2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Preview (Feb 20th & 21st)

 

Much like the Heart of America, this is a very large, very deep & very competitive conference.  We have a ton of ranked teams and a ton of ranked wrestlers.  #6 Southern Oregon, #9 Embry Riddle,  #12 Providence, #19 Arizona Christian, #23 Corban & #24 Eastern Oregon. Not to mention some other top-quality wrestlers from teams not currently in the top 25.  

Let's take a weight by weight look. 

125

5th-5th-1st thus far in the CCC, Landon Smith has the opportunity to become both a four-time conference place-winner as well as a two-time conference champion.  He'll have a long road ahead of him in accomplishing the latter.  Both Isaac Hampton & Kyle Sieminski give Southern Oregon hope for a CCC champion this weekend.  Hampton made the finals at RENO, whereas Sieminski took 3rd.  Sieminski was also 3rd at the Mike Clock Open. 

The elephant in the room is, who all does Providence wrestler here? I think it's obvious that they wrestle Boden Banta, who was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  They obviously can't wrestle both Kobi Johnson & Diesel Thompson as well, & it's not a guarantee that they'll wrestle anyone besides Banta.  Yet, they could.  Johnson actually outperformed Banta at the Missouri Valley Invitational placing 5th, and Thompson won the Eastern Oregon Mountaineer Open. 

Giving Westcliff hope in an NAIA qualifier at 125 will be Chris Calderon. 

133

We could very well see a brother Vs brother final for a CCC title here at 133 lbs.  Braden Carson was 5th earlier this year at the Missouri Valley Invitational, with Kai Carson taking 3rd at the Oppenheim Open, making the E.O. Mountaineer Invite finals.  To put a damper on those plans with be Jason Ramirez, 5th at last year's CCC.  He's done a solid job of filling in for CCC champion & All-American Sean Archuleta who is redshirting this year.  We could also see a little darkhorse action out of Allan Hendricks, champion at the Friends Falcon Invitational. 

141

When it comes to college wrestling qualifiers, we often have a lot of thieves looking to steal spots previously earned by others throughout the season.  I believe we'll see a case of that here at 141 lbs.   6 spots available, and from where I stand, 8 that want them. 

Yoshi Funakoshi leads the way as our likely *1 seed.  A Friends Falcon Invite champion, he was runner-up at the Mile High Open & 6th at RENO.   Battling it out for spot in the finals will be Arizona Christian's Mike Trujillo & Channing Porter, along with Tyler Rhue of Southern Oregon, Adam Stanley of Embry-Riddle & Horacio Godinez of Evergreen State.  Porter was 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational whereas Stanley was 2nd at last year's CCC. Godinez has had a most eventful season, winning titles at the Spokane Open & the Boxer Open, while finishing 2nd at Mike Clock & 3rd at both the Mat Cat Open & the Evergreen State Open. 

Dan Guerrero one match shy of a medal at Missouri Valley, won the Evergreen State Open & finished 3rd at the E.O. Mountaineer Open.  Blake Runion is a two-time CCC place-winner, with runner-up finishes at both the Spokane Open & the Mat Cat Open. 

149

 Another tough and loaded weight class here at 149 lbs.  Finals could very well be Kolton Malone against former Oregon State Beaver Cade White.  Then again, wouldn't be surprised if J.R. Downing or Eric Larwin made the finals.  Downing 3rd at last year's CCC, won both the Mike Clock & the Mat Cat Open.  Larwin was the Missouri Valley Invitational runner-up. 

Very surprised that Rico Robles is not currently in the rankings, especially with a 4th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.   Tomas Jacobo one match shy of placing at Missouri Valley, he was the Spokane Open runner-up & 3rd at the Battle in the Bluegrass.  Christian Lopez was the runner-up at the Friends Falcon Invitational. 

157

Life University transfer Avant Stepherson is having a standout season for the Raiders as he looks to be our *1 seed here at 157.  Pig Hobbs, a two-time All American with two 5th place finishes at the NAIA national tournament, is himself a threat to the CCC title this weekend.  Teammate transfer from Ottawa Irish Furthmyre looks to go to war with Ryan Graces, Peyton Proper & Enzo Morales for that bronze medal.  Graves with 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, as Morales was 6th. 

