There are a lot of things to be excited about via 133 lbs in the NAIA! A whole lot! Let's take a look at who's returning.
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| Gulomjon Abdullev Menlo |
Spencer Lee of Iowa & Baterdene Boldmaa of Doane both coming up short last season prove that there are no givens in this sport. However, if you insist on trying to predict the next four time champion, your money is best bet on Gulomjon Abdullev. The future Uzbekistan World & Olympic medalist was near unstoppable last season racking up nearly 300 points in an 18-0 year that ended with a NAIA national title. Only a sophomore, he might take the title of the best wrestler in the NAIA, period.
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| Carson Taylor Grand View |
Among those that will challenge Abdullev this season is Carson Taylor. Thus far the junior Viking has been 3rd & 2nd in the NAIA championships.
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| Evan Potter Southern Oregon |
It really shows you just how incredibly loaded 133 lbs is this season when you consider the top three finishers in the NAIA are all returning & not a one of them is a senior. Thus far Evan Potter has NAIA finishes of 6th & 3rd as he enters his junior season. Knocking off Abdullev at this point seems distant as the Oak dominated him 11-0 the last the two met. However, Potter has gone back & forth with Menlo's other 133 lbs talent, Jovan Garcia. Potter stuck Garcia in 2:47 in the dual, but then dropped a 5-3 decision to him at the Menlo Open & a 9-5 decision to him in the Cascade Conference semi-finals. He did place ahead of him at nationals however.
In the shadow of teammate Abdullev, is the talented Jovan Garcia. An NJCAA champ as a sophomore for Southwestern Oregon in 2022, Garcia collected a series of silver medals last year, that included Menlo, the Missouri Valley Invitational & the Cascade Conference. His 7th place NAIA finish I don't think is a true reflection of just how good this guy is. He could very well end up adding another silver medal to his collection this year, giving us a fans a real treat with a Menlo Vs Menlo NAIA finals.
The Mid-South Conference freshman of the year had himself a phenomenal start to his collegiate career last season. 5th in the NAIA nation, he was also 4th at the Kaufman-Brand Open & 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He'll look to earn a second conference title this year, as well as a second All American honor.
Another talented sophomore making his return to NAIA action after a promising freshman campaign will be the Eagle's Jason Shaw. 4th in the Heart of America, he finished one match shy of a top 8 placing at both the NAIA championships as well as the toughest NAIA in-season tournament, the Missouri Valley Invitational. He did defeat Alex Pena via fall in 3:18 before being eliminated himself. He was 3rd in the freshman/sophomore division of the Lindenwood Open.
An All American in 2021, he has came up short the past two seasons of earning himself another top 8 in the nation finish. This will be his final opportunity to do so. The Pioneer won titles last season at both the York Open & the Sooner Athletic Conference.
And yet another talented sophomore! Man is the weight class full of young talent! Braden Carson who finished one match shy of NAIA All American honors, with 2nd at the Eastern Oregon Mountaineer Open, 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational & 4th at the Cascade Conference.
The Vikings have two talents coming back this season at 133 lbs, both NAIA qualifiers from last season. Hayden Williams who was 3rd at the Heart of America & Donovan Parn who was 5th.
Here's another tough sophomore that returns to the weight. Julian Leon's freshman season saw an NAIA qualification, with also included a 5th place finish at the Cascade Conference, a 4th place finish at the Life Open & a 2nd Place finish at the Mile High Open.
The Alabama native goes into his junior season having taking runner-up honors at the Mid-South Conference tournament.
Barajas' favorite quote is, "Don't pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." A Bruce Lee philosophy that will serve him well as he goes into his final season. '23-'24 will be anything but easy & will quite reflect difficult. A Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion, he will go for another title this season, as well as NAIA All American honors.
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| Jovan Garcia Menlo |
In the shadow of teammate Abdullev, is the talented Jovan Garcia. An NJCAA champ as a sophomore for Southwestern Oregon in 2022, Garcia collected a series of silver medals last year, that included Menlo, the Missouri Valley Invitational & the Cascade Conference. His 7th place NAIA finish I don't think is a true reflection of just how good this guy is. He could very well end up adding another silver medal to his collection this year, giving us a fans a real treat with a Menlo Vs Menlo NAIA finals.
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| Sammy Shires Cumberland |
The Mid-South Conference freshman of the year had himself a phenomenal start to his collegiate career last season. 5th in the NAIA nation, he was also 4th at the Kaufman-Brand Open & 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He'll look to earn a second conference title this year, as well as a second All American honor.
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| Jason Shaw Central Methodist |
Another talented sophomore making his return to NAIA action after a promising freshman campaign will be the Eagle's Jason Shaw. 4th in the Heart of America, he finished one match shy of a top 8 placing at both the NAIA championships as well as the toughest NAIA in-season tournament, the Missouri Valley Invitational. He did defeat Alex Pena via fall in 3:18 before being eliminated himself. He was 3rd in the freshman/sophomore division of the Lindenwood Open.
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| Alex Pena Wayland Baptist |
An All American in 2021, he has came up short the past two seasons of earning himself another top 8 in the nation finish. This will be his final opportunity to do so. The Pioneer won titles last season at both the York Open & the Sooner Athletic Conference.
