2023 The Season NAIA = Graceland

 

The loss of All American Joseph Lupton who was 4th at the NAIA championships last season will be felt this year, but nonetheless the Yellowjackets should still have a pretty respectable program. 

125 lbs
Taywone McNack 

5th in the Heart of American Conference last season, Taywon McNack enters his final season looking to make his first trip to the NAIA tournament. 

141 lbs
Jackson Wenberg 

Florida native Jackson Wenberg made the Heart of American Conference finals last season and will look for another good showing at the tournament again this year. Knowledge and skills that he learned from Coach Cole Spree at both Ellsworth and Indian Hills, combined with what he continues to learn from Coaches Mullins, Beeson and Sams could very well result in a breakout year for him. 

165 lbs
Invi Bella 

To my understanding, Invi Bella was never a state qualifier while in high school. All the more reason to want to see him wrestle well and make a trip to the NAIA tournament. The Heart of American is a very competitive conference and it was a chore to place in the top 6 last season as a freshman. Anxious to see how much he's improved over the summer. 

197 lbs 
John Schuttler 

My girlfriend and her family are from Manson. I paid attention to Schuttler when he was competing for Mason Northwest Webster. Definitely goes to war every time he steps out on the mat. Lost a couple of close matches at the Heart of American Conference tournament last season as he finished 6th. By all means, a take down here and a take down there, he could have been as good as 3rd.  Honing in on and tweaking things here and there could result in NAIA qualification this season. 

2023 The Season NAIA: Benedictine

 

He got it done at Cleary by helping wrestlers to not only improve on the mat, but also in the classroom and I am lead to believe that now that Greg Barner is the new head coach, he'll get it done at Benedictine too. As are most things though, it may take sometime. The Ravens have two wrestlers that should do well throughout the regular season and within the Heart of America Conference. 

125 lbs 
Charles Easterling 

Only a sophomore, Charles Easterling missed out on a Heart of American Conference plaque by one match last season when he finished 4th at the tournament. Also 4th at the Central Baptist Open, the future is bright for the young Raven. 

149 lbs
Gino Camarca 

A twenty plus win season last year, junior Gino Camarca was also 4th in the Heart of America Conference. Coach Barner has proven himself to be a coach that specializes upon improvement & both Easterling and Camarca will be two great places to start. 

2023 NAIA The Season: Baker

 

Losing a talent like All American Isaiah Luellen who was 3rd at last year's NAIA championships is always going to be felt, but on the same hand the Wildcats return five national qualifiers, three of which were one match shy of being All Americans last season. I look for this to be yet another good year for Baker wrestling. 

133 lbs 
Breyden Morrill 

Garnering a 20+ win season last year, look for Breyden Morrill to have made some improvements as he heads into his junior season.  He was 5th in the Heart of America Conference last season & I would expect him to place higher this season. 

141 lbs 
Dallas Koelzer 

Junior Dallas Koelzer had a very nice showing at the Heart of American Conference tournament last season as he took a tough 4-3 quarterfinal loss to the eventual champion and turned it into three falls & a decisive 10-5 decision to finish in 3rd place. I highly expect him to contend for the Conference title this season. 

165 lbs
Joey Hancock 

A tad bit on the inconsistent side, junior Joey Hancock had to rely on the grace of a wildcard to gain entry to the NAIA championships last season. When on, he's tough to beat. The key though, is figuring out a why to make the switch stay turned to on. Once that is figured out, he could open up a lot of eyes this season. 

184 lbs 
Brett Bober 

A Heart of American Conference runner-up last season, senior Brett Bober was once match shy of All American status at the NAIA championships. He will most certainly be a contender of a place within the top eight this season. 

184 lbs
Joey Ewalt

Junior Joey Ewalt was another Wildcat who showed tremendous tenacity at the Heart of American Conference tournament last season as he came back from a semi-final loss to take 3rd place. At the NAIA championships he lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Williams Baptist's Niko Perovic in the round to place. I look for him to be very hungry this season & I think we'll be looking at an All American by season's end. 

197 
Malachi Karibo & Angel Verduzco  

Sophomore Malachi Karibo is yet another Wildcat who after finishing as the Heart of America Conference runner-up was one match shy of All American honors at the NAIA championships. Ironically enough it is teammate Angel Verduzco, who was 3rd in the conference himself who will push him hardest this season. The NAIA as you know allows for a team under controlled conditions to send more than one wrestler at a weight class to the national tournament. That could very well be the case with Baker at 197 lbs this season. 

