 |
| 125 lbs |
NCAA DI has the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and NCAA DII has the Midwest Classic. Soon the NCAA DIII will have the Pete Willson Invitational. Every Division of collegiate wrestling has their major in-season tournament and now it is time to talk about the toughest in-season tournament in the NAIA! The Missouri Valley Invitational!
Here at 125 lbs, we have a whopping twenty ranked wrestlers! This includes last year's Mo Valley Invite champion, a finalist from two years ago & another place-winner. Lots of new blood in this bracket as well. Gonna be fun.
Back to back 5th place finishes in the NAIA nation, Trevor Marsman was a finalist here at the Missouri Valley Invitational two seasons ago and finished 4th this past year. Thus far in '24-'25 he's shown that he wants to earn a third NAIA medal & a third MVI medal, and preferably for both to be gold! Looked extraordinarily tough winning a Pepsi Patriot Open against some stiff competition earlier this year.
Gabe Gonzales gave us a preview of his talents and abilities last year, when he pulled off a huge win against Trevor Marsman. He wasted no time at all this season showcasing that was no fluke, as he has earned the #2 ranking in the NAIA, including beating some high ranked opponents to win the Friends Invitational.
Unranked and the #1 prospect to win an NAIA title this season. Let the oddness and confusing elements of collegiate wrestling shine. While Reeves isn't currently one of the 12 Vikings submitted for rankings, I'm sure of it we'll see him at the Heart of America & I feel it's a probability we see him here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He was 3rd in the NAIA last season.
An NAIA qualifier last season, I can see Anthony Hughes coming into the Missouri Valley Invitational looking to prove something. Having placed 3rd & 2nd at the Pepsi Patriot Open the past two seasons, he finished a disappointing 4th this year. He'll not only look to earn a medal, but also look to knock off those likely to be seeded ahead of him.
Another NAIA qualifier from last season, Adonis Boyd has stepped it up a notch this season. Had a good showing at the Pepsi Patriot Open, taking a 3rd place finish.
Last year's Missouri Valley Invitational champion & 5th two seasons ago, I promise you that Brody Gee is planning nothing other than earning another title this weekend. Had a few setbacks so far this season, but Gee has an Arnold Schwarzenegger element to his personality. He'll be back.
Here's a guy that has made some serious improvements over the past couple of seasons. Barely above .500 as a freshman, he showed great potential last season winning 15 matches & having some respectable finishes at various tournaments. Now he finds himself with a R12 ranking, looking to climb the ladder of the NAIA ranks. Anxious to see how he does here.
Jose Gonzalez was one match shy of placing at both the Missouri Valley Invitational & the NAIA championships last season. It'll be a dogfight like it is every season, but I'm going to wager that Gonzalez is liking to get a seed this weekend.
6th in the NAIA nation last season, '24-'25 hasn't gone quite as well as what Allen Calderon was probably hoping that it would. Still plenty of season left & what better place to make your mark than Marshall, Missouri? Calderon has a good showing here, he'll propel up the rankings.
A tough transfer out of Life, Chase Ayers could definitely make some noise this tournament.
Jeff Bailey, an NAIA qualifier last season, took 7th place honors at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year. He'll look to earn another medal this tournament.
The Las Vegas native will look to make some noise in Marshall this weekend.
Hunter Bennett has performed fairly well at various tournaments over the past two seasons. It'd take some major upsets to place top 8 at the Missouri Valley Invitational this weekend, but it's not completely out of the question. Most notable, he'll be a tough draw for anyone looking to advance.
Briar Cliff has had some tough lightweights over the years & Dante Rigal is currently among them. The competition other than the NAIA national tournament, is as tough as it'll get here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. It'll be a good test for Rigal.
Two former NJCAA standouts could make some noise this Invitational. Clarence Lee Green was an NJCAA All American two seasons ago & has proven to be tough. Kobi Johnson is actually wrestling much better than initially anticipated. He finished one match shy of NJCAA All American honors last year at 133 lbs. Now he's down a weight and looking in my opinion, as tough as he's ever looked.
Every year, in every Division of collegiate wrestling, the 125 lbs weight class has some exceptional freshmen. The NAIA in '24-'25 is no different. Nehemiah Ventura & Noah Thorsen are both out of Texas. Ventura from Irving, & Thorsen a three time state qualifier out of Melissa. Kolton Powers is out of Wyoming, a two time state finalist.
