Tiger wrestling team loads up for a conference title run

"Evan is a top-three kid in the country, and to have that experience in our lineup is great for us to have returning," Cowley head coach Justice Circle said.

Cam Kiser is a returning athlete who won a pair of matches at the national championships as a freshman at Cowley. He plans to wrestle at 133 pounds.

Dylan Reed is a returning national qualifier who wrestled at 165 pounds. He is expected to wrestle at 149 pounds as a sophomore.

Brannigan Reyes won a match at last year's NJCAA Wrestling Championships and will wrestle this season at 174 pounds.

Braxton Hummel also returns to wrestle at 184 pounds.

Ryker Agee is a redshirt sophomore who qualified to compete at the 2023-2024 NJCAA Division I National Championships. He will wrestle at either 141 or 149 pounds.

Keenan Smith is a sophomore member of the Tiger wrestling team who was a two-time state placer in high school. He plans to wrestle at 197 pounds.

The sophomores are expected to carry on the culture," Circle said. "They understand what we want as a program, and for them to carry that on to the freshmen is huge."

Cowley also added AB Stokes, a transfer from Fort Hays State University, where he tied for the team lead with 16 wins as a freshman.

"AB is a huge pickup for us and is a title contender," Circle said. "His maturity and experience will be valuable to the team."

Payton Mills is a redshirt freshman who grew up wrestling in Kansas City, KS. He plans to wrestle in the 125-pound weight class. Toby West is a redshirt sophomore who comes to Cowley from Fort Gibson, OK. He plans to wrestle at 141 pounds.

Circle is excited about the freshmen he has added to go along with the returning athletes.

"This is the best recruiting class we have had," Circle said. "Each guy has a chance to be an All-American."

Among the freshmen expected to make an immediate impact are Colt Collett, a four-time state finalist and three-time state runner-up while wrestling at Checotah (OK) High School. He will wrestle in the 125-pound weight class.

David Sample captured a pair of state titles while wrestling at Goddard (KS) High School and Salina (OK) High School. He plans to wrestle in the 184-pound weight class.

Clint Longanacre is a two-time state placer at Chickasha (OK) High School who finished as high as the state runner-up. He plans to wrestle in the 149-pound weight class.

Colby Longanacre is a two-time state placer and one-time state champion while wrestling at Chickasha High School. He will wrestle at 141 and 149 pounds.

"On paper, I don't see how we don't win the conference if we stay healthy," Circle said.

Other freshmen on the roster are Ayden Benitez, Canaan Brummett, Zylan Johnson, Easton Malone, Jaden Matthew, Owen McAnulty, Spencer Mosier, Jason Osgood, Kole Parker, Jaxon "Scout" Trotter, Bryan Wilson, Louden Wolfe, and Greyson Zellers.

"We have a really good team from top to bottom," Circle said.

Trison Graham, a four-time state champion wrestler at Arkansas City High School and an All-American at the collegiate level, recently joined the Cowley College wrestling team as an assistant coach.

"Trison has been a great addition and brings a lot of knowledge to our program," Circle said.

Cowley will open the season at the Friends Invite on Saturday, November 1, in Wichita, KS.

"We will see a lot of four-year schools in the opener, but I expect success right away," Circle said. "We need to take care of what we can control and not look too far ahead."