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| Evan Potter Southern Oregon |
6th-3rd-2nd in the NAIA nation, Evan Potter heads into the '24-'25 season looking to become a four time All American & a NAIA national champion. He won both the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) & the Patriot Open last year.
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| Nick Yancey Campbellsville |
Excellent rookie season for Nick Yancey last year, as he went 28-4 winning a Mid South Conference (MSC) title & taking 3rd in the NAIA nation.
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| Kael Brisker Southeastern |
The Iowan turned Floridan heads into his final season of collegiate competition having placed 4th in the NAIA nation last year. Thus far he's been 5th & 2nd in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) & he's been 2nd & 1st at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Cade Manion Oklahoma City |
Cade Manion heads into '24-'25 looking to achieve an assortment of accomplishments. A two time AMC/SAC champion, he's looking for title #3. Back to back NAIA finishes of 5th, he's looking to become a three time All American. If that's not all, 6th-3rd-3rd, he's also looking to become a four time Missouri Valley Invitational place-winner.
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| Edrich Nortje Dickinson State |
Talk about a guy dedicated to wrestling. Not only did Edrich Nortje make the Heart of America (HOA) finals & capture 7th place at the NAIA championships last year, he is also one of the women's teams coaches! Want a lesson in time management, here's the guy to watch!
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| Logan Wagner Marian |
As far as I'm concerned, not only is Logan Wagner one of the absolute best yet to All American at 141 lbs, he's one of the best yet to All American in the NAIA, period. I really don't know how he's managed to finish just outside the top 8 the past two seasons in a row. If we're talking Logan Wagner on his best day, that is good enough to win an NAIA title. He's won the past two Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) titles & he was 3rd at the Patriot Open last season. On top of it all, amongst mainly NCAA Division I competition, he was also 4th at RENO.
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| Bret Minor Life |
An NJCAA standout for Iowa Central, Bret Minor delivered well last season for the Eagles at various times. A Missouri Valley Invitational finalist, Minor took 3rd at he AAC, finishing just a hair short of NAIA All American honors.
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| Taylor Vasquez Morningside |
Taylor Vasquez heads into his final season of eligibility looking to become a three time Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) champion. Twice 5th in the Dakota Wesleyan Open, he was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season.
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| Creighton Baughman Concordia (NEB) |
The two time GPAC runner-up went 33-8 last season, also taking a 4th place finish at the Oppenheim Invitational.
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| Luke Jensen Corban |
25-9 on the season, Luke Jensen made the CCC finals & qualified for the NAIA championships. Thus far he's been 4th & 2nd in the EOU Mountaineer Open.
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| Bo Davis Corban |
Right there beside Jensen is teammate Bo Davis, an All CCC Academic, who placed 3rd in the CCC winning 18 matches in total.
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| Donavan Parn Missouri Valley |
Donavan Parn heads into his final season of competition having posted 5th & 3rd place finishes in the HOA. He was also 4th in last year's Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Jared Dinh Cumberland |
Jared Dinh has thus far been 5th & 3rd in the Mid South Conference for the Phoenix. He was 6th at the Patriot Open.
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| Dom DiGena Reinhardt |
Dom DiGena qualified for the NAIA championships with a 4th place finish at the AAC.
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Christian Lopez Embry Riddle |
18 wins on the season for Christian Lopez last year. Making the finals of the Mile High Invitational, he was 4th at the CCC. A match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Zach Zitek Dakota Wesleyan |
16 wins on the season for NAIA qualifier Zach Zitek last season. 3rd at the Dakota Wesleyan Open, he was 4th in the GPAC.
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| Elijah Griffin Cumberland |
Elijah Griffin qualified for the NAIA championships last season with a 4th place finish at the MSC.
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| Kyler Adams Midway |
NAIA qualifier Kyler Adams has been 4th & 5th in the past two MSC championships. Looked real solid at the Missouri Valley Invitational, where he took an 8th place finish.
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| Pat Gould Keiser |
The sport of wrestling often resembles the world of magic, in that wrestlers can sometimes vanish without a trace. Pat Gould, 4th in the NAIA nation in 2023, started off the '23-'24 season ranked #1. He took a 2nd place finish at the Patriot Open & then whammo, he disappears! Hurt? Injured? Sick? Something totally unrelated? I have no idea. What I do know, is that if he is back this season, he'll be a contender. You don't start off the season ranked #1 for the heck of it.
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| Taylor Tugg Dickinson State |
As you've probably noticed reading my NAIA previews, it's pretty common for a team to have multiple talents at the same weight class. Along with Nortje, Dickinson State also has Taylor Tugg here at 141 lbs. Last year as a freshman, he took an impressive 7th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Ezavian Oretega Friends |
Even though the NAIA has 32 qualifiers, and is a much better system of qualification than DII & DIII, there are still a handful of tough wrestlers every season who miss out on going to the national tournament. I feel Ezavian Oretega, 4th in the KCAC was one of them.
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| Jazen Brown Baker |
Baker picked up a good one in NJCAA transfer Jazen Brown. Last year he took 7th in the NJCAA nation & 2nd at the South Central District.
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