Also look for Carlos Valdez to make some noise here as well.  8th at Missouri Valley, he won the Evergreen State Open & finished 3rd at the E.O. Mountaineer Open. 

165

Justin Windauer gives the Lights of Montana State Northern a hope for a CCC champion this year, as he's won both the Missouri Valley Invitational as well as the Oppenheim Open.   Finals opponent could be Jayden Luttrell, but I tell you the guy that has been really impressing me this season has been Simpson's Ben Mitchell.  He was on an absolute terror at the Missouri Valley Invitational, ripping guys apart in route to a 3rd place finish.  He won the Mat Cat open & finished 2nd at Spokane. 

As to Providence, much like Grand View, they have more than 12 guys on their team capable of NAIA qualification.  Who all they wrestle? Hard to tell.  I do know Jalen Vladic has back-to-back 4th place finishes & Black Sumiye has ironically also been 4th in the CCC, taking 2nd at Oppenheim this season. 

Jesse Rubio was 2nd at the Mat Cat Open. 

174

If you want my opinion, I think we're looking at two NAIA National champion contenders when we look at Daniil Gorshkov & Leo Galasso.  Gorshkov 3rd & 1st thus far in the CCC, has had another standout season for the Eagles. Mile High champion, with runner-up finishes at both the Friends Falcon Invitational & RENO.  3rd at the Road Runner-Open, not to mention a 4th place All-American last season. 

Galasso a transfer of Indiana Tech, has twice been the NAIA R12.  As far as I'm concerned, he's either THE best yet to All-American in the NAIA or he's the second best.  There are no guarantees in this sport and there are a lot of other really good wrestlers in this bracket, but if we see Gorshkov Vs Galasso, this is a final I'm really looking forward to. 

Braylin Ruchti was 3rd here in the CCC a year ago, as the bracket will also feature Brady Ellison, Orion Thivierge & Jackson Potts.  Anxious to see how Thivierge's career shapes up.  His Dad Tyson was not only a standout at MSN, but also a legend in NAIA wrestling period.  So far he's been one match shy of a top 8 finish at Missouri Valley & 2nd at Oppenheim. 

184

Looks to be a final between Adrian Morales & Isaiah Twait here at 184 lbs.  Thus far Morales has been 6th & 4th in the CCC, while Twait was a CCC champion last year & 4th in the NAIA Nation.  This year he has won the Mat Cat Open & 2nd at the Mike Clock Open.   Look for Cade Gubler, R12 at Missouri Valley & a Spokane Open Champion, to finish a strong 3rd. 

197

A CCC champion last year & 5th in the NAIA nation, our obvious favorite here is Asher Ruchti of Southern Oregon, who rook 2nd at RENO earlier this season.  To challenge him will be last year's CCC runner-up Trenton Bloomquist who won the Mile High Open.  Ruchti's teammate Elias Carona, who was 3rd at last year's CCC & David Rapp who was R12'er at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

HWT

Another super loaded weight class here in the CCC.   A CCC champion last year & 7th in the NAIA nation, we have Antonio Garcia.   We also have Ken Copley, who was 3rd at both the CCC & the NAIA's last year.  A Mile High Champion & 3rd at RENO this season.    Add in Ethan DeRoche, 5th & 4th the past two CCC championships, as well as Nico Rodriguez, 2nd at last year's CCC & 5th in the NAIA nation.  Also 2nd at the Oppenheim Open.   Shane Mattson has been 6th in the past two Missouri Valley Invitationals & both Kaiden Cisneros as well as Anthony Nava has shown to be very tough as well. 

2026 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Preview (Sat Feb 21st)

 

Many of the NAIA qualifying tournaments will be historic this season & the KCAC is no different.  Unfortunately, unless the decision is reversed, we will no longer see Bethany (KS) in action. Matter of fact, they didn't even finish out the end of the season & they will not be participating in this year's tournament.  Nonetheless, with that negative news out of the way, we now focus on the positive.   Of all six teams, it is not a guarantee that all six will have NAIA national qualifiers, but it is a guarantee that all six have the potential to send at least one wrestler to the dance. 

