JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Ohio Northern 2026-2027

 

Personally, I like a bit of a warmer winter.  Makes travel easier.  Yet I know the colder it gets, the more suited and ideal it is for Polar Bears.  If there ever be a time when the Polar Bears looked better, name it, because the momentum they have going into '26-'27 is extremely good, and if they can stay healthy it might be even better come 2027-2028.  

Ohio Northern put all 10 on the Regional IV award stand last year.  6 of those 10 earned NCAA Division III qualification.  Not only are 9 of those 10 back for action this season, but as long as they stay healthy and/or don't transfer, all 9 will be back in '27-'28.  We're talking about a very young, very good squad of Polar Bears. 

Ajay Locke finished out his career with 4th & 6th place finishes at Regional IV.  Placed 5th at this year's Pete Willson. 

125
Kurt Mokros

Super strong freshman campaign for Kurt Mokros last season.  34 career wins, finished 3rd at Regional IV & 5th at Pete Willson. A Ohio Northern Invite champion. 

133
Chase Vanderhorst

Chase Vanderhorst has been 6th & 4th thus far in Regional IV.  13 wins last season. 

141
Casper Caizzo

32-9 on the season, Casper Caizzo was 5th at both Regional IV & Pete Willson.  An Ohio Northern Invite runner-up, he was 3rd at Mount Union. 

149
Jovanni Greco

29 wins on the season, Jovanni Greco made the finals of Regional IV.  Took 3rd place finishes at both Ohio Northern & Mount Union.  One match shy of placing at Pete Willson. 

157
Londen Murphy

An NCAA D3 qualifier for the Polar Bears last year, Londen Murphy was 33-7 on the season.  3rd at Regional IV, he won both Mount Union & Ohio Northern.  Took 6th at Pete Willson. 

165
Ben Hegler

Ben Hegler won 29 matches last year in route to a 3rd place showing at Regional IV.  An Ohio Northern Invite champion. 

174
Jack Hoffman 

19 wins on the season, Jack Hoffman was 3rd at Regional IV & one match shy of placing at Pete Willson. 

197
Miles Johnson 

Only a junior & already a two-time Pete Willson place-winner with finishes of 3rd & 5th. Miles Johnson, a Regional IV champion, earned 6th place All-American honors in the D3 nation last year.  2nd at Mount Union & a champion at Ohio Northern, he was 32-7. 

HWT
Troy Dyszkiewicz

The Tennessee native won 24 matches last year, 5th at Regional IV & 7th at Pete Willson. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At North Central 2026-2027

 

A phenomenal year for Cardinal wrestling, as North Central put 9 on the award stand at Regional V, sending 6 of those 9 to the national tournament. We do lose a couple of outstanding talents this year, but without a doubt the white & cardinal will be ready to take names once again in 2026-2027. 

Gone is perhaps the greatest one time NCAA Division III champion of all time, or at least one of them.  A four-time Regional V champion, Chip Guzman finally stood atop the award stand at nationals after having finished 3rd-2nd-2nd in previous years. Some of the best living, breathing proof of that talent that comes out of Florida.  Also a three-time Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) champion. 

Josh Robson also calls it a career. An NWCA Scholar All-American, he earned NCAA D3 qualification this year with a 3rd place showing at Regional V.  A CCIW champion. 

76 career wins for Casey Aikman, who was 2nd at Regional V, one match shy of being an NCAA D3 All-American. 

133
Ethan Spacht

34-2 on the year, the NWCA Scholar All-American finished as the Regional V runner-up, winning a CCIW title. 

149
Tyler Starr

An NCAA D3 qualifier in 2025 with a 3rd place finish at Regional V, Tyler Starr fell a little short last year finishing 5th.  30 wins on the season, he was 3rd at the CCIW. 

Kayle Bearson
157

 The Washington native is another Cardinal that finished a hair short of NCAA D3 qualification last season. Kayle Bearson was 4th at Regional V. 

174
Jake Luce

29 wins on the year, Jake Luce earned NCAA D3 qualification with a 3rd place finish at Regional V. 2nd at the CCIW. 

