Much like the world of NCAA D3 wrestling, NCAA D2 wrestling can be a cruel and unforgiving environment. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of reward & a lot of triumph. Yet in a sport that only takes the top 3 per weight class to the national tournament, you are bound to have a massive amount of talent staying home.
Again, I doubt if my picks mirror yours's 100%. I did my best to pick out the wrestlers whom I felt were the very best to not qualify this year. If you have others, feel free to share.
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| Mason Myers Pittsburgh-Johnstown |
Tough Region, simple as that. Mason Myers was a Super Region I runner-up last year & took 5th this year. Believe the Mountain Cat's career is now done. Tough wrestler, had a good career.
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| Cooper Warshel Pittsburgh-Johnstown |
Another tough Mountain-Cat who missed out on NCAA DII qualification this year. A Super Region I champ last year, finished 4th this year. 19 wins on the season, earned a 7-4 decision over Casey Barnett & a 4-1 s.v. over Ethan Richner. Was also 8th at the Midwest Classic, which may I remind you.... Is not only D2's toughest in-season tournament, but in many ways is often TOUGHER than the national tournament itself.
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| Jack MacKiernan American International |
Man was I hoping to see Jack MacKiernan join Tommy Nichols in qualification this year, and shove it in the face of American International personnel who made the decision to discontinue the program after this year. A NCAA DII qualifier in 2023 as a freshman, MacKiernan has been 4th the past two Regions as a sophomore and junior. Unfortunately will have to find a new home in his final season of collegiate eligibility. A true shame. Was 23-10 on the year.
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| Keegan Roberson UNC-Pembroke |
Health a major factor here. In order to have success in this sport, you have got to remain healthy & unfortunately that was not the case for Keegan Roberson this year. 3rd in the Super Region II last year & 6th in the D2 nation, health was against the Brave this time. Finished 6th. One the season, owned a 7-4 decision over Jake Nicolosi.
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| Gavin Quiocho Glenville State |
Some are going to have a problem with me including Gavin Quiocho in this lineup because he did not wrestle at the Region. Give me a break. We're talking about a two-time NCAA DII finalist who won the national title in 2023. I don't know all the details & it is not my place to judge, but Gawd do I feel sick to my stomach for this kid. After all he accomplished, all he did for the school, for things to end this way is an absolute travesty. 18-5 on the year, defeated Colton Stoneking twice by scores of 11-8 s.v. & 8-2. I do take this sport too seriously, and this was one of the ones that made me lose some sleep last night.
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| Alec Cook West Liberty |
I've been a college wrestling fan for a very long time now. I've been following NCAA DI wrestling like a hawk since the 2001-2002 season. Let me tell you I've seen some God awful, horrible, nightmare qualification tournaments for many wrestlers over the years. Especially since the new qualification system was put into place back in the '09-'10 season. I can think of wrestlers, who pardon my French wrestled like crud at the qualifier & then turned around and wrestled tremendously at the NCAA DI's!
Unfortunately D3 and D2 wrestling don't lend themselves to a system that would allow that. Here, you don't get to have a bad day. Here, a bad day cost you.
Such is the case with Alec Cook. 16-3 on the year, two of his only blemishes in '24-'25 happened at the Region. 6th in the D2 nation in 2023, he had back to back 3rd place finishes in the Region up to this point. A 6-3 decision over Teagan Hendricks.
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| Evan Binder Maryville |
A tough sophomore, Evan Binder was the Super Region IV runner-up last season & one match shy of D2 All American honors. This year, finished 4th in the Region. Will be back to redeem himself next season.
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| Jaylon Otero Ouchita Baptist |
Jaylon Otero is simply a victim of circumstance. He was in a tough Region, it's that simple. Ends his career having said he was a nosehair away on many occasions. 5th-4th-4th in Super Region IV. A 9-8 win over Demtri Teddlie on the season.
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| Will Kuster Drury |
An NCAA D2 qualifier in 2023 as a sophomore, it was close but no cigar for Will Kuster these past two seasons. Finished out his Super Region IV finishes 3rd-5th-4th. 29 wins on the year, was 7th at the prestigious Midwest Classic. An 8-6 decision over Jace Fisher, also defeated Dajun Johnson 7-4.
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| Trey Sizemore Indianapolis |
Trey Sizemore is an interesting case. 3rd in the Super Region IV a year ago & 5th in the D2 nation, he barely wrestled at all this year. Not sure if he was hurt or what, but we saw very, very little of him. Showed up at the Region, and things did not go his way. Keep in mind this is a guy that wrestled for Illinois at one point & placed 8th at the Midlands.
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| Wyatt Turnquist Northern State |
At the end of the day, I feel horrible for all of these guys. Unfair may not be the right word to use, but there's something 'not right' about the way things are that really eats away at me. I know I'm not the only one that feels this way either. If you asked me who bugs me most in not qualifying? Wyatt Turnquist would either be #1 or close to it. I'm telling you when I saw that he lost his consolation final match, my heart just sank. 3rd-3rd-5th-4th for the talented grappler. He was 3rd at the 2023 NCAA DII championships too, with one of the most impressive consolation runs I've ever seen.