Let's take a weight by weight look....

125

Three-time KCAC finalist (2nd-1st-1st) & two-time All-American (7th & 3rd) Brody Gee is wrapping up an outstanding career for the Spires.  Thus far this season he has won the Missouri Valley Invitational & that is far from the last gold medal he plans to collect before the end of '26.  Looking to challenge him will be two Falcons from Friends, Braydon Pacheo & Braden Ledford.  Pacheo 6th at Missouri Valley, took runner-up finishes as both the Friends Falcon Invite & the Oppenheim Open. 

#16
Roman De La Cruz
Saint Mary
133

'25-'26 hasn't quite turned out the way Roman De La Cruz was hoping that it would, but as Rocky said in ROCKY BALBOA, "it ain't over, till it's over."  The Spire has tasted KCAC silver many times during his collegiate career, but this Saturday, he looks to dine on gold. 

141

The favorite here at 141 lbs is Wyatt Gardner, 3rd at both this year's Friends Falcon Invitational & the Battle in the Bluegrass.  However, I could possibly see Tyler Johnson stealing this spot.  A champion at the Service Salute, he was 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

U.R.
Donte Lopez
Oklahoma Wesleyan
149

No ranked wrestlers here at 149 lbs & only the KCAC champion will go to the NAIA national tournament.  Some good picks here, but I'm going with Donte Lopez of Oklahoma Wesleyan.  He's been to the KCAC finals before & he's a two-time NAIA qualifier. 

#12
Cayleb Atkins
Friends
157

A former Appalachian State Mountaineer, I feel like Cayleb Atkins has been around forever.  Winner of this year's Battle in the Bluegrass, I saw we're looking at our 157 lbs KCAC champion. 

#11
Josey Jernegan 
Saint Mary
165

Another weight class that is only taking the champion & I'm 99.9% positive that champion is going to be Josey Jernegan.  Already having 2nd & 1st finishes within the KCAC, this year he made the finals of both the Oppenheim Open & the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

174

Again a weight class without any ranked wrestlers & only the champion will advance to the NAIA national tournament.  I think we see a finals here between Benedict Holthaus & Caleb Davies.  I think it will be a good finals. 

184

I believe without question, 184 lbs will be the most competitive of our weight classes at the KCAC.  On paper, it looks to be an obvious final between Jason Bowers & Julian Gorring.  Bowers, 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational was the runner-up at the Battle in the Bluegrass.  Gorring, ironically enough another former Appalachian State Mountaineer, champion at the Friends Falcon Invitational & 3rd at Oppenheim.   Jeremiah Voliva is a former KCAC champion in his own right & I wouldn't overlook him.  I'd also keep an eye on Peyton Callis.  The Freshman is quietly shaping up to be one of the best wrestlers Tom Carr has had on his team, and pulling off an upset here at the KCAC tournament would not surprise me in the least. 

197

Another tough weight class here in the KCAC.  Thus far this year, Logan Davidson has collected a ton of bronze.  Bronze at the Friends Falcon Open, Bronze at Oppenheim, Bronze at Missouri Valley.  This weekend though, here at the KCAC, he looks to collect gold.   To challenge him will be Gabe Chesbro & Rodney Trotter, both Missouri Valley Invitational place-winners.  Trotter, a former standout for Labette Community College, also won the Service Salute earlier this season. 

U.R.
Stevie Elwell
Ottawa
HWT

Our sixth weight class in the KCAC that will only be taking the champion. My pick?  Stevie Elwell of Ottawa.  An NAIA qualifier for Missouri Valley before transferring to Ottawa.  

2026 HEART OF AMERICA CONFERENCE Preview (Fri Feb 20th - Sat Feb 21st)

 

If the Heart of America isn't the toughest conference in all of NAIA wrestling, it sure makes one heck of a case.  Highly ranked wrestlers in each weight class, the wrestling from the very start of the tournament is going to be good.  Quarters, semis, finals, we're going to see some very good wrestling this weekend & furthermore, when it is all said & done, there will be some very good wrestlers looking to rely on wildcards in order to call themselves NAIA national qualifiers.  This is going to be good.  REAL Good. 