2023 NAIA The Season: Williams Baptist

 

As to starters returning/lost, Williams Baptist comes in a little better than 50/50.  The Eagles lost some good kids due to graduation including American Midwest Conference champions Josh Wright & Isaiah Sellers, as well as runner-up Josh Tyler, but what they have coming back is more impressive than what they lost. 

125 lbs 
Robert Fairchild 

I expect the Louisiana High School State finalist to make a real run at NAIA qualification in his final season as an Eagle. Last season he had his first win over an NCAA Division I opponent when he defeated Alex Yokubaitis of Oklahoma State & I would think that did wonders for his confidence. Ironically enough Yokobaitis himself is from Louisiana as well & furthermore a four time state champion. It goes to show what can be done through good coaching, believing in yourself and hard work. Fairchild finished 3rd at the American Midwest Conference tournament last year. 

141 lbs 
Cody Souder 

One half of the Souder duo from Alabama, Cody darn near joined brother Nick in a trip to the NAIA championships when he finished as the runner-up at the American Midwest Conference tournament. Only a sophomore this season, he will continue to do good things for the Eagles. 

149 lbs 
Nick Souder 

Winning an American Midwest Conference title last season, Nick Souder finished a heartbreaking one match shy of NAIA All American status. This is the final season for the three time High School State champ from Alabama & he should enter the season ranked within the top 10 if not better. 

184 lbs
Niko Perovic 

Florida native Niko Perovic looks to lead the Eagle team this season as he guns for yet another American Midwest Conference title as well as another NAIA All American honor. He placed 6th last season. 

197 lbs 
Kade Carter 

You don't hear too many stories like that of Kade Carter every day.  As an historian of the sport, I can tell you all sorts of examples of collegiate wrestlers that never wrestled in High School.  Guys that only played football, even guys that were basketball stars in high school, that became wrestlers in college. Yet that's all in the past right? That kinda stuff doesn't happen in 2022 does it? Guess again. 

Kade Carter never wrestled in High School. He was a soccer player, who also happened to be a part of a jiujitsu club. His first time competing in wrestling was when he stepped on the mat at Williams Baptist.  First year ever wrestling and he makes the American Midwest Conference finals, ending the season with a 8-15 record. As he harnesses in his skills and finetunes his techniques, it's hard telling how high his ceiling really is. Extraordinarily strong, flexible and athletic, his hunger to improve suggest that ceiling is pretty high. 

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If you enjoy Johnnythompsonnum1 & would like to see further coverage of your favorite college wrestling teams and college wrestlers please consider donating to Johnnythompsonnum1. Thus far generous donations have allowed me to purchase a camera & I hope to further my ability to cover more events and grow the coverage I do for wrestling. Send donation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1  

2023 NAIA The Season: Missouri Baptist

 

Caleb McElfresh was instrumental in Steve Weathers 8th place NAIA All American finish last season & now that he has taken over as head coach, I think he will continue to yield such results. It may take some time though. I do think this season will be a struggle for the Spartans, but they should have at least one NAIA qualifier. 

125 lbs
Dillon Witt 

As much as we've seen Purler Wrestling Academy advertised and promoted on various wrestling websites and pages, sophomore Dillon Witt has given us an opportunity to see the foundations put into practice at the collegiate level. His skills led him to his first American Midwest Conference finals appearance as well as his first NAIA qualification. A wrestler that continuously improved year after year in high school, it's a fair prediction to think he'll do the same collegiately. 

2023 NAIA The Season: Lyon

 

2022-2023 will be a challenging season for new head coach Zach Mizer as he looks to turn around the Scots program. He should send at least one wrestler to the NAIA championships though. 

HWT
Austin Trimble 

A late start into the season due to also being a starting lineman on the football team, Austin Trimble only had 10 matches on the year when he entered the American Midwest Conference tournament. Yet he wrestled well enough to make the finals and earn a trip to the NAIA's. A big strong HWT that is good at learning from his mistakes, it'll be interesting to see how he fares under Mizer in his final season of eligibility. 

