The first thing I'm going to say in regards to NCAA DIII wrestling concerning 184 lbs is how much I'm going to miss Jaritt Shinhoster of UW-Whitewater. The two time D3 champ with over 100 career wins really put not only himself, but D3 wrestling as a whole on the map last season when he overcame two NCAA DI qualifiers to place 2nd at the prestigious Midlands championships. Have some claims that he does have another year of eligibility left, but I don't see how that would be possible. He's been around since the '18-'19 season, going 2-2-1-1 at the Upper Midwest Regional. I welcome his return if indeed it is happening, but I'd definitely question where the 6th year is coming from.
As to the rest of 184 lbs, what really makes the '23-'24 season fun for a fan like myself is that so many of the returnees wrestled in and placed at a variety of tournaments last season. From the Racich Rumble to the ECWC to the WIAC, there are so many guys who will be defending their titles, going for another medal that heightens the hype of competition. In looking over the overall careers of these athletes, many look to have decent sized collections among their credentials.
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| Donovan Corn Luther |
He may be wrestling in the freezing cold Norwegian winds of northeastern Iowa during the winter months of December, January, February & March, but nonetheless the Arizona native still brings the heat when he steps onto the mat. 33-8 on the season, the two time Lower Midwest Regional runner-up finished 3rd in the D3 nation. Also 4th at the 2021 NCWA, of his 8 losses last season, two were to D3 champ Shinhoster & 3 were to D3 Runner-up Shane Liegel. Runner-up at both the Luther Open & the Augsburg Open, he was 3rd at the Pointer Open. Looks to end his career a national champion.
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| Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann Augsburg |
31-8 on the season, Bentley Schwanebeck-Osterman collected his third All American honor last season with a 4th place finish at the DIII nationals. (6th at the 2021 NCWA & 6th in '22). An Upper Midwest Regional runner-up, some of his only losses on the season were to both D3 champ Shinhoster & D3 Runner-up Liegel. He also lost three times to Donovan Corn, whom he'll have to figure out if he wants to go out a national champion. Winning both an Augsburg Invitational & a North Central Invitational, he was 4th at the Luther Open.
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| Chase Baczek Wabash |
Chase Baczek goes into his junior season now a two time NCAA Division III All American. 6th in 2022, he was 7th this past season. A Central Regional champion, his 23-4 record included a 4:47 fall over Donovan Corn.
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| Colby Giroux RIT |
When it came time to show up last season, Colby Giroux really turned it on and turned it up. 34-7 on the season he avenged losses throughout the season to win the Mideast Regional title (6th in '22) & finish 6th in the D3 nation. The sign language and deaf cultural studies minor will look to win a second regional title this season & improve upon his All American placing.
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| Kalyn Jahn UW-La Crosse |
20-11 on the season, Kalyn Jahn goes into his final year of eligibility looking to collect his first NCAA D3 medal, while looking to collect his third medals at both the Upper Midwest Regional & the WIAC. R12 at last year's D3 championships, he's thus far been 5th & 3rd in the Regional and 2nd & 3rd in the WIAC. Among his victories, a 4:57 fall over Chase Baczek.
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| Sampson Wilkins Castleton |
The Vermont native was 35-14 on the season last year, collecting medals from various tournaments. Damn near collected one at the NCAA DIII championships as he finished one match shy of placement. 3rd in the Northeast Regional, he was also 3rd at the Ithaca Invitational, finishing 4th at the Roger Williams Invite. He had a 3-0 win over Chase Baczek.
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| Tristan Westphal Coe |
Tristan Westphal goes into his final season of competition having finished one match shy of NCAA DIII All American honors last year. 22-7 on the season, the 8th place 2021 NCWA All American was 3rd at the Lower Midwest Regional & champion at the Coe Invitational.
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| Isaac Kassis Alvernia |
32-10 on the season, Isaac Kassis won title at both the Southeast Regional (3rd in '22) & the Racich Rumble. He was runner-up at the MAC (1st in '22).
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| Gavin Layman Ohio Northern |
34-8 on the season, Gavin Layman had quite a few highlights on the year as a sophomore. These included a 3rd place showing at the ever tough Pete Willson Invitational & a 2nd place showing at the Central Regional.