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| Braden Carson Eastern Oregon |
And yet another talented sophomore! Man is the weight class full of young talent! Braden Carson who finished one match shy of NAIA All American honors, with 2nd at the Eastern Oregon Mountaineer Open, 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational & 4th at the Cascade Conference.
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| Hayden Williams Donovan Parn |
The Vikings have two talents coming back this season at 133 lbs, both NAIA qualifiers from last season. Hayden Williams who was 3rd at the Heart of America & Donovan Parn who was 5th.
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| Julian Leon Vanguard |
Here's another tough sophomore that returns to the weight. Julian Leon's freshman season saw an NAIA qualification, with also included a 5th place finish at the Cascade Conference, a 4th place finish at the Life Open & a 2nd Place finish at the Mile High Open.
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| Tyrique Simms Midway |
The Alabama native goes into his junior season having taking runner-up honors at the Mid-South Conference tournament.
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| Freddie Barajas St Mary |
Barajas' favorite quote is, "Don't pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." A Bruce Lee philosophy that will serve him well as he goes into his final season. '23-'24 will be anything but easy & will quite reflect difficult. A Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion, he will go for another title this season, as well as NAIA All American honors.
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| Kolby Encinas Oklahoma Wesleyan |
Thus far 2nd & 3rd in the KCAC championships, Kolby Encinas is going to have to figure out a way past Freddie Barajas if he wants to claim the conference title this season. He did win a Central Baptist title, with a 4-2 decision over Dillon Witt.
I think we'll see a lot more out of Bryce Cockrell this season, I really do. He's had some nice wins in his career, including a victory over 2020 NCAA DI qualifier Antonio Mininno of Drexel. I think it's simply a matter of adjusting & getting used to things. He was runner-up at the Appalachian Athletic conference last year & should be the forerunner to win a title this season.
Purler trained Dillon Witt has reason to be excited for his junior season. Thus far a two-time conference runner-up, he has proven himself to be quite effective at times in the top position. Against All-American Joe Lupton of Graceland, he put the Yellow Jacket on his back securing a 4 point near-fall before ultimately losing the match via decision. If he can harness in his skills, a lot of points can be racked up in a relatively short amount of time when the tilts come cheap. He was 4th at the Falcon Invite as well as 2nd at the Central Baptist Invite & 3rd in the Freshman/sophomore Division of the Grand View Open.
Mahaffey goes into his senior season having placed 2nd-3rd the last two years in the conference championships. If he wants to earn a title on his way out the door, he'll need to figure out both Alex Pena & Dillon Witt.
Behind three time NAIA All American Matt Gimson last season, Elijah Anthony was still able to give us a glimpse of what all he's capable of this season. 4th in the Findlay Open as well as 3rd at the Trine invitational, he was 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, which included knocking Jason Shaw out of the tournament in the Blood-round by a 6-5 decision.
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| Bryce Cockrell Keiser |
I think we'll see a lot more out of Bryce Cockrell this season, I really do. He's had some nice wins in his career, including a victory over 2020 NCAA DI qualifier Antonio Mininno of Drexel. I think it's simply a matter of adjusting & getting used to things. He was runner-up at the Appalachian Athletic conference last year & should be the forerunner to win a title this season.
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| Dillon Witt Missouri Baptist |
Purler trained Dillon Witt has reason to be excited for his junior season. Thus far a two-time conference runner-up, he has proven himself to be quite effective at times in the top position. Against All-American Joe Lupton of Graceland, he put the Yellow Jacket on his back securing a 4 point near-fall before ultimately losing the match via decision. If he can harness in his skills, a lot of points can be racked up in a relatively short amount of time when the tilts come cheap. He was 4th at the Falcon Invite as well as 2nd at the Central Baptist Invite & 3rd in the Freshman/sophomore Division of the Grand View Open.
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| Cooper Mahaffey Oklahoma City |
Mahaffey goes into his senior season having placed 2nd-3rd the last two years in the conference championships. If he wants to earn a title on his way out the door, he'll need to figure out both Alex Pena & Dillon Witt.
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| Elijah Anthony Indiana Tech |
Behind three time NAIA All American Matt Gimson last season, Elijah Anthony was still able to give us a glimpse of what all he's capable of this season. 4th in the Findlay Open as well as 3rd at the Trine invitational, he was 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, which included knocking Jason Shaw out of the tournament in the Blood-round by a 6-5 decision.
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| Korey Mendoza Grand View |
With the anticipation of Viking NAIA runner-up Carson Taylor returning, it should be pointed out that at the Doane Open, it was Korey Mendoza who won a title compared to that of Taylor's 3rd place finish. Whereas Taylor lost an 8-4 semi-final bout to Nebraska-Kearney's Joe Airola, Mendoza defeated the Loper 3-2. Mendoza was also 3rd at the Grand View Open.
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| Terrell Kinlicheenie Arizona Christian |
Another sophomore who had some highlights in his freshman season last year. This included a 4th place finish at the Mile High Open, as well as a 3rd place finish at the Life Open, which included a victory over Julian Leon.
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