Have a tough bracket here at 165 lbs. 16 ranked wrestlers, including three All Americans from last year, the NAIA champion included. We also have six returning Missouri Valley Invitational place-winners, both the champion and the runner-up included. Want a tough bracket? You have one.
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| #1 Jonathan Kervin Indiana Tech |
Gold! I wouldn't call him a 49'er, but Jonathan Kervin seems to find it everywhere he goes. He won both the Missouri Valley Invitational and the NAIA national title last season. Until proven otherwise, he's the man at 165.
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| #4 Trace Braun Southeastern |
Among those to challenge Jonathan Kervin for the Missouri Valley Invitational this weekend will be Trace Braun, who took 7th place All American honors in the NAIA nation last year.
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| #5 Cam Robinson Grand View |
Three years at Iowa State, Cam Robinson is now at Grand View, showing the NAIA nation he's one of the best wrestlers at 165 lbs. 3rd at the Grand View Open earlier this season, he'll be among the title contenders here in Marshall.
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| #8 Zander Ernst Morningside |
Zander Ernst is living, breathing proof of how loaded the Missouri Valley Invitational can be. Finishing one match shy of a top 8 finish at last year's championships, he took 8th at the NAIA national tournament.
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| #12 Braeden Baller Texas Wesleyan |
At the beginning of the season, I called 2024 NAIA R12'er Braeden Baller the best wrestler at 165 lbs yet to All American. For that matter, he has yet to place at the Missouri Valley Invitational. That could change this weekend.
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| #13 Travis Waldner Montana State Northern |
A standout in the NJCAA for North Idaho, Travis Waldner came up a hair short of NJCAA All American honors, but is looking like he might do in the NAIA what he did not do in the NJCAA. Anxious to see how he does this weekend.
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| #14 Bridger Hall Providence |
Among the medal seekers this weekend will be Bridger Hall. He was 3rd in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) last season.
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| #19 Carlo Castagnaro Arizona Christian |
A returning place-winner from last season (8th), Carlo Castagnaro will once again look for a top 8 showing this weekend at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| #20 Dayton Hill Missouri Valley |
The Vikings of Missouri Valley are of course going to be looking to keep as many medals as they can at home. Have a good shot in a place-winner in Dayton Hill, a transfer from Ottawa, a two-time KCAC finalist who won the title two seasons ago.
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| #21 Edward Ramirez Doane |
While the NJCAA has supplied a lot of talent to the NAIA, so too has the CCCAA. Edward Ramirez is a former rep of Santa Ana, now at Doane.
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| #22 Cole Price Concordia (Neb) |
A two-time NJCAA All American for Iowa Western, I believe it is only a matter of time before Cole Price climbs the rankings ladder here in the NAIA. A good showing at the Missouri Valley Invitational would a step in that direction.
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| #23 Jayden Terronez St Ambrose |
When St. Ambrose wrestling was reinstated a few years ago, I said that I felt that Jayden Terronez would be the Fighting Bees' first star. He's not the only one, but he is certainly one of them. St. Ambrose is still looking for a lot of firsts. A first Missouri Valley Invitational place-winner for example. Terronez came close last season, one match shy competing at 174.
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| #24 Tommy Wentz Concordia (Neb) |
A GPAC runner-up last season, Tommy Wentz will be looking for a good finish here in Marshall, Missouri.
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| #25 Juan Lopez Graceland |
A CCCAA runner-up for Mt. San Antonio, Juan Lopez is making strides in the NAIA. Looking to do well this weekend in the NAIA's top in-season tournament.
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| U.R. Donald Griffin Central Methodist |
I'm not for certain, but I believe that Donald Griffin is currently redshirting. That's about the only way I can explain why he isn't currently ranked. He's been 2nd & 5th in the past two Missouri Valley Invitationals & he was also 4th in the NAIA nation back in 2023. He competes this weekend, he'll be one to watch.
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| U.R. Justin McCunn Grand View |
We've been over the situation at Grand View multiple times, so with that said, we know why Justin McCunn isn't in the rankings. He was a Missouri Valley Invitational runner-up last season & will once again look for a top finish.
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| U.R. Jovan Mitchell Grand View |
Similar situation for Jovan Mitchell. He was 7th in last year's Missouri Valley Invitational and will be looking for another medal this tournament.
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