Southeastern University Men's Wrestling

Travis Patrick was named the third wrestling coach in Fire Athletics history in April 2021.  Patrick continued to build on his coaching resume in the 2025 season, Southeastern was a Top Four NAIA program all season long, and finished third overall with 12 qualifiers at the NAIA National Championship. Gage Braun secured his second National title, claiming the 285 bracket, and the Fire turned in a program record eight NAIA All-Americans. Their 11-2 record included a 10-2 record against ranked opponents, and a program-best third-place finish at the NWCA National Team Duals. Additionally, 21 were named AAC All-Academic, and Graham Calhoun was named the AAC Southeastern Champion of Character.  In his first season with Southeastern, Patrick led the Fire to their highest finish in program history (3rd) at the 2022 NAIA National Championships, earning their first team trophy. Under Patrick's leadership, the Fire also earned a 3rd place team finish in 2023 and a 4th place finish in 2024 with six All-Americans each season. Patrick has coached a total of 35 national qualifiers and eighteen All-Americans, including two national champions (Gage Braun & Sal Silva) during his time at SEU.  Fire wrestling has also earned a place on the NAIA Men's Team Scholar All-America list in 2023 and 2024, while 21 individuals were named NAIA Scholar All-Americans during this time period. Prior to SEU, Patrick started the wrestling program at Arizona Christian University in 2019. As the program's first head coach, he helped six wrestlers qualify for the NAIA National Championships and coached the program's first All-American to a 4th place finish in 2021. The Washington native amassed a 16-12 dual meet record in two seasons at the helm and set a program best national ranking of 18th.  Patrick began his college coaching career as an assistant at Menlo College and eventually became the associate head coach. Between 2015 and 2019, he helped coach 12 All-Americans and two national champions for the Oaks. Patrick also served as a sports performance coach and was an advisor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during his time in the Bay Area. Patrick was a four-time state high school state qualifier and state-finalist in Washington State. During his collegiate career he qualified for the NAIA national championships while wrestling for Concordia and Southern Oregon University. Travis and his Wife, Tyler, live in Lakeland with their daughter, Jordyn.  Southeastern Coaching Records Dual Record: 36-11 National Champions: 2 National Finalists: 4 All-Americans: 18

Maldonado became the first head coach of the Southeastern wrestling program on February 12, 2015.  The Southeastern program was the Sunshine State's first scholarship wrestling program in nearly 30 years.  Maldonado guided the first-year program to a 12-8 dual meet record. The Fire were the team champions at the Cougar Duals, going 5-0 on the weekend.  During the first season, a pair of freshman wrestlers qualified for the NAIA National Championships. Olson Delisca (125) and Ethan Owen (133) each earned bids to Topeka where they went 1-2 each.  Prior to SEU, Maldonado spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida. During his time with the Kowboys, Maldonado coached seven individual State Champions, 22 state place winners, and nine All-Americans. As a team, they finished in the top five in 3A four times. He also previously served as an assistant coach at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico and as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Javier has both a high-level wrestling background and Florida connections which make him the ideal choice to become our first head coach, said Watson. More importantly, I believe he is a coach who has the ability to build a championship program the right way and get us competitive on the national scene quickly. Maldonado earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection, a three-time NCWA Academic All-American, and a three-time All-Southern Conference Academic Team member. As a wrestler at Osceola, he was a two-time State Champion and a three-time All-American. Im excited to be part of the first college wrestling program in the state of Florida, said Maldonado. Its important for the wrestlers in Florida to have a chance to compete close to home, he added. My hope is that Southeastern becomes the blueprint as more programs start across the state. Maldonados experience at the Division I level earned him the respect of his competitors. Sam Hazewinkle, who represented the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London, said, Javier is a Florida native who has not only wrestled at every level but has continually exceeded the expectations others had for him. He has a tremendous work ethic and lives his life true to his Christian values. Im appreciative of my wife (Amanda) and my family for all of their support, said Maldonado. Im blessed with a father who was a head coach and who taught me to do things the right way, and Im looking forward to creating my own program, he added. Id like to especially thank former University of Oklahoma head wrestling coach, Jack Spates, for his assistance in this process, said Watson. His experience and knowledge of the sport at the collegiate level nationally was vital during this search process. Javier Maldonado Head Wrestling Coach Florida native Javier Maldonado became the first head coach of the Southeastern wrestling program on February 12, 2015.  The Southeastern program was the Sunshine State's first scholarship wrestling program in nearly 30 years.  Maldonado guided the first-year program to a 12-8 dual meet record. The Fire were the team champions at the Cougar Duals, going 5-0 on the weekend.  During the first season, a pair of freshman wrestlers qualified for the NAIA National Championships. Olson Delisca (125) and Ethan Owen (133) each earned bids to Topeka where they went 1-2 each.  Prior to SEU, Maldonado spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida. During his time with the Kowboys, Maldonado coached seven individual State Champions, 22 state place winners, and nine All-Americans. As a team, they finished in the top five in 3A four times. He also previously served as an assistant coach at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico and as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Javier has both a high-level wrestling background and Florida connections which make him the ideal choice to become our first head coach, said Watson. More importantly, I believe he is a coach who has the ability to build a championship program the right way and get us competitive on the national scene quickly. Maldonado earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection, a three-time NCWA Academic All-American, and a three-time All-Southern Conference Academic Team member. As a wrestler at Osceola, he was a two-time State Champion and a three-time All-American. Im excited to be part of the first college wrestling program in the state of Florida, said Maldonado. Its important for the wrestlers in Florida to have a chance to compete close to home, he added. My hope is that Southeastern becomes the blueprint as more programs start across the state. Maldonados experience at the Division I level earned him the respect of his competitors. Sam Hazewinkle, who represented the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London, said, Javier is a Florida native who has not only wrestled at every level but has continually exceeded the expectations others had for him. He has a tremendous work ethic and lives his life true to his Christian values. Im appreciative of my wife (Amanda) and my family for all of their support, said Maldonado. Im blessed with a father who was a head coach and who taught me to do things the right way, and Im looking forward to creating my own program, he added. Id like to especially thank former University of Oklahoma head wrestling coach, Jack Spates, for his assistance in this process, said Watson. His experience and knowledge of the sport at the collegiate level nationally was vital during this search process.