197
A.J. Frescura

A Regional V runner-up, A.J. Frescura also collected a silver medal at CCIW, winning 29 matches. 

HWT
Will Erbeck

An NWCA Scholar All-American, Will Erbeck won 21 matches placing 8th at Regional V. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Norwich 2026-2027

 

The Cadets return an NCAA D3 qualifier from last year, as we head into '26-'27. 

Carver Moyer, 6th at Regional I last year, is now out of eligibility. 

HWT
Rory Nolan

3rd at Regional I last year, the Cadet was an NCAA D3 qualifier.  A Williams champion, he was 3rd at RIT. 

197
Kevin Rodrigues

Unfortunately, things ended on a sour note for Kevin Rodrigues last year, having to medical forfeit out of Regional I.  However, keep in mind how good this guy is & what he's capable of in '26-'27.  20-5 on the year, had wins over both Xavier Pommels & Brayden Vanderburg.  2nd at both RIT & Williams.  A California native. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Jersey City 2026-2027

 

The Gothic Knights lose a couple of tough wrestlers, as Zach Vera 7th at Regional II last year is now out of eligbility. 

Lucas Torre, an NCAA D3 qualifier last year for the green & gold is also out of eligibility. 

125
Dom Terracciano

An NCAA D3 qualifier last season, Dom Terracciano was 3rd at Regional II last season, winning 20 matches for the Gothic Knights. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look at New England College Wrestling 2026-2027

 

174
Joe Boldec

He was the face of Pilgrim wrestling last year & he'll be the face of Pilgrim wrestling this year.  Joe Boldec, 26 wins on the season, won Regional I last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Nebraska Wesleyan 2026-2027

 

Found myself in a bit of mystery when it comes to Nebraska Wesleyan wrestling.  I know Emilio Chavez, 8th at last year's Regional VI is out of eligibility, but by all means Robbie Fisher, a two-time 8th placer, is only a junior.  He should be back, but the Prairie Wolves recently released a '26-'27 roster & his name isn't on it. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Muskingum 2026-2027

 

The Muskies put three on the award stand at Regional IV last year, and all three return for action in '26-'27. 

141
Lee Zoganas

10 wins on the season, Lee Zoganas was 8th at Regional IV. 

157
Wyatt Opferbeck

11 wins on the year, Wyatt Opferbeck was 8th at Regional IV. 

HWT
Scotty Edwards

One match shy of NCAA D3 qualification at year ago, Scotty Edwards heads into '26-'27 looking to make that trip to La Crosse come the past season.  21 wins on the year, runner-up at both the Millikin Open & the Blue Jay Classic, 3rd at Baldwin Wallace. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Milwaukee School of Engineering 2026-2027

 

The Raiders return all four of their Regional VII place-winners from last season, including a wrestler on a path to become one of the best MSOE wrestlers in history. 

149
Alex Morales

The California native won 31 matches last season, earning a 5th place showing at Regional VII.  Winning a Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) title, he was 2nd at the MSOE Invite & 3rd at Al Hanke. 

157
Ben Messier

A James Brown fan, it's obvious that this kid has great taste in music.  18 wins on the season, sophomore Ben Messier was 8th at Regional VII last year. 

174
Toren Vandenbush

Hard to believe with everything that Toren Vandenbush has already achieved, that he still has two years of eligibility remaining in his illustrious career.  Walks out to John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN theme & it's clear to see why.  Like Michael Myers, this Raider just slashes through the competition.  41-6 on the year, he took runner-up honors at Regional VII.  Champion at CCIW, MSOE & Al Hanke, he was 3rd at Concordia-Wisconsin. 

184
Jackson Hughes

7th & 4th in Regional VII, Jackson Hughes will not only look for a third Regional VII placement, but also NCAA D3 qualification honors in '26-'27.  28 wins on the year, he was 2nd at Al Hanke. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Muhlenberg 2026-2027

 

Two tough seniors will lead the way for the Mules of Muhlenberg as we head into '26-'27. 

