Carl Albert State College has filled the void left by wrestling coach Jake Lords when he left to become the Baker University men’s wrestling coach.

CASC promoted CASC assistant coach Nathan Marek to be the coach of the Vikings, as well as welcoming two new additions — Kason Wilkinson as Lady Vikings wrestling coach and Brady Vogel as the assistant men’s and women’s wrestling coach.

Marek has been instrumental in building the CASC wrestling program and will now lead the team as the Vikings coach. A 2014 graduate of Southmoore High School, Marek was a four-time All-American, state and national champion before competing collegiately for the University of Oklahoma.

Marek began his coaching career at Oklahoma City U.S. Grant High School, where he coached the district’s first All-American in more than two decades. He later returned to Southmoore High School before joining the CASC staff as an assistant coach. During his time at CASC, Marek has helped develop 19 All-Americans, including two national champions and two national runner-ups.

“I’m super excited,” Marek said. “I’m excited for this incoming recruiting class. My biggest philosophy in coaching is brotherhood and building that family bond. I’m going to have a good group of guys coming in. Being their head coach and having them trust me is making me excited for this next year. I think we have a really solid chance at becoming a top-four team in the country (in NJCAA Division II).”

Wilkinson joins the CASC athletic family as the Lady Vikings wrestling coach, taking the reins ahead of the 2025-26 season. He comes from St. Andrews University, where he coached before the university’s closure.

Wilkinson brings a track record of success at both the collegiate and high school levels. In New Mexico, he served as coach at Aztec High School, leading the team to an undefeated dual season and playing a key role in capturing the 2024-25 team state championship. Under his leadership, Aztec produced 12 state qualifiers, four finalists and a state champion. Prior to that, he coached at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, N.M., where he improved the team’s dual record and guided athletes to the podium — including two state finalists, a state champion and a thirdplace finisher. Notably, Wilkinson established Piedra Vista’s first official girls’ wrestling program, making an immediate impact by qualifying four female wrestlers to the state tournament — one of whom finished as runner-up.

Throughout his career, Wilkinson has coached two state champions, seven state finalists, 15 state placers and more than 20 state qualifiers.

A former multiplesport athlete in football and wrestling, Wilkinson earned his associate degree from Adams State University and later completed a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western New Mexico University. He is a proud father of three boys and enjoys outdoor activities, coaching youth sports, watching wrestling and baseball and racing in dirt track competitions.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join Carl Albert State College as the new head coach of the women’s wrestling program,” Wilkinson said. “I want to thank the athletic department and the administration at CASC for this opportunity and believing in my vision for the future of this program. I am excited to use the sport of wrestling to continue to change lives. I’m looking forward to getting to know our athletes, staff and community — and working together to continue the success of athletics at CASC. Being a part of such a supportive and ‘bought-in’ community is amazing, and the future is bright.”

Vogel is a seasoned wrestler and coach with a competitive background in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. A Kansas high school standout, Vogel was a four-time placer, twotime finalist and onetime state champion. He continued his wrestling career at Iowa Central Community College — where he was a twotime national qualifier and part of a national championship team — before transferring to Loras College and contributing to a national runner-up finish.

Vogel is also a multiple- time All-American in Greco-Roman wrestling at all age levels, including senior-level competition.

Most recently, Vogel spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Labette Community College, helping guide the team to two top-10 finishes and a fourth-place finish at national duals.

Editor’s Note: Sports Editor David Seeley contributed to this story.