Pepsi Patriot Open Preview (Sat 11-2)

 

The NAIA doesn't mess around. While you'll see a lot of ducking and, "we don't want to wrestle our best wrestlers today because in 6 months of wrestling, there's only 3 days of it that matter to us" in DI, the NAIA is ready to go to war on day one. You'll see matches here at the Pepsi Patriot Open that you'll see in the quarters, semis, and maybe even finals of the NAIA championships.  The Patriot Open awards the top 6 in each weight class, and this isn't one of those tournaments where you can have an off day and still pick up a medal.  You place top 6, here, you earn it. 

125

Man, what a loaded bracket.  11 NAIA qualifiers + an NCAA DII qualifier hopeful, and only six of these guys are walking out of here with a medal.  Leading the pack of conscripts, will be two time NAIA All American Trevor Marsman, who has worked exceptionally hard to cement himself as the best wrestler Cornerstone has produced thus far.   He'll have some good challenge.  8th place NAIA All American/MSC champ Izaeah Beavers will be in this bracket, as will be MSC runner-up Connor Diamond who won the Pepsi/Patriot Open last season.  We also have last year's returning 3rd place winner Matteo Vargo, as well as last year's returning 4th place finisher Adonis Boyd.  

Among the rest of the contenders for a top 6 showing here, Colt Brown of Montevallo has quite the opportunity to showcase how NCAA D2 talent matches up against NAIA talent.  Also featured here will be Mikey Doerr.  8th in the NJCAA last season, Doerr is itching to show the NAIA world the talent that his possesses. Right here, right now, is the time to do so. 

133 

Last season NCAA DII champion Gabe Hixenbaugh won everything he entered, including the Pepsi/Patriot Open.  Will he be challenged this tournament?  Potentially in this bracket we also have NAIA runner-up Thaddeus Long, two time NAIA All American Sammy Shires & NAIA All American Andrew Voiles.  All who can show up, do show up, it's certain Hixenbaugh's path to another title here, will be rockier than it was last year.  He tech'd two time Patriot/Pepsi open runner-up Anthony Hughes 15-0 last year. 

Returning will be 3rd place finisher Randy Frailey, as Kolby Encinas and Cole McKinley will also compete for a top 6 showing. 

141

Bear with me, I have a lot of thoughts concerning 141 lbs.

Only a sophomore, Nik Yancy has already proven himself to be an NAIA title contender.  He was 3rd in the NAIA last season.  With that said, there are three other NAIA title contenders in this bracket as well.  Kael Brisker was 4th in the NAIA last season.  Pat Gould was 4th in the NAIA two season ago.  Last year he entered the '23-'24 season ranked #1 in the nation.  He took 2nd place here at the Patriot/Pepsi Open and then he seemed to vanish into thin air.  As far as I'm concerned, Logan Wagner, who has thus far finished R12 at the last two NAIA championships, is the best wrestler in all of the NAIA yet to All American.  I honestly think he's good enough to win a national title. Winning a Patriot/Pepsi title this weekend would be merit to the point.  He was 3rd here a year ago. 

Winding out the rest of the weight class, we have NAIA qualifiers Kyler Adams & Dom DiGena, along with another NAIA R12'er in Brett Minor.  The big question mark here is Cole Thomas.  A D2 wrestler in an NAIA world.  He thus far owns a 4-3 decision over Adams. 

149

NAIA R12'er Jace Luchau returns to defend the Patriot/Pepsi open title he won last season & give the Patriots a gold medal that'll stay home.  He's likely to have some stiff competition though.  Chris Kelly, another NAIA R12'er was 5th here a year ago, and looks to improve upon his performance.  Among the many NAIA qualifiers that could show up in this bracket, it is two other wrestlers who stick out in particularly to me.  Jaden Two Lance was an NJCAA runner-up for Carl Albert State last season. My expectations and hopes for him in '24-'25 are really high.  I really think he's going to make a big splash this year & as they say, "no time like the present."   Westyn Moyer was in an extremely loaded qualifier last year, that saw the top 4 go, and the top 4 all make All American honors at the NAIA championships.  Moyer placed 5th, and had to stay home.  Such circumstances would make anyone itch, and he may very well be in a scratching mood this weekend. 