#2 Grand View
# 10 Missouri Valley
#15 Central Methodist

Then an assortment of teams that have continuously received votes throughout '25-'26, as they continue to climb the rankings ladder.   To think, I'm constantly on Clarke, Culver-Stockton & Mount Mercy to add wrestling programs at their schools! 

125

As they will at nearly all of the weight classes, Grand View will have the top seed here at 125 lbs.  The former North Idaho standout that was 7th & 3rd in the past two NJCAA championships, is looking to earn his first NAIA All-American honor this season.  Here to challenge him at the HOA, will be Haden Hernandez.  Am I predicting a GVU Viking Vs a M.V. Viking final? You bet I am.  Hernandez was an HOA champion last year, one match shy of being an All American.  Thus far this year he's taken 2nd at both the Dan Harris Open & the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

4th & 5th at last year's HOA, Robert Albert & Sauol Prado look to duke it out for bronze, although I will mention that Prado was the Dan Harris Open champion earlier this season.  Albert took 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

133

A runner-up in the HOA & a runner-up at the NAIA national tournament last season, Gabe Gonzales is also a RENO tournament of champions.  Sometimes you gotta call it like you see it & I don't think anyone comes close to even remotely touching this kid this weekend. We talk a lot in wrestling about being a complete wrestler & Gabe Gonzales is a complete wrestler.  On his feet, he can take anyone down.  On top, he can turn anyone.  On bottom, not a sole that can keep him from getting out.  Pro wrestling had its Total Package in Lex Luger.  NAIA wrestling has its in Gabe Gonzales.

As to the rest of the weight class?  Fun, a lot of fun.  Tuvshinjargal Zuunbayan (and no I will not be trying to pronounce that) showed us his immense talent & still by taking a very pressive 3rd at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  Not far behind him in 4th place at the Missouri Valley Invitational was Braden Werdehausen, who was also 3rd at the Drury Open.  Then we have Geno Cardenas, who holy cow, has shown us at various times this season Coach McElfresh picked up one heck of a recruit!  Add in Aiden Serrano, a tough freshman who grew up on the same HWY 92 that I did, we have ourselves one hell of a weight class.

I guess that makes Lane Scorpil the odd man out at the moment.  Trust me when I say this.  The only reason, and I repeat the ONLY  reason he's currently U.R. at the moment is because of injuries.  In a sport that last 6 months that demands 100% of you day in and day out for nearly a 6-month season, it is so difficult to remain healthy.  I'm not sure where he'll be health wise come this weekend, but I assure you if he's anywhere near 100%, everyone better be watching their backs. 

141

You want a war? You have one.  This weight class is giving me anxiety.  We have a five man race for the title here at 141 lbs.  Here me out when I say this.  Quarters, semis, finals, consolation semis, consolation finals, every one of them will be a battle.   

A two-time NJCAA All-American for Clackamas back in 2020 & 2021, the Portillo brothers were really big on Marckis Branford while he competed for Lindsey Wilson.  He seemed to disappear for a while, but now he's back & he is probably going to be our *1 seed here at the HOA.   

If he isn't, then it's likely to be Reese Courtney.  A former Campbell Camel, having an outstanding season thus far in the NAIA, winning the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Guiseppe Guerra has plans on becoming an HOA champ this season & there is good reason to think he can accomplish that goal this weekend.  He already owns a 2-1 tiebreaker over Courtney & had a reversal not been overlooked in a dual, he might very well also own a win over Branford.  Guerra was 2nd at both the Grand View Open & the Battle in the Bluegrass.  5th at the Missouri Valley Invite. 

Let's also keep in mind how tough Daryl Mills can be.  A runner-up at last year's SAC championships, I believe he's found the HOA to be tougher waters.  It's been an up and down year for the Spartan so far.  3rd at the Falcon Invite, he won the Tom Smith Open & was 5th at the Lucha Open. 

