College Wrestling : June 2023

I'll say the same thing for 133 lbs that I said for 125 lbs & that I'll say for the rest of the weights. With 125+ wrestlers you can't just narrow it down to the ones you think might All American or even the ones you think might be one of the 18 to qualify. Too many good wrestlers & too much good wrestling to miss out on if you are that narrow. What I can do though is narrow it down to who I think will be among those that fight for Regional placement. 54 may seem like a big number, but in DIII terms? It's not.

Robbie Precin
North Central

I said earlier when I did my DIII 125 preview that Joziah Fry had the opportunity to go down as one of the greatest DIII wrestlers of all time. Fact of the matter is, Robbie Precin already is. In the past three seasons he has been an NCAA DIII runner-up, following it with two NCAA DIII titles. He's 120-2 overall. Ironically enough though, only a little over half of his matches last season ended in bonus points. Some of his matches have been pretty close, but the past two seasons, he's won them all.

Jaden Hinton
Baldwin Wallace

36-4 on the season, Jaden Hinton returns for his junior season having earned a 4th place All American finish at the DIII championships last season. Thus far he's also been 3rd & 2nd in the Central Regional as he should be the odds on favorite to win a title this year. Among his other credentials, last season he won titles at both the Ithaca Invitational & the Baldwin Wallace Invitational, taking runner-up honors at the North Central Invite.

Ty Bisek
Concordia (MN)

At the beginning of the season last year I called Ty Bisek one of the best wrestlers to not make the DIII championships in 2022 & he more than proved me correct with his performance. 33-5 on the season he finished 3rd in the Upper Midwest Regional (4th in '22) & 6th in the DIII nation. Winning the always loaded Pete Willson Invitational, he also won the Augsburg Invite.

Luke Kowolski
Gettysburg

It's only fitting that Killer Kowolski wrestles at Gettysburg because when it's time to do battle, this bullet is always prepared for war. 21-6 on the season, he was 3rd in the Southeast Regional, taking 7th place All American honors at the NCAA DIII championships. He was R12 in 2022.

Chase Randall
USCGA

Heading into his junior season, Chase Randall was 8th in the DIII nation last year, taking 3rd at the Northeast Regional. A record of 19-5.

J.C. Cardenas
SUNY-Cortland

Despite the arduous competition, J.C. Cardenas has managed to win back to back Mideast Regional titles the past two seasons. It's so rare in DIII wrestling to be a four time Regional champion, but going into his junior season, Cardenas has the opportunity to do so. Also winning titles at the Racich Rumble, The Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference & the Petrofes, he finished one match shy of All American honors at the DIII championships. He was 31-4 overall.

Nico Diaz
Stevens Tech

Only a sophomore this season, Nico Diaz went 20-7 on the year winning a Southeast Regional Title.

Dominick Mallinder Justin Fortugno

Another tough freshman from last season, Dominick Mallinder went 31-14 on the season, really turning it on towards year's end by winning titles at both the WIAC & the Upper Midwest Regional. He will be challenged for his starting spot by Justin Fortugno, a fellow sophomore who also had himself a fine freshman season. 27 wins & a 3rd place finish at the WIAC. In two official meetings Mallinder has slipped past Fortugno 3-2 & 5-4 t.b.

Isaias Torres
Ithaca

Looking to drop a bomb on Cardenas' plans to become a three time Mideast Regional Champion this season will be Isaias Torres of Ithaca. A runner-up to Cardenas last season, the match ended in a nail biting 5-4 decision. Also R12 at the DIII championships, Torres won a New Standard Invitational, taking bronzes at both the Ithaca Invitational & the ECWC. A 34-10 on the year.

Joey Pins
Wartburg

Joey Pins or as I like to refer to him as Joey "Technically" Pins (Hey the guy had 6 techs last year & only one fall) returns for his final season as a Knight looking for his third All American honor. 3rd in at the NWCA in 2021, he was 8th in the DIII nation in 2022, missing out on a third medal last season with a R12 finish. 16-4 on the season, he was 3rd at the Lower Midwest Regional.

