0 on the season he was their first champion at Super Region II, the Midwest Classic, the Patriot Open & the Life Open.
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| Gavin Quiocho Glenville State |
There to challenge Hixenbaugh & go for some records of his own will be the 2023 NCAA DII champion Gavin Quiocho who lost in the finals to the Falcon last season. A two time Super Region III champion, Quiocho went 36-2 last year, with his only losses coming to Hixenbaugh. Although he did not place at last year's Midwest Classic, he was 7th there a couple of years ago.
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| Reece Barnhardt Mary |
Reece Barnhardt has collected a ton of hardware over his illustrious career as a Marauder & he will try and become a four time place-winner in three of NCAA Division II's most prestigious tournaments. At the national tournament, Barnhardt has earned three All American honors of 4th-7th-4th. In Super Region V, he has finished 2nd-2nd-1st. At the Midwest Classic he has been 2nd-2nd-7th. He finished last season with a record of 24-6.
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| Jerry Echeverria Gannon |
Jerry Echeverria enters the '24-'25 season having posted an outstanding resume last year. 28 wins, he was 5th at the NCAA Division II tournament, placing 3rd at Super Region II, 5th at the Midwest Classic & 2nd at the Findlay Open.
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| Elijah Lusk Lander |
Elijah Lusk enters his final season of collegiate competition a two time NCAA DII All American & a three time qualifier. 8th & 6th thus far in the NCAA DII, he's been 2nd-1st-2nd in Super Region II. He was also 6th at last year's Midwest Classic.
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| Ryan Ripplinger McKendree |
Here's a guy who really turned things around last season. After posting 4th & 5th place finishes at Super Region IV, Ryan Ripplinger left nothing to the imagination last year, when he captured the Super Region IV title. He then went on to take NCAA DII 7th place All American honors. Finished out '23-'24 with a record of 23-8.
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| Thierno Diallo Frostburg State |
133 lbs has been full of so many record breaking, historical moments as of late. Two seasons ago Quiocho became Glenville State's first national champion. Then last year we had Hixenbaugh become Montevallo's first national champion. You know who else made history? Thierno Diallo. He became Frostburg State's first All American since the program was reinstated. How exciting is that? All in all Diallo went 21-7, placing 8th at the NCAA DII's & 2nd at Super Region I.
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| Jimmy Anderson Ouachita Baptist |
22-8 on the season, Jimmy Anderson finished 3rd at Super Region IV & was one match shy of NCAA Division II All American honors.
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| Caleb Meekins St Cloud State |
With the whole COVID-19 thing still keeping use dazed and confused some five years later, I honestly don't know if Caleb Meekings has any eligibility left or not. What I do know is that if he does, he's a threat to both NCAA qualification and All American honors. Thus far he's finished one match shy of DII All American honors twice & he's been 1st & 3rd in Super Region V. He was also the Yellow Jacket Open runner-up last season as well.
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| Evan Binder Maryville |
Only a sophomore in a weight class rather dominated by seniority. Evan Binder put together 30 wins on the season last year, placing 8th at the Midwest Classic & 2nd at Super Region IV. He was one match from being an NCAA DII All American.
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| Beau Klingensmith Sioux Falls |
In a weight class full of historical markers, Beau Klingensmith is hoping to make a little history of his own. The Iowa native hopes to become the Cougars first All American since the program's recent restoration. 18 wins on the season last year, he was 2nd at Super Region V, winning titles at both the Yellow Jacket Open & the Augsburg Open.
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| Jordan Oehme Sioux Falls |
There to help push Beau Klingensmith and give him a run for the varsity position will be NJCAA transfer Jordan Oehme. Representing Southeast Community College last season, he took 3rd in the NJCAA nation.
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| Ryan Wehner Lake Erie |
Ryan Wehner heads into the '24-'25 season now a two time NCAA DII qualifier. 3rd at the Super Region III last season, he had a 2-1 tiebreaker victory over All American Jerry Echevarria.
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| Franky Medina King |
What a treat it was to see Franky Medina finally break through & make the NCAA DII tournament last year. After two heartbreaking 4th place Super Region II finishes in a row, Medina won the consolation match, finished 3rd and punched his ticket to the national tournament. He had 18 wins on the year.
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| Oran Huff Colorado Mesa |
15 wins on the season, Oran Huff qualified for the NCAA DII tournament with a 2nd place finish at Super Region VI.
