An exceptionally tough bracket this year at 141 lbs for the Missouri Valley Invitational. We have 5 NAIA All Americans, including last year's champion & last year's runner-up. 5 Missouri Valley Invitational place-winners, including last year's champion. Earning a top 8 finish this weekend will be of utmost significance.
 |
| #1 Hartwell Taylor Saint Mary |
Last year's NAIA champion has his #1 ranking on the line this weekend, and hat's off to him if he is able to go undefeated this weekend and win a Missouri Valley Invitational title. He'll face the toughest competition he's seen this season.
 |
| #4 Carson Taylor Grand View |
2nd & 3rd thus far in the NAIA, Carson Taylor is one of the best wrestlers with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics yet to win a national title. This weekend gives him an opportunity to really make his case and convince the wrestling community that he could add gold to the silver and bronze medals he already owns.
 |
| #5 Kael Brisker Southeastern |
4th in the NAIA last season, Kael Brisker is a two-time Missouri Valley Invitational finalist, who won the title last year. What a statement it'd be for the Fire if he were to repeat as champion again this weekend.
 |
| #6 Cade Manion Oklahoma City |
5th-5th in the NAIA & thus far 6th-3rd-3rd in the Missouri Valley Invitational, Cade Manion is in the business of collecting hardware and this weekend he has the rare opportunity to become a four-time MVI place-winner.
 |
| #8 Gage Hudson Cumberlands |
The Patriot was an All American back in 2021 & is looking to once again reclaim that All American status. He'll see as tough of competition here at the Missouri Valley Invitational as he will at the NAIA championships. This weekend will give him a great opportunity to see exactly where he stands.
 |
| #9 Creighton Baughman Concordia (NEB) |
A two time GPAC runner-up, Creighton Baughman is among the better competition yet to make NAIA All American status. Had an outstanding showing at the Oppenheim Invitational earlier this season, winning a title. Will look to perform well this weekend.
 |
| #11 Edrich Nortje Dickinson State |
The South African has quite the unique experience as he is not only a member of the men's wrestling program at Dickinson State, he also helps coach the women's program. 7th in the NAIA nation last season, he continues to add credentials to his already impressive list of accomplishments. A medal from the Missouri Valley Invitational is what he'll be gunning for this weekend.
 |
| #14 Devin Avedissian Doane |
An NAIA qualifier, Devin Avedissian will look to challenge for MVI place-winner status this weekend.
 |
| #17 Tristan Bremer Providence |
Tristan Bremer was one match shy of placing at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, competing at 133 lbs. Now he will try and earn a medal competing up at 141.
 |
| #18 Conner Kimbrough Indiana Tech |
A tough sophomore out of Georgia, Conner Kimbrough has been making his way up the rankings. A good showing here in Marshall, Missouri would do him a world of good.
 |
| #19 Donovan Parn Missouri Valley |
4th at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational & 3rd at the Heart of America, I was expecting Donovan Parn to be ranked a little higher than what he is at this point in the season. Tough sport, tough competition. He's competing in his home tournament, in front of his home fans. That doesn't always make a difference, but it has been known to be a enhance performance before. A few upsets here and there, Parn will shoot up that rankings ladder.
 |
| #20 Cole McKinley Lourdes |
Here's a guy to NOT overlook in the early rounds. He made the finals of the WHAC last season & earlier this season he wrestled tough to a 3rd place finish at the Pepsi Patriot Open. He's likely to be an early round draw for one of the higher seeded wrestlers. It's a mistake if they're looking who they'll have next. They'll want to worry about McKinley.
An NAIA qualifier and KCAC finalist, Dante Lopez is another one to not overlook in the early rounds. As I said in both my 133 & 125 previews, the Missouri Valley Invitational is nearly as packed and loaded as will be the NAIA championships. There are no easy matches. Every round is going to be a dogfight.
One of the many talents NWC has gotten from Sgt Bluff Lutton over the years, Noah Parmelee finished right at .500 last season, but has shown much improvement in '24-'25. He's got one heck of a field of talent to go through if he's going to earn a Missouri Valley Invitational medal, but it can be done.
Tyler Deen tried the DI scene at both Nebraska & Cal State Bakersfield, but he is finding wrestling to be much more rewarding at the NAIA level. Ranked in the top 25, I'm anxious to see if he's actually better than his #23 ranking. He put together a 17-12 record during his five years in Division I. This includes a 9-3 win over Jason Miranda of Stanford, who is currently ranked himself in DI. So I'm not simply saying this to say it. I'm saying it for a reason.
