While there are some returning place-winners from last season, 157 lbs will welcome a lot of new blood here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. We have wrestlers who have dropped down from 165 lbs, some wrestlers that competed in other division and some wrestlers coming back from injury. Should make for an interesting tournament.
 |
| #1 Aden Graves Providence |
Last year Aden Graves finished one match shy of being an NAIA All American. This year, it's obvious he has no intentions of going home empty handed, and by all means he's been showing us that the medal he wants to take home is gold. I suspect his plans will be no different here at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
 |
| #5 Elliott Rodgers Marian |
An NAIA All American in 2022, Elliott Rodgers is on a mission to once again claim All American status by the end of 2025. Thus far this season, he's taken a 3rd place finish at the Pepsi Patriot Open. He'll look for a top finish here at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
 |
| #7 Bryce Boumans Grand View |
An NJCAA All American for Northwest Kansas Tech in 2023, Bryce Boumans has been showing the NAIA wrestling world he wants to succeed at this level as well. A top showing here in Marshall, all the more proof.
 |
| #8 Pig Hobbs Providence |
Pig Hobbs showed us how tough he can be when he took a very impressive 3rd place showing competing at 165 lbs at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational. Rankings suggest that he will not get the top seed, but he's most certainly still a title contender this weekend.
 |
| #9 Elijah Chacon Indiana Tech |
Elijah Chacon failed to place at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, but he was 3rd here in 2023. Guy knows how to win and has proven that he can win in high pressure situations before. Will be a threat here this weekend.
 |
| #12 Ben Miller Doane |
A GPAC champion last season & winning the Oppenheim Invitational earlier this season, Ben Miller will be among those looking for a top finish here in Marshall, Missouri.
 |
| #15 Jeff Dunasky Marian |
Competing at 165 lbs last season, Jeff Dunasky finished one match shy of a medal here at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Thus far this year, he took runner-up honors at the Pepsi Patriot Open.
 |
| #16 Josey Jernegan Saint Mary |
Josey Jernegan is one of those wrestlers that if he enters a tournament, he's most likely going to find his way onto the award stand. A KCAC runner-up last season, he was also 6th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. So far this year, he was 4th at the Friends Invite.
 |
| #17 Ryan Bennett Southeastern |
Ryan Bennett will be one of the many Fire looking to earn a top 8 finish here in Marshall this weekend.
 |
| #21 Ezavian Ortega Friends |
At the end of last season I commented that I was surprised that Ezavian Ortega was not ranked and said that I thought he'd make his way into the rankings. Well here he is, ranked #21. A good showing this weekend and he'll climb right up that rankings ladder.
 |
| #22 Thade Radosa Cornerstone |
If you've been reading me for long, you know the #1 thing I hate more than anything else in wrestling is injuries. I hate them with a passion. Hate watching guys that I know would otherwise be successful, who aren't because of injuries. Being one whose own career was severely hampered by breaking my back, perhaps that's why I'm so bitter on injuries. Thade Radosa was injured last season. Yet before he got injured, he took an 8th place showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational. If healthy and if 100%, I think Radosa is better than his current #22 ranking. I believe he'll prove that.
 |
| #23 Abraham Dirkx Morningside |
Abraham Dirkx will look for a good showing in Marshall this weekend.
 |
| #24 Diego Machado St Ambrose |
The Bees are still looking for their first NAIA All American and among the prospects to do so is Diego Machado. 3rd at last year's HOA, he may be more of a threat than his ranking suggest.
 |
| #25 Hayden Brown Oklahoma City |
An NAIA qualifier at 165 lbs last year, Hayden Brown is among the many talents that will be looking for a good finish here in Marshall, Missouri.
 |
| U.R. Dylan Whitt Grand View |
If you've read previews 125-149, then no need to explain again the reasoning why you sometimes see really good wrestlers in the NAIA who are unranked. Ironically enough the wrestler with most potential to win this bracket, is unranked Dylan Whitt who won the Missouri Valley Invitational in 2023 & took 3rd place last year. He was also 8th in the NAIA last year and he was runner-up at the Friends Invite earlier this season.
 |
| U.R. Weston Melvin Cumberlands |
Another tough unranked wrestler who will be in this bracket that is more than capable of earning a top 8 finish. One match from placing at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, Weston Melvin made the Midsouth Conference tournament finals as well.
 |
| U.R. Easton Larson Grand View |
Three Vikings all at the same weight all on the award stand come Sunday night? That's not as far-fetched as some might think. Easton Larson is a tough wrestler in his own right. Earlier this season a Friends Invitational runner-up.
No comments:
Post a Comment