157

A two time NAIA champion without a single blemish to his name the past two seasons, I can't see anyone stopping Brevin Balmeceda from winning a Patriot/Pepsi Open title here.  Two time All American Trevor Burdick or All American Antwuan Burns could potentially give him a match in the finals, depending on whoever wins that likely semi-final.  Are we likely to see any big upsets in this bracket?  I said earlier, speaking of 125 lbs that Trevor Marsman was Cornerstone's top star. Indeed he is, but he isn't Cornerstone's only star.  The only reason we haven't seen more out of Thade Radosa, is because he's unfortunately dealt with  lot of injury during his career.  If healthy & 100%, knocking off Balmeceda is still a task that isn't likely to be accomplished.  Doing something as crazy as making the finals or taking 3rd? I may be off my hinges, but yeah, if he's 100% I do think that's possible. 

165

Life and wrestling have a lot in common.  One of those commonalities is constantly having to prove yourself.  The Patriot/Pepsi Open will provide plenty of opportunity to do just that.  Jonathan Kervin won the NAIA title last season & already from the get go, he'll have a huge target painted on his back.  Steve Villalobos, Shad Slone & Trace Braun, all three returning NAIA All Americans themselves are all looking to knock Kervin off as they do battle among one another.  As they all look to dethrone the champ, in turn they should realize they too have targets on their backs.  Matt Jenkins finished one match shy of being an All American last season.  A win over an All American or even wins over multiple All Americans would do both his ranking & his confidence a world of good.   We also have Elliot Rodgers, a four time NAIA qualifier whom I'm sure wouldn't oblige to the credentials.   Not to mention a tough O'Brian Black & an equally tough Jaden New. 

174

Graham Calhoun came into Madison, Wisconsin, had a cup of coffee, felt the cold winds of November, packed his bags and headed south.  Ever since, in taking NAIA runner-up honors last season, he's been taking names and kicking a double s.  Anyone here going to challenge him for the Pepsi/Patriot Open title?  I don't think so, although I am anxious to see who his finals opponent will be.  I'm looking forward to what I believe will be a great semi-final between Cory Cannan and Noah Hollendonner.  Both NAIA qualifiers last season, Cannan was R12 at the national championships & Hollendonner took a 3rd place showing here.  It doesn't escape me at the potential Tre Morrisette has either.   Front half of the bracket should be fun.  Consolations?  I've provided the names I think are most likely to do well. 

184 

Quite a bit to talk about and quite a bit to say as to the other weight classes in this tournament, but here are 184, I'm at a loss for words.  If I had to pick/predict place-winners, I think the four I have listed above are likely to make the stand. 

197

There will be some good wrestling here at 197 lbs.  I think our forerunner for a champion will be Indiana Tech's Nathan Critchfield, who was one match shy of NAIA All American honors last season.  It's far from a shoe-in though, as there are some tough candidates in this bracket, including DeMarco Lee who looked very good on occasion last season.  Anxious to see how transfer Hunter Hall ends up doing this tournament.  I know Oklahoma Wesleyan was excited to get him. 

HWT

Seeding will have a lot to do with how HWT turns out and I'm excited for many potential match-ups. I would think that either Braydon Erb or Wylie Dunn would take the #1 seed, although I could also see it potentially going to Bruce Wagers who was 2nd here a year ago.  All three of these gentlemen are more than capable of winning the Pepsi/Patriot Open this weekend.  Dunn in particularly has thoroughly impressed me with how much progress and improvement he has made.  Two seasons ago, he won a single match.  Last year, he was in the match to be an All American.  This is his home tournament, a chance to shine on his turf, in front of his people.   Take nothing away from Erb & Wagers of course, who known how and when to get tough.   As to the rest of the bracket, I'm anxious to see how TreyShawn White does this tournament.  He fell just a hair short of NJCAA All American honors last season competing for Indian Hills.  It'll be fun to see how he matches up against NAIA competition.