You know who else nabs a lot of talent from the Sgt Bluff Lutton area? Morningside, and here is an example of it. Hunter Steffens a tough sophomore looking to improve upon his rating here in Marshall.
If you're looking for some plausible unranked place-winners this weekend, look no further than Tugg Taylor of Dickinson State. He was 7th in last year's Missouri Valley Invitational & will be looking to become a two time medalist this weekend.
I'm currently racking my brain trying to figure out why Kyler Adams isn't ranked at the moment. It's really hard at lower divisions of wrestling to tell whether someone is redshirting or not. Yet, that's all I can figure. He is competing this year. He was an NAIA qualifier last season & he took 8th here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. For whatever the reason he's not ranked, what he is, is a threat to a top 8 finish.
Elijah Anthony not being ranked may have a bit more of an explanation. The NAIA only allows so many wrestlers per team to be submitted for rankings & with Indiana Tech having as good of a team as they do, that may explain why he isn't ranked at the moment. Nevertheless, he's still one to look out for. He took 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open earlier this season.
An NJCAA champ last season at 157, Darnai Heard has been competing this season ironically enough at 141 lbs. I would imagine with GVU having super tough wrestlers at each and every single weight class, this is why we aren't seeing him the rankings. He made the finals of the Friends Invitational, and as he has been in about every tournament he's wrestled in...he'll be a threat.
 |
| #21 Dante Lopez Oklahoma Wesleyan |
An NAIA qualifier and KCAC finalist, Dante Lopez is another one to not overlook in the early rounds. As I said in both my 133 & 125 previews, the Missouri Valley Invitational is nearly as packed and loaded as will be the NAIA championships. There are no easy matches. Every round is going to be a dogfight.
 |
| #22 Noah Parmelee Northwestern |
One of the many talents NWC has gotten from Sgt Bluff Lutton over the years, Noah Parmelee finished right at .500 last season, but has shown much improvement in '24-'25. He's got one heck of a field of talent to go through if he's going to earn a Missouri Valley Invitational medal, but it can be done.
 |
| #23 Tyler Deen Missouri Baptist |
Tyler Deen tried the DI scene at both Nebraska & Cal State Bakersfield, but he is finding wrestling to be much more rewarding at the NAIA level. Ranked in the top 25, I'm anxious to see if he's actually better than his #23 ranking. He put together a 17-12 record during his five years in Division I. This includes a 9-3 win over Jason Miranda of Stanford, who is currently ranked himself in DI. So I'm not simply saying this to say it. I'm saying it for a reason.
 |
| #29 Hunter Steffens Morningside |
You know who else nabs a lot of talent from the Sgt Bluff Lutton area? Morningside, and here is an example of it. Hunter Steffens a tough sophomore looking to improve upon his rating here in Marshall.
 |
| U.R. Tugg Taylor Dickinson State |
If you're looking for some plausible unranked place-winners this weekend, look no further than Tugg Taylor of Dickinson State. He was 7th in last year's Missouri Valley Invitational & will be looking to become a two time medalist this weekend.
 |
| U.R. Kyler Adams Midway |
I'm currently racking my brain trying to figure out why Kyler Adams isn't ranked at the moment. It's really hard at lower divisions of wrestling to tell whether someone is redshirting or not. Yet, that's all I can figure. He is competing this year. He was an NAIA qualifier last season & he took 8th here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. For whatever the reason he's not ranked, what he is, is a threat to a top 8 finish.
 |
| U.R. Elijah Anthony Indiana Tech |
Elijah Anthony not being ranked may have a bit more of an explanation. The NAIA only allows so many wrestlers per team to be submitted for rankings & with Indiana Tech having as good of a team as they do, that may explain why he isn't ranked at the moment. Nevertheless, he's still one to look out for. He took 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open earlier this season.
 |
| U.R. Darnai Heard Grand View |
An NJCAA champ last season at 157, Darnai Heard has been competing this season ironically enough at 141 lbs. I would imagine with GVU having super tough wrestlers at each and every single weight class, this is why we aren't seeing him the rankings. He made the finals of the Friends Invitational, and as he has been in about every tournament he's wrestled in...he'll be a threat.
No comments:
Post a Comment