2026 Mid-South Conference Preview (Fri Feb 13th)

 

Featuring The #7 Cumberlands Patriots, the #8 Campbellsville Tigers, the #11 Cumberland Phoenix, the #23 Georgetown Tigers & the #24 Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, the Mid-South Conference is going to be exceptionally tough this year! JT1Wrestle has broken down each weight class & will take a stab at who he thinks will be NAIA qualifiers! 

125

Last year's Mid-South Champion, Matteo Vargo is looking like he's going to take another gold medal this Friday.  Thus far in '25-'26, the Patriot has placed 5th at the Grand View Open, 4th at the Pepsi Patriot Open & he took runner-up honors at the Battle in the Bluegrass.  His likely finals opponent will be determined in what should prove to be a good semi-final between Chase Walker & Elijah Valencia  Walker a tough freshman out of Cleveland, Tennessee & Valencia, a teammate of Vargo's, a transfer out of Menlo. 

133

Got a good one here at 133 lbs.  Former Indian Hills standout Riley Bettich, who was 4th in the NJCAA a year ago, has proven himself to be a great addition to the Patriot's roster.  Thus far this season, the former Warrior now Patriot has won the Battle in the Bluegrass, while taking runner-up honors at the Lucha Open.  Izaeah Beavers could end up being his finals opponent, although the competition to the finals is quite stacked.  Beavers a two-time NAIA All-American (back-to-back 8th place finishes) was a Mid-South Conference champ two seasons ago, although he was 4th last year.  Seems to me that the rankings have been rather unforgiving of a few early season headscratchers.  Now would be a time to silence his naysayers.   Bracket will also feature Leland Reeves, a former DI wrestler of Bellarmine, who finished one match shy of placing at the Missouri Valley Invitational.  Look for Alex Tabor to wrestle well & earn NAIA qualification as well. 

141

You want a freakin' tough weight class, you got one.  5th in the NAIA nation a year ago, Jared Dinh has the rare opportunity to become a four-time Mid-South Conference place-winner with finishes of 5th-3rd-1st thus far.  He recently won the Cumberland Open.  Not far behind him will be teammate Sammy Shires, 2nd at the Lucha Open earlier this season.  Looking to challenge them both & pull off two huge upsets in route to a title of his own will be Adrian Ayala, who has finished 2nd-2nd-2nd at the last three Mid-South Conference championships.  An NAIA R12 finisher, he won the Pepsi Patriot Open earlier this season.   This weight class also features Nick Moore, 4th at last year's Mid-South Conference & 3rd at this year's Lucha Open.  Eli Peyton, was 3rd at Oppenheim. 

149

3rd in the NAIA last season & thus far 3rd & 2nd in the Mid-South Conference, Victor Guzman is on a mission to earn gold at both the qualifier & the national tournament.  Here to challenge him will be two-time Mid-South Conference champion as well as two-time NAIA All American (3rd & 7th) Nick Yancey.  Look for Ty Lehman, a Battle in the Blue Grass champion to have a strong showing this tournament as well. 

157

An interesting weight class that will feature two former NJCAA standouts, who are now competing well in the NAIA.  Brice Coleman, 3rd in the NJCAA last season for Indian Hills, should take the *1 seed this Friday.  Antwuan Burns returns to defend the Mid South Conference title he won in 2024.  Emmanuel Celestin, an NJCAA qualifier for NIACC, who this far this year placed 5th at the Grand View Open & 3rd at the Pepsi Patriot Open.  The bracket will also feature Elijah Griffin, who was 5th at last year's Mid South Conference. 

165

4th at last year's Mid-South Conference tournament, Jastin Kubwimana looks to try and win the title this weekend.  He'll have competition from two Patriots, Malachi Harris & Rider Trumble.  Harris himself a Mid-South Conference runner-up last season, who this year has won the Battle in the Bluegrass & taken 2nd at the Lucha Open. 

174

2nd & 1st in the past two Mid-South Conference tournaments, Shad Slone is a three-time NAIA All-American (7th-6th-3rd) looking to end his collegiate career with another conference title & as a four-time All-American.   Here to challenge him will be Weston Melvin, 2nd & 3rd the past two Mid-South Conference tournaments.  Thus far this season, he has won both Oppenheim & the Battle in the Bluegrass.  Anthony Pyron, another tough wrestler, who should easily take 3rd. 

184

We're looking at the deepest & most competitive weight class of the Mid-South Conference.  Pay close attention because the semis, the finals, & the consolation finals will all be exciting.  Cory Cannan 2nd at the Pepsi Patriot Open & a champion at the Millikin Open gives the Blue Raiders a shot at an individual title.  Navarro Nanpuya made history earlier this season by becoming Georgetown's first ever Missouri Valley Invitational champion. Can he make history again by being the first to win the Mid-South Conference? Add in Brice Parks, who was 3rd at last year's Mid-South Conference Championships & to really give this weight class some scale, Rocco Horvath, a two-time Mid-South Conference champion.  I'd stop there, but also competing here will be Campbell transfer Lane Kiser & Doug Dittmer, 3rd at the Lucha Open & 7th at the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

197

2025 NAIA R12'er Tyler Rowland returns to defend the Mid-South Conference title he won last season, with some pretty stiff competition looking to try and knock him off.  Ashton Boswell is a super tough freshman for Campbellsville & Marcus James of Georgetown has looked outstanding thus far this season.  A Pepsi Patriot Open champion, he made the finals of the Missouri Valley Invitational. 

HWT

Another champion returns in Austin Silva who looks to defend his 2025 Mid-South Conference title.  Thus far this season the Patriot has finished runner-up at both the Lucha Open & Oppenheim.  Looking to meet him in the finals will be Bruce Wagers, a runner-up at both the Pepsi Patriot Open & the Cumberland Open, winning titles at both the Battle in the Bluegrass & the Fairmont State Open.  Luke Cox, another tough member of the first year Georgetown Tigers, looking to give them yet another qualifier.