EOU men’s wrestling ranked no. 17 in NAIA preseason poll
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, October 23rd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) The NAIA has released the inaugural 2023 Top 20 rankings for Men’s Wrestling, with Eastern Oregon checking in at No. 17. Menlo, MSU-Northern, Providence, and Southern Oregon are among other Cascade Conference members to appear in the national rankings.
Entering his eighth season in 2023-24, Dustyn Azure has prominently led the Mountaineer’s Men’s Wrestling program since its reinstatement in 2016-17. In the 2022-23 season, his team achieved an 8-2 record and the nation’s second-highest GPA, ranking as high as No. 7 nationally and finishing 12th at the NAIA National Tournament with nine wrestlers participating.
Excitement is high for the upcoming wrestling season with the return of standout athletes Hunter Sparks, Kyle Knudtson, and Braden Carson. The team will miss the contributions of Noel Orozco, Marco Retano, and Keegan Mulhill, but the addition of promising newcomers JR Scott and Josh Collins brings fresh talent to the Mounties roster. Sparks’ runner up finish and Knudtson’s impressive 28-5 record highlight the team’s experience, while new talents Scott and Collins bring additional strength coming into the new season.
