Wednesday, July 5, 2023

2023-2024 NCAA DIII The Season: Top Returnees 157 lbs

 157 lbs NCAA DIII will be quite interesting this season. 5 All Americans return, among all 4 R12'ers, but there is quite a bit of competition looking to step up & perhaps steal the spots of glory.  Will be a fun weight. 


Nolan Hertel
UW-La Crosse 

2023 NCAA DIII Champ (5th in '22) Nolan Hertel returns after having posted a 36-2 record this past season. Note that both of his losses were to wrestlers who have since used up their eligibility.  A two time Upper Midwest Regional champion, he will also be going for his fifth WIAC finals appearance & his fourth title. He will be backed up by Cole Hansen, a WIAC finalist in his own right who posted a 15-4 record this past season. Among his victories, a 5-4 decision over two time NCAA DII All American Anthony Herrera. 

Jacob Deguire
Springfield 

37-6 on the season, Jacob DeGuire won a Northeast Regional title (5th in '22) & finished 3rd in the D3 Nation. He was also 3rd at the Ithaca Invitational. 

Ryan Luth
Washington & Lee 


The Connecticut native goes into his senior season now a three time NCAA DIII qualifier & a two time All American. 4th in 2022, he was 5th in 2023. Posting a 23-3 record this past season, he also won an ODAC title. 

Peter Kane
Williams 

This Eph is Eph'in good. 37-6 last year as a freshman, Peter Kane finished 3rd in the Northeast Regional & 7th in the D3 nation. 

Ryan Smith                    Jason Smith 
Stevens Tech 

They're both from New Jersey, they're both sophomores & they both wrestle for the Ducks of Stevens Tech. If  you're looking for the best wrestle-offs of '22-'23, I'll be more than happy to give you one.  Ryan Smith, a Southeast Regional champion was 8th in the D3 Nation this past season.  Jason Smith, 22-10 on the season, won a MAC title. He defeated Ryan 7-5 s.v. to win that title. However Ryan posted a 6-4 s.v. over him. Will be a great wrestle-off between two top talents at 157. 

Jason Rezac                    Robert Lawlor
Alvernia 

29-7 on the season, Jason Rezac earned runner-up honors at the Southeast Regional (5th in '22) finishing one match shy of All American honors. A Racich Rumble champion, he was 4th in the MAC. Among his victories, he did major All American Ryan Luth 11-3. He will be pushed in the room by Robert Lawlor who was 25-11 on the season. 3rd in the MAC, he posted a 3-2 victory over Rezac & he also defeated two time D3 Qualifier Brandon Bowles 2-1. 

Alex Villar 
North Central 

A 2022 NCAA DIII All American with a 4th place finish, Alex Villar came up just a hair short of AA #2 last season when he finished R12.  A 27-6 record, he won titles at the Pointer Open & the CCIW, while taking 3rd at the Lower Midwest Regional. 

Aidan Brosinski
UW-Platteville 

Quite the freshman season for Aidan Brosinski last year. 26-14 on the season, he really turned it on towards the end of the year. 3rd place finishes at both the WIAC & the Upper Midwest Regional, he nearly made All American status, finishing one match shy. 

Thomas West
Baldwin Wallace 

26-6 on the season, Thomas West was 2nd in the Central Regional, finishing one match shy of All American honors. 

Patrick McGraw
John Carroll 


The two time Central Regional champ goes into his senior season having posted a 35-8 record last year. A Pete Willson Invitational champion, he took runner-up finishes at both the Trine Invitational & the North Central invite. 

Ryan Whitten
Otterbein

Wrestling most of last season at 165 lbs, Ryan Whitten moved down to 157 right smack before the Central Regional tournament & qualified for his second NCAA DIII tournament with a 3rd place finish.  Also 7th in the Pete Willson Invitational he posted a 27-8 record. 

Kyle Merritt
Norwich 

A 7th place NCAA DIII All American in 2022, Kyle Merritt may have been destined for another great showing last year as a sophomore had it not been for a season ending injury suffered at the Ithaca Invitational. If healed up, healthy & 100%, he will most certainly contend for AA honors once again this year. 