2023 NAIA The Season = Lincoln

 

I'm well aware. Trust me I'm well aware. I know that there will be no Lincoln Lynx wrestling this season because there is no more Lincoln College (Illinois). However, they had a very good team last year & I know I can't be the only person curious as to what will become of what would have been their returning roster.  Found some answers, while others still remain a mystery. 

125 lbs 
Jake Jozwiak 

One school's tragedy is another school's fortune as what Lincoln College lost, Eureka College gained. For the first time in school history the Red Devils will field a wrestling program & it's obvious that they aren't going to sit around and wait on father time to be successful. Last season for the Lynx, Jozwiak was a American Midwest Conference champion. While it usually takes time before a first year program has a qualifier to the national tournament, with talent like Jozwiak on the roster, I can see it being a real possibility for Eureka this season.  (Eureka will be at the NCAA DIII level). 

141 lbs 
Dominic Tenayuca 

I'm very anxious to see what becomes of Dominic Tenayuca. He's a senior who not only wrestled for Lincoln, but he also played baseball. Have to question  at this point if he continues to do both wrestling and baseball, or if in his final season of eligibility he choses one over the other. I haven't heard or read yet, but anxious to find out. 

165 lbs
Andrew Sims 

Another American Midwest Champion that will be making his new home Eureka is junior Andrew Sims. Like Jozwiak, he gives the Red Devils a reason to believe their first season could very well be a successful one. 

184 lbs 
Thomas Culp 

Sophomore Thomas Culp makes yet a third former Lynx who will be a Red Devil this upcoming season. He was a American Midwest Conference runner-up last season who went 2-2 at the NAIA championships. 

197 lbs                            HWT
Jackson Creasy           Desirgeon Keys 

Have yet to hear where Jackson Creasy or Desirgeon Keys are headed. Both American Midwest Conference champions this past season, Creasy at 197 & Keys at HWT.  Creasy is only a sophomore with three years of eligibility left, where Keys is a senior. Wherever they end up, both will make great additions to a line up. 

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As noted it's rewarding to see in the darkness that is the loss of Lincoln, that a negative is turned into a positive in what will be the light of the addition of Eureka. Having three NAIA qualifiers to jump start your program in its inauguration is a commitment to excellence that should not go overlooked. Hope to see Tenayuca back on the mat somewhere this winter, but in the least hope that if he doesn't continue wrestling that he does continue baseball. The ideal situation is that he continues both.  Anxious to see where Creasy and Keys end up.  

2023 NAIA The Season = Hannibal LaGrange

 

Going on to Hannibal-LaGrange's athletics website and seeing that wrestling no longer exist is as infuriating as it is disheartening. I have studied discontinued wrestling programs to death and it always amazes me that a school seems to always pick about the worst time that they could to discontinue their wrestling program. They had something really special in Gavin Morawitz who I will expand upon here in a second. A local kid from Hannibal who chose to compete in an area where his family and friends could continue watching him compete. Why Hannibal-LaGrange wouldn't want that representation is beyond me. What makes sense is to be proud of such accomplishment. What makes sense is to give him every opportunity to achieve these goals. Instead they do just the opposite. Tell him they don't want him and force him to look for a new home. 

157 lbs
Gavin Morawitz 

Gavin Morawitz completely owned the American Midwest Conference last season. In three matches to a title, none of them got out of the first period. 24-11 in his rookie campaign last season, I hope the Trojans are fully aware that they gave up the opportunity to crown what may have been the best wrestler they ever produced. There's little to no reason to think that Morawitz couldn't have one day ended his career a four time conference champion. He'll probably go on to be an All American elsewhere as well. 

There's absolutely no reason at all that men's sports doesn't include wrestling & for that matter that women's sports also doesn't include wrestling.  Shame on you Hannibal-LaGrange, shame on you. 

2023 NAIA The Season = Central Baptist

 

Probably another rough reason for the Mustangs, but it should be better than it was last season. If not more dual meet victories, in the very least looking more competitive within the losses. The Mas duo from Florida has improved and will continue to improve. Strength seemed to be their biggest obstacle last season, especially Alejandro. If time was spent getting to know iron this summer, I think that will spell all the difference. The safe bet is to think one NAIA qualifier this season, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to see as many as three. 

149 lbs 
Brian Mas 

Central Baptist had a sole NAIA qualifier last season, but I would like to think that this season they are capable of more. Brian Mas was 3rd in the American Midwest Conference tournament and I think he's one of the Mustang's best bets. 

