SOUTHEAST REGIONAL
I once had a NCAA Division III coach say to me that in many ways the Regionals were tougher & more challenging than the actual national tournament itself. Taking a good hard look at the Southeast Regional, I find that statement hard to argue against. Twenty-Two teams & only one weight class that doesn't feature at least three ranked wrestlers. All the others do, many of them more. There are All American candidates here, that will have to fight tooth and nail just to call themselves NCAA DIII qualifiers. If you're looking for blood, sweat and tears, then you've come to the right place. It'll all be left out on the mat, as some hearts will meet their desire, while others will be broken.
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| 125 lbs |
Here's a weight class with a lot of spunk and spirit. A Southeast Regional champion & 6th in the D3 nation last season, Mason Barrett of Averett looks to defend his title. A 25-3 record, he's given plenty of reason to think that he will. 8-3 & 9-2 victories over Mac Cafurello of Roanoke, he's defeated Kaden Majcher of Lycoming by scores of 7-2 & 4-3. He also owns three victories over Adrian Samano of Ferrum by scores of 10-4, 8-2 & 4-2.
Cafurello was 6th in the Southeast Regional two years ago, but had a horrific tournament last year. He took that negative experience & has turned it into a positive one in the '23-'24 season. 3rd at the New Standard Invitational, he was 2nd at the Pete Willson Invite. He's proven that he can beat Barrett, with a 3-2 tiebreaker. Overall he has five wins to one loss when it comes to Samano & he defeated Akhil Vega of Stevens Tech by a score of 8-2.
Majcher owns a 27-4 record, was 7th in the Southeast Regional last year & owns a 5:33 fall over Samano.
Speaking of Samano it's hard to believe that he finished with a losing record last season. He's made vast improvements this year. Most importantly proving that he knows how to win when the cards are on the table. 21-5 thus far, he has titles at both the Cougar Open & the Pete Willson Invitational. Despite having five losses to Cafurello, he has defeated him 2-1.
The Ducks are known to turn it on at opportune times & that's why another threat to qualification is Vega. He was a qualifier all the way back in 2020 & he was 7th in the Southeast Regional in 2022.
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| 133 lbs |
I believe our final here will be between two former 125 lbs'ers, Luke Hoerle of Stevens Tech & Jacob Blair of Delaware Valley. 21-4 on the season, Hoerle was 3rd at the Southeast Regional last season & this season won the New Standard Invitational. He owns a 6-3 decision over Blair. Blair who was 2nd at last year's Regional, has a 22-3 record.
As to our bronze medal? I believe that will go to the Maroons' Jude Robson. 25-9 on the year, he was 4th at the Pete Willson Invitational.
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| 141 lbs |
Sometimes the Regionals can be tougher or at least as tough as the national tournament? Uh...yeah.
We have a bracket featuring an assortment of All American candidates here & only three of these outstanding talents will get to compete in La Crosse, Wisconsin here in a couple of weeks.
A Southeast Regional champion & a two time D3 All American ('22 5th, '23 8th), Josh Wilson of Greensboro leads the way. Winning titles at both the Ithaca Invitational & the Petrofes Invite, he carries a record of 30-3. All three of those losses have been to Division I opponents by the way. He's defeated Avery Leonard of Alvernia by scores of 8-4, 3-2 & 9-6. 13-6 & 11-6 decisions over Roanoke's Mark Samuel, he also has a 12-10 s.v. over Gettysburg's Luke Kowalski.
An All American two seasons ago with a 7th place D3 finish, Josiah Gehr of Messiah hopes to reclaim his All American honors, but first he has to make it to the national tournament in a war that will be the Southeast Regional. So far, so good. 20-1 on the year, he was runner-up at the Pete Willson Invitational & he owns a 9-4 decision over Nico Diaz of Stevens Tech.
As to Diaz, he was a Southeast Regional champ himself competing at 133 lbs last season. 26-3 on the year he has both a 4-3 decision over Leonard & a 4-1 decision over Samuel.
Leonard was 3rd at last year's Regional, as Samuel was 6th. Leonard carries a 32-5 record, whereas Samuel is 26-4.
