JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Neosho 2026-2027

 

The Panthers put four through to the NJCAA national tournament last year, but will heavily rely on incoming freshmen in 2026-2027, as they only return one of their qualifiers. 

T.J. Davis
197

The Baltimore, Maryland native earned a 5th place finish at the South Central District last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At NIACC 2026-2027

 

Believe it or not, at one time Mason City, Iowa had the most amount of movie theatres per capita in the entirety of the United States. Today, it is home of the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans, who may I add have a very good wrestling program.  One the produced 8 NJCAA qualifiers last season & one that returns 5 of those 8 for action in 2026-2027. 

No word on the three out of eligibility yet. 

133
Isaiah Maldonado

He's from Minnesota, and I'm in Iowa, but he's still a closer drive to Mason City than I am! Isaiah Maldonado qualified for the NJCAA championships last season with a 4th place showing at the North Central District. 

141
Chris Williams

15 wins on the season & an NJCAA qualification for Georgia native Chris Williams last season. He was 6th at the North Central District, earning a bronze medal at the Battle For The Helmet. 

165
Logan Straub

A native of South Dakota, Logan Straub earned 3rd place showings at both the Battle For the Helmet & the North Central District. 

184
Nicky Bernard

We have Georgia on the team, we also have Florida.  Nicky Bernard won a silver medal at the Battle For the Helmet & a bronze medal at the North Central District. 

197
Mustafa Hadi

Making the finals of the Battle For the Helmet, Mustafa Hadi was 5th at the North Central District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Niagara 2026-2027

 

What a great year 2025-2026 was for Thunder Wolves Wrestling!  All 10 of the SUNY-Niagara representatives qualified for the NJCAA national tournament & 6 of those 10 return for action in 2026-2027. 

No word yet on four NJCAA graduates & where they will end up.  Hoping to see Aiden Poe end up somewhere.  A lot of rich D3 programs in the state with the largest city, that I'm sure would benefit from the two-time NJCAA R12'er. 

125
Jason Barientos

One match shy of NJCAA All-American honors last season, Nason Barrientos won the New York States & finished as the Northeast District runner-up. 

141
Trevor Copes

A native of Delaware, Trevor Copes finished off his freshman campaign as a Northeast District Champion. 

149
Aiden Gillings

Aiden Gillings won a Northeast District title & then found himself on the award stand in Council Bluffs, earning a 5th place NJCAA All-American honor. 

157
Matt Leehan

A native of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Matt Leehan won a Northeast District title last season. 

197
Jake Stephenson

One match shy of NJCAA All-American, Jake Stephenson won the Northeast District title. 

HWT
Hamza Merrick

Hamza Merrick was 2nd at the New York States & 3rd at the Northeast District in 2026. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At North Idaho 2026-2027

 

Credit can be a difficult thing to obtain at times in this sport.  Whenever someone ask me about the best of West Coast wrestling & the teams out west, I immediately think of North Idaho college. It's a fact that NJCAA wrestling is always going to be looked at last on the totem pole of divisions, but you name me a school west of the Mississippi with a stronger tradition of producing national champions & All-Americans. Many wrestlers who have gone onto success in DI, DII, DIII & NAIA, started off at North Idaho.  For longer than I've been around, the Cardinals have been strong, and more importantly the Cardinals STAY strong.  They may very well be Idaho's only collegiate wrestling program, but while the Potato state lacks in quantity, they surplus in quality. 

10, that's right, all 10 varsity wrestlers qualified for the NJCAA championships last year.  6 of those 10, earned All-American status.  Even better for the Cardinals in '26-'27?  8 of those qualifiers & 5 of those All-Americans return. 

Two-time All-American Ray Griffin (4th & 6th) is heading to Iowa.  He's going to be a Hawkeye.  No word yet on the status of Hoyt Hvass. 

125
Owen Pritchard

The Vancouver, Washington native was 3rd at the West District last season, also winning a title at the Battle of the Rockies. 

133
Parker Ballantyne

A talent out of Utah, Parker Ballantyne was 5th in the NJCAA nation, 3rd in the West District & a Battle of the Rockies champion. 

149
Joe Sullivan 

Another Washington native, Joe Sullivan made the West District Finals last season. 

