LAKELAND, Fla. -- No. 3 SEU Wrestling heads back on the road this weekend for one of the Midwest's deepest regular-season tournaments, competing at the Missouri Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday inside Burns Athletic Center in Marshall, Missouri. The two-day event begins at 11 a.m. ET both days, with Friday's action running through the championship quarterfinals and the corresponding rounds on the consolation side, setting the stage for a full slate of medal matches on Saturday. Fans can follow every mat live via FloWrestling.
Southeastern brings a full, battle-tested lineup to a field stacked with nationally ranked programs from across the NAIA and beyond. At 125 pounds,
Jake Bucci opens the Fire's weekend, while
Joey Hutchins (141) and
Jaxon Mackey (149) add depth in the middle of the lineup. The 149-pound weight class also features No. 11
Raymond Cavey, one of several ranked Fire expected to draw tough early-round tests. At 157,
Austin Scott and
Ryan Bennett give Southeastern multiple scoring options, followed by a strong 174 group with
Ty Rodriguez and No. 10
Husam Mustafa. The upper weights are anchored by No. 16
Jonathan Vanderbilt and
Tyler Hanna at 184, No. 7
Kasten Grape at 197, and heavyweight
Bryce Wheatley.
The Missouri Valley Invitational annually delivers a bracket that feels closer to a national qualifier than a typical in-season meet, and this year is no exception. The Fire will see ranked opposition and experienced postseason programs throughout the draw, including teams such as Arizona Christian, Campbellsville, Central Methodist, Cumberland, Concordia (Neb.), Friends, Providence (Mont.), Reinhardt, and others capable of turning every round into a grind. With nearly every weight featuring multiple ranked or veteran wrestlers, bonus points will be at a premium and advancing through the backside could be just as critical as winning on the championship side.
For Southeastern, the weekend serves as both a measuring stick and an opportunity. With the postseason approaching, the Fire will be looking to sharpen match management, capitalize on scoring chances, and build momentum against a national-caliber field. Two full days of high-volume matches against elite competition should provide exactly the kind of test a No. 3-ranked team wants in late January—one that rewards consistency, depth, and the ability to wrestle through adversity from the opening whistle on Friday to the final bouts on Saturday.