Wenchard Pierre-Louis
Ithaca 

The Bomber dropped many bombs last season winning both the Mideast Regional & the ECWC titles last season. His record was 23-7. 

Brandon Bowles
Muhlenberg 

The two time Mideast Regional bronze medalist was 31-5 this past season. 

Tommy Dell'Aera
WPI 

Dell'Aera didn't take to the mat much last season, but when he did he made it count. 11-4 on the year, he was 2nd at the Northeast Regional. 

Nick Nettleton 
Mount Union 

Posting a 32-14 record this past season, Nick Nettleton nearly qualified for D3 nationals with a 4th place finish at the Central Regional. 

Nathan Callaway
Millikin 

Only a sophomore, Nathan Callaway posted a 23-5 record last season. 4th in the Lower Midwest Regional, he won titles at both Coe & Millkin, taking a runner-up finish at the CCIW. 

Dorian Gonzalez 
Elizabethtown 

Posting a 22-4 record, Dorian Gonzalez was 4th at the Mideast Regional this past season. 

Aaron Goldman
Wesleyan 

Aaron Goldman goes into his final season of eligibility now having been twice a match away from NCAA D3 qualification with back to back Northeast Regional 4th place finishes. He was 22-10 on the season. 

Jared Bair
York (PA) 

7th & 4th thus far in the Southeast Regional the past two seasons, Jared Bair was 21-9 on the season finishing 2nd at the Racich Rumble. 

Jack O'Donnell
Concordia (WIS) 


An NCWA All American with a 6th place finish in 2021, Jack O'Donnell has narrowly missed the D3 championships having placed 5th & 4th the past two Upper Midwest Regionals.  He was also 3rd in the CCIW last season. 

Calvin Cai
CWR

He competed at about every weight class he could last year, but by season's end he was at 157, so that's where I'm putting him for now.  5th in the Central Regional, he was 21-19. 

Bryce McDonough
Luther 

A scholar All American, Bryce McDonough did well in the classroom & well on the mat. Posting a 32-9 record, he returns for his sophomore season of competition having placed 5th at the Lower Midwest Regional & 2nd at the Pointer Open. 

Garrett Cornell
Messiah 

30-15 on the season, Garrett Cornell was an NCAA DIII qualifier in 2020 & an NWCA All American in 2021 with a 5th place finish.  Last year he had 5th place finishes at both the MAC & the Southeast Regional, finishing 3rd at the Pete Willson Invitational. 

Tyler Bents
Concordia (MN) 

Thus far 8th & 5th the past two seasons at the Upper Midwest Regional, Tyler Bents posted a 20-10 record this past year. 

Joe Chapman 
USCG

An NCAA DIII qualifier in 2022 with a 3rd place Northeast Regional finish, Joe Chapman was 5th this past season. He posted a 20-4 record. 

Ramiro Guerrero
Olivet 

Ramiro Guerrero returns for his junior season a two time 6th placer at the Central Regional championships. 22-16 on the year, he was 4th at the Trine Invite & 8th at the Pete Willson Invitational. 

Jesse Alvarado
Averett

26-6 on the season, Jesse Alvarado took a runner-up finish at the ODAC, placing 6th at the Southeast Regional. 

Jashon Holmes
Castleton 

27-16 on the season, Jashon Holmes was 6th at the Northeast Regional, also placing 4th at the Roger Williams Invite. 

Cody Welker
UW-Oshkosh 

15-12 on the season, it was a 6th place finish at the Upper Midwest Regional & a 5th place finish at the Pointer Open for Cody Welker. 

Teagan Hendricks
Ohio Northern 

27-14 on the season, Teagan Hendricks was 7th at the Central Regional. 

James Ost
R.I.T. 

22-12 on the season, the California native finished 7th at the Mideast Regional. 

David Burgess
Huntingdon

23-6 on the season, David Burgess was 7th at the Lower Midwest Regional & 2nd at the Millikin Open. 

Zane Cox 
Roanoke 

Zane Cox enters his sophomore year having posted a 25-15 record, with a 7th place showing at the Southeast Regional & a 3rd place finish at the ODAC. 

Michael Smith
MSOE

16-15 on the year, Michael Smith placed 7th at the Upper Midwest Regional. 