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| Max Shore Tiffin |
Here's a guy that demonstrated that he knows how to turn things around at the right place at the right time. 28 wins on the season last year, Max Shore lost 23-13 major decision early on at Super Region III. In the match to qualify, he defeated that same opponent by a 17-2 technical fall! Now that's tenacity.
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| Matt Chi UW-Parkside |
If you want the best wrestler at 133 lbs yet to make the NCAA DII tournament, it's really hard to argue against Matt Chi. The Ranger won 32 matches last year. A match away from NCAA qualification, he finished a very impressive 3rd at the Midwest Classic. Among his wins, he handled three time All American Reece Barnhardt 15-4 & he gave two time All American Elijah Lusk an 8-4 loss. 11-5 over R12'er Evan Binder, he defeated qualifier Ryan Wehner 8-5.
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| Gavin Ritter Findlay |
If the answer for best wrestler yet to qualify for NCAA DII nationals at 133 lbs isn't Matt Chi, then the answer would have to be Gavin Ritter. 4th-5th-6th thus far in Super Region III, he's more than shown his potential. 21 wins on the season, he defeated All American Ryan Ripplinger 6-1 & he defeated qualifier Oran Huff 3-1.
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| Elijah Boyd Belmont Abbey |
Making a mighty strong argument himself, Elijah Boyd finished 4th at the Super Region II last season. Among his wins, a 10-1 major over Franky Medina & a 9-7 decision over All American Thierno Diallo.
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| Collin Twigg Grand Valley State |
GVSU made one heck of an immediate impact in their first season back on the mat! One never would have guessed they had been discontinued for as long as they had been as well as they wrestled last season. Only a freshman last year, Collin Twigg nearly made his first NCAA DII tournament as he finished 4th at Super Region III. One of the reasons why I'd love for the Super Regions to either have a true 3rd or better yet, qualify the top 4 at each weight. He had defeated Max Shore 23-13 earlier in the tournament, but then lost to him 17-2 in the match to qualify.
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| Wayne Joint Minot State |
23 wins on the season, Wayne Joint was the Dakota Wesleyan Open Champion & he finished 5th at Super Region V. Among his victories, a 6-2 decision over Beau Klingensmith.
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| James Wright Central Missouri |
5th at the Super Region IV last season, James Wright was the Roger Denker runner-up.
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| Paul Ruff Central Missouri |
James Wright isn't the only Mule who's gonna make some noise this year. Paul Ruff may not be able to hear it all that well, but he's still going to make plenty of it. A deaf athlete, Paul Ruff earned back to back NJCAA All American honors of 8th & 4th the past two seasons for Iowa Western. He also won the North Central District.
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| Ben Guilliam Newberry |
Ben Guilliam enters his sophomore season of competition, having placed 5th at last year's Super Region II. He stuck qualifier Franky Medina at the 2:10 mark.
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| Javien DeLeon Kutztown |
19 wins on the season, Javien DeLeon was 5th at Super Region I.
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| Drew Arnold Nebraska Kearney |
5th at the Super Region VI, Drew Arnold has both a 6-1 win over R12'er Evan Binder & a 9-2 decision over qualifier Oran Huff.
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| Dale Van Matre Adams State |
12 wins on the season, Dale Van Matre placed 6th at the Super Region VI & he had a 6-2 victory over qualifier Oran Huff.
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| Logan Robinson UNC-Pembroke |
Logan Robinson found out last year just how unforgiving this sport can sometimes be. 3rd at the Super Region II in 2023, he failed to make the top six last year. Nevertheless, he still managed 18 wins, one of them a 6-2 decision over All American Thierno Diallo. He also won the Pembroke Classic. He'll look to redeem himself this season.
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| Shawn Muse Central Oklahoma |
We didn't get to see much of Shawn Muse last season, but he gave us enough to know that he'll be a contender in '24-'25. A 1:53 fall over three time qualifier/two time All American Patrick Allis, Muse also pinned R12'er Evan Binder in just 34 seconds.
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| Teagan Block Northern State |
A tough backup for Jason Henschel last season, Teagan Block won 13 matches of his own. A 4-2 win over qualifier Ryan Wehner.
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| Stephen Spitko Coker |
14-4 on the season, unfortunately Stephen Spitko's year would be cut short as he was injured in early January. Among his wins however, a 14-8 decision over qualifier Franky Medina.
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| Chris Bullock Indianapolis |
A native of Indianapolis, Chris Bullock returns home to compete for the Greyhounds this season, after two years of wrestling in the NJCAA for Ancilla. He won the Great Lakes District Championship last season.
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