Ray Stephens
Wrestling (2005-2007)
2006 NJCAA 133-lb. National Champion and 2007 125-lb. National Runner-up
Waubonsee Male Athlete of the Year for 2006-2007
Two-time NAIA National Champion and Florida High School State Champion
Four-time All-American collegiate wrestler, 127-23 career record
The saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ aptly describes Ray Stephens. Often displaying an effervescent smile and a laid back demeanor, along with a dreadlock hairdo, earring and necklace, he appeared to be more at home on a beach than a wrestling mat. In actuality he was an intense competitor with a work ethic like none other, and the heart of a champion.
In 2004 the native of Homestead, Florida began an unprecedented run of titles by winning the 112-lb. Florida State Championship as a junior. He followed that up by taking the 125-lb. state title his senior year at South Dade High School. With no junior college wrestling programs in Florida, Stephens headed north to Waubonsee through a connection with former Chiefs’ assistant coach Dale Gross, who had once coached in the Miami area.
At Waubonsee in 2005-2006, Stephens finished third in the 133-lb. division at the NJCAA Central Regional to qualify for Nationals with a 29-10 record. The previously unranked Stephens then ran the table, going 5-0 with three wins over top-ranked opponents to become Waubonsee’s first ever NJCAA National Champion. The Chiefs’ also placed second as a team among non-scholarship Division III programs, the best finish in school history.
As a sophomore Stephens took over a major leadership role, often helping guide practices and team conditioning. He went on to capture the 125-lb. crown at the Central Regional and was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. With a target on his back as the NJCAA’s top-ranked 125-pounder, Stephens once again reached the National Championship match. However, with another title within his grasp, his opponent made a surprise move and pinned Stephens in the final seconds. True to his nature, his disappointment was short lived. “I laid there for a few seconds looking up at the ceiling,” recalls Stephens, “and then said to myself that my life is more than just wrestling.” He finished the season with a 26-5 record and was unanimously named Waubonsee’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2006-2007.
Stephens continued his stellar wrestling career with a scholarship to Lindenwood University in St. Louis. He picked up right where he left off by going 33-4 en route to taking the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 133-lb. National Title as a junior, helping Lindenwood to the 2008 NAIA National Title. He capped off his senior year by repeating as the 133-lb. National Champion, finishing 34-4 overall and leading Lindenwood to its third straight NAIA National Title.
Stephens completed his Criminal Justice degree from Lindenwood in 2009. He worked in Law Enforcement for almost three years in the St. Louis area, and currently works security for Lindenwood. Stephens also coaches wrestling at Timberland High School in the St. Louis suburb of Wentzville, Missouri. Stephens and long-time girlfriend Tasheeba Fortney live in St. Charles, Missouri with their young daughter Sequoia.