Hawks Set for NJCAA National Championship Run

Council Bluffs, IA: The Hawks wrestling team heads to the NJCAA National Championship after finishing as Great Lakes District runners-up behind Muskegon. The Hawks will bring a full lineup of ten qualifiers to the national stage as they look to contend for the program's seventh national championship.

In the latest rankings, Harper sits 12th nationally, slipping slightly from ninth, while Muskegon jumped into the rankings at 13th after previously being unranked. Among non-scholarship programs, Niagara remains the top team nationally, currently ranked ninth overall.

Four Hawks enter the national tournament with individual rankings: Truth Vesey (4th at 125 lbs), Maguire Hoeksema (8th at 157 lbs), Aiden Cohen (6th at 165 lbs), and Joshua King (4th at 285 lbs). If those four perform to their potential—or exceed it—the Hawks will be in strong position to challenge near the top of the team standings. All four are capable of making deep runs and potentially winning individual titles.

Harper will also rely on a supporting group of six additional wrestlers, including Lennon Steinkuehler (21-7) and Tyson Poyer (30-15), along with Samuel Sikorsky, Michael Galloway, Noah Brockie, and Michael Merevick to contribute key team points.

Leading the program is Head Coach Dan Loprieno, who has been part of all six national championships in program history. The first came in 1993–94 under legendary coach Norm Lovelace, when Loprieno served as his assistant. That championship team included current assistant coach Justin Selby as a wrestler. Today, Loprieno leads a veteran staff that includes Selby, Craig Hankin, Zach McCullough, and Jair Diaz. Both Selby and Hankin were also on staff when Harper captured its most recent national title in 2019.

That combination of experience and continuity gives the Hawks confidence heading into the national tournament, which begins March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

National Lineup

Joshua King (285 lbs)
King enters nationals as one of Harper's strongest title contenders. Ranked 4th nationally, King finished the season 21-2, with his only losses coming against 2nd-ranked Zaman Anwar of Iowa Central and 3rd-ranked Ira Jenkins of Southeast. He fell to Anwar by decision 7-1 and was pinned by Jenkins while trailing 3-4.

King receives a first-round bye and is expected to face two unranked opponents before reaching the deeper rounds of the bracket. If the seeding holds, his first major test would come against 6th-ranked Cito Tuttle of Rochester. Beyond that, King would likely face top-ranked Austin Richens of Northwest in the semifinals. A finals berth could set up a rematch with either Anwar or Jenkins. With his combination of power and efficiency, King is well positioned to make a serious run at a national title.

Truth Vesey (125 lbs)
At 125 pounds, Vesey finished the season ranked 4th nationally with a 22-6 record. His wins include victories over 6th-ranked Santana Ramon of Southwestern Michigan (twice), 7th-ranked Shane Dobbins of Nassau, and 9th-ranked Noah Jones of Iowa Western. Vesey's losses came against top-tier competition, including No. 1 Jack Guerrero of Muskegon twice (8-6 and 4-0), No. 3 Charlie Dykes of Indian Hills (1-0), Ramon (3-0), Austin Grzywinski of St. Cloud State (7-6), and Ryan Tschetter of Rochester, where Vesey was pinned despite leading 13-2.

His early path likely includes Haji Saccoh of Rowan Gloucester and Dylan Sorensen of Northwest before a probable rematch with Ramon. If Vesey advances, he could face Muhammad Bilal of Iowa Central before a potential semifinal showdown with Guerrero. Notably, when Vesey moved up a weight earlier this season, backup Esteban Delgado defeated 8th-ranked Jaron Barrientos of Niagara twice at the NJCAA National Duals—evidence of the strength within Harper's lower weights. Vesey's experience in high-level tournaments and his national ranking make him a central figure in Harper's title push.

Aiden Cohen (165 lbs)
Cohen, ranked 6th nationally, enters the tournament with a 26-6 record and a Great Lakes District title. Cohen owns wins over 9th-ranked Joe Cicco of Niagara (twice), 10th-ranked Dayveon Rupert of Southwestern Michigan, and 11th-ranked Jase Salin of Triton. He opens against Jais Rose of Labette, with a likely rematch against Salin in the next round. A victory there could set up a meeting with 4th-ranked Banks Norby of Western Wyoming. Cohen has been one of Harper's most consistent wrestlers throughout the season and is positioned to make a deep run.

