Webb Featured in Sixth Straight NAIA Rankings
Standout senior Daryus Webb maintained his position in the latest NAIA men's wrestling rankings, the second poll of the 2024 calendar year, the association unveiled last week. Webb has now been featured in all six national polls – the five in-season and the one pre-season poll – the only Eagle that can boast that achievement. Webb also appears in the latest national rankings from wrestling media organization The Open Mat. Avila men's wrestling remains in the receiving votes tier of the NAIA national poll.
Not much has slowed senior Daryus Webb on the mat this season. After kicking off 2024 with three victories at the Avila Duals at Mabee Fieldhouse, Webb posted an 8th place finish, the best finish by any Eagle, at the prestigious Missouri Valley Invite on January 19 and 20. Webb won a team best five matches en route to that finish, and followed up that performance with a pin of Triston VandeVelde in Avila's historic dual win against Bethany last week.
The nine victories this calendar year brings Webb's total up to 22 this season, by far the most on the team. He has lost only seven matches this year, and they all have come to wrestlers who are currently ranked ahead of him in the national rankings.
The senior from St. Louis is now ranked 13th in the 184-pound weight class. He was also ranked 12th in the weight class by The Open Mat.
Ottawa (#8) and Saint Mary (#19) represent the KCAC in the latest NAIA Top 20. Avila and Friends both have one nationally-ranked wrestler and are both seated in the receiving votes tier of the poll. The full latest NAIA men's wrestling rankings can be found below and on the NAIA website.
Webb won't be wrestling much more this year as he prepares for the KCAC Championships and eyes another bid to NAIA nationals, but you can catch the rest of the Eagles in a full week of action that begins this Wednesday, January 31, with a KCAC dual in Wichita against Friends. You can watch all the action live and for free on the KCAC Network.
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| Rank | Last Time | Team | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Grand View (Iowa) | 273 |
| 2 | 1 | Life (Ga.) | 271 |
| 3 | 3 | Menlo (Calif.) | 190 |
| 4 | 6 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 171 |
| 5 | 4 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 170 |
| 6 | 10 | Providence (Mont.) | 166 |
| 7 | 5 | Doane (Neb.) | 159 |
| 8 | 8 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 139 |
| 9 | 11 | Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) | 133 |
| 10 | 7 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 129 |
| 11 | 12 | Indiana Tech | 118 |
| 12 | 13 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 111 |
| 13 | 9 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | 110 |
| 14 | 14 | Missouri Valley | 101 |
| 15 | 16 | Southern Oregon | 100 |
| 16 | 15 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 96 |
| 17 | 19 | Morningside (Iowa) | 93 |
| 18 | 18 | Eastern Oregon | 83 |
| 19 | 17 | Saint Mary (Kan.) | 78 |
| 20 | 20 | Montana State-Northern | 67 |
Dropped From Top 20: None
Receiving Votes: Marian (Ind.) 64; Oklahoma City 64; Lourdes (Ohio) 57; Baker (Kan.) 48; Texas Wesleyan 47; Corban (Ore.) 43; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 41; Dickinson State (N.D.) 39; Central Methodist (Mo.) 37; Cornerstone (Mich.) 33; Rio Grande (Ohio) 26; Vanguard (Calif.) 26; Rochester (Mich.) 23; Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 22; Concordia (Neb.) 19; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 19; St. Thomas (Fla.) 17; Graceland (Iowa) 16; Simpson (Calif.) 15; Avila (Mo.) 14; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 14; William Penn (Iowa) 13; Midway (Ky.) 10; Arizona Christian 8; Central Baptist (Ark.) 8; Missouri Baptist 7; St. Ambrose (Iowa) 7; Jamestown (N.D.) 4; Siena Heights (Mich.) 4; Waldorf (Iowa) 4; Friends (Kan.) 3
Top-Ranked Individuals | Individual Rankings
125 – Aden Reeves, Grand View (Iowa) / Hunter Sparks, Eastern Oregon
133 – Carson Taylor, Grand View (Iowa)
141 – Evan Potter, Southern Oregon
149 – Blake Gonzalez, Grand View (Iowa)
157 – Brevin Balmeceda, Life (Ga.)
165 – Keller Rock, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
174 – Riley Smucker, Life (Ga.)
184 – Isaiah Luellen Grand View (Iowa)
197 – Bradley Antesberger, Doane (Neb.)
285 – Greg Hagan, Grand View (Iowa)
