The NAIA Championships kick off Thursday just outside Wichita, where Grand View is chasing its 14th title in 15 years and the first with Grant Henderson leading the Vikings. 

On paper, Grand View is favored yet again with Life University, Southeastern, Oklahoma City and Doane expected to be near the top of the team standings Saturday night when the three-day tournament concludes. 

2025 Revisited 

Grand View’s record-smashing tournament last year resulted in seven finalists for the Vikings and six national champions as they piled up 209 points and cruised to the team title with a 60-point victory margin over second-place Life. 

The lone loss for the Vikings was inevitable. Aden Reeves defeated teammate Gabe Gonzales 4-3 in an all-Grand View title bout at 125 pounds. 

Grand Vision 

It’s not always a perfect predictor, but the NWCA National Duals often set the stage for the team title race at the NAIA Championships. Grand View ran away with this year’s title in Cedar Falls, blowing out St. Thomas University, Embry-Riddle, Southeastern and Life by a combined 172-14 margin in January. The Vikings went 36-4 in individual matches at the tournament. Indiana Tech defeated Southeastern for third. 

Back For More 

Nearly half (36 of 80) of last year’s All-Americans are back in the field this year, including eight returning finalists and three returning champs from Grand View — Elijah Larsen (149), Cam Robinson (165) and Garavous Kouekabakilaho (197). 

Kouekabakilaho, a 2025 U23 World Team member, leads a 197-pound class that features five returning All-Americans.  

Stars Shining

Oklahoma City finished 19th last year at the NAIA Championships with 23.5 points, but the Stars added some star power during the offseason with the addition of Oklahoma transfers John Wiley and Tate Picklo, a pair of age-group World Teamers. Wiley claimed the #1 seed at 157, while Picklo grabbed the top spot at 174. 

Top Seeds 

Doane’s Ray Ray Harris (125), Southeastern’s Aaron Lucio (133), Lindsey Wilson’s Adrian Ayala (141), Oklahoma City’s Kaden Fetterolf (149), Oklahoma City’s John Wiley (157), Grand View’s Cam Robinson (165), Oklahoma City’s Tate Picklo (174), Doane’s Tyson Beauperthuy (184), Grand View’s Garavous Kouekabakilaho (197), Midland’s Zeph Sivels (285) earned #1 seeds.  

Six Of One, A Dozen Of The Other 

The NAIA format allows teams to enter 12 wrestlers in the postseason and six squads are bringing a full allotment to Wichita — Cumberlands, Grand View, Indiana Tech, Life, Southeastern and Southern Oregon.