Alejandro Castro
Defiance 

24-14 on the season, Alejandro Castro was 8th at the Central Regional. 

Max Yahre
SUNY-Brockport 

12-14 on the season, Max Yahre was 8th at the Mideast Regional. 

Luke Condy
Central 

10-13 on the season, the Memphis, Tennessee native was 8th at the Lower Midwest Regional. 

Charles Everdale
Wilkes 

18 wins on the season, Charles Everdale was 8th at the Southeast Regional. 

Eric Zane
Rhode Island College 

Eric Zane was 8th at the Northeast Regional. 

Blake Jagodzinski
Augsburg 

Behind three time NCAA DIII All American Tyler Shilson, last season, I would most certainly keep your eye on Blake Jagodzinski. 29-4 last year, he was 5th at the Luther Open & champion at the North Central Invite. Among his wins defeated Cody Welker twice, once by fall in 2:49 & once via tech fall 18-1. He also defeated Jack O'Donnell 10-4, Zane Cox 2-1, NCAA DII qualifier Thomas West 6-4 s.v, two time Central Regional champion Patrick McGraw 6-3 & All American Peter Kane by fall at 4:39. 




Peyton Brooks
Albion 

Peyton Brooks returns after a 21-9 freshman season. Among his wins a 13-10 victory over Ramiro G Guerrero & a 9-3 decision over Luke Condy. 

Tyson Nisley
Wabash 

15-7 on the season, Tyson Nisley actually defeated Calvin Cai 26-16 at the Central Regional, but would unfortunately suffer an injury keeping him out of the rest of the tournament. 


Philip Burney
Trine 

12 wins on the season for Philip Burney last year. One of which was a 5:00 fall over Ramiro Guerrero. 

Luke Pinzino
Western New England 

Pinzino didn't participate in the '22-'23 season, but posted a 22-10 record in '21-'22, which also included a 7th place finish at the Northeast Regional. 


Hassan Khan
NYU 

16-6 on the season, Hassan Khan had a number of notable victories. Two of which included a 9-3 decision over Jared Bair & a 23-4 tech over Calvin Cai. 

Drew Vlasnik
Chicago 

17-4 on the season, Drew Vlasnik was 7th at the Pete Willson Invitational. Among his victories a 3-2 decision over Calvin Cai & a 9-5 decision over D3 Qualifier Aidan Brosinski. 

Alex Martinez
TCNJ

Behind two time NCAA D3 qualifier Matt Sacco last season, I would look for Alex Martinez to fill in the spot that Sacco now leaves behind rather nicely. He himself was 14-3 on the season last year. 

Kyle Klein
SUNY-Cortland 

I could definitely see Kyle Klein contending for Mideast Regional placement this season. 24 wins on the year, which included a 5th place showing at the ECWC & a 6th place showing at the Racich Rumble. 

Daniel Kosinski
Scranton 

25 wins on the season for Daniel Kosinski, one of which was a 3:13 fall over Max Yahre. 


Justin Smith
Alfred State 

24 victories for Justin Smith last season, including a 6th place finish at the ECWC. 

Gabriel Smith
Cornell (IA)

A 31-12 record for Gabriel Smith last year. A runner-up finish at the Pete Willson Invitational, he saw victories over Blake Jagodzinske (4-2), Jashon Holmes (9-0), Drew Vlasnik (9-6) & Nick Nettleton (4-2). 

Greg Croce
 Delaware Valley 

Greg Croce won 21 matches last season. Among those victories a 7-3 decision over Robert Lawlor, a 3-1 s.v. over Alejandro Castro & a 6-2 decision over Justin Smith. 


Dustin Bohren
Loras

Sophomore Dustin Bohren was 20-3 on the sason last year. Among his wins, an impressive 15-0 technical fall over Bryce McDonough. 

Zach Schneider
UW-Eau Claire


A 3rd place finish for Zach Schneider at last year's WIAC. He also had a 7-6 victory over Aidan Brosinski, a 12-0 major over Alejandro Castro & a 7-1 victory over Jason Smith. 

Cade Zeamer
Wheaton

22-13 on the season, Cade Zeamer was 6th at the Pete Willson Invitational. 














































































































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