JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Nassau 2026-2027

 

Pros and cons in the world of NJCAA wrestling.  For the Lions, the pros are 8 NJCAA qualifiers in 2026.  Cons? Only 3 of those 8 return for action in 2026-2027.  I'm sure All-American Shane Dobbins is bound to end up somewhere soon, as will R12'er Joseph Ramirez.  Yet no word on them, or any of the other Lions now out of eligibility at the NJCAA level. 

141
Jonathan Fox

Jonathan Fox made the finals of the Northeast District last season. 

John De La Rosa
157

Very strong start to collegiate wrestling for John De La Rosa.  A hair shy of being an NJCAA All-American, he won Nassau's open, taking runner-up honors at both Will Abele & the Northeast District. 

Anthony Velasquez
174

Anthony Velsaquez was 3rd at the Northeast District last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Neosho 2026-2027

 

The Panthers put four through to the NJCAA national tournament last year, but will heavily rely on incoming freshmen in 2026-2027, as they only return one of their qualifiers. 

T.J. Davis
197

The Baltimore, Maryland native earned a 5th place finish at the South Central District last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At NIACC 2026-2027

 

Believe it or not, at one time Mason City, Iowa had the most amount of movie theatres per capita in the entirety of the United States. Today, it is home of the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans, who may I add have a very good wrestling program.  One the produced 8 NJCAA qualifiers last season & one that returns 5 of those 8 for action in 2026-2027. 

No word on the three out of eligibility yet. 

133
Isaiah Maldonado

He's from Minnesota, and I'm in Iowa, but he's still a closer drive to Mason City than I am! Isaiah Maldonado qualified for the NJCAA championships last season with a 4th place showing at the North Central District. 

141
Chris Williams

15 wins on the season & an NJCAA qualification for Georgia native Chris Williams last season. He was 6th at the North Central District, earning a bronze medal at the Battle For The Helmet. 

165
Logan Straub

A native of South Dakota, Logan Straub earned 3rd place showings at both the Battle For the Helmet & the North Central District. 

184
Nicky Bernard

We have Georgia on the team, we also have Florida.  Nicky Bernard won a silver medal at the Battle For the Helmet & a bronze medal at the North Central District. 

197
Mustafa Hadi

Making the finals of the Battle For the Helmet, Mustafa Hadi was 5th at the North Central District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Niagara 2026-2027

 

What a great year 2025-2026 was for Thunder Wolves Wrestling!  All 10 of the SUNY-Niagara representatives qualified for the NJCAA national tournament & 6 of those 10 return for action in 2026-2027. 

No word yet on four NJCAA graduates & where they will end up.  Hoping to see Aiden Poe end up somewhere.  A lot of rich D3 programs in the state with the largest city, that I'm sure would benefit from the two-time NJCAA R12'er. 

125
Jason Barientos

One match shy of NJCAA All-American honors last season, Nason Barrientos won the New York States & finished as the Northeast District runner-up. 

141
Trevor Copes

A native of Delaware, Trevor Copes finished off his freshman campaign as a Northeast District Champion. 

149
Aiden Gillings

Aiden Gillings won a Northeast District title & then found himself on the award stand in Council Bluffs, earning a 5th place NJCAA All-American honor. 

157
Matt Leehan

A native of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Matt Leehan won a Northeast District title last season. 

197
Jake Stephenson

One match shy of NJCAA All-American, Jake Stephenson won the Northeast District title. 

HWT
Hamza Merrick

Hamza Merrick was 2nd at the New York States & 3rd at the Northeast District in 2026. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At North Idaho 2026-2027

 

Credit can be a difficult thing to obtain at times in this sport.  Whenever someone ask me about the best of West Coast wrestling & the teams out west, I immediately think of North Idaho college. It's a fact that NJCAA wrestling is always going to be looked at last on the totem pole of divisions, but you name me a school west of the Mississippi with a stronger tradition of producing national champions & All-Americans. Many wrestlers who have gone onto success in DI, DII, DIII & NAIA, started off at North Idaho.  For longer than I've been around, the Cardinals have been strong, and more importantly the Cardinals STAY strong.  They may very well be Idaho's only collegiate wrestling program, but while the Potato state lacks in quantity, they surplus in quality. 

10, that's right, all 10 varsity wrestlers qualified for the NJCAA championships last year.  6 of those 10, earned All-American status.  Even better for the Cardinals in '26-'27?  8 of those qualifiers & 5 of those All-Americans return. 

Two-time All-American Ray Griffin (4th & 6th) is heading to Iowa.  He's going to be a Hawkeye.  No word yet on the status of Hoyt Hvass. 

125
Owen Pritchard

The Vancouver, Washington native was 3rd at the West District last season, also winning a title at the Battle of the Rockies. 

133
Parker Ballantyne

A talent out of Utah, Parker Ballantyne was 5th in the NJCAA nation, 3rd in the West District & a Battle of the Rockies champion. 

149
Joe Sullivan 

Another Washington native, Joe Sullivan made the West District Finals last season. 

157
Colton Tucker

A hometown favorite, Colton Tucker took runner-up honors at both the Battle of the Rockies & the West District, finishing off his season 6th in the NJCAA nation. 

165
Colton Theobald

Gold at the Battle of the Rockies, silver at the West District & bronze at the NJCAA national tournament for Colton Theobald last season. 

174
Dylan Block

Been a lot of great talent that has come out of Great Falls, Montana, and Dylan Block is one of them.  A West District champ last year, he was 4th in the NJCAA nation. 

184
Seth Martin 

Seth Martin was 5th in the NJCAA nation last season, winning a West District title. 

Jackson Lougen
197

Another of the many reason the state of Washington needs more collegiate opportunities. Jackson Lougen was 3rd at last year's West District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Northampton 2026-2027

 

Still a relatively young program, the Spartans of Northampton sent two to the NJCAA national tournament last season & they return one of those wrestlers. 

HWT
Sencee Dikenah

Sencee Dikenah took 3rd at last year's Gulf Atlantic District. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Northeastern (Colorado) 2026-2027

 

7 NJCAA qualifiers for the Plainsmen in 2026. Three of those qualifiers return, as four look for new homes.  As to those out of eligibility, Ethan Sinclair is heading to Northern Colorado.  I would imagine that All-American Billy Brenton will end up somewhere as well. As to where? Not sure yet. 

133
Chad Teters

The four-time Colorado high School state qualifier, saw his first NJCAA qualification last year with a 4th place showing at the Plains District. 

149
Ryan Gonzales

I'm not 100% positive what fire science is, but it sounds like a cool major.  Ryan Gonzales was 3rd at last year's Plains District. 

165
Tom Stoll

Could we be looking at a future Wilfried Deitrich? Perhaps. The German had a great first season of NJCAA wrestling, earning a 3rd place finish at the Plains District & a 6th place finish in the NJCAA nation.