Sunday, July 31, 2022

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: New York University

 


The Violets of NYU qualified four to the NCAA Division III championships and all four are back. 

125 lbs
Benny Bautista 

Over half of his wins last season as a freshman  involved bonus points. I think the potential for a bright future is there for Benny Bautista as he heads into his sophomore season. 

133 lbs
Nicholas Kruzynski 

Another tough sophomore on the Violet squad is Nicholas Kruczynski who put together 24 victories last season, 10 of them via fall.  He was 7th in the Northeast Regional last season with potential to earn a higher placing this season. The future FBI agent might not make the NCAA Division III tournament this season, but qualification is definitely in his future. 

149 
Anthony Chavez 

Junior Anthony Chavez comes all the way to NYU from California after spending sometime at Fresno City College. He was 21-12 last season & should be a contender for Regional placement this season. 

157 lbs
Trent Furman 

Senior Trent Furman put together a very nice 29-9 record last season in route to a Northeast Regional runner-up finish and a R12 finish at the NCAA Division III tournament. He will look to win a Regional title & earn All American status this year. 

165 lbs
Cooper Pontelandolfo 

The New Jersey native had a phenomenal freshman campaign last year going 30-7, taking runner-up honors at the Northeast Regional & earning a 6th place All American finish at the NCAA Division III championships. He has the opportunity to join the rare club of four time All Americans. 

197 lbs
Matt Kelly 

Matt Kelly qualified for the NCAA Division III championships last season with a 3rd place finish at the Northeast Regional. He will look to become a two time qualifier this year. 














Gone, Lost & Forgotten = Canada Version

 When doing research for "Gone, Lost & Forgotten" by pure coincidence I came across McGill University in Montreal & found that they had a wrestling program at one time. I meant to do a dive into Canada to see what I could find as far as wrestling was concerned a lot sooner but I got sidetracked doing other projects for Johnnythompsonnum1.   

Heartbreakingly only 17 of the 56 Universities in Canada that offer sports have wrestling programs. 1 that competes in NCAA Division II & the other 16 which participate in U-Sports (governing body in Canada). 

Along with McGill, I found that six other Universities that also used to field wrestling programs. 

All in all this brings "Gone, Lost & Forgotten" up to 470 discontinued wrestling programs that I have found. 

Dalhousie 

Information was scarce but I did find enough to indicate that the Tigers did have wrestling at one time in their history. 

Larry Archibald


What he achieved in basketball and Track & Field was much more noted than his accomplishments as a wrestler, but he was listed as a wrestler who won a championship in 1967 for the Tigers. 

St Francis Xavier 


Pretty much same thing that I found with Dalhousie. Very little information but enough to indicate that they did indeed have a wrestling program. 

Trevor Riddick 

Most everything you'll read on Trevor Riddick centers around his soccer career but it is briefly mentioned that he was one of the X-men's top contenders in wrestling & that he competed very well within the conference. 

British Columbia (Vancouver) 

From what I have found the Thunderbirds not only had a wrestling program at one time, but they were very good. I know that during their time on the mat they won four Western Canada Team Championships during the mid to late 70's. 

Bob Laycoe 


Bob Laycoe had a standout season for the Thunderbirds in 1969. He won a Western Canada title, what would today be considered a U-Sport title & a Canadian National title.  He was the coach of the team when they won the Western Canada Team titles in the 70's. He was also the head coach for Team Canada at the Commonwealth Games as well. 



Believe it or not how I found out that the Cougars used to have a wrestling program is when I did an interview with Ross Hart, the brother of legendary professional wrestler Bret Hart.  Ross informed me that many of the Harts wrestled collegiately.  He and Owen wrestled at the University of Calgary, while Keith wrestled at Saskatchewan. Bret wrestled at Mount Royal. From what I have been able to find he won something in 1977, but I'm not sure what that something was. 

Regina is really a heartbreaking story. Not only did they win back to back U-Sport National titles in 1997 and 1998, they were the first team in any sport to win a U-Sport title for Regina. The Cougars discontinued wrestling after the 2017-2018 season. Interesting note, Regina wrestled Bismarck State College in a dual in 1998.  I didn't realize that American and Canadian teams were still facing one another in duals during that time.  I always thought that ended sometime in the 70's.  Wonder if it was one of the last times a University in Canada had a dual against an American team. 

