2025-26 Men's Wrestling News

AVILA WELCOMES DARICK LAPAGLIA AS WOMEN’S WRESTLING HEAD COACH

April 23, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With one of the best rosters in the region and one of the top programs still in its infancy, Avila Athletics is proud to introduce Darick Lapaglia as the new head coach of Avila women’s wrestling.

MEN’S WRESTLING WRAPS UP SEASON AT NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 06, 2026

PARK CITY, Kan. – Avila men’s wrestling wrapped up another successful season on Friday at the NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship, highlighted by a win from Rodney Trotter Jr.

MEN’S WRESTLING FINISHES THIRD WITH TWO NAIA AUTO QUALIFIERS AT KCAC CHAMPIONSHIP

February 21, 2026

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Avila men’s wrestling left the 2026 KCAC Championship with its best postseason conference performance in program history, finishing in third as a team with a pair of automatic qualifiers, three wrestlers with second-place finishes and 12 placers.

SOLID PERFORMANCES GIVE MEN’S WRESTLING DUAL WIN OVER OKWU

February 12, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the program’s final regular season competition and its final tune-up before the conference tournament, Avila men’s wrestling defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan, 33-20, on Wednesday from Mabee Fieldhouse.

LUKE WARD NAMED KCAC MEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

February 09, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following a tremendous performance at the Missouri Valley Open, Avila senior Luke Ward has been named the KCAC Men’s Wrestler of the Week, the conference announced today. It marks the second-straight week in which an Avila men’s wrestler has earned the honor, following Raul Romero’s win last week.

WARD AND VOLIVA PLACE AT MISSOURI VALLEY OPEN

February 07, 2026

MARSHALL, Mo. – Avila men’s wrestling had an impressive showing at the prestigious Missouri Valley Open on Saturday, with Luke Ward taking third place in the 149-pound class and Jeremiah Voliva coming in sixth in the 184-pound division.

MEN’S WRESTLING GAINS EXPERIENCE AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS

February 04, 2026

PARK CITY, Kan. – Nearing the end of the regular season, Avila men’s wrestling faced two tough tests on Wednesday, with duals against No. 6 Oklahoma City and No. 18 Friends.

RAUL ROMERO NAMED KCAC MEN’S WRESTLER OF THE WEEK

February 02, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After pinning his opponent in the second-consecutive home dual, Avila redshirt junior Raul Romero has been named the KCAC Men’s Wrestler of the Week, the conference announced today.

MEN’S WRESTLING TAKES DOWN OTTAWA ON SENIOR NIGHT

January 29, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Honoring five of its seniors – Corey Holmes Jr., Gavin Howes, Tyler Johnson, Jeremiah Voliva and Luke Ward – on Thursday night at Mabee Fieldhouse, Avila men’s wrestling defeated Ottawa, 27-18 in front of a packed house of supporters.

MEN’S WRESTLING HAS A PAIR OF PLACERS AT PRESTIGIOUS MISSOURI VALLEY INVITE

January 24, 2026

MARSHALL, Mo. – Continuing his strong season, Rodney Trotter Jr. was joined by Tyler Johnson as Avila’s placers at the two-day Missouri Valley Invite on Friday and Saturday.

MEN’S WRESTLING IMPROVES AT ROGER DENKER OPEN

January 18, 2026

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Highlighted by a sixth-place finish from Adrian Chavez, Avila men’s wrestling had 11 wrestlers compete at the Roger Denker Open on Sunday.

MEN’S WRESTLING DOMINATES YORK

January 15, 2026

YORK, Neb. – With the help of six opens in the dual, Avila men’s wrestling defeated York on Thursday, 52-4.

MEN’S WRESTLING PICKS UP TWO DUAL WINS AT THE MISSOURI VALLEY DUALS

January 09, 2026

MARSHALL, Mo. – Competing for the first time in 2026, Avila men’s wrestling nabbed two hard-fought wins in the Missouri Valley Duals on Friday, defeating St. Ambrose, 29-23 and Dakota Wesleyan, 25-24. Both teams Avila defeated are receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll.