ABR 461 | Justin Ensign on Oklahoma City Wrestling's Historic NAIA Trophy Finish,

Airey Bros Radio Episode 461 welcomes Oklahoma City University Head Wrestling Coach Justin Ensign following the most successful season in OCU Wrestling history.After leading the Stars to a 3rd-place finish at the 2026 NAIA Wrestling National Championships, Coach Ensign joins us to discuss the journey behind Oklahoma City University's first-ever national team trophy, five All-Americans, conference championships, recruiting, culture, academics, and the future of one of the fastest-rising programs in college wrestling.Coach Ensign shares his wrestling roots in New Jersey, his coaching journey from Wagner College to Central Missouri and ultimately Oklahoma City University, where he has transformed the Stars into a national contender.We also dive into the incredible story of MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Rafael Lovato Jr. joining the roster this season and the impact he had on the team.Whether you're a wrestler, coach, recruit, parent, or fan of college wrestling, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at building a championship-caliber NAIA wrestling program.🔥 In This Episode:• Oklahoma City University's historic 3rd-place finish at the 2026 NAIA Wrestling National Championships• Winning OCU Wrestling's first-ever national team trophy• Building a championship culture and elite team environment• Recruiting Oklahoma's top wrestling talent• Coaching philosophy and athlete development• The importance of academics and student-athlete success• Justin Ensign's journey from New Jersey wrestler to nationally recognized head coach• Wagner College and Central Missouri coaching experiences• What makes Oklahoma City University unique for recruits• Rafael Lovato Jr.'s impact on the OCU Wrestling program• The future of OCU Wrestling and competing with NAIA powers Grand View, Life, and Southeastern02:33 Official Show Introduction03:19 OCU Wrestling's Historic 2026 Season05:10 Recruiting at Oklahoma City University06:15 Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham Debate07:47 Oklahoma City Food Favorites11:46 Justin Ensign's Wrestling Origin Story17:45 Why Oklahoma City University Was the Right Fit23:37 Breaking Down OCU's Historic NAIA Trophy Run25:45 The Rafael Lovato Jr. Story30:31 Becoming a Top-3 NAIA Wrestling Program31:34 Coaching Rafael Lovato Jr.35:04 Enjoying the Historic Season & Planning Ahead37:03 Recruiting Oklahoma's Best Wrestlers39:23 Wrestling Culture: Oklahoma vs. New Jersey41:44 One-State Champion Debate44:04 Academic Programs at Oklahoma City University47:12 Faith, Campus Life & Student Experience48:33 What Coach Ensign Looks For In Recruits🎙️ Follow Airey Bros RadioYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AireybrosInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/aireybrosradio/Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/61TKhMCXCfmfZRYb22saFeApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airey-bros-s-radio/id584404045☕ Support the Show:https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros🏃 Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coachinghttps://www.blacksheependurance.com/#Wrestling #CollegeWrestling #NAIAWrestling #OCUWrestling #OklahomaCityUniversity #JustinEnsign #RafaelLovatoJr #WrestlingRecruiting #CollegeAthletics #WrestlingCoach #NAIA #AireyBrosRadio #CombatSports #StudentAthlete #WrestlingPodcast