2023-2024 NJCAA The Season: Top Returnees 165 lbs

 Made a promise at the beginning of last year that in the '23-'24 season JT#1 would start doing coverage of NJCAA wrestling!  Seems fairly straightforward. Two year programs.  If you were a freshman last season, then you're a sophomore this season. If you were a sophomore last season, you are moving on to a four year school to finish up your last two years of eligibility.  Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. 

Some of last year's freshmen will be redshirting this season. Then with the whole COVID-19 ordeal, some of last year's 'sophomores' will still be back.  

So with that said, take it easy on me if some of these guys listed are redshirting or have already moved on to a four year school! 

And of course, unintentionally I'll probably leave off a few names that belong on the list. If so, mention their names. The more the merrier. 

Now....

The top returnees in NJCAA wrestling '23-'24 165 lbs!

Cayleb Atkins
Pratt 

If we're making early pre-season predictions, it'd be a safe bet to put your money on Cayleb Atkins.  The Beaver won a South Central District title before ultimately taking a 3rd place finish at the NJCAA tournament. Among his many impressive victories, a 3-1 decision over NCAA DII qualifier Jace Fisher of Newman. 

Cole Price
Iowa Western 

One of the top returnees at 165 lbs in the NJCAA will be Cole Price, who placed 5th at last year's national tournament. 

Justice Compton
NEO 

The Kansas native had himself a very nice season last year which saw a 3rd place finish at Districts & a 6th place finish at the NJCAA tournament.  

Ashton Light
St. Clair 

Light was an NJCAA qualifier for the Skippers last year. 

Hunter Heath
Southwestern Michigan 

Heath was an NJCAA qualifier for the Roadrunners last season. 

Dylan Hogan
Lackawanna 

Another wrestler I'm anxious to see if he ends up at East Stroudsburg post his NJCAA career.  Will look to once again claim titles at both the Keystone Open & the Gulf Atlantic District this season. 

T.J. Moffit
Northeastern 

The Colorado native was an NJCAA qualifier for the Plainsmen last season. 

Isaiah Toomey
Southwestern Oregon 

Toomey was an NJCAA qualifier for the Lakers last season. 

Rice Robins
Muskegon 

3rd in the MCCAA conference & 5th in the Great Lake District, Rice Robins was an NJCAA qualifier last season. 

Aidan Dick
Camden County 

Aidan Dick was an NJCAA qualifier for the Cougars last season. 

Jesus Jimenez
Patrick & Henry 

Jimenez was an NJCAA qualifier for the Patriots last season. 

Gabriel Bailey
Cloud County 

A South Central District Runner-up, Gabriel Bailey was an NJCAA qualifier for the T-Birds last season. 

Peyton Asbury
Indian Hills 

4th in the North Central District, Peyton Asbury was an NJCAA qualifier for the Warriors last season. 

Trevor Kruse
Iowa Lakes 

An NJCAA qualifier for the Lakers last season, Kruse was 5th at the North Central District. He also took runner-up honors at the York Open. 

2023-2024 NJCAA The Season: Top Returnees 174 lbs

  Made a promise at the beginning of last year that in the '23-'24 season JT#1 would start doing coverage of NJCAA wrestling!  Seems fairly straightforward. Two year programs.  If you were a freshman last season, then you're a sophomore this season. If you were a sophomore last season, you are moving on to a four year school to finish up your last two years of eligibility.  Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. 

Some of last year's freshmen will be redshirting this season. Then with the whole COVID-19 ordeal, some of last year's 'sophomores' will still be back.  

So with that said, take it easy on me if some of these guys listed are redshirting or have already moved on to a four year school! 

And of course, unintentionally I'll probably leave off a few names that belong on the list. If so, mention their names. The more the merrier. 

Now....

The top returnees in NJCAA wrestling '23-'24 174 lbs!

Aziz Fayzullaev
Northwest CC

Here's a guy to really keep your eye on. It'll be fun to see where the future takes Aziz Fayzullaev. Already a Gold Medalist in the Asian Championships of his age division, he was also an NJCAA champion last year. 

