12 NAIA qualifiers & 11 of them earn All-American status. That is just unheard of. To top it off, it's a school in the southeastern part of the United States (where we've had the most difficulty growing the sport collegiately) made up of many wrestlers themselves from the southeastern United States. I wish everyone could truly understand how significantly important that is to our sport's growth as well as to our sport's survival. What's happening at Life is ironically enough, enriching the life (pardon the pun) of our great sport.
6 of the 12 qualifiers, and 5 of the 11 All-Americans return this season for action, as do other tough & talented members of the team.
Gone are....
National champion Doug Terry, who was 2nd at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC)
Two-time NAIA All American Fabian Padilla (7th & 3rd), who was also a two-time AAC champion.
Alex Couto 4th in the NAIA & an AAC champion
Tre Morrisette, 4th in the NAIA & an AAC runner-up
Kendell Norfleet, of the famous Chicago Norfleet wrestling family. Twice 3rd in the NAIA & 2nd & 1st last two AAC's.
Gio Jackson, 4th in the NAIA & an AAC champion.
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| 141 Maruo Michel |
3rd in both the NAIA & the AAC last season, Mauro Michel won a title at the Georgia Open.
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| 149 Elvis Solis |
An AAC champion, Elvis Solis was 7th in the NAIA nation a year ago.
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| 165 Rocky Raby |
2nd in the AAC, Rocky Raby finished off last season 5th in the NAIA nation. He also was the runner-up at the Georgia Open & the Lucha Open champion.
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| 174 Reese Jones |
An AAC champion, Reese Jones was also 5th in the NAIA nation. Placed 3rd at the Grand View Open.
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| 184 Konlin Weaver |
Konlin Weaver proved last season that even if things don't turn out the way you wanted them to at the qualifier, they can still turn out the way you want them to at the NAIA national tournament. 7th at the AAC, he was 6th at the NAIA's.
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| 197 Efren Arizmendez |
He was the lone Runnin' Eagle last season to leave the NAIA's without a medal & I'm sure that has him fired up to earn one in 2027. Efren Arizmendez was 5th at the AAC last season.
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| 125 Mikey Doerr |
Mikey Doerr won the Mustang Invitational last season.
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| 197 Anthony Lowe |
Anthony Lowe was also a Mustang Invitational champion last season.
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| 133 Isaiah Rubio |
Isaiah Rubio won the Battle In the Bluegrass last season.
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