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| Isaac Cory Penn Tech |
The four time Pennsylvania high school state qualifier had himself a pretty good rookie season last year. 18-4 on the season, he proved how dangerous he could be when he pinned eventual Mideast Regional champ Colby Giroux in just 45 seconds. Cory would then lose two nail-biters to Giroux, including a tight one in the Regional finals. Should continue to be a good feud we'll see multiple times this season as well.
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| Cam Blizard Washington & Lee |
Regardless of the weather outside, inside there are times when we'll see a blizzard, or better put, a Blizard. 21-8 on the season, it was a runner-up finish for Cam Blizard at the Southeast Regional & a title won at the Messiah Open.
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| Edwin Morales Jonathan Davila |
A three time NCAA DIII qualifier, with 3rd & 2nd place finishes at the Northeast Regional, I would love to see Edwin Morales go for his first Regional title & contend for All American honors this season. But I tell you what, the toughest challenge he may face this season will be in keeping his spot. Also at this weight class is Jonathan Davila, a tough sophomore who had 22 wins on the season. Two of those wins were against Morales & while the one was much closer than the other, it was still all Davila. A 17-2 technical fall & a 6-2 decision. Would hate to see a senior who has already accomplished so much lose out on his final year, but what matters here at this particular moment is what takes place on the mat.
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| Blake Williams Adrian |
15-5 on the season, Blake Williams earned a trip to the NCAA DIII tournament by finishing 3rd at the Central Regional.
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| Jack Ryan SUNY-Oneonta |
Only a sophomore, Jack Ryan made his first trip to the NCAA DIII championships in his first year as a Dragon with a 3rd place finish at the Mideast Regional. He was 22-7 on the season.
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| Frank Medina Stevens Tech |
Twice 4th in the Southeast Regional, I feel very comfortable calling Frank Medina one of the best wrestlers in the D3 nation yet to make it to the national tournament. A two time MAC finalist, who won the title last season he had many impressive victories among his 23 wins last year. These included a 3-1 victory over Southeast Regional champ Isaac Kassis, a 10-8 decision over two time D3 qualifier Kalyn Jahn & a 9-3 decision over Southeast Regional runner-up Cam Blizard.
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| Owen McDaniel Albion |
29-9 on the season, Owen McDaniel enters his junior season of competition now a two time Central Regional place-winner. Finishing 8th in 2022, he was 4th this past season.
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| Trystan Altensey UW-Stevens Point |
27-15 on the year, it seemed that Trystan Altensey finished 5th in about every tournament he entered. 5th at the Pointer Open, he was 5th at the Pete Willson invitational & he was 5th at the WIAC. The only place he wasn't 5th was at the Upper Midwest Regional. There he did himself a spot better and finished 4th.
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| Gary Nagle Ursinus |
Gary Nagle enters his final season of competition having posted a 20-4 record this past season. 4th in the Mideast Regional, he owned a 1:32 fall over Jack Ryan.
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| Cael McLaren Cornell (IA) |
A scholar All American who was named the Rams most improved wrestler, Cael McLaren put together 22 victories last season, ending the year with a 4th place finish at the Lower Midwest Regional.
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| Cale Shaughnessy Roger Williams |
Competing in the tough Northeast Regional, Cole Shaughnessy managed to put together 29 W's on the season. The past two years, he's came close to NCAA DIII qualification as he's finished 4th & 5th within the Regional. He was also 3rd at the Roger Williams Invite.
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| Ryder Slayton Messiah |
Ryder Slayton collected a series of medals last season. 5th at the Racich Rumble he was 7th at the Pete Willson Invitational. Picking up his second bronze medal at the MAC (3rd in '22 as well) he finished 5th at the Southeast Regional.
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| Sean Malenfant Alfred State |
39-5 on the year, Sean Malenfant was 5th at the Mideast Regional & 3rd in the ECWC. During the season he defeated Regional champ Colby Giroux 7-4.
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| Nick Brashear Huntingdon |
The Alabama native put together a 18-5 record, including a 9-7 decision over Southeast regional runner-up Cam Blizard. He was 5th in the Lower Midwest Regional.
