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| Josh Kenny Grand Valley State |
As you've read my NCAA DII previews 125 through 165 lbs, you know I've been pretty big on Grand Valley State's epic return to the mats last season. Well it doesn't get any bigger or better than what Josh Kenny was able to achieve for the Lakers last year. 30-4 on the season, he won titles at both the Super Region III & the NCAA DII championships. A runner-up at the Midwest Classic.
The Ranger had himself an outstanding season last year. 22 wins, he was the Super Region V runner-up, and 6th in the DII nation. He also placed 8th at the Midwest Classic.
Cole Hernandez enters the '24-'25 season now a two time All American with 6th & 7th place finishes in the DII nation. Thus far 3rd & 1st in Super Region VI, he's also been 7th & 3rd in the Midwest Classic. He went 32-4 on the year.
The brother of South Dakota State jackrabbit former Iowa Hawkeye 197 lbs'er Zach Glazier, Cole Glazier had himself a very promising start to his collegiate wrestling career last season. Only a freshman, he went 30-5 on the season, collecting a 3rd place finish at Super Region V & an 8th place finish at the NCAA DII championships.
The kicker is, he had to go through not only one, but two very tough wrestlers just to keep his varsity spot this year! Bryce Dagel, a senior for the Huskies, who went 17-4 last season actually defeated Glazier in competition last season 2-1. He also has a win over Coy Gunderson, 5-2.
James Burk, another tough wrestler will also be competing for the spot. A 4:42 fall over Ethan Smith, for what it is worth he defeated three time NCAA DIII All American Stefan Major by a 6-2 decision.
Like the Huskies, the Lopers are sitting on a lot of talent at the 174 lbs weight class. Trent Munoz won 24 matches last season, taking runner-up honors at Super Region VI & nearly making NCAA DII All American honors. Jacobi Deal, a tough grappler in his own right, actually defeated Munoz in competition last season, 12-8. Then we also have Gavyn Brauer, who had a 14-10 over R12'er Gus Dalton.
A lot of accomplishments for Matt Ortiz last season. 19 wins on the season, two of which were over All American Brody Hemauer by scores of 5-4 & 2-0. A match shy of DII All American honors, Ortiz was 7th at the Midwest Classic & 2nd at Super Region IV.
3rd at the Super Region VI, Gus Dalton came within one match of earning a top 8 finish at both the Midwest Classic & the NCAA DII championships. He'll look to earn medals at both competitions this season.
An All American in 2023, Nate Barrett came up a little short of a second All American honor last season. He also came up just a hair short of a medal at the Midwest Classic as well. 23 wins on the season, he defeated Matt Ortiz by scores of 5-3 & 2-1, and he also defeated Gus Dalton 13-9. Thus far the Eagle has been 1st & 2nd at the Super Region III.
25 wins on the season, David Davis was 3rd at the Super Region III, qualifying for the NCAA DII championships.
23 wins on the year for Andrew Reed, who qualified for the NCAA DII championships with a 3rd place finish at Super Region II.
We hear so often about wrestlers having successful weight cuts, how about a wrestler who moved up in weight class & saw success? Kane Kettering moved up to 174 lbs from 165 lbs in early January. It more than paid off for the Griffin as he won the Super Region I & qualified for the NCAA DII tournament.
Speaking of wrestlers who made successful cuts though. Cole Hivnor came down from 184 lbs to 174 lbs, and the cut paid off. 6th in Super Region I in 2023, Hivnor made the Super Region I finals last season. 18 wins on the season & one match shy of a medal at the Midwest Classic.
An NCAA DII qualifier in 2023 with a 3rd place finish at Super Region I, Jack MacKiernan came up just a hair short of another qualification last season when he finished 4th. 22 wins on the year.
A Super Region II champion in 2023, Calan Staub fell a little short of a second NCAA DII qualification last year, finishing 4th in the Region. 19 wins on the season he did have a 9-6 victory over David Davis.
Here's a guy who has made some leaps and bounds in his collegiate career. Three seasons ago Kenny Snyder won a single varsity match. Two years ago he went 8-15. Last year he nearly qualified for the NCAA DII championships with a 4th place finish at Super Region III. Not to mention he nearly majored qualifier Andrew Reed 10-3.
With back to back 4th place Super Region IV finishes, Ethan Smith heads into his final season of competition looking for his first NCAA DII qualification.
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| Brody Hemauer UW-Parkside |
The Ranger had himself an outstanding season last year. 22 wins, he was the Super Region V runner-up, and 6th in the DII nation. He also placed 8th at the Midwest Classic.
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| Cole Hernandez Western Colorado |
Cole Hernandez enters the '24-'25 season now a two time All American with 6th & 7th place finishes in the DII nation. Thus far 3rd & 1st in Super Region VI, he's also been 7th & 3rd in the Midwest Classic. He went 32-4 on the year.
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| Cole Glazier Bryce Dagel James Burk St Cloud State |
The brother of South Dakota State jackrabbit former Iowa Hawkeye 197 lbs'er Zach Glazier, Cole Glazier had himself a very promising start to his collegiate wrestling career last season. Only a freshman, he went 30-5 on the season, collecting a 3rd place finish at Super Region V & an 8th place finish at the NCAA DII championships.
The kicker is, he had to go through not only one, but two very tough wrestlers just to keep his varsity spot this year! Bryce Dagel, a senior for the Huskies, who went 17-4 last season actually defeated Glazier in competition last season 2-1. He also has a win over Coy Gunderson, 5-2.