Kowalski, like Diaz was at 133 lbs last year. He was 3rd in the Southeast Regional & took 7th place All American honors in the D3 nation.
Now, among all this vast competition, does their lie within a darkhorse? Yes. If anyone can pull off an upset here, it is Wilkes' Jack Bauer. 5th-7th-6th thus far in the Southeast Regional, he is 21-6 on the year. On paper it looks most likely like the Colonel will go down as another great who never qualified for the D3 championships, but on the mat, the plausibility of qualification does exist.
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| 149 lbs |
Here at 149 lbs in the Southeast Regional, we're going to have a great pair of Semi-finals, a great final & a great consolation final.
I said multiple times last season that Pasquale Vizzoni of Stevens Tech was one of the best backups in all of the D3 nation. He has proven me correct. A New Standard champion, he has two victories over both Chance Babb of Alvernia & Evan Lindner of Washington & Lee. 7-3 & 3-2 wins over Babb, he's defeated Lindner by scores of 4-1, once with overtime.
3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, Babb discovered in a hurry that neither 165 or 157 was for him, but like Goldylocks in The Three Bears he's discovered that 149 is "just right." 24-3 on the year, he owns a 5-2 win over Peyton Hearn of Penn State Behrend.
Lindner was 7th at the Southeast Regional last year competing at 133 lbs. The move up to 141 has proved beneficia. 2nd at the New Standard Invite, he does own an 8-1 decision over Vizzoni.
Last but not least, Hearn has the opportunity this tournament to make history & he's in a good position to do it. The Lions have yet to qualify a wrestler to the NCAA DIII championships & Hearn hopes to become their first. 4th in the Southeast Regional last year, he carries a record of 22-4 & he does own a 3-2 tiebreaker over Babb.
A Southeast Regional champion & 8th in the D3 nation last season, it looks like Ryan Smith of Stevens Tech will once again repeat as champion again this weekend. A 15-1 record, he owns a 6-3 decision over Jason Rezac of Alvernia.
As to his finals opponent? Depends on seeding of course, but in all sense of reality it could end up one of three people. Reczac being one of them & Jaryn Hartranft of Wilkes and Jared Bair of York (PA) being the other two. Rezac was 2nd in the Regional last season, finishing one match shy of Division III All American honors. He owns four victories over Bair by scores of 12-6, 3-2, 6-4 & 15-8. Hartranft, 5th in the Southeast Regional last season is currently 27-5, with a 4-1 decision over Bair.
As to Bair he's been 7th & 4th thus far in the Southeast Regional. He's proven that if that match goes a full seven minutes, he's not beating Rezac. However, if he can catch Rezac on his back, that's a different story. He's pinned the Wolf twice thus far at both the 6:20 & 4:09 marks.
I said multiple times last season that Pasquale Vizzoni of Stevens Tech was one of the best backups in all of the D3 nation. He has proven me correct. A New Standard champion, he has two victories over both Chance Babb of Alvernia & Evan Lindner of Washington & Lee. 7-3 & 3-2 wins over Babb, he's defeated Lindner by scores of 4-1, once with overtime.
3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, Babb discovered in a hurry that neither 165 or 157 was for him, but like Goldylocks in The Three Bears he's discovered that 149 is "just right." 24-3 on the year, he owns a 5-2 win over Peyton Hearn of Penn State Behrend.
Lindner was 7th at the Southeast Regional last year competing at 133 lbs. The move up to 141 has proved beneficia. 2nd at the New Standard Invite, he does own an 8-1 decision over Vizzoni.
Last but not least, Hearn has the opportunity this tournament to make history & he's in a good position to do it. The Lions have yet to qualify a wrestler to the NCAA DIII championships & Hearn hopes to become their first. 4th in the Southeast Regional last year, he carries a record of 22-4 & he does own a 3-2 tiebreaker over Babb.
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| 157 lbs |
A Southeast Regional champion & 8th in the D3 nation last season, it looks like Ryan Smith of Stevens Tech will once again repeat as champion again this weekend. A 15-1 record, he owns a 6-3 decision over Jason Rezac of Alvernia.
