Friday, May 30, 2025

2025-2026 NAIA Wrestling Preview - 149 lbs

 

Elijah Larson
Grand View

Only a sophomore & already an NAIA national champion.  We could very well be looking at one of the best wrestlers to ever come out of the state of Alaska.  Also won the Heart of American Conference (HOA) title last season as well. 

Hagen Heistand
Concordia (NEB)

After two seasons with the Campbell Camels, Hagen Heistand transferred to Concordia (NEB) & had an outstanding season making the finals of both the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) & the NAIA national tournament. The Underwood, Iowa native was also 6th at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Mario De La Torre
Southeastern

The California native enters his final season of collegiate competition, having posted runner-up honors at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) & 5th place All American honors in the NAIA nation. 

Nathan Lendt
Doane

One of the many star wrestlers to have come out of Southeast Polk High School in Iowa, Nathan Lendt enters his junior season of competition looking to become a three-time NAIA All American having posted back to back 6th place finishes thus far.  He'll also be looking to become a three-time GPAC champion, as well as a four-time Mile High Open place-winner having been 1st-4th-2nd thus far. 

Nik Yancey
Campbellsville

Another Florida native, Nik Yancey is another superstar of the 149 lbs weight class looking to earn a third All American honor this season.  3rd as a freshman, he was 7th as a sophomore.  He's also a two-time Mid-South Conference (MSC) champion. 

Louden Stradling
Cleary 

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) champion was one match shy of earning NAIA All American honors this past season. 

Danari Heard
Grand View

The former Iowa Central Community College NJCAA standout had himself a pretty solid season last year competing for the Vikings.  As they say, "iron sharpens iron" & I can only imagine the epic battles between him and Larson in the GVU wrestling room.  Heard was 5th at the HOA, a runner-up at the Friends Falcon Invitational & one match shy of earning NAIA All American honors. 

Patrick Gould
Life

Patrick Gould is one to keep an eye on this season. You're hearing it here first, that if on, we could very well be looking at a contender for the NAIA title.  A former All American in year's past, he didn't have the season he was capable of last year, but keep in mind this is a guy that has held the #1 ranking before.  They don't just give those away, you have to earn them.   3rd in the AAC last season. 

Steve Barnes
Concordia (NEB)

Life sure can be ironic can't it? Both Steve Barnes & Hagen Heistand are from Underwood, Iowa.  Both wrestled at DI schools for a while (Barnes at Iowa State) & both are currently at Concordia (NEB), at the same weight class.  Barnes was 4th in the GPAC last season. 

Junior Downing
Corban

The future Pastor went 27-4 on the season last year, earning a bronze medal at the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). 

Jalen Vladic
Providence 

The Argo has thus far had back-to-back 4th place finishes at the CCC.  Looked exceptionally sharp capturing a bronze medal at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Kris Arrey 
Missouri Valley

An HOA finalist last season, the California native was 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Nick Slatoff
Baker

A Nevada native, Nick Slatoff was 3rd in the HOA & 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Will Sprenger 
Dickinson State

Sophomore Will Sprenger was 4th in the HOA last year as a freshman. 

Cole Ferguson
Grand View

It's amazing how much talent there is in the Grand View wrestling room.  We already have national champion Elijah Larson & R12'er Danari Heard, but add in Cole Ferguson.  To give you an idea the kind of talent, ability and potential Ferguson has, we're talking about a guy that has been 5th-4th-1st at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  He also won the Friends Falcon Invite.  I'm scared to see what happens in the NAIA ever allows "Second team" teams at the qualifiers and nationals.  Grand View be coming home with two trophies. 

Logan Johnson
Avila

Logan Johnson enters his final season of competition having made the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) finals this past season. 

Austin Almaguer
Saint Mary

Thus far the Spire has earned back-to-back 3rd place showings at the KCAC championships. 

C.J. Shadinger 
Reinhardt

C.J. Shadinger took 6th place at the Pepsi Patriot Open & 8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Jake Moon
Oklahoma City

The Texas native was one match shy of earning Missouri Valley Invitational place-winner status last season. 

Ty Lehman
Cumberlands

The Patriot won the Pepsi Patriot Open last season. 

Mike Loney
Indiana Tech

Another tough wrestler for the Warriors, Loney placed 4th at the Pepsi Patriot Open. 











































Wednesday, May 28, 2025

2025-2026 NAIA Preview - 141 lbs

 


Jared Dinh
Cumberland

Thus far 5th-3rd-1st in the Mid-South Conference (MSC), Jared Dinh picked up NAIA All-American honors last season of 5th place.  He was also 4th at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Luke Jensen
Corban

In a weight class that was ruled by mostly seniors in '24-'25, there is a lot of opportunity for some new blood to make a name for itself in '25-'26.  Luke Jensen was one match shy of earning NAIA All American honors last season. 


Cole McKinley
Lourdes

Another wrestler who was finished one match shy of NAIA All American honors last season, Cole McKinley was a runner-up at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) & 4th at the Pepsi Patriot Open. 

Tristan Breemer
Providence

An NAIA qualifier for the Argos last season, Tristian Breemer was 5th at the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). 

Channing Porter
Arizona Christian

Channing Porter was an NAIA qualifier for the Firestorm last season. 