157
Colton Tucker

A hometown favorite, Colton Tucker took runner-up honors at both the Battle of the Rockies & the West District, finishing off his season 6th in the NJCAA nation. 

165
Colton Theobald

Gold at the Battle of the Rockies, silver at the West District & bronze at the NJCAA national tournament for Colton Theobald last season. 

174
Dylan Block

Been a lot of great talent that has come out of Great Falls, Montana, and Dylan Block is one of them.  A West District champ last year, he was 4th in the NJCAA nation. 

184
Seth Martin 

Seth Martin was 5th in the NJCAA nation last season, winning a West District title. 

Jackson Lougen
197

Another of the many reason the state of Washington needs more collegiate opportunities. Jackson Lougen was 3rd at last year's West District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Northampton 2026-2027

 

Still a relatively young program, the Spartans of Northampton sent two to the NJCAA national tournament last season & they return one of those wrestlers. 

HWT
Sencee Dikenah

Sencee Dikenah took 3rd at last year's Gulf Atlantic District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Northeastern (Colorado) 2026-2027

 

7 NJCAA qualifiers for the Plainsmen in 2026. Three of those qualifiers return, as four look for new homes.  As to those out of eligibility, Ethan Sinclair is heading to Northern Colorado.  I would imagine that All-American Billy Brenton will end up somewhere as well. As to where? Not sure yet. 

133
Chad Teters

The four-time Colorado high School state qualifier, saw his first NJCAA qualification last year with a 4th place showing at the Plains District. 

149
Ryan Gonzales

I'm not 100% positive what fire science is, but it sounds like a cool major.  Ryan Gonzales was 3rd at last year's Plains District. 

165
Tom Stoll

Could we be looking at a future Wilfried Deitrich? Perhaps. The German had a great first season of NJCAA wrestling, earning a 3rd place finish at the Plains District & a 6th place finish in the NJCAA nation. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Northeast Oklahoma A&M 2026-2027

 

When you think NJCAA wrestling, Northeast Oklahoma A&M has been one of the first teams to come to mind for well over a quarter of a century. 2026-2027, will be no different. 

The Golden Norsemen sent 9 to the NJCAA championships last year & 5 of the 9 return for action in '26-'27.  Of those out of eligibility?  Very anxious to see where NJCAA All-American 4th place finisher Logan Crawford ends up. Jude Beers with two NJCAA R12 finishes, and last year's South Central District champ strikes me as one who could All-American at the NAIA, DII, or DIII level despite coming up a hair short in the NJCAA. Zach Dawson was also NJCAA R12 & Ashton Foster another qualifier has yet to name a new home as well. 

As to who's back? 

In my estimation I expect a group of guys with fires lit under their asses & chips on their shoulders looking to prove something this upcoming season.  Why do I say this?  Because we have three R12'ers returning, hungry for that All-American status. As to the South Central District we have a lot of silver & bronze, starving for gold.  They after all the GOLDen Norsemen. 

125
Mason Gillispie

Standout season last year for Mason Gillispie & I expect some big things from this kid in 2026-2027.  Among finishing 3rd at the South Central District, he really impressed me by sticking Connor Hueck an NAIA star for St Thomas as the 3:51 mark.  Runner-up finishes at both the Friends Falcon Open & the Messiah Invitational, he was 3rd at the Viking Open. 

141
Tyler Misenheimer

A South Central District runner-up, Tyler Misenheimer finished one match shy of being an NJCAA All-American last season.  4th at the Friends Falcon, he was 3rd at the Messiah Invitational & the Viking Open runner up. 

149
Ethan Pappan

A backup to R12'er Zach Dawson last season, I can see Ethan Pappan stepping in this season & proving himself as a worthy replacement.  3rd at last year's Messiah Invitational. 

157
Kadence Roop

One match shy of being an NJCAA All-American last season, Kadence Roop was 3rd in the South Central District.  He was also 3rd at the Drury Open, making the Messiah Invitational finals. 

174
Tony Stewart

The Missouri native made the South Central District finals last season, also finishing one match shy of being an All-American.  He was 4th at the Drury Open & 3rd at the Messiah Invitational. 

184
Ethan Nicholas

The Arkansas native was 4th at the South Central District.