Gabriel Leo Esparolini
Johnson & Wales

Gabriel Leo Esparolini spent most of the season at 141 lbs last year before moving down to 133 shortly before the Northeast Regional. Winning a Regional title, he also won a New Standard Invitational, taking 3rd at the Ithaca Invite. Among his wins in his 28-4 season, a 6-3 decision over All American Chase Randall.

Adam Schaeublin
Trinity

The three time Massachusetts state champ had himself a pretty good start to his DIII career last season. 27-9 on the year he was a runner-up at the Northeast Regional qualifying for nationals.

Desmond Diggs
Mount St Joseph

A two time NCAA DIII qualifier, Desmond Diggs was 26-10 on the season last year, finishing 3rd in the Central Regional.

Danny Haws
Centenary

Sophomore Danny Haws qualified for his first NCAA DIII championships last year with a 3rd place finish at the Mideast Regional. He was 21-11 on the year.

Alex Friddle
Coe

Alex Friddle of Coe won an NWCA title in 2021, but the last two seasons he has came up just a hair short of NCAA DIII qualification. 5th in the Lower Midwest Regional in 2022, he was 4th this past year. 20-9 on the season, he took a 5th place finish at the Luther Open.

Dylan Le
Ohio Northern

The Pharmacy major was one match shy of NCAA DIII qualification last season as he finished 4th in the Central Regional. Also 5th in the Pete Willson Invitational, he was 32-15 on the year.

Anthony Portillo
Alvernia

22-13 on the season last year, Anthony Portillo collected a number of top finishes at various tournaments last season. Among them, 4th at both the Southeast Region & the Racich Rumble, while 3rd at the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Anthony Romero
SUNY-Oneonta

21-8 on the season, Anthony Romero was one match shy of NCAA DIII qualification with a 4th place finish at the Mideast Regional.

Griffin Seyfried
Chicago

Seyfried was 22-13 last season, finishing one match shy of NCAA DIII qualification with a 4th place finish at the Upper Midwest Regional.

Kyle Nase
TCNJ

Kyle Nase is among those that will challenge for a spot in the top 18 this season. 23-9 on the season, he was 5th at the Mideast Regional. Among his victories, a 9-6 decision over Southeast Regional champ Nico Diaz.

Gianni Manginelli
Springfield

If you ask ole JT#1 who he feels is the best senior in DIII yet to qualify for nationals at 133, I'll be hard pressed not to say Gianni Manginelli. Thus far 4th & 5th in the Mideast Regional, nabbing a top 3 finish will be every bit as difficult as it has ever been. He's had close matches with both Chase Randall & Gabriel Leo-Esparolini. 24-3 on the season, two of his losses were at the Regional.

Trevor Boryla
Augustana (Ill)

Another tough senior who has yet to make it to the DIII dance is Trevor Boryla of Augustana (Ill). 37-10 on the season last year, he's been 4th & 5th the past two Lower Midwest Regionals. He also collected a bronze medal at the Pete Willson Invitational.

Ryan Arndt
Delaware Valley

Arndt 31-12 on the season was a Middle Atlantic Conference champion, taking 5th at the Southeast Regional & 2nd at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational.

Denis Murphy
UW-Oshkosh

Well b'gosh Oshkosh, Dennis Murphy seems to know when to turn it on at appropriate times. An up & down season at 19-17, he had 5th place finishes at both the Upper Midwest Regional & the WIAC.

Zach Thompson
UW-Platteville

5th in the NWCA in 2021 & 7th in the DIII nation in 2022, I was downright shocked when Zach Thompson failed to qualify last season. His only loss going into the Upper Midwest Regional was against NCAA DII competition. Wins included majoring Upper Midwest Regional champ Dominick Mallinder 11-2 & defeating eventual 3rd place All American Tyler Fleetwood 5-2. A loss to Mallinder, followed by a loss to Ty Bisek illustrate just how unforgiving & cruel DIII wrestling can be. Unlike DI & NAIA, which allow for errors & mistakes, DIII does not. Thompson finished in 6th place. This will be his chance to Shawshank & make a redemption.

Jack Bauer
Wilkes

As I've said before & I'll say again, with so many programs & so many wrestlers at the DIII level, it's damn near impossible to go four for four at any tournament, but that's exactly what Jack Bauer is going to go for in his final season as a Colonel. In the Southeast Regional, he's thus far collected finishes of 5th-7th-6th. In the Middle Atlantic Conference he's been 6th-2nd-6th. 28-7 last year, he defeated qualifier Isaias Torres 7-4.

