JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Cumberland 2026-2027

 

The Phoenix has been tough ever since I started following NAIA wrestling & no doubt about it, 2026-2027 will be no different.  With that said, the Phoenix had a ton of extremely good seniors last season & talent like Victor Guzman & Jared Dinh isn't easily replaced. 

Speaking of Victor Guzman, I think he belongs on the list of BOTH the best to never win a NAIA title & to never win a Mid-South Conference (MSC) title.  Bronze & Silver in the NAIA nation, he was Bronze, Silver, Silver in the MSC. 

Dinh was a rare four time MSC place-winner, going 5th-3rd-1st-3rd

Wish things would've ended better for Rocco Horvath, but as I've said a million times throughout the last 24 seasons of covering college wrestling, wrestling is a journey, not a destination.  1st-1st-4th in the MSC. 

Phoenix also graduated qualifiers Elijah Griffin, Ethan Gomez, Tyler Rowland (1st & 2nd in the MSC) & Tony Pyron (3rd in the MSC). 

125
Chase Walker

He saw his upperclassmen teammates like Victor Guzman end their careers on high notes with many credentials & accomplishments, and he knows he's capable of doing the same.  Chase Walker, made the MSC finals last year as a freshman. 

141
Sammy Shires

I would think that Sammy Shires will be the leader among the Phoenix this season.  An MSC runner-up he was 7th in the NAIA nation last year. 

157
Antonio Parker

Another youth of the Phoenix, the Rock Island, Illinois native was 4th at last year's Mid-South Conference. 

184
Logan Heckert

Logan Heckert was 5th in the MSC last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Cornerstone 2026-2027

 

In their 5th season of collegiate wrestling, the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone sent four to the NAIA championships, crowning their second ever All-American.  3 of those 4 Qaulifiers return, including the All-American. 

133
Aurelio Mendez

17 wins on the season for the sophomore last season as a freshman.  Included a Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) 4th place finish & one match shy of being top 8 at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

149
Cole Karasinski

Opportunity faces this young man straight in the face, as he has the opportunity to become the Golden Eagles first All-American in history. 8th in the NAIA nation last season, Karasinski was 2nd in the WHAC. 

157
Bode Wilson

Bode Wilson was 3rd in the WHAC last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Corban 2026-2027

 

No doubt about it, Coach Nolan Harris has some really good recruits coming in and I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn about some under the radar talent he already has in the room that just hasn't been showcased yet. With that said, the Trojans had a lot of upperclassmen on the roster last season whose absence in 2026-2027 will be felt. 

 Blake Runion & Asaiah Kamplain, both NAIA qualifiers. 

J.R. Downing who took back-to-back 3rd place finishes in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) 

Antonio Garcia, a two-time All-American who really impressed me with the heart & tenacity he had in his final NAIA showing.  The two-time NAIA All-American won a CCC title as a junior, finishing 7th in the NAIA nation.  This year his CCC showing was 4th, but he took the disappointment & fueled it into a very impressive 3rd place showing at the NAIA championships.  One of my top 10 moments of the 2025-2026 season for sure. 

184
Isaiah Twait

You know the staff has to be excited for what Isaiah Twait is capable of this season.  5th-1st-2nd, he has the potential to become a four-time CCC place-winner & a two-time champion.  6th-6th in the NAIA nation, an opportunity to become a three-time All-American. Let's add in the Boise, Idaho rep won titles at the Mountaineer Open, the Mike Clock Open & the Mat Cat Open last year as well. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Concordia (Nebraska) 2026-2027

 

Aaron "The Swayze" Sweazy's favorite college wrestling team.  I have to say that I feel this is going to be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs of Concordia (Nebraska), as they had an Army of seniors last year that are going to be sorely missed. 

Paul Ruff, a former NJCAA standout earned silver medals at both the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) as well as the Missouri Valley Invitational.  He was one match shy of being an NAIA All-American. 

Steve Barnes, an Iowa guy, also earned a runner-up finish at the GPAC. 

Hagen Heistand, another Iowa guy, a GPAC champion, one match shy of being an NAIA All-American. 

Cole Price finished off his career with 2nd & 3rd place GPAC showings, as Hunter Weimer took back to back 3rd place showings in the GPAC. 

Torrence Keehn a GPAC runner-up & a Missouri Valley Invitational 8th place-winner. 

