2023 NCAA Division III The Season: United States Coast Guard Academy

 

The Bears return three of the five NCAA Division III qualifiers they had from last season. Sadly two time DIII runner-up Paul Detwiler is gone due to graduation as is three time NCAA DIII qualifier Philip Rogers who was 3rd in the nationals in 2021 & R12 this past season. Other than that though many of the Bears top stars are back. 

133 lbs
Chase Randall 

I can see some good things coming out of two time Washington High School state runner-up Chase Randall this season. He lost two really close matches at the Northeast Regional eventually slipping to 6th place, but I think he's better than that finish and I think he will prove so this season. 

141 lbs
Caden Mareno 

Anxious to see how Caden Mareno fares in his final season as a Bear. He took took 6th place honors at the Northeast Regional last season. 

149 lbs
Tony Ulaszek 

I can see a lot of good things coming out of Tony Ulaszek this season. Last year he won the Northeast Regional title & his only two losses were at the NCAA Division III national tournament. It very well could be that the four time Colorado High School state place-winner ends up a three time All American. 

157 lbs
Joe Chapman or Devin Woodworth 

I think we could potentially have a really good wrestle-off here at 157 lbs to see who starts for the USCGA this season. Joe Chapman was an NCAA DIII qualifier taking 3rd place honors at the Northeast Regional but you can bet that Devin Woodworth will give him a run for his money. The two time New York State Place winner took six fall in his nine victories last season. Five of them were in the first period. Woodworth for note, also plays football for the Bears. 

174 lbs
Steven Rochard 

Replacing Philip Rogers in the lineup this season will be Steven Rochard. He defeated Scott DeFex of Johnson & Wales who was 4th at the Northeast Regional last season by a score of 11-6. The Virginia State champion had a 4.2 GPA while in High School. 

174 lbs
David McCullough 

An national qualifier in 2021, David McCullough was 6th at the Northeast Regional this past season. I think he has potential to make a second trip to the national tournament this year. 

197 lbs
Coy Spooner 

A Northeast Regional champion & 5th in the NCAA Division III championships, Spooner's only losses last season were at the national tournament. I do think that Cody Baldridge of North Central may be out of his league, but nobody else is. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him make the finals this season. 

HWT
Tim Ganuncio 

IMO I think size was the issue with Tim Ganuncio last season. He's essentially a 197 lbs'er trying to compete with guys who can be as big as 285 lbs. I was impressed that he was able to take 6th place in a 19 man bracket last season at the Northeast Regional. I think he packs on a bit more muscle this season, he'll do even better. Again my opinion. 

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