Photograph of Team Title won in 1997 

Dean Schmeichel 

Dean Schmeichel was a standout wrestler for the Cougars.  A two time Western Canada Champion he took bronze, silver & gold medals at the U-Sport championships during his collegiate days. He later won a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. 


Winnipeg 




It is said that 1928 Olympic Bronze Medalist Jim Trifunov was the coach at Winnipeg for a time. 






Saturday, July 30, 2022

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Castleton

 

Vermont is definitely not a state we bring up very much when discussing wrestling but I'm telling you this small little college just 7 miles east of the New York border has pretty tough team. Two of their top wrestlers from last season did graduate in Northeast Regional runner-up/NCAA DIII R12 Cooper Fleming as well Chance LaPier who was 5th at the Northeast Regional. However, they do return an All American and have an overall lineup that is more than capable of seeing Regional place-winners at nearly every weight. 

125 
Kaya Bogle 

The Massachusetts native went 25-9 last season & will definitely compete hard throughout duals, tournaments and the regional this season. 

133 lbs
Michael Gonyea 

Going 38-8 last season, Michael Gonyea took a 5th place finish at the Northeast Regional. He is definitely a contender for NCAA Division III qualification this year. 

141 lbs
James Rodriguez 

The leader of the Spartan team this season will be junior James Rodriguez who earned an 8th place All American finish at the NCAA Division III championships after placing 3rd at the Northeast Regional. He will look to win a Regional title this season & earn his second top 8 finish at the national tournament. 

149 lbs
Nicholas Roeger 

The New Hampshire native went 32-14 last season capturing a 6th place finish at the Northeast Regional. While not a guarantee, I would put him in the running for an NCAA Division III qualification this season. Such a small # of the wrestlers in NCAA DIII make it to the national tournament, but he's among those that could. 

157 lbs
Logan Dubuque 

I was a little surprised when Logan Dubuque fell out of the top 8 at the Northeast Regional last season, but he lost two really close matches that kept him off of the award stand. I am pretty positive that will not be the case this season & we will see him earn a Regional medal. 

165 lbs
Michael Angers 

Like Gonyea, I would place Angers who took 5th at the Northeast Regional on a 32-9 record last season as one who is more than capable of earning NCAA DIII qualification this year. 

184 lbs
Alex Richards or Sampson Wilkins 

I think this will be one of the better wrestle-offs at the NCAA Division III level for this upcoming season.  A very tough sophomore Vs a very tough junior.  Richards, a native of New York went 32-8 last season as Wilkins one of the few actual Vermont representatives went 34-11. Whoever wins this matchup will for sure contend for a top 8 showing within the Regional. 

197 lbs
Haven Tatarek

Replacing a talent like Chance LaPier will not be easy but I think Haven Tatarek will fill in nicely. 

HWT 
Shea Garand 

The Massachusetts native went 30-14 last season in route to a 7th place finish at the Northeast Regional. He we look to earn a second Regional medal this season. 

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Friday, July 29, 2022

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: SUNY Brockport

 



The Golden Eagles had a pretty good season last year and if it wasn't for a couple of rounds of poor luck, it would have been even better. They finished as the runner-ups at the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference (ECWC) tournament as they finished in the top half of the Mideast Regional. If everyone stays healthy and wrestles as they should, this season should be even better than last. 

125 lbs
Matt Caccamise

Three time NCAA Division III qualifier Matt Caccamise enters his final season as a Golden Eagle looking to finally make the award stand at the national tournament. He came close last year finishing one match shy of placing after winning the Mideast Regional title. 

133 
Zach Levey 

Junior Zach Levey had himself a pretty good season last year that saw a ECWC championship along with a 3rd place finish at the Mideast Regional.  A 23-9 record he will look to win a second conference title as well as a second NCAA Division III qualification. 

141 lbs
Eli Sims 

Eli Sims failed to qualify for the NCAA Division III championships after making an appearance in 2020. Despite this disappointing outcome, he still made the ECWC finals as he looks to redeem himself this season and make a second trip to the national tournament. 

149 
Marquis Larmond 

I'm not sure if Marquis Larmond will be an NCAA Division III qualifier this year or not, but what he will most certainly be is a asset in duals, within the conference and within the Regional. He was a conference runner up and 8th in the Mideast Regional las season. He will look to improve upon his 19-12 record. 

184 lbs
Chris Eames 

Finishing as the runner up at the ECWC tournament and in 5th place at the Mideast Regional, Chris Eames stands a shot at making the NCAA Division III tournament this season. He was 19-8 last year. 