Noah Parmelee
Northwestern (IA)

The Red Raider was 3rd in GPAC last season & one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Bryant Beane
Campbellsville

The Louisville, Kentucky native earned a 5th place finish at the MSC last season. 

Bo Davis
Corban

Another Corban wrestler who could stand out this season at 141 lbs is Bo Davis who took a 3rd place finish at the CCC. 

Devin Avedissian
Doane

The Temecula Valley, California native has thus far been 4th & 2nd in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). 

Christian Lopez
Embry-Riddle

Christian Lopez enters his junior season of competition now a two-time NAIA qualifier. 

Eli Peyton
Cumberlands

The Patriot was 3rd in the MSC & took an 8th place finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Adam Stanley
Embry-Riddle

Collecting bronze medals at the Friends Falcon Invitational & at the Mile High Open, Adam Stanley was silver at the CCC. 


Donovan Parn
Missouri Valley

The Viking was 3rd in last year's Heart of America (HOA). 

Conner Kimbrough
Indiana Tech

The McDonough, Georgia native was a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) champion this past season. 

Drew Jones
Southeastern

Heading into his junior season, Drew Jones was 3rd in the AAC last season & one match shy of a medal at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Dru Wilson
Lourdes

Dru Wilson took 3rd in the WHAC last year. 

Garrett Pace
Reinhardt

Garrett Pace was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Elijah Anthony
Indiana Tech

I believe that Elijah Anthony may have redshirted last season as he was 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open, and we didn't see much of him after that.  In year's prior, he has been a Missouri Valley Invitational place-winner (7th). 





































Monday, May 26, 2025

2025-2026 NAIA 133 lbs Preview

 




Thaddeus Long
Life

The two-time NAIA finalist, who won an NAIA title this past season returns for one more year of collegiate wrestling.  He's also a two-time Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) champion. 

Dom Chavez
Texas Wesleyan

The Ram has thus far earned NAIA All American honors of 4th & 2nd.  An American Midwest Conference/Sooner Athletic Conference (AMC/SAC) champion last season, he also won the Friends Falcon Invitational. 

Aaron Lucio
   Southeastern 

The fire was on fire last season at the NAIA championships, capturing a 3rd place All American showing.  He was runner-up at the AAC. 

Sean Archuleta
Arizona Christian

A lot of talented freshmen amongst the ranks last season & Sean Archuleta was one of them.  Winning titles at both the Missouri Valley Invitational & the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), he took 4th in the NAIA nation. 

Luke Rioux
Indiana Tech

Speaking of tough freshman from last year.  Luke Rioux won a Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) title and finished 5th in the NAIA nation. 

Andrew Voiles
Southeastern

Andrew Voiles enters his senior year of competition having thus far posted NAIA All American honors of 7th & 6th.  He's been 2nd & 3rd in the AAC. 

Jackson Cockrell
Grand View 

Another senior looking to become a three-time All American this season is Viking Jackson Cockrell who has thus far ben 6th & 7th in the NAIA nation.  2nd & 3rd in the Heart of America (HOA), he'll look to win a conference title this year as well. 

Izaeah Beavers
Campbellsville

The Tiger is yet another senior looking to end his career with three All-American honors.  A Mid-South Conference (MSC) champion last year, he has back-to-back NAIA honors of 8th place. 

Simon Graeber
Southern Oregon

A match shy of NAIA All American honors last season, Simon Graeber has thus far been 2nd & 4th in the CCC. 

Haden Hernandez
Missouri Valley

Twice the R12 in the NAIA championships, Haden Hernandez will look to earn that All American honor he has been so close to this season.  He won the HOA last season. 

Lane Scorpil
William Penn

The Statesman was one match shy of NAIA All American honors last season & 4th in the HOA. 

Matt Terrence
Doane

A Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) champion this past year, Matt Terrence placed 3rd at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Dylan Crawford
Hastings

Only a sophomore, Dylan Crawford was 3rd in the AAC this past season. 


Wyatt Hinton
Campbellsville

One match shy of placing at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Wyatt Hinton was 3rd in the MSC. 

Landon Bertsch
Marian

Landon Bertsch earned NAIA qualification for the Knights this past season. 

Daryl Mills
Missouri Baptist

4th at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational, Daryl Mills has thus far been 5th & 2nd in the AMC/SAC. 

Jason Ramirez
Arizona Christian

5th in the CCC, Jason Ramiez was also 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Arojae Hart
Central Methodist

One match shy of place-winner status at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Arojae Hart was 6th in the HOA. 

Roman De La Cruz
Saint Mary

One of the coolest stories I know of thus far for the '25-'26 season is how teammate Freddy Barajas who is now out of eligibility is sticking around Leavenworth, Kansas so that he can do all he can to help Roman De La Cruz reach his goals in his final season.  Now if that doesn't say, "T-E-A-M" you tell me what does.  Thus far De La Cruz has been a two-time Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) runner-up & 6th at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  He's been 3rd-3rd-4th at the Friends Falcon Invitational & he was also 4th at the Doane Oppenheim Invite as well. 

Blake Runion
Corban

Blake Runion enters his final season of collegiate wrestling having thus far posted 6th & 2nd place finishes in the CCC. 

Blake Woolsey
Providence 

Only a sophomore, Blake Woolsey took 8th at last year's Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Niko Gonzalez
Baker

The wildcat was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season.