With the transfer portal now active, multiple wrestlers, including Iowa State’s Daniel Herrera and NC State’s Vincent Robinson, are entering the mix. Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari, South Dakota State’s Bennett Berge, and Stanford’s Hunter Garvin, Tyler Knox, and Nico Provo have jumped onto the growing list.
Iowa State’s Herrera, a former NCAA qualifier at heavyweight, entered the portal on April 6. He was the Ames High School state champion and a 2025 NCAA qualifier as a true freshman, after registering a 24-15 record. After Yonger Bastida was forced to stay away from competition due to an injury in 2025, Herrera stepped up to compete in his place.
After Bastida’s return, Herrera again redshirted and retained three years of eligibility. Along with him, Christian Castillo, Ethan Perryman, Manny Rojas, and Tate Naaktgeboren from Iowa have also entered the pool.
The two-time All-American (2026 – 4th place, 2025 – 1st place) from North Carolina State, Robinson is a 125lbs NCAA Wrestling champion. He defeated Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley in a tie-breaker in the final round last year. He redshirted in his freshman year and was also named to the 2023-24 ACC Academic Honor Roll. He finished third at the ACC Championship in Blacksburg after losing to Nico Provo of Stanford.
Stanford Wrestling Coach Chris Ayres Opens Up On the Current State of Transfer Portal
Following multiple wrestlers entering the transfer portal, Stanford Wrestling Coach Chris Ayres shared his observation on the program being affected by it. He highlighted that Stanford’s approach is different, with a focus on culture, development, and long-term growth. He added the wrestlers’ love for the program, but highlighted the tough spot they stand in before transferring.
“I don’t like the idea of a transfer coming in and trying to take the spot of someone who has been developing in our environment,” wrote Ayres. “So I am doing everything I can to keep these guys. They are Stanford wrestlers. They are the ones who built this. I’m staying out of the portal as long as I can. These are my guys, and I don’t want to do it with anyone but them. We believe in them.”
“We are trying to run this program differently. Of the top 10 teams, we are the only team without a transfer on our roster, and I’m guessing this could include most of the top 20. Culture matters, so I don’t like the idea of a transfer coming in and trying to take the spot of someone who has been developing in our environment. So I am doing everything I can to keep these guys. They are Stanford wrestlers. They are the ones who built this. I’m staying out of the portal as long as I can,” he added.
His statement came after Nico Provo, Tyler Knox, and Hunter Garvin entered the pool.
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