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| Brevin Balmeceda Life |
Ever since transferring into Life, Brevin Balmeceda has done nothing but take names and kick arse. Back to back NAIA titles & back to back Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) titles. He'll look to try and win his third NAIA title this season.
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| David Rubio Corban |
Looking to try and upend Balmeceda this season will be two time NAIA runner-up David Rubio of Corban. The Warrior went 28-2 last season, winning his second Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) title as he also won the EOU Mountaineer Open. He took runner-up honors at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Kanai Tapia Menlo |
Standout season for the Hawaiian native last year. 27-4 he captured a bronze medal at the NAIA championships with an assortment of other credentials. Champion at the Menlo Open & the Missouri Valley Invitational, he was runner-up at the CCC. He took 5th at the Road Runner Open in Bakersfield, mainly amongst NCAA Division I competition.
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| Trevor Burdick Reinhardt |
8th & 4th thus far in the NAIA nation, Trevor Burdick heads into '24-'25 a two time All American. He was 4th in the AAC.
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| Antwuan Burns Campbellsville |
The Mid South Conference (MSC) freshman of the year, not only did Antwuan Burns win the MSC title, he also took 5th place All American honors at the NAIA championships. Went 19-5 on the year.
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| Francis Morrissey Ottawa |
17-3 on the year, it was a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) title & a 7th place All American NAIA finish for Francis Morrissey last season.
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| Dylan Whitt Grand View |
The Viking racked up a long list of accomplishments last season. 8th in the NAIA nation, he was the Heart of America (HOA) champion, capturing 3rd place finishes at the Missouri Valley Invitational (Champion in 2023), the Grand View Open & the Friends Falcon Invite. He was 6th at the Oppenheim Invitational.
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| Donald Giffin Central Methodist |
Donald Giffin heads into '24-'25 having just missed out on NAIA All American honors last season. Thus far he's been 3rd & 2nd within the HOA & he's been 2nd & 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Aden Graves Providence |
While he didn't have the best CCC last season (although 2nd in 2023) Aden Graves still nearly made NAIA All American last season, as he finished R12.
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| Elijah Chacon Indiana Tech |
An up and down season for Elijah Chacon last year. Had a disappointing Missouri Valley Invitational where he did not place, despite taking 3rd place honors there in 2023. Bounced back very strong at season's end by winning a Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) title.
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| Keegan Luton Oklahoma City |
Keegan Luton has the opportunity to make history this season & become a four time American Midwest Conference/Sooner Athletic Conference (AMC/SAC) champion. He was also 4th at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational.
UPDATE: Keegan Luton will actually be going down a weight class to compete at 149 lbs this season.
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| Ben Miller Doane |
Ben Miller won titles at both the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) & the Mile High Open last season. He was 4th at the Oppenheim Invitational.
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| Josey Jernegan Saint Mary |
Strong start to the collegiate career of Josey Jernegan who took a runner-up finish at the KCAC & a 6th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Noah Styskal Morningside |
Noah Styskal heads into the '24-'25 season having posted 1st & 3rd place finishes in the GPAC the past two years.
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| Weston Melvin Cumberlands |
21 wins on the season for Weston Melvin, who took runner-up honors at the MSC. He was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Jon Vincent York (NEB) |
It was a 3rd place showing for Jon Vincent at the KCAC last season.
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| Tyson Johnson Dakota Wesleyan |
Tyson Johnson finished in 2nd place at last year's GPAC.
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| Bridger Hall Providence |
Bridger Hall heads into '24-'25 having posted 5th & 3rd place CCC finishes the past two seasons.
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| Kael Bunce William Penn |
Kael Bunce has been 5th & 3rd the past two HOA championships.
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| Aaron Gandara Southern Oregon |
I hope we're looking at the redemption of Aaron Gandara in '24-'25. An All American in 2022 of 6th place, he has yet to make the award stand again. A two time CCC champion, last year he finished in 4th place. He'll look to reclaim status in both the NAIA & within the CCC this year.
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| Ben Peters Dakota Wesleyan |
Ben Peters heads into '24-'25 having posted 3rd & 4th place GPAC finishes the past two seasons.
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| Ben Mitchell Ottawa |
An NJCAA finalist, Ben Mitchell saw 17 wins in the NAIA last season & a 5th place finish at the KCAC.
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| Juan Lopez Graceland |
A former standout for Mt San Antonio who took runner-up honors at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), Juan Lopez qualified for the NAIA championships last season.
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| Eli Clemmons Cumberland |
Eli Clemmons was an NAIA qualifier for the Phoenix last season.
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| Jake Hurst Campbellsville |
13 wins on the season, Jake Hurst was an NAIA qualifier last season.
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| Dylan Straley Southern Oregon |
An NAIA qualifier & a Patriot Open runner-up finish for Dylan Straley last season.
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| Jake Patterson Hastings |
Jake Patterson took a 5th place finish at the GPAC last season & finished one match shy of a medal at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Thade Radosa Cornerstone |
Plain and simple, injuries kept Thade Radosa out of the NAIA championships as he had to medical forfeit to 6th place at the WHAC. 20 wins on the season, we saw what a healthier Thade Radosa could do when he captured 8th place at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Tyler Diaz Simpson (CA) |
Tyler Diaz was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year.
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| Jastin Kubwimana Campbellsville |
Very anxious to see what this guy will do this season. Last year he caught the eye winning the Life Open.
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| Cam Robinson Grand View |
You didn't honestly think you'd read through this whole thing and I'd only mention one wrestler from Grand View did you? Cam Robinson gave us a couple of glimpses for what he could be capable of this season, including winning the Friends Falcon Invite last year.
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| Darnai Heard Grand View |
You didn't think I'd only mention two wrestlers from Grand View did you? The Vikings also have a phenomenal transfer out of Iowa Central. Darnai Heard won both the North Central District & the NJCAA title last season.
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| Liam Lusher West Virginia Tech |
What stuck out to me most about what I saw out of Liam Lusher last year, was a 12-3 major decision over WHAC champion, Elijah Chacon. Lusher was also 4th at the Patriot Open.
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| Alex Couto Life |
Alex Couto was one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| Mitchell Freeman Rio Grande |
A tough wrestler for the Red Storm, Mitchell Freeman was 6th at the Patriot Open last season.
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| Kris Ketchum St Thomas |
St Thomas picked up an extremely tough wrestler out of Nassau. Kris Ketchum is a two time NJCAA All American with finishes of 3rd & 2nd, as well as a two time Northeast District champion.
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| Chad Sakamoto Oklahoma Wesleyan |
Here's a guy who I have always felt had the potential to be both a KCAC champ & an NAIA All American. This will be his final season of eligibility.
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| Noah Smith Oklahoma Wesleyan |
As we mention Chad Sakamoto, Coach Tom Carr also has an excellent transfer out of Carl Albert State in the lineup. 2nd in the South Central District, Noah Smith took 6th in the NJCAA nation last year.
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