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| Niall Schoenfelder UW-Eau Claire |
It's not lost on me that Niall Schoenfelder was competing in a bracket that featured D3's ultimate star, Jaritt Shinhoster. Nor is it lost on me that he also had two time D3 All American BSO in the bracket either. I'm well aware of these facts. Nevertheless, I still felt that he was a guy that could have had a breakout season last year & I currently feel the same way about this season. While we'll start the season out throwing around the names of BSO, Corn, Baczek & Giroux, don't at all be surprised if at the end of the season the name is Schoenfelder. 6th in the Upper Midwest Regional, he won a title at the Roger Williams Invite, finishing as the runner-up at both the Pete Willson invitational & the WIAC. On the year, he defeated All American Colby Giroux 3-2, as well as NCAA qualifiers Kalyn Jahn (3-0), Gavin Layman (4-0) & Cam Blizzard (10-2).
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| Stefan Farian John Carroll |
22-10 on the season Stefan Farian was 6th at the Central Regional & 8th at the Pete Willson invitational.
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| Hunter Lowe Wilkes |
29 wins on the season for Hunter Lowe as he took 6th at the Southeast Regional.
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| William Smith Williams |
William of Williams. That's a lot William. 24 wins on the season for Smith who was 6th in the Northeast Regional.
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| Devontay Moore Manchester |
13-7 on the season, Devontay Moore was 7th at the Central Regional.
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| Ryan DeVivo Johnson & Wales |
Putting together a 35-7 record on the year, Ryan DeVivo was 7th at the Northeast Regional, winning a title at the Ithaca Invitational. Among his notable victories a 4:36 fall over Southeast Regional champ Isaac Kassis.
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| Payton Geigner North Central |
25 wins on the season, Payton Geigner enters his junior season of competition now a two time Lower Midwest Regional place-winner. 5th in 2022, he was 7th this past season. Collecting a 6th place finish at the Pete Willson Invitational, he was 3rd in the North Central & 4th at the Pointer Open.
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| Jaden Roberts Delaware Valley |
Jaden Roberts' freshman campaign saw a 7th place finish at the Southeast Regional & a 4th place finish at the Ithaca Invitational.
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| Peyton Hammerich Central |
Peyton Hammerich goes into his final season of competition looking for a third Lower Midwest Regional medal as he has been 4th & 8th the past two seasons. Also a Pointer Open Runner-up, he has a 4:40 fall over two time D3 Qualifier Tristin Westphal.
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| Wyatt Haynes Chicago |
19 wins on the season for Wyatt Haynes as he collected a runner-up finish at the Trine Invite & an 8th place finish at the Upper Midwest Regional.
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| Justin Carnahan Olivet |
Justin Carnahan was 8th at the Central Regional.
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| Michael Bromley McDaniel |
Here's an outsider that I would definitely keep a close watch on this season. 32-7 on the year, nearly all of Micahel Bromley's losses last season were by 1-3 points. While he was 8th in the Mideast Regional in 2022 & he did not place last season, I think he's capable of a very good finish this year.
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| Connor Wrobleski King's |
20 wins on the season for Connor Wrobleski he was 8th in the Southeast Regional & 4th in the MAC.
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| Will Davis Elizabethtown |
24-13 on the year, Will Davis was 4th at the Racich Rumble. He had a 3-2 victory over Ryder Slaton.
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| Kasey Ross Wartburg |
Transferring to Wartburg from UW-Platteville, Kasey Ross had 26 victories last season. Among them an 8-1 major over D3 R12'er Sampson Wilkins, a 4-2 s.v over Wyatt Haynes & a 4-1 decision over Cael McLaren.
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| Bryce Smith SUNY-Oswego |
It was runner-up finishes at both the Ithaca Invitational & the ECWC for Bryce Smith last season. 19 wins on the year, he had a 10-4 decision over Will Smith.
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| Ryan Fairchild Muhlenberg |
A dangerous pinner (20 wins on the season & 10 of them were via fall) Ryan Fairchild had both a 3:55 fall over Southeast Regional champ Isaac Kassis & a 2:02 fall over D3 qualifier Jack Ryan.
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| Bryce McCloskey Thiel |
19-2 on the year, Bryce McCloskey had both a 15-6 major decision over Sean Malenfant & a 10-6 decision over Owen McDaniel.
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| Khalil Mitchell Averett |
25-10 on the season Khalil Mitchell, who placed 6th at the Southeast Regional in 2022, was runner-up at the ODAC last season. He had a 1:07 fall over Blake Williams.
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