Arojae Hart in a bit of a similar situation to Mills.  He has his ups and his down.  6th at last year's HOA, he certainly had a huge up in making the Missouri Valley Invitational finals earlier this season.  

Perhaps I should have said a 6 man race to the title? Jazen Brown, super tough in his own right.  6th at Missouri Valley.  

149

I cannot get over the immense amount of talent the HOA has in it this season.  Just loaded, absolutely loaded. 

Another Grand View Viking HOA champion? Without a doubt.  Elijah Larson, an HOA champion last year & an NAIA national champion last year, no one is gonna challenge him.  His only losses this year have been to NCAA DI opponents.  

Finals opponent?  Looks to be Nik Slatoff, 3rd at last year's HOA, champion of both the Dan Harris as well as the Oppenheim open this year.  

The war for bronze will be where things really get interesting.  I thought Brody Brisker would make like brother Kael and finish out his collegiate career at Southeastern.  Wanting to wrestle closer to home, he's now doing an outstanding job for the Statesmen. Won the Missouri Valley Invitational.  His parents will have about 45 minutes longer of a drive than I will to Oskaloosa on Friday.  

Brayden Eikerman, another of Coach McElfresh's super tough freshmen and we also have Georgino Moraga of St. Ambrose.  NAIA rankings go to the top 25 & I can't help but think Moraga has to be 26th, 27th, somewhere extremely close.   This is the kind of guy that wrestles all 7 minutes and is continuously on the attack.  That could serve him very well here at the HOA.  It certainly did at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  Many wrestling conservatively, it was his aggressive and relentless style that earned him a top 8 finish.  

157

4th in the NJCAA for Fort Hays Northwest Tech, Bryce Boumans is yet another transfer from the community college ranks that Grand View is having a lot of success with.  Thus far among his accomplishments, Boumans was the RENO runner-up.   Looking forward to a likely semi-final between Brandon Bollinger & Invi Bella.   Bollinger has had success at many levels of collegiate wrestling.  A CCCAA champion for Victor Valley, he was also an NJCAA All-American for North Idaho College.  Might as well have some success at the NAIA level right? 

The awkwardness of NAIA wrestling is the whole "can send 12 wrestlers" to the national championships deal.  Makes it even more awkward with a team like Grand View, that often has 20+ All American candidates on their team.   Who are they going to enter this weekend? Who are they not?  They can only send 12.  Is Danari Heard going to be one of them?  Well, 3rd at RENO, a match shy of being an All-American last year.  You'd certainly think so, but then again, like I said those kind of credentials describe 95% of the Viking wrestling team. 

165

 Another absolutely loaded weight class.  I'm 100% positive the HOA will need a Wildcard here at this weight.   

An HOA champion last year, an NAIA champion last year & a two-time RENO champion, Cam Robinson is going to add yet another gold medal to the 1,000,000 and counting already collected by the Grand View wrestling team.  I'm telling you there is more gold in the trophy case in Des Moines, than there is throughout the entire state of California.   

The rest of this weight class is going to be fun to see how it works out.  Rankings & seedings don't always reflect outcomes & that may very well be the case here.   

Dayton Hill has more than earned his status, a Missouri Valley Invitational runner-up.  Kevin Olavarria, a Puerto Rican standout, champion of the Service Salute earlier this year.   Then we have Xander Sederburg, another of those sneaky good Owls from Williams Woods. 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Francis Morrissey & Dylan Whitt are where things really get interesting.  Morrissey in my opinion is way better than 19th in the nation.  7th & 6th NAIA All-American finishes, if he's healthy this tournament, I have a hard time seeing him finish as low as 5th (which is where I think he'll be seeded).  

Gotta say the same for Dylan Whitt. If seeding reflects rankings, that means *6.  1st & 2nd at the HOA thus far, I highly doubt it.  Yet Whitt had a surreal and vastly disappointing Missouri Valley Invitational this year. 1st-3rd-2nd heading into the tournament, he failed to even make the top 12.  Whatever the slump and whatever the reason for it, he seems to be out of it now.  Let's not forget, he was 4th in the NAIA nation a year ago. 