Melton Powe
Cowley

The three time Alabama high school state champ has more than proven that the Southern boys can hang in the world of NJCAA wrestling.  3rd in the NJCAA last season, he was a South Central District champion, also placing 2nd at the Falcon Invite. He will look to challenge Fayzullaev for the NJCAA title this year. 

Rocky Raby
Clackamas

Another tough wrestler that returns to 174 lbs NJCAA is California native Rocky Raby, who was 7th in the NJCAA nation last year, also winning a Western Regional title. 

Juan Isiordia
Ellsworth 

The Washington native was 3rd in the North Central District, finishing one match shy of NJCAA All American honors. 

Louis Johnson
Joliet 

Johnson was an NJCAA qualifier for the Wolves last season. 

Garrett Davis
Northwest Kansas Tech 

The future Carpenter was an NJCAA qualifier for the Mavericks last season, placing 4th at the South Central District. 

Zach Johnson
Snow 

Johnson was an NJCAA qualifier for the Badgers last season. 

Simeon Hunte
Lackawanna 

Placing 4th at the Gulf Atlantic District, Simeon Hunte was an NJCAA qualifier for the Falcons last season. 

Jared Checkley
Southwestern Michigan 

Checkley was an NJCAA qualifier for the Roadrunners last season. 

2023-2024 NJCAA The Season: Top Returnees 157 lbs

Made a promise at the beginning of last year that in the '23-'24 season JT#1 would start doing coverage of NJCAA wrestling!  Seems fairly straightforward. Two year programs.  If you were a freshman last season, then you're a sophomore this season. If you were a sophomore last season, you are moving on to a four year school to finish up your last two years of eligibility.  Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. 

Some of last year's freshmen will be redshirting this season. Then with the whole COVID-19 ordeal, some of last year's 'sophomores' will still be back.  

So with that said, take it easy on me if some of these guys listed are redshirting or have already moved on to a four year school! 

And of course, unintentionally I'll probably leave off a few names that belong on the list. If so, mention their names. The more the merrier. 

Now....

The top returnees in NJCAA wrestling '23-'24 157 lbs!

Jayden Luttrell
Western Wyoming 

One of the top returnees at 157 lbs in the NJCAA this season will be Western Wyoming's Jayden Luttrell. The Mustang was 5th in the NJCAA nation last year. 

Connor Svantner
Triton

Looking for All American honor #2 this season will be Connor Svantner of Triton. The Trojan took 3rd at the Lindenwood open, winning titles at the Whizzer Open & the Great Lakes District. 

Dylan Ancheta
Cloud County 

Finishing 6th at the South Central District, Dylan Ancheta was one match shy of NJCAA All American honors last season. 

Noah Smith
Carl Albert State 

Skilled in the art of Greco-Roman, Noah Smith was an NJCAA qualifier for the Vikings last season. 

Tim Thurman
Northland 

The Alabama native was a NJCAA qualifier for the Pioneers last season. 

Xavier Byrne
Henry Ford 

It was a 20 win season & an NJCAA qualification for Xavier Byrne last season. 

Nik Pagnano
   Sussex County 

Pagnano was an NJCAA qualifier for the Skylanders last season. 

Evan Raposo
  Lackawanna 

Could potentially be looking at a future East Stroudsburg Warrior. Evan Raposo was an NJCAA qualifier last season, taking 3rd at the Gulf Atlantic District & winning a Keystone Open title. 

Taedon Nichols
Ridgewater 

Nichols was an NJCAA qualifier for the Warriors last season. 

Landon Gode
Rochester Tech 

I make guesses from time to time of where our NJCAA wrestlers will end up to finish out their collegiate eligibility, but here, I'd more so call it a given. I'm almost positive we're looking at a future North Dakota State Bison.  Until then, pretty sure that the current Yellow Jacket will be looking to earn NJCAA All American honors. He was one match shy last season. 

Paul Ortiz
Clackamas 

An NJCAA qualifier for the Cougars last season, Paul Ortiz was 3rd in the Western Regional. 

Nathan Napolitano
Iowa Central 

Florida native Nathan Napolitano was an NJCAA qualifier for the Titans last season. 

2023-2024 NJCAA The Season: Top Returnees 141 lbs

 Made a promise at the beginning of last year that in the '23-'24 season JT#1 would start doing coverage of NJCAA wrestling!  Seems fairly straightforward. Two year programs.  If you were a freshman last season, then you're a sophomore this season. If you were a sophomore last season, you are moving on to a four year school to finish up your last two years of eligibility.  Unfortunately, it isn't that simple. 

Some of last year's freshmen will be redshirting this season. Then with the whole COVID-19 ordeal, some of last year's 'sophomores' will still be back.  

So with that said, take it easy on me if some of these guys listed are redshirting or have already moved on to a four year school! 

And of course, unintentionally I'll probably leave off a few names that belong on the list. If so, mention their names. The more the merrier. 

Now....

The top returnees in NJCAA wrestling '23-'24 141 lbs! 

Easton Taylor
Pratt  

A South Central District champion & a NJCAA runner-up last season, Easton Taylor will be a forerunner to win an NJCAA title this season. It's a shame that Kansas State no longer fields a varsity wrestling program, cause if it did, I might guess where the Manhattan, Kansas native will end up post his junior college wrestling career. 

Malachi Bordovsky
Iowa Western 

Another top returnee at 141 lbs in the NJCAA this season will be two time Nebraska High School State runner-up Malachi Bordovsky who was 6th in the nation last year. 

Cole Holien
Ridgewater 

The Warrior placed 7th in the NJCAA last season & will look to improve upon his finish as he looks to earn AA #2. 

Isaac Church
NIACC 

Putting together a 19-8 record last season, the Florida native made it to the finals of the North Central District, finishing one match shy of earning NJCAA All American honors. 

Zane Lucksavage
Colby 

Placing 6th at the West Central District, Zane Lucksavage was an NJCAA qualifier last season. 

Jazen Brown
Labette

Very excited to see what Jazen Brown can do this season.  Expect him to be an NJCAA All American this season. A little surprised that he wasn't last season. Gave NCAA DII 3rd place finisher Nate Keim of Central Oklahoma a great 5-4 match at the Drury Open. 

Jaxon Johnson
Snow

The Badger was an NJCAA qualifier this past season. 

Jake Thompson
Rochester Tech 

Among our multitalented athletes who excel in other sports we don't run across too many Clay Target Shooters. Jake Thompson was an NJCAA qualifier for the Yellowjackets last season. 

Bronson Richins
Northeastern 

Richins was an NJCAA qualifier for the Plainsmen lat season. 

Justin Rodriguez
Clackamas

A California native, Justin Rodriguez was an NJCAA qualifier after placing 2nd at the West Regional. 

Kyree Noble
Harper 

An NJCAA qualifier last season, Kyree Noble placed 5th at the Midwest District. 

Ryan Paladino
Nassau 

Ryan Paladino was an NJCAA qualifier for the Lions last season, winning a District title. He was also 4th at the Messiah Open.  

Caleb Nadig
Iowa Central 

Nadig finished one match shy of NJCAA All American honors last season. 

Luke Potts
Jamestown CC

An NJCAA qualifier for the Jay Hawks last season, Luke Pottts was 2nd at the Northeast District. 

Caden Crider 
Cloud County 

The Idaho native was an NJCAA qualifier last season after placing 4th at the South Central District. 

R.T. Noel
Carl Albert State 

 A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, R.T. Noel was an NJCAA qualifier for the Vikings last season. 

Ryan Parmenter 
Iowa Lakes 

A York Open champion this past season, look for Ryan Parmenter to qualify & challenge for NJCAA All American honors this season.