20-5 on the year, he reminds me of why I preach & why I will not get off my pedestal when I say, "more than 2(3) days!"
Look at all he DID accomplish this year, despite not making it to the dance. Earned his third medal at the prestigious Midwest Classic going 3rd-1st-4th. 6-3 over Torry Early, 7-1 over Kenny Kiser, 7-1 over James Ryan, and 3-0 over Cael Larson.
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| Ben Durocher UW-Parkside |
29-8 on the season & an NCAA D2 R12'er last season, Ben Durocher's career may not have ended with NCAA DII qualification, but what an outstanding career he had nonetheless. 5th-4th-3rd-4th at Super Region V for the Ranger. On top of it had an outstanding showing at the Midwest Classic taking 3rd place honors. 11-2 major over Dan Uribe. he defeated Cale Hoskinson 7-3 & 5-2. Also picked up two victories over John Ridle 8-5 s.v. & 2-1. A 7-1 win over Caleb Meunier.
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| Cayden Henschel UW-Parkside |
You know what bothers me most about Cayden Henschel not qualifying for the NCAA D2 tournament this year? The number of people who are acting like jackals celebrating it. There is a lot about this sport that I don't get, and this is one of them. We have a psychopathic schadenfreude who runs his mouth weekly in a podcast, and nobody seems to have a problem with him, yet here is a kid that simply promotes himself, and everyone seems to have a problem with it. Was Cayden Henschel a bit on the arrogant side? Sure. He could be extravagant, but I never once saw him badmouth an opponent. I never saw him trash talk anyone or do anything super negative. This idea that we're all supposed to be quiet, never celebrate, never promote, is asinine to me.
Henschel did more these last three seasons to bring eyes and attention to D2 wrestling, than did most anyone else. That should be celebrated, not condemned. A Super Region I champ two years ago & a runner-up last year, he's proof that there is no room for error in this sport at this level.
8th & 3rd within the Midwest Classic, Henschel won D2's toughest in-season (and again I argue toughest period) tournament this year. Want a list of everyone he defeated in '24-'25?
Christian Small 3-2
Khyvon Grace 4-2
Ronan Schuelke 5-3 & 8-2
Brock Durbin 9-2
Brayden Lowery 8-1
Sabian Russell 9-7
Sean Solis 5-4
Pedro Velasquez 4-1 s.v.
Colton Hush 10-1
There will be a long list of AA's with losses to Henschel on their record by D2 nationals' end.
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| Kole Marko Minnesota State Mankato |
4th-5th-4th in Super Region V, Kole Marko will enter '25-'26 as one of the best yet to qualify for D2 nationals.
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| Matt Kaylor Mary |
4th in the D2 nation in 2023, Matt Kaylor is another super tough wrestler who did not make it to nationals this season. Nevertheless, a great career with Super Region V finishes of 3rd-3rd-5th-4th.
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| La'Ron Parks St. Cloud State |
Another one that just tore the heart right out of my chest. 3rd-3rd-3rd within the Region & 4th in the D2 nation last year, I can say in full confidence that I believe La'Ron parks could have made a run for the D2 title this year had he qualified. "No room for error." 9-5 over Lloyd Reynolds, 2-1 over Jake Swirple and 4-1 over Luke Tweeton.
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| Grayston DiBlasi Colorado School of Mines |
I am really going to miss watching this dude wrestle. Crazy, unorthodox, and go-for-broke, he hit some exciting moves during his days of collegiate competition. Was hoping this would end different for him, but nonetheless, what a career. 3rd-2nd-5th-4th for the Oredigger. Was 7th-7th-4th at the prestgious Midwest Classic. 3-2 over Joe Airola, 10-4 over Dylan Lucas, 13-3 over Isham Peace & defeated Sean Solis by scores of 7-5 and 2-1.
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| Cole Hernandez Western Colorado |
As I finish up this article, I remind myself of how depressed I get writing these (including the D3 article I wrote of the same sentiment). I will soon revert my attention to the positive and focus on those who did qualify, but it's hard to not feel for these kids. I guess it is because I've been there. I know what it feels like. It's not the end of the world, life goes on, as will they. Nevertheless, if you're someone that has ever worked your ass off at something, truly given it your all, then you understand there is no dealing with this disappointment in a way that doesn't eat away at you inside. You can't give that much of yourself to something, sacrifice as much as you do and then say you don't feel anything at the wake of disappointment.
Cole Hernandez is the final wrestler I write about in this write-up. 6th & 7th in the D2 nation the past two years, just barely missed out on qualification on Saturday. 3rd-1st-4th in Super Region VI.
7th-3rd-3rd at the Midwest Classic, 15-2 & 19-4 over Gus Dalton, 20-5 over D2 champ Josh Kenny, 18-6 over Clint Morrisette and 7-2 over Lawson Losee.
