JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Embry Riddle 2026-2027

 

The Eagles are gonna soar this season same as they did in 2025-2026.  Three of their NAIA qualifiers are now out of eligibility, but they return 6, including two national champions, + two more All-Americans.  Arizona State has been and continues to be a great wrestling program in the Grand Canyon state, but Embry Riddle deserves the distinction just as much, if not more.  You want a great college wrestling program in Arizona? Then head two hours north, and you'll find one in Prescott. 

Gone is Landon Smith, a standout for the Eagles who left our coldest state (Alaska) to compete in our hottest state.  During his career he accomplished many things for the Eagles, including placing at the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) four-times.  5th-5th-1st-2nd. 

Also gone is CCC champion Jayden Luttrell & NAIA qualifier Adam Stanley. 

125
Jaren Kimura

A NWCA Scholar All-American, the Hawaiian native earned a wild card qualification to the NAIA championships last season. 

141
Yoshi Funakoshi

Now he's a story of inspiration.  Yoshi Funaskoshi lost twice at the CCC last season, finishing in 5th place.  He enters the NAIA championships, and walks out the national champion!  Talk about a two-week turn-around! Also 6th at the RENO tournament of champions (a tough tournament that usually involves all Divisions of College wrestling) he is a walking advertisement of the talent that can be picked up recruiting out of the CCCAA.  Before coming to the Embry Riddle, he was a runner-up Cerritos. 

149
Christian Lopez

Christian Lopez qualified for the NAIA championships with a 5th place showing at the CCC. 

174
Daniil Gorshkov

The Eagles have the potential to walk out of Park City, Kansas with three NAIA national champions this year, and the Russian Daniil Gorshkov is one of them.  So far he's been 4th & 3rd in the NAIA championships. 3rd-1st-1st in the CCC.  Last year he took runner-up finishes at both the Friends Falcon Open & RENO, placing 3rd at the NCAA DI Road-Runner Open. 

197
Trenton Blomquist

The two-time CCC runner-up was 5th in the NAIA nation last season. 

HWT
Ken Copley

Ken Copley has the opportunity next season to make history in a variety of ways.  He can become a two-time NAIA national champion & a four-time NAIA All-American, as he's been 8th-3rd-1st thus far in the NAIA nation.  Champion of both the Mile High Open & the CCC, the Idaho native was 3rd at RENO.