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| Fort Hays Tech Northwest What a great season it was for the Tigers of Fort Hays Tech Northwest. South Central District champions & 4th in the NJCAA they crowned an assortment of All-Americans, including NJCAA individual champions. I know that Otgonbayar Batsuuri a two-time NJCAA champion for the Tigers is heading to Nebraska-Kearney to do battle in NCAA Division II. Very excited to see what the future Mongolian Olympian can do in the Super Region & at the D2 national tournament. Not sure where NJCAA champ Job Lee or NJCAA champ Lazro Crespo are going to end up. What I can tell you is that like the Deal brothers, like Jett Strickenberger & so many others who have wrestled for this incredible program, where ever they end up, they will be assets. Dayton Bell, who finished R12 at NJCAA nationals last year, is also to my knowledge out of NJCAA eligibility. As to the returnees..... 125 - Kaiden Ballinger, a native Floridan, and a future welder was an NJCAA qualifier for the Tigers this past season. 141 - Xavier Castillo, a native of Arizona & a future plumber was another NJCAA qualifier for the Tigers last season. Scored an impressive 6-3 win over Dayson Torgerson who placed at the Super Region VI in NCAA D2. 197 - V.S.L. Montoya - I've read books shorter than his fist three names. Also a future welder, and a future representative of team Cuba, Montoya made the South Central District finals this past season & was one match shy of NJCAA All-American honors. HWT - Looking to continue the tradition of crowning NJCAA individual champions, Jeisser Sanchez, another welder & future member of team Cuba, won a South Central District title last season & made the NJCAA finals. He'll be the forerunner for a title this season. UPDATE: Found out from a reliable source that both Crespo & Lee will be joining Batsuuri at Nebraska-Kearney! |
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| Pratt |
The Beavers of Pratt, as they usually are, are looking mighty tough heading into '25-'26. 6 of the 9 qualifiers to my knowledge return. While I'm not sure where Johnny Cash Thompson, who was 7th in the NJCAA or where Kolton Field will end up, I have caught wind as to the whereabouts of NJCAA champion Melton Powe. He has transferred to Iowa State & will be duking it out with NCAA DI R12'er M.J. Gaitan for the starting spot.
125 - South Central District runner-up Zane Donley finished one match shy of NJCAA All-American honors this past season.
133 - Rashaud Morgan was 3rd at the South Central District
141 - Jameal Agnew was 4th at the South Central District
174 - Also 4th at the South Central District, Trystian Juarez
197 - Raymon G Hernandez took a 6th place finish at the South Central District
HWT - James Bankston, a native of North Carolina, was a South Central District runner-up, and he finished 7th in the NJCAA nation.
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| Northeast Oklahoma A&M |
I realize that so much of a team's success within the NJCAA is related to the talent coming in. Incoming freshman (again not my expertise...refer to Swayz) is the name of the game at the Community College level. With that said, I still can't help but be excited about the Golden Norsemen in '25-'26, regardless of being unfamiliar with their top recruits. As to returning talent, NEO has some solid wrestlers.
They went 9-2 in duals last season, with one of those losses being a 27-15 loss to powerhouse Iowa Central. They came back & beat the Tritons later on 26-21.
125 - Logan Crawford won titles at both the South Central District, as well as the Baker Open last season, finishing 5th in the NJCAA nation.
141 - Torylon Stallings won the Viking Open last year, taking runner-up finishes at both the Baker Open & the South Central District.
157 - Finishing 3rd at the South Central District, Zach Dawson was one match shy of NJCAA All-American honors
197 - A Baker Open runner-up, after finishing 5th at the South Central District, Sam Murphy was one match shy of earning NJCAA All American honors himself.
HWT - Bloodround seemed to be the wall that hit the ship last season, which is what makes me excited to see how they bounce back this year. Jude Beers, a Viking Open champion, 3rd at both the Baker Open & the South Central District, was another R12'er at NJCAA nationals last year.
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| Labette |
The Cardinals qualified all 10 of their wrestlers to the NJCAA championships last season, but to my knowledge only two of them still have community college eligibility left. Very anxious to see where two-time NJCAA All-American Matt Marcum ends up (6th & 4th) as well as 5th place Davion King. So far, haven't heard yet, but both will be phenomenal additions anywhere they join.
141 - Great season for Jordan Cullors last season who finished 3rd in a tough South Central District & then went on to take a 7th place finish at the NJCAA tournament.
174 - Jayden Ford is another returning qualifier for the Cardinals this season.
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| Carl Albert State |
The Vikings sent 9 to the NJCAA championships last season & return 6 of those 9 qualifiers to the '25-'26 season.
125 - Keegan Sullivan was 3rd at the South Central District
133 - A native of Florida, Sean Michael Gonzalez won a South Central District title & finished 5th in the NJCAA nation.
141 - Kaiden Cue was an NJCAA qualifier for the Vikings last season.
157 - One half of the Del City brothers, Trequan Buttram was 5th at the South Central District.
174 - The other half of the Del City brothers, Deontre Buttram scored a 3rd place finish at the South Central District & finished 4th in the NJCAA nation.
HWT - Marquonn Journey earned NJCAA qualification with a 4th place showing at the South Central District.
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| Cowley |
8 qualifiers for the Tigers in '24-'25, and from the looks of it, 7 of those 8 are returning for action this season.
133 - Cam Kiser was an NJCAA qualifier in 2025
141 - Evan Rodriguez won the South Central District title & finished 5th in the NJCAA nation
149 - Shawn R Bamba was the South Central District runner-up & one match shy of NJCAA All American honors
165 - Dylan Reed was an NJCAA qualifier for the Tigers last season
174 - Keenan Smith finished 5th at the South Central District
184 - Brannigan Reyes also finished 5th at the South Central District
HWT - Jacob Acedo, an Arizona native was another NJCAA qualifier for the Tigers in '25.
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| Neosho |
Panther wrestling returns 4 of the 5 they sent to the NJCAA championships last year. Qualifiers include...
133 - Evan Coble
149 - Kasen Smith
174 - Maleek Ayonrinde
197 - Draven Pipkin
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| Cloud County |
Four NJCAA qualifiers for the Thunderbirds last season & to my knowledge two of them return.
184 - Micah Cauthers
HWT - Jayden Berry
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| Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa |
In their first season on the mat, the Mavericks qualified two to the NJCAA championships. Christian Clark, a native of Texas was one of them. He'll be a sophomore this season.
Colby sent 7 to the NJCAA national tournament in '24-'25 & you know as well as I do that they'll send a bunch again this season as well. Thing is though, all seven qualifiers from last season were sophomores. Including All American Cah'Mari Johnson. Haven't heard anything about new homes yet, but sure they'll pop up somewhere soon.
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