Lone Star State Grapplers: Texas Roots Qualify for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Wrestling Tournament

Texas has steadily grown into a massive hotbed for collegiate wrestling talent. The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Tournament is set to feature several standout athletes who developed their skills in the state. From highly touted local recruits to athletes who made memorable stops in Texas during their careers, these wrestlers are making their mark on the national stage.

2026 NCAA Qualifiers with Texas Roots

High School Legends with Texas roots to Collegiate Stars

• Conrad Hendriksen (Oklahoma, 125 lbs): Hendriksen was a trailblazer for Creekview High School in Carrollton. He was the first Creekview wrestler to win three UIL state championships and the first wrestler to be ranked number one pound-for-pound in Texas. Now a redshirt sophomore for the Sooners, Hendriksen has proven to be a tough competitor in the Big 12.

• Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State, 125 lbs): Spratley was a bit of a nomad during his career, winning state titles in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma before moving to Texas. He spent his final two high school years wrestling for the Texas Pride Wrestling Club and graduated from Plano West High School. Now a redshirt junior and a key focal point of the Cowboys lineup, Spratley is a returning All-American and 2025 NCAA finalist heading into the 2026 tournament.

• Braxton Brown (Maryland, 133 lbs): A product of the powerhouse wrestling program at Allen High School, Braxton Brown was a four-time state champion in Texas. Now a redshirt senior, Brown is a battle-tested veteran in the Big Ten who brings years of experience as a returning national qualifier for the Terrapins.

• Nasir Bailey (Iowa, 141 lbs): While Bailey started and finished his high school career in Illinois, his path to four total high school state titles included a dominant sophomore stop in the Lone Star State. Competing for Arlington Martin High School during the 2020-2021 season, Bailey captured the 132-pound 6A Texas state championship. He transferred to Iowa from Little Rock and recently secured a strong finish at the 2026 Big Ten Championships.

• Garrett McChesney (Edinboro, 157 lbs): Wrestling out of Katy, Texas, McChesney was a four-year varsity starter and a two-time state champion at Jordan High School. Now in his sophomore year at Edinboro, he has developed into a reliable starter for the Fighting Scots, with NCAA Qualifier under his belt looking to add more.

• Riley Davis (Wyoming, 174 lbs): Davis started his career in Oregon before moving to the Lone Star State, where he finished his high school days at Randall High School in Amarillo. He capped off his senior season as a Texas state runner-up. Now a redshirt sophomore for the Cowboys, Davis secured his spot in the national tournament with a strong sixth-place finish in the Big 12 at 174 pounds.

• Angelo Ferrari (Iowa, 184 lbs): Wrestling out of Melissa High School, Ferrari put together one of the most dominant high school resumes in the country. After placing second at state his freshman year, he went completely undefeated over his final three seasons. Ranked as the top pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the class of 2024, Ferrari has made an immediate impact for the Hawkeyes in his redshirt freshman year and heads to the NCAAs after a strong Big Ten Conference performance.

• Karson Tompkins (Air Force, 197 lbs): A native of Midlothian, Texas, Tompkins captured three Texas state championships during his time at Midlothian High School. Now a freshman competing for the Air Force Academy, he has continued to show his grit and strength at the Division I collegiate level.

• Jarrett Stoner (Missouri, 285 lbs): Stoner brings heavy-hitting talent from Rockwall High School. He was a 2023 6A Texas State Champion at 190 pounds and a four-time district champion. Currently a redshirt sophomore at Mizzou, Stoner balances a rigorous pre-med academic track with competing at the highest levels of collegiate wrestling as a heavyweight.

• AJ Ferrari (Nebraska, 285 lbs): The older brother of Angelo, AJ Ferrari started his career at Allen High School in Texas, where he won two state championships and cemented his status as an elite prospect. While he did not complete his high school career at Allen, eventually moving on to wrestle at out-of-state powerhouses like Blair Academy and Bergen Catholic, his Texas roots run deep. After winning the 2021 NCAA Championship for Oklahoma State and earning All-American honors at Cal State Bakersfield, he transferred to Nebraska for the 2025-26 season.