Marshall, Mo., (Nov. 7, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men’s wrestling team remains in the top 15 with the release of the first regular season edition of NAIA Men’s Wrestling Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, Thursday. Eight individuals are ranked in their respective weight classes.
The Vikings are ranked No. 13 in the coaches’ poll, down one spot from the preseason. The team competed once during the latest ratings period, at the Dan Harris Open.
Missouri Valley is one of five teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference ranked in the preseason poll. Grand View (Iowa) is No. 1, Central Methodist (Mo.) is No. 21, Graceland (Iowa) is No. 23, and affiliate member Dickinson State (N.D.) is No. 17. The Vikings host GU in a dual, Jan. 17, dual GVU on the road, Jan. 30, dual CMU on the road, Feb. 5, and go to No. 11 St. Mary (Kan.) for a non-conference dual, Nov. 23.
A total of eight individuals from the team are ranked in their respective weight classes, led by Junior Elijah Hynes (Broken Arrow, Okla.). Hynes is ranked No. 2 at 197 pounds. The other seven ranked individuals include:
No. 8 Sophomore Haden Hernandez (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 133 pounds.
No. 24 Senior Devin Martinez (El Monte, Calif.) at 133 pounds.
No. 12 Senior Donavan Parn (Brookfield, Mo.) at 141 pounds.
No. 16 Senior Dayton Hill (Broken Arrow, Okla.) at 165 pounds.
No. 9 Sophomore Francis Morrissey (Warner Robbins, Ga.) at 174 pounds.
No. 24 Junior Brenden Parks (Elburn, Ill.) at 174 pounds.
No. 12 Senior Drake Tipton (Grain Valley, Mo.) at 184 pounds.
Up next, the Viking men’s wrestling team will compete at the Grand View (Iowa) Open in Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 16.