James Burk, another tough wrestler will also be competing for the spot. A 4:42 fall over Ethan Smith, for what it is worth he defeated three time NCAA DIII All American Stefan Major by a 6-2 decision.
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| Trent Munoz Jacobi Deal Gavyn Brauer Nebraska Kearney |
Like the Huskies, the Lopers are sitting on a lot of talent at the 174 lbs weight class. Trent Munoz won 24 matches last season, taking runner-up honors at Super Region VI & nearly making NCAA DII All American honors. Jacobi Deal, a tough grappler in his own right, actually defeated Munoz in competition last season, 12-8. Then we also have Gavyn Brauer, who had a 14-10 over R12'er Gus Dalton.
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| Matt Ortiz McKendree |
A lot of accomplishments for Matt Ortiz last season. 19 wins on the season, two of which were over All American Brody Hemauer by scores of 5-4 & 2-0. A match shy of DII All American honors, Ortiz was 7th at the Midwest Classic & 2nd at Super Region IV.
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| Gus Dalton Colorado Mesa |
3rd at the Super Region VI, Gus Dalton came within one match of earning a top 8 finish at both the Midwest Classic & the NCAA DII championships. He'll look to earn medals at both competitions this season.
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| Nate Barrett Ashland |
An All American in 2023, Nate Barrett came up a little short of a second All American honor last season. He also came up just a hair short of a medal at the Midwest Classic as well. 23 wins on the season, he defeated Matt Ortiz by scores of 5-3 & 2-1, and he also defeated Gus Dalton 13-9. Thus far the Eagle has been 1st & 2nd at the Super Region III.
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| David Davis Tiffin |
25 wins on the season, David Davis was 3rd at the Super Region III, qualifying for the NCAA DII championships.
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| Andrew Reed Newberry |
23 wins on the year for Andrew Reed, who qualified for the NCAA DII championships with a 3rd place finish at Super Region II.
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| Kane Kettering Seton Hill |
We hear so often about wrestlers having successful weight cuts, how about a wrestler who moved up in weight class & saw success? Kane Kettering moved up to 174 lbs from 165 lbs in early January. It more than paid off for the Griffin as he won the Super Region I & qualified for the NCAA DII tournament.
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| Cole Hivnor Gannon |
Speaking of wrestlers who made successful cuts though. Cole Hivnor came down from 184 lbs to 174 lbs, and the cut paid off. 6th in Super Region I in 2023, Hivnor made the Super Region I finals last season. 18 wins on the season & one match shy of a medal at the Midwest Classic.
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| Jack MacKiernan American International |
An NCAA DII qualifier in 2023 with a 3rd place finish at Super Region I, Jack MacKiernan came up just a hair short of another qualification last season when he finished 4th. 22 wins on the year.
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| Calan Staub Mount Olive |
A Super Region II champion in 2023, Calan Staub fell a little short of a second NCAA DII qualification last year, finishing 4th in the Region. 19 wins on the season he did have a 9-6 victory over David Davis.
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| Kenny Snyder Findlay |
Here's a guy who has made some leaps and bounds in his collegiate career. Three seasons ago Kenny Snyder won a single varsity match. Two years ago he went 8-15. Last year he nearly qualified for the NCAA DII championships with a 4th place finish at Super Region III. Not to mention he nearly majored qualifier Andrew Reed 10-3.
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| Ethan Smith Drury |
With back to back 4th place Super Region IV finishes, Ethan Smith heads into his final season of competition looking for his first NCAA DII qualification.
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| Logan Berger Chadron State |
Competing at 165 lbs for most of last season, Logan Berger was one match shy of a medal at the Midwest Classic, and one match shy of NCAA DII qualification, finishing 4th at Super Region VI. 19 wins on the season, he pinned Ethan Smith at 6:51 & he defeated Wyatt Reisz 5-4.
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| Wyatt Reisz Colorado School of Mines |
Only a sophomore, Wyatt Reisz racked up quite a few notable victories last season as a freshman. A 5-4 victory over five time Super Region V place-winner Max Bruss, he defeated two time All American Cole Hernandez 12-10 & he had a 7-2 victory over Brady Ross. He took 5th place finishes at both the Midwest Classic & the Super Region VI.
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| Coy Gunderson Augustana (SD) |
16 wins on the season for Coy Gunderson who was 5th at Super Region V.
Another tough freshman from last season, Fabian Chavez came down from 184 lbs to place 5th at Super Region III. He totaled 22 wins on the year.
Vincent Galang enters his final year of competition now a two time Super Region II place-winner with finishes of 6th & 5th.
Soloman Arnds-Volcin racked up 14 wins last season, placing 6th at Super Region VI.
17 wins on the season last year for Drake Hayward, one of which was a 5-4 decision over Coy Gunderson.
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| Fabian Chavez West Liberty |
Another tough freshman from last season, Fabian Chavez came down from 184 lbs to place 5th at Super Region III. He totaled 22 wins on the year.
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| Vincent Galang King |
Vincent Galang enters his final year of competition now a two time Super Region II place-winner with finishes of 6th & 5th.
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| Soloman Arnds-Volcin Colorado Pueblo |
Soloman Arnds-Volcin racked up 14 wins last season, placing 6th at Super Region VI.
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| Drake Hayward Minnesota State Mankato |
17 wins on the season last year for Drake Hayward, one of which was a 5-4 decision over Coy Gunderson.
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