Maguire Hoeksema (157 lbs)
Ranked 8th nationally, Hoeksema finished the season 26-9 while consistently competing against elite opponents. His losses came via narrow decisions to No. 1 Keith Smith of Southeast (3-1), No. 5 Matt Leehan of Niagara (4-1), and No. 6 John De La Rosa of Nassau (13-12). His only significant setback came against 7th-ranked Damari Reed of Triton. Hoeksema opens against Braxton Preacher of Iowa Western, with a likely rematch against Reed awaiting in the next round. If he advances, another rematch with top-ranked Smith could follow. Given how close several of his matches have been against top wrestlers, Hoeksema is capable of breaking through the bracket.

Tyson Poyer (174 lbs)
Poyer finished the year 30-15, putting together one of the most active seasons on the roster despite not cracking the national rankings. He faced 6th-ranked Aiden Poe of Niagara twice this year, losing 7-0 and 1-0 decisions. Poyer opens against Austin Pfantz of Hawkeye, followed by a likely match with 7th-ranked Dylan Scott of Southeast. A win there could lead to a matchup with 4th-ranked Matteo Nikolov of Iowa Western. Poyer wouldn't see Poe again until the semifinals.

Lennon Steinkuehler (141 lbs)
Steinkuehler quietly compiled a 21-7 record despite never appearing in the national rankings. He opens against Jace Trujillo of Otero. A win would lead to Alexander Barajas of Big Bend, and a potential quarterfinal matchup with second-seeded Evan Rodriguez of Cowley. Steinkuehler's steady season gives him the potential to surprise some higher-seeded wrestlers.

Michael Galloway (149 lbs)
Galloway finished 21-15 and gained valuable experience wrestling several ranked opponents during the season, including:

No. 5 Logan Crowther (Iowa Western)
No. 8 Kyron Zoet (Muskegon)
No. 9 Dylan McLean (Southwestern Michigan)
No. 10 Aiden Gillings (Niagara)

He opens against 12th-ranked Matthew Roche of Iowa Central. His projected path could include 7th-ranked Kyler Tabor of Labette and a rematch with Zoet.

Samuel Sikorsky (133 lbs)
Sikorsky enters nationals with an 18-18 record. Two of his losses came against 11th-ranked Colin Kuhn of Muskegon. Sikorsky receives a first-round bye but will likely face second-seeded Zach Marrero of Western Wyoming, who opens against Blake Eastman of Iowa Lakes. If Sikorsky advances, he could face Owen Kulb of Camden County or Jordan Cullors of Labette.

Michael Merevick (197 lbs)
Merevick finished the year 14-14 and brings experience against strong opponents. Earlier this season he faced 5th-ranked Andrew Marquez of Indian Hills, falling by technical fall. His opening match is against 12th-ranked Anthony Evangelista of Camden County. If he advances, he will likely see Jacob Stephenson of Niagara, who defeated him earlier this season at the NJCAA National Duals. Beyond that, a potential rematch with Marquez could await.

Noah Brockie (184 lbs)
Brockie finished 9-11 this season. Most of his schedule came against unranked opponents, though he did face Aiden Poe of Niagara while wrestling down at 174 earlier in the year. Brockie opens against Sundiata Chavis of Garrett. With a win, he would face Jacob Range of Iowa Lakes, and a potential quarterfinal matchup could come against third-ranked and second-seeded Asadbek Fayzullaev of Northwest.

Final Outlook

With four ranked wrestlers, ten national qualifiers, and one of the most experienced coaching staffs in NJCAA wrestling, Harper enters the national tournament with legitimate ambitions.

If Vesey, Hoeksema, Cohen, and King perform at their ranking—or push beyond it—the Hawks will be firmly in the mix near the top of the team standings. Contributions from the rest of the lineup could be the difference in a tight team race.

The 2026 NJCAA National Championship begins March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where the Hawks will look to add another chapter to a program history that already includes six national championships.

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Players Mentioned

Aiden Cohen: Sophomore

Esteban Delgado: Sophomore

Lennon Steinkuehler: Sophomore

Noah Brockie: Freshman

Michael Galloway: Freshman

Maguire Hoeksema: Freshman

Tyson Poyer: Freshman

Samuel Sikorsky: Freshman

Truth Vesey: Sophomore

Michael Merevick: Freshman

Joshua King: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Aiden Cohen
: Sophomore

Esteban Delgado
: Sophomore

Lennon Steinkuehler
: Sophomore

Noah Brockie
: Freshman

Michael Galloway
: Freshman

Maguire Hoeksema
: Freshman

Tyson Poyer
: Freshman

Samuel Sikorsky
: Freshman

Truth Vesey
: Sophomore

Michael Merevick
: Freshman

Joshua King
: Freshman