HWT
Richard Knapp 

It was a heartbreaking end to the season last year as Richard Knapp entered the Mideast Regional  with a record of 22-1, only to have an injury stop him dead in his tracks. The senior out of Binghamton has the tools to be an All American this season if he can remain healthy. 

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If you enjoy Johnnythompsonnum1 & would like to see further coverage of your favorite college wrestling teams and college wrestlers please consider donating to Johnnythompsonnum1. Thus far generous donations have allowed me to purchase a camera & I hope to further my ability to cover more events and grow the coverage I do for wrestling. Send donation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1 













2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Johns Hopkins

 


This will be a rebuilding year for the Blue Jays as they lost some of their top talent due to graduation.  Gone is All American Hank Behaghel who took 8th at the NCAA Division III Championships last season as well as two time qualifier Dominick Reyes and two time Mideast Regional place-winner Joe Paul who had an impressive 34-9 record last season. 

184 lbs
Grant Walnoha 

Among the incoming freshmen and the other wrestlers on the team bound to step up is senior Grant Walnoha who took an 8th place finish at the Mideast Regional last season.  He will look to improve upon a 15-13 record as he looks to stand higher on the Regional award stand this year. 




Thursday, July 28, 2022

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Scranton

 


The Royals lost a couple of good wrestlers due to graduation including two time Regional place-winner Will Laughlin as well as the always tough Anthony Clarizio.  Back are two tough wrestlers who should both compete hard within the regional this season. 

157 lbs
Dan Kosinski 

Junior Dan Kosinski enters his junior season after a 19-15 record last year which saw an 8th place finish at the Mideast Regional. He will look to improve upon both his record as well as his regional placing this season. 

165 lbs
Jeremiah Oakes 

A 25-12 record in 2020 & a 17-8 record last season, Jeremiah Oakes has certainly shown throughout various moments in his collegiate career that he is capable of doing some pretty big things. It's simply a matter of making it happen. Among some of his more notable wins last season, he did defeat Brian Schneider of Elizabethtown who was 5th in the Regional. 






2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Penn College of Technology

 


Are we looking at any NCAA Division III qualifiers on the season? I think it's a possibility. What we definitely have are some wrestlers that will for sure look for top 8 showings within the Regional. 

133 lbs
Patrick Snoke 

Inconsistency last season may have been nothing more than an adjustment to the college grind. Sophomore Patrick Snoke showed some good signs last season in his 12-10 record including a fall over NCAA Division III qualifier Zach Levey of SUNY-Brockport. 

157 lbs
Noah Hunt 

Junior Noah Hunt had a pretty good showing last season going 16-12 and placing 5th at the Mideast Regional. If the Wildcats are to have an NCAA Division III qualifier this season, Hunt is well...in the hunt. 

184 lbs
Jake Kallenborn 

Another sophomore on the Wildcat roster with potential is Jake Kallenborn who had a 12-3 record last season. He like Snoke, will look for his first top 8 regional showing. 








2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Elizabethtown

 

The 21'-22' season didn't see any NCAA Division III qualifiers, I do believe that the Blue Jays could very well send some to the national tournament this year. They have a good squad full of some good wrestlers. 

149 lbs
Dorian Gonzalez 

A 9-1 record last season, this included a 3:09 fall over Jake Drexler of UW-Eau Claire who finished one match shy of NCAA Division III All American honors. The one time state Pennsylvania High School State qualifier could potentially outdo himself as the collegiate level. He has two opportunities left to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships. 

165 lbs
Brian Schneider 

A 24-11 record last season, the two time state champion out of Delaware, finished 5th at the Mideast Regional last season. He also owns a 6th place finish from 2020. He will be going for his third Regional placing, as well as his first NCAA Division III qualification this year. 

HWT
Dylan Waller 

Junior Dylan Waller put together a pretty impressive 29-8 record last season which included two victories of 2021 NCAA Division III qualifier Carter Urich of Messiah. He will look to be among the Bluejays this season who place within the Regional. 

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If you enjoy Johnnythompsonnum1 & would like to see further coverage of your favorite college wrestling teams and college wrestlers please consider donating to Johnnythompsonnum1. Thus far generous donations have allowed me to purchase a camera & I hope to further my ability to cover more events and grow the coverage I do for wrestling. Send donation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1