As they have and as they will continue many years from now, Grand View looks to all but own NAIA wrestling in the 22'-23' season. Whatever they've lost, they've gained. It's like a factory of T-1000's from the TERMINATOR films. As if Batman, Superman & the Incredible Hulk all decided they were gonna compete for the same team. Just take a look at their incredible lineup. To think, I'm probably leaving a few notable guys off too.
You lose a national champion in Esco Walker & the NAIA's first five time All American in Justin Portillo, you'd think that it'd be near impossible to replace that sort of talent, but low and behold, Grand View did just that. Iowa State transfer Aden Reeves will be a contender right out of the gate. The sophomore should prove himself to be NAIA championship material soon enough as the season progresses. Exciting for me as up through the eighth grade he lived in what at one time was my Great Grandparents house & my Grandpa for a period of time dated his Great Aunt. Known Aden his whole life and I'm excited to see all of the great things he'll accomplish over the next three seasons.
Runner up in the Heart of America Conference and 3rd in the NAIA last season, Carson Taylor will be a contender for both a conference & a national title this season.
The Pocahontas Area native enters his final season of eligibility looking to add yet another Heart of American conference title as well as a second NAIA All American honor to his resume. After finishing one match shy of placing in 2020, he had a standout NAIA tournament last season taking 3rd place. He will contend for the national title this season.
Two time NAIA All American Tanner Abbas who was 4th in 2020 & 6th in 2021, should return to the lineup as a full time starter looking to earn his third All American honor this season.
The NAIA runner up in last season and 3rd in 2021, Marty Margolis looks to end his final season as a Viking a top of the award stand at the national tournament.
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Alex Reynolds doesn't enter the 2022-2023 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Of 12 Vikings that entered the NAIA championships last season he was the only one to walk out of Wichita, Kansas without a medal. He missed out on All American status losing in sudden victory in the R12 match. 3rd in the Heart Of America, he'll look to earn his first All American honor along with his first conference title this season.
3rd in 2021 and 2nd last season, Ben Lee is one of the best wrestlers in the NAIA yet to win a national title. Tough weight class, but he's most certainly a top contender.
To be honest I was expecting a bit more out of Provisor last season. Perhaps my expectations were too high but given that the man owns three gold, one silver & one bronze medal from the PAN-AMERICAN championships, I don't think I was being unfair in my presupposition. He has three seasons of eligibility left and I believe that Sooner or Later it'll all come together for him and he'll be one of the top wrestlers in the NAIA. It might have simply taken a year to get used to the grind of collegiate wrestling. At 32 years old, I believe if he makes All American status this would make him one of the oldest All American in collegiate history. I'm almost positive that if he achieves this status in 2025 at age 34, he will certainly be one of the oldest All Americans of all time. Pretty cool fact if he achieves this status. (Thumbs up to you if you understand why I italicized with capital letters on both Sooner and Later.)
5th at the NAIA championships this past season and 3rd in 2020, Owen Braungardt will be going to his third All American honor this season.
Ever since transferring from Indiana, Greg Hagan has proven to be a valuable asset to the Viking program. Dropping a 5-4 decision in the NAIA finals last season, he will be gunning to win a national title this season.
===
Interesting side note that I always love telling to enhance the attitude of "Never, say never." Years ago I was visiting a friend in Des Moines. I've always really enjoyed touring colleges. He took me around Grand View one day and we had an opportunity to speak with the athletic director. I asked if there was chance of the school ever getting a wrestling program. We were told, "Most likely no." A few short years later they did get a wrestling program and it didn't take long for them to be THE wrestling program in the NAIA. I always like thinking of this story whenever anyone has a defeatist pessimistic attitude of "never" regarding the growth of wrestling.
===
 |
| 125 lbs Aden Reeves |
You lose a national champion in Esco Walker & the NAIA's first five time All American in Justin Portillo, you'd think that it'd be near impossible to replace that sort of talent, but low and behold, Grand View did just that. Iowa State transfer Aden Reeves will be a contender right out of the gate. The sophomore should prove himself to be NAIA championship material soon enough as the season progresses. Exciting for me as up through the eighth grade he lived in what at one time was my Great Grandparents house & my Grandpa for a period of time dated his Great Aunt. Known Aden his whole life and I'm excited to see all of the great things he'll accomplish over the next three seasons.
 |
| 133 lbs Carson Taylor |
Runner up in the Heart of America Conference and 3rd in the NAIA last season, Carson Taylor will be a contender for both a conference & a national title this season.
 |
| 141 lbs Shea Ruffridge |
The Pocahontas Area native enters his final season of eligibility looking to add yet another Heart of American conference title as well as a second NAIA All American honor to his resume. After finishing one match shy of placing in 2020, he had a standout NAIA tournament last season taking 3rd place. He will contend for the national title this season.
 |
| 149 lbs Tanner Abbas |
Two time NAIA All American Tanner Abbas who was 4th in 2020 & 6th in 2021, should return to the lineup as a full time starter looking to earn his third All American honor this season.
 |
| 165 lbs Marty Margolis |
The NAIA runner up in last season and 3rd in 2021, Marty Margolis looks to end his final season as a Viking a top of the award stand at the national tournament.
 |
| 174 lbs Alex Reynolds |
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Alex Reynolds doesn't enter the 2022-2023 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Of 12 Vikings that entered the NAIA championships last season he was the only one to walk out of Wichita, Kansas without a medal. He missed out on All American status losing in sudden victory in the R12 match. 3rd in the Heart Of America, he'll look to earn his first All American honor along with his first conference title this season.
 |
| 184 lbs Ben Lee |
3rd in 2021 and 2nd last season, Ben Lee is one of the best wrestlers in the NAIA yet to win a national title. Tough weight class, but he's most certainly a top contender.
 |
| Ben Provisor |
To be honest I was expecting a bit more out of Provisor last season. Perhaps my expectations were too high but given that the man owns three gold, one silver & one bronze medal from the PAN-AMERICAN championships, I don't think I was being unfair in my presupposition. He has three seasons of eligibility left and I believe that Sooner or Later it'll all come together for him and he'll be one of the top wrestlers in the NAIA. It might have simply taken a year to get used to the grind of collegiate wrestling. At 32 years old, I believe if he makes All American status this would make him one of the oldest All American in collegiate history. I'm almost positive that if he achieves this status in 2025 at age 34, he will certainly be one of the oldest All Americans of all time. Pretty cool fact if he achieves this status. (Thumbs up to you if you understand why I italicized with capital letters on both Sooner and Later.)
 |
| 197 lbs Owen Braungardt |
5th at the NAIA championships this past season and 3rd in 2020, Owen Braungardt will be going to his third All American honor this season.
 |
| HWT Greg Hagan |
Ever since transferring from Indiana, Greg Hagan has proven to be a valuable asset to the Viking program. Dropping a 5-4 decision in the NAIA finals last season, he will be gunning to win a national title this season.
===
Interesting side note that I always love telling to enhance the attitude of "Never, say never." Years ago I was visiting a friend in Des Moines. I've always really enjoyed touring colleges. He took me around Grand View one day and we had an opportunity to speak with the athletic director. I asked if there was chance of the school ever getting a wrestling program. We were told, "Most likely no." A few short years later they did get a wrestling program and it didn't take long for them to be THE wrestling program in the NAIA. I always like thinking of this story whenever anyone has a defeatist pessimistic attitude of "never" regarding the growth of wrestling.
===
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