157 lbs
Alejandro Mas 

Like brother Brian, Alejandro looks to improve upon his American Midwest Conference finish of last year which was 5th place for him. Strength as I alluded to earlier seemed to be one of his biggest issues last season as he seemed to get outmuscled in many situations. If that is something he has worked on in the offseason, I can see it making a tremendous difference in his wrestling. An NAIA qualification? In a conference that only takes the top two, it'll be tough but it's not undoable. 

165 lbs
Christian Richer 

Here's the man of the hour. The Northern Nevada native, who spent some time at Lassen before transferring to Central Baptist was an American Midwest Conference finalist for the Mustangs last season. He lost a heartbreaking 3-1 sudden-victory in the finals, and this year looks to not only qualify for his second NAIA trip, but to do so this time as conference champion. A future federal law enforcement agent, he will be the leader of the Mustang team. 

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If you enjoy Johnnythompsonnum1 & would like to see further coverage of your favorite college wrestling teams and college wrestlers please consider donating to Johnnythompsonnum1. Thus far generous donations have allowed me to purchase a camera & I hope to further my ability to cover more events and grow the coverage I do for wrestling. Send donation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1 

2023 NAIA The Season = Calumet of St Joseph

 

I look for it to be a fairly respectable year as Head Coach Tom Molony continues to build the Crimson Wave program as he heads into his third season as the head coach. I see as many as three NAIA qualifiers. 

141 lbs
Nathan Berta 

A American Midwest Conference Champion last season, look for Nathan Berta to be the leader of Calumet St Joseph this upcoming season. Only a sophomore, he also added a Muskegon Open title to his collegiate resume last season as well. Should improve upon his 0-2 performance at the NAIA's last season. Has the potential to eventually be an All American. 

174 lbs 
Noah Boles 

An Illinois High School State qualifier & a NJCAA Qualifier for Joliet Community College, Noah Boles was one win shy of NAIA qualification last season when he took 3rd at the American Midwest Conference. I think the junior will definitely step it up a notch this season for the Crimson Wave & help with crucial points during close dual meets.  

184 lbs
Ricardo Adame 

Coming all the way from California where he competed for CCCAA Fresno City, Ricardo Adame was in the same boat at Noah Boles was last season when he finished 3rd at the American Midwest Conference tournament. Being so close NAIA qualification should light a fire under the junior to to turn that one match shy into a trip to what I believe will again be Wichita this March. 


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If you enjoy Johnnythompsonnum1 & would like to see further coverage of your favorite college wrestling teams and college wrestlers please consider donating to Johnnythompsonnum1. Thus far generous donations have allowed me to purchase a camera & I hope to further my ability to cover more events and grow the coverage I do for wrestling. Send donnation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1 

Four (or More) Time State Champions in College = Wyoming

 This will be the last in the series of "Four (or More) Time State champions in College."  I'd like to find Missouri, South Dakota, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, but as for right now I haven't be able to. I also hope to one day find more information regarding the private High School system in Texas.  I'll wish upon a star someday that maybe information on four time Provincial champions might be available from Canada as well. I think that would be something very interesting to research and talk about. 

A big thank you to Seth Horton for providing me a list of Wyoming's Four Time State champions! 

Dave Edington 

Dave Edington of Saratoga is a figure that I've written about many times before. He was the state of Wyoming's first four time state champion winning titles from 57'-60'. He went to Wyoming to compete where shortly into his first season of varsity competition, tragedy would strike. He was wrestling Doug Bingham of Utah, when suddenly Bingham's body went limp. Sensing that something was wrong, Edington got off of Bingham and signaled to the referee. A Doctor in the crowd came down & an ambulance was called. Edington helped lift Bingham's motionless body onto the stretcher. Bingham didn't make it. Edington swore off wrestling after that moment, wanting nothing to do with the sport ever again. In fact when he took a teaching job post getting his college degree, he purposefully chose a High School that did not have a wrestling program. Yet a short time later the principal of that school came to Edington and told him that the school was getting wrestling the following season. He wasn't as much being offered the job as he was being told that he was going to do it. Edington would go on to lead the program to 8 team state championships.  Normally keeping this series to simply how four (or more) time state champs did in college, but some stories even if irrelevant to the topic, are too good not to share. 

