KANSAS CITY, MO – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced a new Wrestler of the Week for the eighth week of the 2025-26 season. Nebraska Kearney’s Kaden Hart led the Lopers to a runner-up finsih at the 2026 NWCA National Duals to be named the MIAA Wrestler of the Week.
MIAA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK: Kaden Hart, 184 lbs., Nebraska Kearney
Ranked No. 9 in Division II at 184 pounds, Kaden Hart was one of just three Lopers to go 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this past weekend with three wins against top-12-ranked opponents. The redshirt senior opened the duals with a 15-0 technical fall against McKendree, then defeated Tiffin’s No. 12-ranked David Davis in a 6-0 decision and Wisconsin-Parkside’s No. 11-ranked Brady Schuh 5-3 to help the Lopers advance to the championship dual. In the championship, he upset No. 2-ranked Branson Britten of Central Oklahoma in an 11-2 major decision. Hart outscored his competition by a count of 37-5 in the event. He is the first Loper to earn the MIAA Wrestler of the Week title in the 2025-26 season.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Jason Henschel, Central Oklahoma (133 lbs.)
Jason Henschel went 4-0 to lead No. 1 Central Oklahoma to the NWCA National Duals Championship in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this weekend. The top-ranked 133-pounder in the country did not give up a single point to his four opponents in the tournament. He pinned Ashland's Donovan Paes in 3:19 and pinned Augustana's Braiden Kort in 5:40 in two matches on Friday. Henschel then beat No. 6-ranked James Joplin of Lander, 6-0 in Saturday’s semifinals. To cap off the weekend, Henschel defeated No. 15-ranked Zach Ourada of Nebraska Kearney, 8-0, for a major decision in helping the Bronchos clinch their third National Duals title in five years. Henschel is now 10-0 this season.
Ryan Patterson, Fort Hays State (197 lbs.)
Ryan Patterson turned in a perfect 4-0 record with four bonus-point wins at the Iron Mike Duals on Friday (Jan. 9) in Marshall, Minn. The junior managed 14 takedowns on the day while his opponents recorded only one takedown against Patterson through the four bouts. The 197-pounder opened the day with an 18-3 technical fall against an opponent from Quincy before racking up six takedowns in a 19-3 technical fall against an opponent from Sioux Falls. Patterson then rallied from an early deficit to record a second-period pin against his opponent from Northern State before finishing the day with an 11-1 major decision behind the strength of three takedowns in a Tiger win over Southwest Minnesota State. The Peyton, Colo. native is now 16-7 on the year, including 10 bonus-point wins and a team-high five technical falls.
WEEK ONE: Jason Henschel, Central Oklahoma
(133 lbs.) & Garrett Lyons, Central Missouri
(149 lbs.)
WEEK TWO: Cayden Byrd, Ouachita
(197 lbs.)
WEEK THREE: BK Seago, Ouachita
(285 lbs.)
WEEK FOUR: Josh Taylor, Central Oklahoma
(141 lbs.)
WEEK FIVE: Gage Bernall, Central Missouri
(165 lbs.)
WEEK SIX: Branson Britten, Central Oklahoma
(184 lbs.)
WEEK SEVEN: Anthony Erickson, Central Missouri
(174 lbs.)
WEEK EIGHT: Kaden Hart, Nebraska Kearney
(184 lbs.)