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| Nathan Lendt Doane |
In a weight class that was dominated by seniors last season, Nathan Lendt was the sole sophomore to take home NAIA All American honors. The former Southeast Polk (Iowa) standout has thus far taken home back to back 6th place finishes. A Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) champion, he was 4th at last year's Mile High Invitational, a champion in 2023.
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| Chris Kelly Southeastern |
2nd in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) & 2nd at the Life Open, Chris Kelly was one match shy of earning NAIA All American honors last season. He was 5th at the Patriot Open.
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| Jonah Chew Embry Riddle |
A match shy of NAIA All American honors last year, Jonah Chew heads into his final season of collegiate competition having posted back to back bronze medal showings at the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) & back to back silver medal showings at the Mile High Invitational. He won the Friends Falcon Invite.
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| Jace Luchau Cumberlands |
A 4th place NAIA All American in 2023, Jace Luchau came up a match short of his second All American honor last season. 20-5 on the year, Luchau took runner-up honors at both the Mid South Conference (MSC) & the Missouri Valley Invitational. He was the Patriot Open Champion.
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| Irish Furthmyre Ottawa |
The future looks bright for Irish Furthmyre. As a freshman last season, he won 16 matches & 10 of them were via fall. Won his first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) title last year as well.
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| Bryant Avila Vanguard |
Define irony. Named after one of the greatest Basketball players to ever live & turns out to be an outstanding wrestler. Makes you wonder if there's a standout basketball player somewhere named Gable, Sanderson or Karelin. Bryant Avila had a great '23-'24 last season, winning a CCC title.
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| Aundre Beatty Marian |
Aundre Beatty heads into his final season of competition now a two time NAIA qualifier, who won the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) title last season.
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| Gunnar Henderson Friends |
Gunnar Henderson made the KCAC finals last season.
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| A.J. Rockwell Eastern Oregon |
A.J. Rockwell was a CCC finalist last season & one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Austin Almaguer Saint Mary |
Austin Almaguer qualified for the NAIA championships last season with a 3rd place showing at the KCAC. Although he didn't place at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, he was 8th there in 2023.
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| Dawson Bates Reinhardt |
The Appalachian State transfer made the NAIA championships last season with a 3rd place finish at the AAC.
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| Tyler Okada Waldorf |
The Disneyland native had a standout season last year, taking 3rd at the Heart of America (HOA), Tyler Okada was also 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Victor Guzman Cumberland |
Victor Guzman earned NAIA qualification last season placing 3rd at the MSC.
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| Jalen Vladic Providence |
Jalen Vladic qualified for the NAIA championships last season with a 4th place finish at the CCC. He was also one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Mike Loney Indiana Tech |
NAIA qualifier Mike Loney won 15 matches last season.
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| Travis Thorpe Southern Oregon |
Battling injuries throughout his career thus far, Travis Thorpe did manage to punch through to the NAIA championships last season, placing 5th at the CCC.
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| Ethan Krey Briar Cliff |
Ethan Krey was an NAIA qualifier for the Chargers last season.
A CCC finalist in 2023, I was really shocked when Rico Robles didn't make the NAIA championships last year. I do feel he was one of the better wrestlers, especially at 149 lbs who didn't make top 32 by season's end. Thus far he's been 4th & 3rd at the Mile High Invite.
Dougie Swanson is another tough wrestler that I am surprised didn't make the NAIA championships last season. He was one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
Westyn Moyer took 5th in a loaded MSC bracket that turned out two All Americans (one of them an NAIA runner-up) and one R12'er. Unfortunately he was not selected as one of the top 32, but should easily be one of the top 32 this season.
Clark was an NAIA qualifier for the Eagles last season.
Reece Jones was 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational & 3rd at the Life Open last season.
Jaden Two Lance comes to Life after a standout career at Carl Albert State. Last year, he won the South Central District and finished 2nd in the NJCAA nation.
Cole Ferguson heads into the '24-'25 season having placed twice at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Splitting 5th/6th in 2023, he was 4th last year. He was also the Missouri Valley Open champion last year as well....and for those wondering, yes they are two separate tournaments.
The Vikings lost two outstanding seniors last year in Blake Gonzalez & Blake Haney, but as they always are, they're stocked and reloaded. Cole Ferguson isn't the only GVU rep who will be kicking arse and taking names this season. Abel Gaitan made the finals of the Oppenheim Invite last season.
You thought I was done talking about the talent Grand View had at 149 lbs? HA! Think again. When I said they have enough talent at each weight to field three winning season dual teams, I meant it! Amado Castellon is another standout at 149 for the Vikings. 3rd at the Grand View Open last season.
The Statesmen provided a home to some of the Iowa Wesleyan wrestlers when the school shut down & Quentin Aney was one of them. Aney made the finals of the Falcon Invite last season.
An NAIA Scholar athlete, Marc LeGaspe won 17 matches last season & placed 6th at the Patriot Open.
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| Rico Robles Arizona Christian |
A CCC finalist in 2023, I was really shocked when Rico Robles didn't make the NAIA championships last year. I do feel he was one of the better wrestlers, especially at 149 lbs who didn't make top 32 by season's end. Thus far he's been 4th & 3rd at the Mile High Invite.
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| Dougie Swason Providence |
Dougie Swanson is another tough wrestler that I am surprised didn't make the NAIA championships last season. He was one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Westyn Moyer Rio Grande |
Westyn Moyer took 5th in a loaded MSC bracket that turned out two All Americans (one of them an NAIA runner-up) and one R12'er. Unfortunately he was not selected as one of the top 32, but should easily be one of the top 32 this season.
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| Kaleb Clark Midway |
Clark was an NAIA qualifier for the Eagles last season.
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| Reece Jones Life |
Reece Jones was 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational & 3rd at the Life Open last season.
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| Jaden Two Lance Life |
Jaden Two Lance comes to Life after a standout career at Carl Albert State. Last year, he won the South Central District and finished 2nd in the NJCAA nation.
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| Cole Ferguson Grand View |
Cole Ferguson heads into the '24-'25 season having placed twice at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Splitting 5th/6th in 2023, he was 4th last year. He was also the Missouri Valley Open champion last year as well....and for those wondering, yes they are two separate tournaments.
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| Abel Gaitan Grand View |
The Vikings lost two outstanding seniors last year in Blake Gonzalez & Blake Haney, but as they always are, they're stocked and reloaded. Cole Ferguson isn't the only GVU rep who will be kicking arse and taking names this season. Abel Gaitan made the finals of the Oppenheim Invite last season.
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| Amado Castellon Grand View |
You thought I was done talking about the talent Grand View had at 149 lbs? HA! Think again. When I said they have enough talent at each weight to field three winning season dual teams, I meant it! Amado Castellon is another standout at 149 for the Vikings. 3rd at the Grand View Open last season.
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| Quentin Aney William Penn |
The Statesmen provided a home to some of the Iowa Wesleyan wrestlers when the school shut down & Quentin Aney was one of them. Aney made the finals of the Falcon Invite last season.
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| Marc LeGaspe Cumberlands |
An NAIA Scholar athlete, Marc LeGaspe won 17 matches last season & placed 6th at the Patriot Open.
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