Ray Sanchez 

Ray Sanchez won four Wyoming High School State titles from 62'-65' for Cheyenne Central. He wrestled collegiately for Wyoming where he was 4th at the 1967 NCAA championships as a junior. Unfortunately a back injury would take him out for his senior season of 1968. 

John Lucchi 

John Lucchi won four Wyoming High School State titles for Rock Springs from 70'-73'.  He wrestled collegiately at Iowa. 

Larry Schneider 

Larry Scheneider won four Wyoming High School State titles for Worland from 84'-87'.  From what I could find he did not wrestle in college.

Russell Davis 

Competing for Upton, Russell Davis won four Wyoming High School State titles from 88'-91'. From what I could gather, he did not wrestle in college. 

Bobby Thoman 

Bobby Thoman won four Wyoming High School State crowns from 95'-98' for Wind River. He wrestled collegiately for Wyoming. 

Troy McIlravy 

A representative of Campbell County, Troy McIlravy won four Wyoming High School State titles from 95'-98'.  I don't know for sure, but I believe he may have competed collegiately at Wyoming. 

Cody Grant 

Torrington representative Cody Grant won four Wyoming High School State titles from 01'-04'. From what I could find, he did not wrestle in college. 

Jeff Wood 

Jeff Wood won four Wyoming High School State titles for Campbell County from 04'-07'. From what I could find, he did not wrestle in college. 

Jared Hatley 

Jared Hatley won four Wyoming High School State titles for Torrington from 05'-08'.  He started off his collegiate career at Wyoming and then transferred to Nebraska-Kearney. 

Kasey Garnhart 

Kasey Garnhart of Greybull Riverside won four Wyoming High School State titles from 05'-08'.  He competed collegiately for Wyoming where he was a two time RENO place-winner taking 5th in both his freshman and junior seasons. 

Tyler Cox 

Tyler Cox of Campbell County won four Wyoming High School State titles from 06'-09'. He competed for Wyoming where he had an excellent collegiate career. Highlighted by an All American finish of 8th at the NCAA championships in 2013 as a sophomore, he won a Western Regional title in his junior season of 2014. He was 3rd as a sophomore & the runner-up as a senior. Along with these accomplishments he also took 3rd at CKLV as a sophomore, 6th at the Southern Scuffle as a senior & was a three time RENO champion after taking 3rd as a freshman. 

Austin Carter 

Austin Carter won four Wyoming High School State titles for Powell from 07'-10'. From what I could find he did not wrestle in college. 

Dani Fischer 

Winning four Wyoming High School State titles for Campbell County from 10'-13', Dani Fisher competed collegiately for Air Force. 

Bryce Meredith 

Collegiately speaking I think you'd have to give the nod to Bryce Meredith. The four time Wyoming state champ out of Cheyenne Central (11'-14') had a standout career for the Wyoming Cowboys. Going 108-21 he was a two time NCAA finalist in his sophomore & senior seasons, taking 4th as a sophomore in 2017. Winning a BIG 12 title in 2018, he was a runner up in 2017 & 3rd in 2016. A three time RENO finalist, he won titles in his sophomore & senior seasons. Add in CKLV finishes of runner up as a junior & 3rd as a senior. 

Justin Lewton 

A four Wyoming State champion, Justin Lewton won titles from 11'-14' for Worland. He did not wrestle in college. 

James Teichert  

Representing Cokeville, James Teichert won four Wyoming High School State titles from 12'-15'. I don't believe he wrestled in college. 

Kyle Catlin 

Kyle Catlin of Powell won four Wyoming High School State titles from 13'-16' for Powell. From what I could find he did not wrestle in college. 

Donny Proffit

Donny Proffit won four Wyoming High School State titles for Kemmerer from 16'-19'.  Collegiately he decided to compete in Rodeo, a member of the Wyoming Cowboys team. 

Dawson Schramm 

Dawson Schramm won four Wyoming High School State titles for Kemmerer from 17'-20'.  From what I could gather, he did not wrestle in college. 


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Jace Palmer of Kelly Walsh is at North Carolina 

Analu Benabise of Kelly Walsh is at Wyoming 

Cody Phelps of Pinedale is at Western Wyoming 

Sefton Douglass of Lyman is at Western Wyoming