The last of my NAIA qualifier previews, the Appalachian Athletic Conference is one of my favorite conferences to write about. Years ago when I was a kid, there was so little collegiate wrestling in the south. Here we are all these years later and not only do we have a conference with teams from Georgia, Florida, & Kentucky, but it is one of the best wrestling conferences in NAIA wrestling. #1 Life, #3 Southeastern & #20 Keiser, many All-Americans as well as national champions will come out of the AAC.
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| 125 |
A transfer of Brewton-Parker, with both Greco-Roman & freestyle accolades, Kane Bryson looks to earn a AAC title for the Seahawks here at 125 lbs. 3rd at the Georgia Open, he was 8th at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational. Here to challenge him will be Kane Bryson, a tough freshman out of North Carolina where he was a two-time runner-up at the high school ranks. Bryson was one match shy of being a place-winner at Missouri Valley.
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| 133 |
Silver at last year's AAC & bronze at the NAIA national tournament, Aaron Lucio is poised to accept nothing by gold at either event this season. I can't see anyone even remotely challenging him & if he doesn't easily bonus his way through the tournament, I'd be very surprised. With that said the AAC is taking two here at 133 & I believe our runner-up will be Isaiah Rubio. 4th at the Lucha Open, he was the Battle in the Bluegrass runner-up.
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| 141 |
Thus far 7th & 6th in the NAIA nation, looking to end his career not only as a three-time All-American but also as a national champion, Andrew Voiles is our clear favorite for champion here at 141 lbs. As to runner-up? Now this will be a war. Former North Carolina Tar Heel Caden McCrary is having a solid season. As is Mauro Michel, an NJCAA All-American for Southwestern Oregon, who started off his NAIA career at Ottawa. Thus far for the Runnin' Eagles he has won titles at both the Millikin Invitational & the Georgia Open, placing 3rd at the Grand View Open. This weight class will also feature Drew Jones, 3rd in the AAC a year ago.
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| 149 |
Similar situation here at 149 lbs. 2nd at last year's AAC & 5th in the NAIA nation, Mario De La Torre has established himself as the clear favorite for a title this weekend. Runner-up? Once again a battle between some talented wrestlers. Boedi Kirkland was 5th earlier this season at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Raymond Cavey has runner-up finishes at both the Georgia Open & the Pepsi Patriot Open. Garrett Price was 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open.
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| 157 |
One of the most interesting, as well as one of the most competitive weight classes here at the AAC. Thus far former Iowa Western NJCAA champion Fabian Padilla is having an outstanding career in the NAIA. Last year he finished 2nd in the AAC & 7th in the NAIA nation. This year he's thus far won titles at both the Millikin Invitational & the Cumberland Open. Teammate Doug Terry is one of those that chose to find light at the end of a dark tunnel when Cleveland State decided to close their doors on him. The former Viking is now having a great season for the Runnin' Eagles. Tony Federico, was last year's AAC champion & 6th in the NAIA nation. Jovon Mitchell, a very interesting case. I watched him for year's at Grand View, easily proving he was AA status in various tournaments & duals, yet never a starter for the Vikings come HOA time. I wondered if he might spend his entire career as a reserve...furthermore one of the BEST reserves ever. While I loved seeing him at GVU, I'm glad to see him now at Southeastern because I know he can be an AA this year.
For the record, it doesn't escape my knowledge that if Life could send more wrestlers, Jaden New would be ranked somewhere in the top 12 or maybe even better. Just goes to illustrate the depth of talent here in the NAIA. New was a finalist at both the Georgia Open & the Lucha Open.
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| 165 |
When Alex Couto & Rocky Raby met in the finals of the Georgia Open, it was a double forfeit. Wonder if that'll be the case here at the AAC, should the two once again meet in the finals. Couto won a title at the Millikin Invitational, whereas Raby a transfer from St. Thomas won titles at both the Lucha Open & the Cumberland Open.
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| 174 |
7 qualify automatically here at 174 lbs. A weight class so deep with talent, it'd be easier making the finals at some other conference qualifiers than what it'll be to take 7th here. We could very well see another Runnin' Eagle Vs Runnin' Eagle final. Reese Jones was 4th here a year ago, but 8th in the NAIA nation to give credence to how tough the bracket was in 2025. Thus far in 2026, along with being a Lucha Open finalist, he was 3rd at the Grand View Open. Teammate Konlin Weaver was the other Lucha Open finalist, also a champion at the Millikin Invitational. The Fire has two tough wrestlers as well in Ty Rodriguez & Husam Mustafa. Rodriguez placed 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open earlier this season. The Pepsi Patriot Open runner-up was Nate Buckovich, who took 3rd at the Lucha Open. We also have two Missouri Valley Invitational place-winners in this bracket, Ronald Butler who was 6th & Sean Houston who was 8th.
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| 184 |
Another Life Vs Life final? Highly likely. Thus far Kendall Norfleet has been 2nd in the AAC & 3rd in the NAIA nation. Teammate Tre Morrisette has 2nd & 1st place finishes in the AAC, 5th in the NAIA last year. As to '25-'26, the two double forfeited to one another at the Georgia Open & the Lucha Open. Norfleet won the Grand View Open, with Morrisette taking 3rd & winning the Millikin Invitational.
Look for Sam Libby, a Pepsi Patriot Open champion to take 3rd with a challenge from August Batson.
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| 197 |
We're going to see some good wrestling here at 197 in the semis, in the finals & in the consolation finals. Gio Jackson, a former NJCAA All-American for Harper leads the way, a Georgia Open champion earlier this year. Gentry Smith was 2nd here a year ago, 6th in the NAIA nation. Kasten Grape, a former Doane wrestler, 3rd in the NAIA nation last season. He met Jackson in the Georgia Open Finals. Then we also have Efren Arizmendez, 2nd at the Millikin Invitational & 3rd at the Cumberland Open. Jett McCauley, 4th at the Georgia Open, one match shy of a top 8 finish at Missouri Valley.
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| HWT |
What an interesting story Gabriel Jacobs has had during his collegiate career. 3rd in the NAIA nation back in 2023, he's pulled a Houdini & now he's back, looking like he's going to take an AAC title this weekend & contend for an NAIA national title. Keiser has two tough HWT's in Jordan Sommers a former Northern Illinois Husky & Daguy Massillon. Sommers was 5th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. Also look for good performances out of Gage Cook & Caleb Pruitt. Pruitt was one match shy of a top 8 finish at Missouri Valley.
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