Jimmy Baumann
Ohio Wesleyan

23-12 last year as a freshman, Jimmy Baumann was 6th in the Central Regional.

Brent Lorin
Johns Hopkins

Brent Lorin goes into his final season as a Blue Jay having posted a 29-9 record this past season. 6th in the Mideast Regional, he will also be going for his third placement in the Racich Rumble having been 4th & 5th the past two years.

Joey Langeman
Trine

23-13 on the season, Joey Langeman was 6th in the Central Regional.

Zach Levy
SUNY-Brockport

An NCAA DIII qualifier in 2022 Zach Levey slipped to a 7th place Mideast Regional finish as a sophomore after finishing 3rd as a freshman. Also an ECWC champion in 2022, he will look to get back to form this season. He was 15-5 on the year.

Drew Magness
Mount Union

19-12 in his rookie season, Drew Magness finished 7th at the Central Regional & 8th at the Pete Willson Invitational.

John Lafferty
New England

Sacred Heart transfer John Lafferty went 17-9 on the season last year, taking a 7th place finish at the Northeast Regional.

Coby Haney
Millikin

23-8 on the season Coby Haney was 7th at the Lower Midwest Regional, collecting bronze medals at both the CCIW & the Millikin Open. 4th in the Coe Invitational, he defeated Upper Midwest Regional champ Dominick Mallinder 11-5.

Blaze Thurber
UW-Stevens Point

Despite a 15-22 record, Blaze Thurber still often shows up at the right times. 7th in the Upper Midwest Regional & 6th in the WIAC, he was 5th in the Pointer Open. Among his victories, he stuck Trevor Boryla in 5:32, defeating Dylan Le 12-11.

Rubyn Semedo
Ferrum

Another tough freshman from last season, Rubyn Semedo was 20-18 on the season capturing a 7th place finish at the Southeast Regional & a 6th place finish at the ODAC.

Blake McGee
Wabash

Injuries got the best of Blake McGee this past season, but nevertheless he was still able to manage an 8th place showing at the Central Regional (4th in '22). He also had a 3-2 victory over Upper Midwest Champ Dominick Mallinder.

Derek Bernardino
St John Fisher

One of the toughest wrestlers on the newly restored St John Fisher wrestling team, Derek Bernardino was 8th in the Mideast Regional last season.

Wes Wydick
USMMA

20-16 on the season, Wes Wydick was 8th in the Northeast Regional.

Gaige Owens
Eureka

27-13 in his intial season, Gaige Owens was 8th at both the Lower Midwest Regional & the Luther Open.

David Rubin
Washington & Lee

Rubin was 8th in the Southeast Regional last season.

Zach Weiler
UW- La Crosse

Senior Zach Weiler was 4th at the WIAC & 8th at the Upper Midwest Regional. He defeated Southeast Regional champ Nico Diaz 7-4.

Seth Majewski
Defiance

Another wrestler who suffered some injuries last season, Seth Majewski was 16-6 on the year. 5th in the Central Regional, he was 6th at the Pete Willson Invitational. He had a 9-4 decision over All American Tyler Fleetwood.

Austin Matheney
Albion

Sophomore Austin Matheney was 19-10 on the season, with a 10-7 victory over Seth Majewski.

Gabe Scalise
R.I.T.

Quite the start to his DIII career as Gabe Scalise was 32-11 on the season with a 5th place finish at the ECWC.

Patrick Snoke
Penn Tech

281-11 on the season, Patrick Snoke was 4th at the ECWC.

Brock Beck
Central

7th at the Lower Midwest Regional as a freshman in 2022, Brock Beck missed out on a second medal this past season. However he did win his second Millikin title, taking runner-up finishes at the Under Amour Invite & the Pointer Open. He was 15-4 on the season.

Cade Willis
Augsburg

The future veterinarian had 18 wins on the season with some impressive victories. He defeated Alex Friddle twice by scores of 3-1 & 12-1 and he defeated Zach Weiler 3-0. He was 4th at both the Luther Invite & the North Central Invite.