College Wrestling : Who's Who of NAIA Collegiate Wrestling: Top Returnees 184 for 2024-2025

J.D. Perez
Ottawa

108 career wins. 5th-6th-3rd in the NAIA. 1st-2nd-1st in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. There's very little J.D. Perez hasn't done thus far in his illustrious career at Ottawa. 25-2 on the season last year, he had 15 falls & he also won the Friends Falcon Invitational. He'll look to become a four time All American, an NAIA champion & a four time finalist/three time champion of the KCAC.

Rylin Burns
Montana State Northern

5th in the NAIA nation last season, Rylin Burns was 4th in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).

Jameel Coles
Grand View

The former Northwest Kansas Tech standout proved himself to be just as much of a star in the NAIA as what he was in the NJCAA last season. Taking runner-up honors at the Heart of America (HOA), Jameel Coles earned NAIA All American honors of 7th place. Although he finished one match shy of placing at the Missouri Valley Invitational, he won the Missouri Valley Open.

Kyle Knudtson
Eastern Oregon

It's been quite the career for the Mountaineer on both the wrestling mat and on the baseball field, as he's looking to wrap up both careers in '24-'25. Last year Kyle Knudtson made NAIA All American honors in both wrestling & academics. 8th in the NAIA nation, he's been 2nd & 3rd in the CCC, and he's been 8th & 3rd in the Missouri Valley Invitational. He was also 3rd at the Grand View Invitational as well.

Tyson Beauperthuy
Doane

When it comes to drama and story, I don't know if the narrative gets anymore deep than that of Tyson Beauperthuy. It's been a series of ups and downs. Metaphorically speaking, he's scaled Mount Everest & he's seen the bottom of the Mariana Trench. An NAIA finalist in 2021, he has yet to make the award stand again. On the same hand though, the Greco-Roman specialist won the U23. Although he came up a match shy of NAIA All American honors, '23-'24 was still a pretty standout year for him regardless. He won titles at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), the Oppenheim invite, the Mile High Invite & was 2nd at the Friends Falcon Invite. Guy has the tools to make it back to the NAIA finals this season, and that includes leaving home with gold. Perhaps in the future, another of the handful of NAIA Olympians our sport has seen.

Isaiah Morales
Menlo

A Scholar All American in the classroom, Isaiah Morales just missed out on NAIA All American honors last season finishing in the R12. 19 wins on the season, he heads into '24-'25 with CCC finishes of 3rd & 1st and Missouri Valley Invitational finishes of 4th & 6th.

Rocco Horvath
Cumberland

Rocco Horvath won a Mid South Conference (MSC) title for the Phoenix last season.

John Roberts
Southeastern

Only a sophomore this season, John Roberts made the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) finals last year.

Jackson King
Dickinson State

3rd in the HOA, Jackson King was 7th in the Missouri Valley Invitational.

Jonathan Paramore
Reinhardt

It was a 3rd place finish at the AAC for Jonathan Paramore last season.

Gabe Chesbro
Saint Mary

Heading into his final season of competition, Gabe Chesbro has been 3rd & 4th in the KCAC the past two seasons.

Austin Vanek
Montana State Northern

A two time NAIA qualifier, Austin Vanek was 7th in the NAIA nation in 2023. Although he also came up short of placing at the CCC last season, he was 5th there in 2023.

Isaiah Twait
Corban

20 wins on the season, Isaiah Twait took 5th at the CCC.

Drake Tipton
Missouri Valley

An NAIA qualifier for the Vikings last season, Drake Tipton finished one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational.

K.J. Fry
Graceland

K.J. Fry was an NAIA qualifier for the Yellowjackets last season.

Kaden Martin
Arizona Christian

An NAIA qualifier in 2023, Kaden Martin has taken 3rd place finishes in the past two Mile High Invitationals. He was also R12 at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season.