SoCon Names Wrestler of the Week

SPARTANBURG, SC – App State redshirt junior Kaden Keiser was named Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week for competition held between December 3-December 9.

Keiser (Winner, SD / Winner HS) won twice at the 2025 Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, bouncing back from a loss to No. 14 Aden Valencia of Stanford to post a 14-6 major decision over No. 33 Paul Kelly of Cal Baptist. Keiser followed with an 8-6 win over Edinboro’s Ryan Michaels to stay alive in the consolation bracket. He fell to No. 24 Alek Martin if South Dakota State to wrap up his time in Vegas. Keiser was one of five Mountaineer wrestlers to compete in the prestigious event, with four making the final 16 in their weight class – and Keiser advancing past that consolation round with his win over Michaels. 

Keiser, ranked as high as No. 28 by FloWrestling in his weight class, sits at 15-7 this season and has 63 career victories to his credit.

The Mountaineers (2-4) will wrestle at Duke on December 7 and will get back into action at the 2026 Southern Scuffle at Chattanooga on January 3-4.

Also Nominated: T.K. Davis (Gardner-Webb, 133), Andy Heap (Davidson, 149), Brodie Porter (The Citadel, 184)

Results

Kaden Keiser (2-2)

149: loss vs. #14 Aden Valencia (Stanford), 11-2 (MD)

149: win vs. #33 Paul Kelly (Cal Baptist), 14-6 (MD)

149: win vs. #52 Ryan Michaels (Edinboro), 8-6

149: loss vs. #24 Alek Martin (South Dakota State), 8-2

2025-26 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week

Nov. 5 ­– Thomas Snipes (165, Jr., The Citadel, Simpsonville, SC)

Nov. 12 – Patrick Jordon (149, Jr., VMI, Providence Forge, VA)

Nov. 19 – T.K. Davis (133, So., Gardner-Webb, Rockmart, GA)

Nov. 26 – Cavarius Liddie (157, R-Fr., Chattanooga, Gainesville, FL)

Dec. 3 – Jarvis Little (133, R-Fr., App State, Spring Hill, TN)

Dec. 10 – Kaden Keiser (149, R-Jr., App State, Winner, SD)