Jeremiah Vasquez, one match shy of placing at Missouri Valley. 

When I said they had a heap of really good seniors, I meant it. 

149
Cal Price

Cal Price heads into 2026-2027, having won a GPAC title this past season. 

184
Barret Brandt

A GPAC runner-up & 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Barrett Brandt heads into his final season of competition. 

HWT
Gabe Kant

A former standout for Labette in the NJCAA, Gabe Kant took 3rd at last year's GPAC. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Cleary 2026-2027

 

Cougars lost some good talent this past season in both Jordan Rodriguez & Gray Sonntag.  Sonntag was a Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference champion, where as Jordan Rodriguez despite not having the best WHAC, finished his career one match shy of being an All-American. Looking forward to being introduced to some new Cougar stars in 2026-2027. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Central Methodist 2026-2027

 

On the JT1Wrestle podcast I had a coach recently say to me, "We're a team of development" and I have to say I think that mentality & structure fits what's going on at Central Methodist to a T. 

Watching Arojae Hart improve from junior to senior over the past two seasons was a real treat for me.  He went from being a top 25 guy, to being a top 8 guy in the nation over a year of hard work, discipline & shaping his mind as much as he did his technique & skills.  It was plain as day how hard he had worked on developing his counter-offense & making the little adjustments that are often the difference between simply getting in on a shot & finishing a shot.  Making the finals of the Missouri Valley Invitational, taking 3rd in an extremely tough Heart of American (HOA) & finishing off his collegiate career with a 6th place All-American honor. 

Injuries kept Garine Gibson from having the career he otherwise would have in my opinion.  I'm not sure how many national champs I can name from the state of Louisiana, but had it not been for health refusing to be on this kid's side, he probably would've been one of them.  An HOA runner-up, he was also 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Cam Cornman, a transfer, who I think would've benefitted had he spent more time at Central Methodist. Things didn't end for him as they should have, but we still got to see a glimpse of his potential at the Missouri Valley Invitational where he finished 4th. 

Now for the talent returning....and there is a ton of talent returning...

157
Drake Jenkins 

Drake Jenkins finished 3rd at the HOA last season. 

Kevin Olavarria
165

We could be looking at a future international star for Puerto Rico.  A Service Salute champion last season, Kevin Olavarria was 4th at the HOA. 

165
Eric Hodge

Only a sophomore, Eric Hodge had a great season last year for the Eagles. The Florida native placed 5th at the always loaded Grand View Open, 3rd at the Service Salute & 6th at the HOA. 

174
Roman Garcia

Here's the man of the hour.  5th-7th-4th, Roman Garcia not only has the ability & potential to become a four-time NAIA All-American, he has the skills to end it all as an NAIA champion.  I talked earlier about a "team of development" and once again, that is showcased in the Florida native.  I'm not inside this guy's head, but I can tell you what my observation was.  Freshman year it seemed sort of a, "I'm good, I know I'm good, but I'm among a lot of talent & I respect them."  Last year as a junior it was more of, "I don't care who you are, or how good you are, I'm going to beat you."  Coaches talk all the time about not showing too much respect for your opponents or what they have accomplished.  I think Roman Garcia is beyond that point now.  He's also been 5th-2nd-1st thus far in the HOA. 

184
Griffin Ray

Griffin Ray earned HOA runner-up honors last season. 

HWT
Austin Foye

If you haven't noticed by now....

JT1Wrestle has been preaching that Florida produces a lot of talent.  That's true. 

Central Methodist takes advantage of this talent. 

Injuries!  Gawd they suck.  It's why Austin Foye didn't have the 2026 that he otherwise would have.  However, he has one more season left & there is very good reason to look forward to it.  Not sure if Tim Robbins or Morgan Freeman will be available but Shawshank is about to get a sequel, and this time it's gonna be the Foye Redemption. Foye was an NAIA runner-up in 2025 & if 100% healthy, he'll contend for a national title in 2027.  3rd-3rd-6th thus far in the HOA, he'll contend for a title there too. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at Central Christian 2026-2027

 

Much like Central Baptist, Central Christian didn't have any NAIA qualifiers last season either, although I do think they have a strong candidate for NAIA qualification this season. 

125
Angelo Thompson

4th in the Sooner Athletic Conference last season, Angelo Thompson has aspirations of one day being an Olympian.  I look for him to be the leader of the Tigers this season.