Last but not least, Eric Hodge, who was 3rd at the Service Salute. 

174

Only the finalists will be NAIA qualifiers & I'm very confident that the finalists here will be Kris Ketchum & Roman Garcia.  The reason I include the other three, is to illustrate how competitive and tough NAIA wrestling has become.   These weight classes are deep, and it can be incredibly difficult to qualify for the NAIA championships, even if you are a very good wrestler.  

Many are asking themselves if there is anyone this season that can upend Tate Picklo of Oklahoma City & keep him from winning an NAIA national title.  IF there is a someone, that someone is Kris Ketchum.  A two-time NJCAA All-American & 2nd in the NAIA nation last season for St. Thomas, he is looking to end his time in collegiate wrestling a national champion.   With that said, the first thing he must do is worry about winning an HOA title.  He defeated Roman Garcia earlier this season, but if you've paid attention to Roman Garcia you know he's always at his best come tournament time.  The Eagle was 2nd at last year's HOA & thus far he's been 5th & 7th in the NAIA nation. 


As to the other talent in this bracket?  Micah Roper was 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  Elijah Brocksmith won the Drury Open & took 2nd at the Service Salute.  Joel Campbell 4th in the AMC last season, won the Tom Smith Open. 

184

The HOA is only taking the top 2 here at 184 lbs & I'm very puzzled by that.  With four ranked wrestlers in the weight class, I would have figured they would have been allotted at least four, but I guess not.  Much like 174 lbs, this means some really good talent is going to have to either rely on a wildcard or face the fact that they're staying home this year.  

I do predict a final between Tom Even & Austen Wetzel, I predict it to be one of the best finals of the evening.  I can see Even being yet another Viking crowned HOA champion & I can see Wetzel making an historical moment by becoming Williams Woods first ever HOA champion.  Even was the Missouri Valley Invitational runner-up this season, while Wetzel finished in 3rd place.  Wetzel also for record, was an NCAA Division III wrestler last year, finishing one match shy of being an All-American. 

Let's not count out Jackson King, who has thus far had 3rd & 2nd place finishes in the HOA.  Then we also have Jack Simons & Eli Messik, 8th & R12 at the Missouri Valley Invitational respectively.  Messick was also 3rd at the Dan Harris open.   Lastly, it should be noted how good of a match Nik Makwala gave Tom Even in a recent dual.  Even eventually locked up a headlock and won by fall, but it was very late into the match.  Before that, Makwala was wrestling him very well & came close to scoring on several occasions.  2026 may not be the year for the Fighting Bee, but it is clear to tell with two more seasons of eligibility, this Fighting Bee has a bright future. 

197

Gold and silver I'm pretty sure are already spoken for here at 197 lbs.   We have GK, a returning HOA as well as NAIA champion, who also won RENO earlier this year.  He's very likely our gold.  Then we have Mr. Personality himself, Elijah Hynes 3rd-4th-3rd in the HOA, who has more than proven various times throughout the season that he is going to make his first conference final.  On top of that, come nationals he'll also be looking to become a rare four-time All-American, with finishes of 8th-5th-7th thus far. 

Duking it out for 3rd will be K.J. Fry, Cam Cornman & Donivan Giangregorio.  Earlier this season Cornman took 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, while Giangregorio, a former Oregon State Beaver took 6th. 

HWT

I can see HWT becoming absolute chaos.  Five allocations here for the NAIA national tournament, but three others more than capable of making some noise.   2nd in the NAIA nation, with back-to-back 3rd place showings at the HOA, our favorite here is Austin Foye.  Shane Cook of Grand View, having an outstanding season. Unbelievably quick, agile and flexible for someone of his size.  Built like an elephant but moves like a cheetah.   Randy Gonzalez a former CCCAA standout for Cerritos, having a standout year for the Vikings of Missouri Valley.  A Missouri Valley Invitational champion earlier this year.   Then we have Garine Gibson, a Louisiana native, 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational this year. 