Here at 125 lbs, we have a whopping twenty ranked wrestlers! This includes last year's Mo Valley Invite champion, a finalist from two years ago & another place-winner. Lots of new blood in this bracket as well. Gonna be fun.
 |
| #1 Trevor Marsman Cornerstone |
Back to back 5th place finishes in the NAIA nation, Trevor Marsman was a finalist here at the Missouri Valley Invitational two seasons ago and finished 4th this past year. Thus far in '24-'25 he's shown that he wants to earn a third NAIA medal & a third MVI medal, and preferably for both to be gold! Looked extraordinarily tough winning a Pepsi Patriot Open against some stiff competition earlier this year.
 |
| #2 Gabe Gonzales Grand View |
Gabe Gonzales gave us a preview of his talents and abilities last year, when he pulled off a huge win against Trevor Marsman. He wasted no time at all this season showcasing that was no fluke, as he has earned the #2 ranking in the NAIA, including beating some high ranked opponents to win the Friends Invitational.
 |
| U.R. Aden Reeves Grand View |
Unranked and the #1 prospect to win an NAIA title this season. Let the oddness and confusing elements of collegiate wrestling shine. While Reeves isn't currently one of the 12 Vikings submitted for rankings, I'm sure of it we'll see him at the Heart of America & I feel it's a probability we see him here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. He was 3rd in the NAIA last season.
 |
| #7 Anthony Hughes Marian |
An NAIA qualifier last season, I can see Anthony Hughes coming into the Missouri Valley Invitational looking to prove something. Having placed 3rd & 2nd at the Pepsi Patriot Open the past two seasons, he finished a disappointing 4th this year. He'll not only look to earn a medal, but also look to knock off those likely to be seeded ahead of him.
 |
| #8 Adonis Boyd Cumberlands |
Another NAIA qualifier from last season, Adonis Boyd has stepped it up a notch this season. Had a good showing at the Pepsi Patriot Open, taking a 3rd place finish.
 |
| #9 Brody Gee Saint Mary |
Last year's Missouri Valley Invitational champion & 5th two seasons ago, I promise you that Brody Gee is planning nothing other than earning another title this weekend. Had a few setbacks so far this season, but Gee has an Arnold Schwarzenegger element to his personality. He'll be back.
 |
| #11 Matteo Vargo Cumberlands |
Here's a guy that has made some serious improvements over the past couple of seasons. Barely above .500 as a freshman, he showed great potential last season winning 15 matches & having some respectable finishes at various tournaments. Now he finds himself with a R12 ranking, looking to climb the ladder of the NAIA ranks. Anxious to see how he does here.
 |
| #13 Jose Gonzalez Dickinson State |
Jose Gonzalez was one match shy of placing at both the Missouri Valley Invitational & the NAIA championships last season. It'll be a dogfight like it is every season, but I'm going to wager that Gonzalez is liking to get a seed this weekend.
 |
| #15 Allen Calderon Indiana Tech |
6th in the NAIA nation last season, '24-'25 hasn't gone quite as well as what Allen Calderon was probably hoping that it would. Still plenty of season left & what better place to make your mark than Marshall, Missouri? Calderon has a good showing here, he'll propel up the rankings.
 |
| #17 Chase Ayers Lindsey Wilson |
A tough transfer out of Life, Chase Ayers could definitely make some noise this tournament.
 |
| #18 Jeff Bailey Cornerstone |
Jeff Bailey, an NAIA qualifier last season, took 7th place honors at the Missouri Valley Invitational last year. He'll look to earn another medal this tournament.
 |
| #20 Sauol Prado Baker |
The Las Vegas native will look to make some noise in Marshall this weekend.
 |
| #21 Hunter Bennett Doane |
Hunter Bennett has performed fairly well at various tournaments over the past two seasons. It'd take some major upsets to place top 8 at the Missouri Valley Invitational this weekend, but it's not completely out of the question. Most notable, he'll be a tough draw for anyone looking to advance.
 |
| #22 Dante Rigal Briar Cliff |
Briar Cliff has had some tough lightweights over the years & Dante Rigal is currently among them. The competition other than the NAIA national tournament, is as tough as it'll get here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. It'll be a good test for Rigal.
 |
| #14 Clarence Lee Green #16 Kobi Johnson Lindsey Wilson Providence |
Two former NJCAA standouts could make some noise this Invitational. Clarence Lee Green was an NJCAA All American two seasons ago & has proven to be tough. Kobi Johnson is actually wrestling much better than initially anticipated. He finished one match shy of NJCAA All American honors last year at 133 lbs. Now he's down a weight and looking in my opinion, as tough as he's ever looked.
 |
| #24 Nehemiah Ventura #25 Kolton Powers #26 Noah Thorsen Texas Wesleyan Montana State Northern Morningside |
Every year, in every Division of collegiate wrestling, the 125 lbs weight class has some exceptional freshmen. The NAIA in '24-'25 is no different. Nehemiah Ventura & Noah Thorsen are both out of Texas. Ventura from Irving, & Thorsen a three time state qualifier out of Melissa. Kolton Powers is out of Wyoming, a two time state finalist.
No comments:
Post a Comment