KANSAS CITY, MO – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its first Wrestler of the Week in the new season. Four MIAA wrestling programs opened the 2026-27 NCAA Division II wrestling season this week, with Central Missouri’s Tristan Waters claiming the season’s first Wrestler of the Week honor.
 
MIAA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK: Tristan Waters, 184 lbs., Central Missouri
Tristan Waters opened his Central Missouri career with two bonus-point victories at the Missouri Duals on Monday (Nov. 2), hosted by Division I’s No. 10-ranked Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri. Competing at 184 pounds, Waters helped the [Division II] No. 11-ranked Mules earn dual wins over Drury and Avila before falling to the ranked Missouri Tigers. In his UCM debut against Drury, the freshman from Smithville, Missouri, recorded an 18-2 technical fall over Chase Kivett at the six-minute mark. He then was the only Mule to win by fall in UCM’s 50-0 shutout of NAIA’s Avila, pinning the Eagles’ Cam’Ron Morris in 5:40. Waters is 2-1 to begin the season, with his only loss being to Mizzou’s Logan Cole by decision (10-3).

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Parker Henry, Ouachita (197 lbs.)
Ouachita’s No. 15-ranked Parker Henry seemingly scored at will in Ouachita's 24-14 season-opening MIAA win over Fort Hays State. The senior from Lawton, Oklahoma, took down the Tigers’ Ritchie Bruno in the 197-pound bout by a tech fall, outscoring his opponent 22-6. Henry recorded five takedowns in the first period and added two more in the second before the match was called at the 4:14 mark. It was Henry's first real competition since the 2024-25 season after missing all of last year with an injury.
 
Cash Thomas, Fort Hays State (157 lbs.)
Cash Thomas led Fort Hays State in their season-opening conference dual against Ouachita. The fifth-year from Olathe, Kansas, recorded a 20-5 tech fall in five minutes against Ouachita’s Quintraylon Johnson in the 157-pound match to give Fort Hays State an 11-7 lead through the first five matches.
 
ALSO NOMINATED:
Clay Giddens, Northeastern State (165 lbs.)
 

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