Hard to believe but the 2025-2026 NJCAA wrestling season is coming to an end. We're in qualifier time & we start things off here in the West District. Hosted by Southwestern Oregon, tournament looks to be heavily dominated by Clackamas & North Idaho. Although Snow has some tough wrestlers & surprisingly enough, so does Big Bend.
Clackamas looks to show their stronghold at both 125 lbs & 149 lbs. Allen, Texas native Kelby Bernard is having himself a great rookie season, as is returning Reggie Raiz who sat '24-'25 out. Upsets of course can always happen, but I would look for those two weights to be easily won by the Cougars.
As to the other weights?
Well, if seeds hold up, we could see many exciting finals throughout the tournament. In some weights, even some good semis, as well as consolation finals.
Let's take a look....
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| 133 |
A Cougar Vs a Cardinal, which will be the majority of the finals matches we see this Saturday at the West District. Paris Ruiz, a freshman out of Buchanan High School in Clovis, California, an area that has been producing great talent a very long time. His opponent is likely to be Hoyt Vass, an NJCAA qualifier from last season, who placed 3rd at the West District.
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| 141 |
Here's another battle between the two tough western United States NJCAA teams. We have Cade McCallister, a native of Oregon & Parker Ballantyne a native of Utah. Anxious to see if they're as close on the mat, as they are in the rankings.
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| 157 |
And yet another likely final featuring Clackamas & North Idaho as we take a look at 157 lbs. Aaron Concepcion who started off his collegiate career at NCAA DII, has since been having a phenomenal time in the NJCAA, looking to be a title contender this year. The two-time Alaskan High School State champion defeated Colton Tucker, an All-American candidate in his own right, 18-8 earlier this season.
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| 165 lbs |
Again, a likely final between Clackamas & North Idaho, & as did 125, 133, 141, 149, & 157, 165 will too favor a Cougar to win the West District title. A West District champion a year ago, as well as an NJCAA runner-up, Henry Dillingham defeated Colton Theobold 18-11 earlier this season.
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| 174 |
Compare and contrast. We once again look to feature North Idaho Vs Clackamas in a final, but here at 174 lbs, this time we favor the Cardinal over the Cougar. Dylan Block, a native of Great Falls, Montana scored big points in a dual earlier this season, sticking Pablo Hernandez at the 3:49 mark.
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| 184 |
No question about it, the best weight class in the West District. Another likely final between North Idaho & Clackamas, but both semi-finals & consolation finals well worth the watch. Seth Martin looks to dominate the weight class, majoring Lusiano earlier this season 9-0. Looking forward to a battle for bronze between Ken Phillips & Drake Wood, unless Phillips is able to pull off the upset against Lusiano in the semis.
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| 197 |
Through our first eight weight classes, and 197 marks the first of which that does not favor either a Cougar or a Cardinal to win the tournament. Aiden Ford of Big Bend, comes in the favorite as we our bound to see one of our best semi-finals of the tournament between Elijah Josey & Jackson Lougen. The last these two talents met, it was a 7-4 decision for Josey.
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| HWT |
The Vikings continue to show their prominence in the upper weights with West District favorite Hunter Tibodeau. He defeated Ray Griffin, last year's West District champion & 4th place NJCAA All-American by a 4-1 score the last the two met. Likely to be the final match of the evening, it should prove to be an epic main event.
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