125
C.J. Horvath

The Centennial Conference Champ (CCC), finished out 2026 one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier.  6th in 2025, he looks to earn that qualification this season, while also becoming a three-time Regional III place-winner.  Also won Scotty Wood. 

141
Andrew Loniewski

2025 NCAA D3 qualifier & CCC champion Andrew Loniewski returns to the lineup for the Mules this season.  Among the many things he looks to accomplish in '26-'27, becoming a four-time Scotty Wood champion is one of them. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Mount St. Joseph 2026-2027

 

149
Xavier Woods

13 wins on the season for the Chicago native last year.  Xavier Woods heads into '26-'27, having earned an 8th place finish at Regional V last season. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Misericordia 2026-2027

 

Looks to be a great year for Misericordia wrestling as the Cougars look for their first NCAA Division III qualifier & they are likely to get it.  Possibly, even more than one.  Cougars are looking tough this year.  I'd be shocked if they don't have an NCAA D3 qualifier. 

125
Jaydin Barreto

6th at Regional III, Jaydin Barreto won 26 matches this past season. 

149
Mike Williams

Speaking of candidates to become the Cougars first NCAA D3 qualifier.  Mike Williams finished one match shy of that very distinction a year ago.  A champion at Lycoming & 3rd at the Racich Rumble, he took runner up finishes at Wilkes, Cougar Classic, New Standard & the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). An NWCA Academica All-American, he won 26 matches. 

Tony Matas
174

The Vermont native won 31 matches last season for the Cougars.  5th at Regional III he won both the Cougar Open & the MAC, finishing 2nd at Lycoming.  An NWCA Academic All-American. 

184
Robbie Anderson

29 wins on the season for Robbie Anderson.  Another NWCA Academic All-American, he was 7th at Regional III.  A Cougar Classic champion, he was 3rd at both the Racich Rumble & the MAC. 

HWT
Aiden Hidlay

When I said the Cougars have plenty of strong candidates for possibly crowning their first NCAA D3 qualifier, I meant it. Aiden Hidlay finished one match shy last season, posting 35 wins on the year. An NWCA Academic All-American, he won Lycoming, while finishing 2nd at the Cougar Open & 3rd at the MAC. 

JT1Wrestle Takes A Look At Mount Union 2026-2027

 

2026-2027 is shaping up to be a great year for Raider wrestling.  Mount Union put 6 on the award stand at Regional IV last season, and I say they put at least 8 on the award stand this year.  

Nolan Frye is unfortunately out of eligibility.  A reliable hand that often came through in my important situations for the white & purple, who fell a hair short the past two seasons of being an NCAA D3 qualifier.  4th & 5th his final two Regional IV's.  A highlight in his final season though, was placing 8th at the prestigious Pete Willson Invitational. 

125
Mason Taylor

16 wins on the season, Mason Taylor was 5th at Regional IV last season. 

141
Josh Carman

I have no idea why, but Josh Carman didn't wrestle after January 21st last year. Nonetheless, most definitely Regional IV top 8 material.  21 wins on the year, a 7-6 win over Evan Lindner.  Was the runner-up at the Mount Union Invite. 

149
Jack DeBoe

8th at Regional IV, Jack DeBoe won 20 matches last season. 

165
Aiden Stecker

Aiden Stecker wrapped up his freshman year with 21 wins, placing 5th at Regional IV & 8th at Pete Willson. 

174
Jake Starkey

19 wins on the season, Jake Starkey was 6th at Regional IV. 

184
Blaine Chrisman

Blaine Chrisman finished off his freshman season one match shy of NCAA D3 qualification, with 22 victories. 

HWT
Steve Marra

Want someone I think can be a 2027 All-American, who didn't even place at Regionals in 2026? I'll give you that someone.  Steve Marra unfortunately had a really bad Regional IV last year, but keep in mind he was one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier in 2025.  Despite the unfortunate outcome at Regional IV, he wrestled exceptionally well at Pete Willson, earning 4th place.  He was also 3rd at the Mount Union Invite. 21 wins in total, the guy's a pinner, having won over half of those matches via fall.