Sunday, June 1, 2025

2025-2026 NAIA Preview - 157 lbs

 


Pig Hobbs
Providence

The Idaho native enters his junior season now a two-time NAIA All American with 5th place finishes in 2023 & 2025.  

Aden Graves
Providence 

Low and behold, it wouldn't surprise me to see the #1 & #2 rankings to start off the season with both being Argos of Providence.  Right there with Hobbs, is teammate Aden Graves, who finished 6th in the NAIA nation last season.  Thus far Graves has been 2nd & 3rd within the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).  

Logan Hancey
Embry-Riddle

Only a sophomore, Logan Hancey demonstrated that when the lights are on, it's show time.  Finishing 7th in the CCC, he had an outstanding NAIA national tournament that he turned into an 8th place All American finish.  He was also 3rd at the Friends Falcon Invitational. 

Vinnie Abbey
Indiana Tech

Another tough sophomore, Vinnie Abbey finished 5th in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) and one match shy of NAIA All American honors. 

Ben Miller
Doane

The two-time Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) champion heads into the '25-'26 season one of the best yet to All American in NAIA wrestling.  The Reno, Nevada native was also a champion at the Oppenheim Invite last year. 

Dylan Straley
Southern Oregon

A two-time NAIA qualifier for the Raiders, Dylan Straley was 4th in the CCC last season. 

Justin Windauer
Montana State Northern

5th in the CCC last season, Justin Windauer was also 5th in the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational.  Among his victories, he has defeated Aden Graves in the past. 

Tomas Jacabo
Simpson (CA)

The San Diego native was an NAIA qualifier for the Red Hawks this past season & 6th in the CCC.

Brayden Shelton
Missouri Valley

A runner-up at the Heart of American (HOA) last season, Brayden Shelton was also one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Hayden Brown 
Oklahoma City

Hayden Brown heads into his final season of collegiate competition after finishing as the runner-up at the American Midwest Conference/Sooner Athletic Conference (AMC/SAC) championships. 

Josey Jernagen
Saint Mary

Thus far the Spire has been 2nd & 1st within the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).  Although he came up a match short of place-winner status last year, he was 6th at the Missouri Valley Invitational two seasons ago.  He was also 4th in last year's Friends Falcon Invitational. 

Noah Smith 
Oklahoma Wesleyan

3rd in the KCAC, Noah Smith was also 4th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

Jeff Dunasky
Marian

A match shy of placing at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Jeff Dunasky, was 5th in the WHAC & 2nd at the Pepsi Patriot Open. 

Malachia Harris
Cumberlands

8th at the Missouri Valley Invitational, Malachia Harris was a runner-up at the Mid-South Conference (MSC). 

E'lan Heard
Grand View

E'lan Heard was a finalist at the Missouri Valley Invitational last season. 

Easton Larson
Grand View

Of the many Don Bosco High has produced over the years, Easton Larson is among them.  A runner-up at last year's Friends Falcon Invitational. 

John Wiley
Oklahoma City

The 157 lbs weight class within the NAIA is sitting pretty, with some valuable talent, but it's about to get nuked with an outsider who has come to conquer and rule.  John Wiley a former Oklahoma Sooner, with a win over Paniro Johnson, BIG XII champion, enters the weight.  This changes everything? You bet your donkey it does.  
































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