LA GRANDE, Ore. — The Eastern Oregon University men's and women's wrestling teams have earned national recognition in the latest NAIA Coaches' Polls. The Mountaineer men's wrestling team is ranked No. 15, while the women's wrestling team comes in at No. 19.
Men's Wrestling: No. 15 in NAIA Rankings
The EOU men's wrestling team's No. 15 ranking reflects a strong collective performance and notable individual achievements. The ranking is determined by a panel of head coaches representing the eight NAIA conferences/groups, with each coach submitting a detailed ballot based on individual and team performances.
Individual Rankings:
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Kyle Knudtson (184 lbs.) – Ranked 3rd nationally with 146 points.
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Nico Rodriguez (285 lbs.) – Ranked 8th nationally with 116 points.
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Eric Karas (197 lbs.) – Ranked 12th nationally with 92 points.
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Michael Fox (165 lbs.) – Ranked 15th nationally with 75 points.
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Darrian Hoobery (285 lbs.) – Ranked 15th nationally with 74 points.
The team's overall ranking is calculated by summing individual points across weight classes, ensuring recognition of depth and talent throughout the roster.
Women's Wrestling: No. 19 in NAIA Rankings
The Mountaineer women's wrestling team's No. 19 ranking underscores their consistent presence among the NAIA's elite programs. Like the men's rankings, the women's standings are derived from head coach ballots across six conferences, evaluating individual and team success.
Individual Rankings:
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Liv Wieber (145 lbs.) – Ranked 3rd nationally with 78 points.
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Kadence Beck (124 lbs.) – Ranked 11th nationally with 47 points.
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Irma Retano (117 lbs.) – Ranked 13th nationally with 38 points.
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Nia Avelino (110 lbs.) – Ranked 18th nationally with 18 points.
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Gloria Diaz (110 lbs.) – Ranked 20th nationally with 6 points.
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Nayeli Flores Roque (103 lbs.) – Ranked 20th nationally with 8 points.
The NAIA Coaches' Polls are widely regarded as a benchmark for collegiate wrestling excellence. The methodology involves submissions of top individuals from each weight class by conference raters. The final national rankings consider individual weight-class rankings, with the highest and lowest scores for each team removed to ensure balanced assessments.
