This is always a bittersweet time of the year for me. It signifies that the end of the wrestling season is near, which makes me a bit sad. At the same time though, I love the qualifiers. The emotion and intensity they bring. Watching guys who have worked hard all season, see it pay off with a qualification to the national tournament.
One of our first qualifiers happens this weekend within the NAIA, as the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) will take place this Saturday. #7 Indiana Tech should easily run away with the team title, maybe even making a legitimate threat at qualifying all 12 available slots. I would think the battle for second would be between #19 Marian & #24 Cornerstone, and although currently unranked, don't be surprised if Lourdes makes some noise this tournament too.
This year's tournament is hosted by Cornerstone.
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| 125 |
My job here today is to do my best to try and determine who our NAIA qualifiers will be from the WHAC conference. In case you're wondering, yes, I do believe we will see the top six qualify here at 125 lbs, and these are the six I think they will be. It is rather unusual for the WHAC to qualify this many wrestlers in a single weight class, but it's also unusual to see this many WHAC wrestlers ranked within the top 25 in a single weight class too.
I think it is a very high probability that we see Trevor Marsman win his third WHAC title this weekend. The two-time NAIA All American is looking for a third honor, and I say he goes in as a three-time conference champion.
The battle for runner-up honors should be an outstanding semi-final between Anthony Hughes of Marian, and last year's WHAC runner-up Allen Calderon, who earlier this season won the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational. Whoever comes up on the short end of the stick here, should take 3rd place by tournament's end.
Look for Tyler Hisey, Ja'Marcus Smith & Jeff Bailey to duke it out for places 4th through 6th.
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| 133 |
133 lbs is another weight class within the WHAC that I believe will yield a fair amount of NAIA qualifiers. I'm very anxious to see how this weight class turns out. Talented freshman Luke Rioux will have the *1 seed most likely. A runner-up finish at the Patriot Open earlier this season, I'm anxious to see if he can go through the entire tournament without being upset. Both Nick Rodriguez & Devan Johnson will be in the hunt to knock him off, as they both will also need to be concerned with one another. Thus far in his career, Rodriguez has 2nd & 3rd place finishes within the WHAC, but both have been competing at 125 lbs. Johnson was 3rd last year.
The guy I'm most anxious about here is Randy Frailey. Last year's WHAC champ hasn't been having the season many thought he would, and while I don't know for sure, I think it is in part due to health. He slipped to a 6th place finish at the Patriot Open & he failed to place at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Not even 100% positive if he'll be competing this weekend. IF he is, and IF he's ready to go, he could easily be a bracket buster. Among the qualifiers I think we'll see here at 133 lbs, also count in Landon Bertsch.
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| 141 |
Our forerunner for a champion here at 141 lbs will be Connor Kimbrough, although I am anxious to see what type of a match Cole McKinley, last year's WHAC runner-up can possibly give him. With that noted, I'd keep an eye of T.J. Daugherty. The real Notre Dame (OH) transfer won the Patriot Open earlier this season.
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| #21 Louden Stradling Cleary 149 |
There have been many times in the past where only the WHAC champion advances to the NAIA national tournament and I believe that will be the case here at 149 lbs. Very confident our champion will be Louden Stradling, who was 3rd at the Patriot Open earlier this year.
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| 157 |
Another weight class I believe will yield a high number of qualifiers, look for 157 lbs to be one of the most fun & exciting here in the WHAC. Indiana Tech illustrates the strength of their recruiting with yet another talented freshman high withing the ranks. However, Vinnie Abbey has himself one hell of a mission to accomplish if he wants to walk out of here with WHAC gold. Especially if he plans on upending teammate Elijah Chacon, who has already won WHAC gold in '23 & '24.
Also never want to count out Elliott Rodgers. Not far behind either in the rankings, Rodgers is a grinder, a workhorse on the mat. Was 3rd at both the Patriot Open & the Missouri Valley Invitational earlier this year. Teammate Jeff Dunasky has also had a very respectable season, a runner-up at the Patriot Open & one match shy of a MVI medal in his own right.
Last but certainly not least, Thade Radosa. While health has blatantly refused to give this kid a break, he's broke through and shown his talents and abilities anyway. A two-time Missouri Valley Invitational place-winner with 8th & 7th place finishes, I don't care what he's seeded, he's a threat to anyone he steps out on the mat against.
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| #1 Jonathan Kervin Indiana Tech 165 |
Want a guarantee? I'll give you a guarantee. Last year's WHAC champ & last year's NAIA champ Jonathan Kervin is going to be our WHAC champ this weekend.
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| 174 |
Very confident that we'll see two qualifiers for sure here at 174 lbs, and that our final will be between Leo Galasso of Indiana Tech and Joe Lashuay of Cornerstone. Both Galasso & Lashuay were one match shy of a top 8 finish at this year's Missouri Valley Invitational, and I look forward to a WHAC final between the two.
I'd also look for good performances out of both Ayden Wilson & Julius Polk. While neither is ranked, both of these talented underclassmen have stood out at various times this season. Wilson, like both Galasso & Lashuay, was one match shy of a top 8 finish at Missouri Valley. Polk took 4th in a rather loaded weight class at the Patriot Open. Don't know if we'll see any allotments beyond the finalists, or if we'll see a wildcard awarded here either. Both are talented though & I believe will showcase what they're capable of in future, if nothing else.
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| 184 |
4th in the NAIA nation last season, William Speight has the opportunity to become a four-time WHAC place-winner of high finishes, as he is 3rd-2nd-1st thus far, with a high probability of winning another WHAC title this Saturday. His finals opponent is most likely to be Trevor Stuyvanberg, a senior on the Warrior wrestling team, who finished one match shy of a medal at the Missouri Valley Invitational.
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| 197 |
Looking at two qualifiers here at 197 lbs & I believe we'll see an excellent final between Clay Guenin & Carter Kroll. Kroll was a WHAC finalist last season as well.
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| HWT |
I believe we'll see two qualifiers at HWT & yes, I believe both of them will be Indiana Tech Warriors. What's even funnier, is that if the NAIA allowed three qualifiers in a single weight class, I'd add in Ian Clifford too! Cruz was the Missouri Valley Invitational runner-up earlier this season & Erb was last year's WHAC champ. For the record, Clifford was 8th at the Missouri Valley Invite.
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Going to be a great tournament! Here's to the first of our NAIA qualifiers!!
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