As mentioned previously, you never know who Grand View will send to the qualifiers and who they won't.  If they send Dmarian Lopez, ignore the fact that he's not currently ranked.  He's HOA champion material.  Trust me on this.  3rd & 1st in the NJCAA the past two years, GVU in my opinion has picked up another All-American, if not national champion caliber wrestler.  He was 3rd at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Amad Soufi & Oran Varela are two more super tough HWTs that could place within the top five and make a trip to the NAIA national tournament.  Soufi is surprisingly good in the top position & has surprised more than one foe with his ability to turn.  He gave Foye a great 5-3 match earlier this season. 

As to Tyler Casey, he's a reminder of how much hatred I have for injuries. I've seen so many wrestlers over the years not have the successes they otherwise would have because of injuries.  He's battled an elbow injury nearly all season & it has severely hindered his performance.  Nonetheless, he shocked the NAIA wrestling world last year by making the HOA finals.  Perhaps he has a bit more of that magic stored away for this weekend. 

2026 Sooner Athletic Conference Preview (Sat Feb 21st)

 

The #5 Oklahoma City Stars look to completely dominate the Sooner Athletic Conference this Saturday, but we should see some good fight out of both #21 Wayland Baptist, as well as Texas Wesleyan at various weights. 

125

Cash Donnel is one of many former Oklahoma Sooners, now an Oklahoma City Star looking to win a SAC title this Saturday.   He won the Southeastern Open earlier this season.  To challenge him will be Jesse Lewis, a tough freshman for the Pioneers, champion at the Cumberland Open. 

#8
Vincent Citrano
  Oklahoma City 
133

The Pittsburgh native is having a standout season thus far & is head & shoulders the favorite to win this Saturday's SAC title. 

U.R.
Jace Province
Oklahoma City
141

No ranked wrestlers in the SAC at 141 lbs, but if I be a guessing man, my guess for a champion here is Jace Province.  The freshman has looked very solid multiple times thus far in '25-'26, including winning both the Viking Open & the 918 Open. 

149

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this doesn't end up being the best match of the SAC finals.  Kaden Fetterolf, yet another of the former Oklahoma Sooners, now an Oklahoma City Star.  Having a great season thus far, taking titles at both the Friend Falcon Open & the Southeastern Open.  His likely opponent, Jaden Two Lance.  An outstanding NJCAA wrestler for Carl Albert, now doing big things in the NAIA.  He recently won the Cumberland Open. 

157

I have no doubt in my mind that Oklahoma City sends 12 wrestlers to the NAIA championships this year.  Former Oklahoma Sooner, & NAIA title contender John Wiley will without a doubt be one of them.  And for that matter, so will Jake Moon. 

165

The other weight class where Oklahoma City sends two to the NAIA national tournament? 165 lbs.  Ironically enough, last season Jordan Lomeli finished 3rd at the SAC championships, whereas Hayden Brown finished 2nd.  This year, the two look to duke it out for the gold.  So far this season, Lomeli bested Brown at the Friends Falcon Invite in the 3rd place match.  Lomeli also won the Southeastern Open. 

174

Truth to be known, if Tate Picklo was still competing for the Oklahoma Sooners, he would easily be a top 33 NCAA DI wrestler.  Honestly, I think he's good enough and talented enough to be within the top 20. You remember that the next time you doubt the credibility of NAIA wrestling or you hear someone question the talent of the upper caliber of the NAIA. There are some outstanding wrestlers in the NAIA & Picklo is walking, breathing proof of that.  A Friends Falcon Invite champion, as well as a Southeastern Open champion, he's got SAC gold written all over him.   

With that said, I expect his finals opponent to be Jonathon Ward of Texas Wesleyan.  An SAC champion in his own right. 

184

If 149 lbs isn't our best final, 184 lbs will be.  Dayne Stormer & Cole Olguin met earlier this year, and it was a wild 15-13 win for Stormer.  I would imagine such a match this weekend will bring the same excitement. 

#15
Omari Smith
Oklahoma City
197

The SAC's only returning All-American from last season (8th) & a SAC champion, I say it's a fair thought to think he'll repeat as both as we near the end of the season. 

HWT

This is a very interesting situation.  An SAC champion last season, Emmett Bivens is a favorite to win an SAC title this weekend.  Here to give him a challenge will be Rafael Lovato.  What makes him so interesting?  How about the fact that most collegiate wrestlers were born sometime between 2001 & 2008.  Rafael Lovato was born in 1983.   If he were to win the SAC title this weekend, I wonder if he'd be the oldest conference champion in collegiate wrestling history?  What a story that'd make. 

2026 GREAT LAKES District Preview (Sun Feb 22nd)

 

Not seeing Triton currently ranked in the team standings & not seeing any of their wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of individual weight classes, is really throwing me off.  Nevertheless, I think we're going to see some good wrestling here at the Great Lakes District tournament this weekend.  Southwest Michigan is the only team with a current ranking, but we should see go showings out of Individuals from many teams. 

I'll be honest with results being so cryptic & often times not findable at all, I had to do a lot of simply going off of what I know & what I was able to find.   I really don't know what to think at 184 lbs, so I left it off of this preview.  

125

You are looking at three of the best 125 lbs'ers in the NJCAA.  Jack Guerrero, a Great Lakes District champion last year & 8th in the NJCAA nation is having himself an outstanding season.  Really took a hold of that #1 ranking at Art Kraft where he won a title against some very stiff competition.  Santana Ramon, who met Guerrero in last year's Great Lakes District finals, plans on meeting the Jayhawk in the finals again.  That's if & a strong if, he can get past Truth Vesey.  The former Cumberland Phoenix has been having himself a great season in the NJCAA as well.  3rd at Art Kraft, he won the Battle for the Helmet.  We're looking at both an outstanding semi-final & an outstanding final here at 125. 

133

 No ranked wrestlers here at 133 lbs, but if I were a guessing man, I'd bet on Kaden LaPaugh, Esteban Delgado & Colin Kuhn to be our top three place-winners.  Not speaking chronologically. 

141

Here at 141 lbs, I believe we are going to see a rematch of this year's Art Kraft memorial finals.  There Lennon Steinkuehler defeated Ian Cook.  Steinkuehler was 3rd at the Great Lakes District a year ago. 

#6
Dylan McLean
SW Michigan 
149

A Great Lakes runner-up last season, Dylan McLean looks to win the District championship this weekend. 

157

I think this is going to be a fun weight class worth paying attention to.  Thus far Carthage transfer Maguire Hoeksema has enjoyed a good season in the NJCAA.  Although he has the ranking, I do not think a path to a Great Lakes title will be a smooth one for the Hawk.  Dayveon Rupert was a Great Lakes District champion last year & Darnell Mack thus far this season won the Art Kraft Memorial, while taking runner-up honors at the Battle For the Helmet. 

165

Here's another good potential final to look forward to here at the Great Lakes District tournament.  Aiden Cohen, a guy who is not afraid to go upperbody and lock up some throws, taking on Harrison Meekhof, another tough wrestler for the Jayhawks.  Cohen won the Battle For the Helmet, taking runner-up honors at the MSOE invitational.  Meekhof was 3rd at the Art Kraft Memorial. 

U.R.
Trevor Streeter
Muskegon
174

I do my best to at least have the guts to pick a champion at each weight class, if I can.  While 184 lbs throws me way off, I feel confident enough to Trevor Streeter's past performances where I can see him winning the gold this weekend. 

197 

As said before, it's been surreal this season witnessing Triton in a year of struggle.  Nonetheless, I do think there will be a moment of highlight for the Trojans this tournament & I think it'll happen here at 197 lbs.  Everett McClelland has had some ups this season, including winning the Harper College Open.  I look for Andrew Baldwin to be his opponent in the finals. 

#7
Josh King
Harper
HWT

 Been an impressive season for Josh King thus far.  Gold at Art Kraft, it was silver at the Battle For the Helmet & bronze at the Yellow Jacket Open.  I look for him to take gold this weekend at the Great Lakes District.