As to his finals opponent? Depends on seeding of course, but in all sense of reality it could end up one of three people. Reczac being one of them & Jaryn Hartranft of Wilkes and Jared Bair of York (PA) being the other two. Rezac was 2nd in the Regional last season, finishing one match shy of Division III All American honors. He owns four victories over Bair by scores of 12-6, 3-2, 6-4 & 15-8. Hartranft, 5th in the Southeast Regional last season is currently 27-5, with a 4-1 decision over Bair.
As to Bair he's been 7th & 4th thus far in the Southeast Regional. He's proven that if that match goes a full seven minutes, he's not beating Rezac. However, if he can catch Rezac on his back, that's a different story. He's pinned the Wolf twice thus far at both the 6:20 & 4:09 marks.
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| 165 lbs |
The Gold is already spoken for. Matt Lackman of Alvernia is a two time Southeastern Regional champion & ain't a soul alive gonna stop him from winning title number three this weekend. 5th & 2nd thus far in the DIII nation, he carries 41 wins & 0 losses thus far in '23-'24. Titles won at both the Racich Rumble & the Petrofes, he has 14 falls, 16 technical falls & 5 majors.
As to silver & bronze? I think those may be up more for grabs. 3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, Zach Needles of Messiah carries a 25-7 record. 5th at the Racich Rumble, he was runner-up at Petrofes & 3rd at Pete Willson. He owns 6-2, 13-7 & 14-2 decisions over Mark Troni of Washington & Lee. 4-3 & 4-1 wins over Harrison Hinojosa of Stevens Tech, he has a 2-1 decision over Jacob Cherry of Roanoke.
7th in the Southeast Regional competing at 174 lbs last year, thus far in '23-'24, Troni owns a record 23-6. He has both a 5-0, as well as a 12-11 win over Hinojosa. An 11-8 decision over Cherry, he's defeated Taylor on three occasions (17-0, 12-7 & 15-12).
Hinojosa was one match shy of D3 qualification last season as he finished 4th. A 6-5 victory over Cherry, he's defeated Taylor by scores of 14-10 & 11-9. Cherry 7th in the Southeast Regional last year, has thus far won the Cougar Open. A 15-7 major over Taylor, he does own a 7-2 decision over Troni.
Taylor was 5th at last year's Regional.
As to silver & bronze? I think those may be up more for grabs. 3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, Zach Needles of Messiah carries a 25-7 record. 5th at the Racich Rumble, he was runner-up at Petrofes & 3rd at Pete Willson. He owns 6-2, 13-7 & 14-2 decisions over Mark Troni of Washington & Lee. 4-3 & 4-1 wins over Harrison Hinojosa of Stevens Tech, he has a 2-1 decision over Jacob Cherry of Roanoke.
7th in the Southeast Regional competing at 174 lbs last year, thus far in '23-'24, Troni owns a record 23-6. He has both a 5-0, as well as a 12-11 win over Hinojosa. An 11-8 decision over Cherry, he's defeated Taylor on three occasions (17-0, 12-7 & 15-12).
Hinojosa was one match shy of D3 qualification last season as he finished 4th. A 6-5 victory over Cherry, he's defeated Taylor by scores of 14-10 & 11-9. Cherry 7th in the Southeast Regional last year, has thus far won the Cougar Open. A 15-7 major over Taylor, he does own a 7-2 decision over Troni.
Taylor was 5th at last year's Regional.
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| 174 lbs |
We got ourselves an all out dog fight for the title here at 174 lbs.
2nd in the Southeast Regional last season & one match shy of D3 All American honors, Colby Morris of Waynesburg is looking to trade in that silver for gold, & head into La Crosse, Wisconsin looking to nab that top 8 national finish that eluded him last year. 32-1 on the season, in '23-'24, his only loss is to a Division I opponent. He won a PAC title earlier this season.
Looking to stop him will be the Abe Lincoln shiny copper generous doner to JT#1, Stefan Major of Stevens Tech. A Southeast Regional champion last year, the two time D3 All American ('22 7th & '23 5th) looks to settle on nothing less this tournament. He's already proven that he can defeat Morris, as he took down the Yellow Jacket 5-4 in last year's finals. 3rd at the New Standard & a MAC champ, he's 23-8 on the year.
As Major looks to duke it out with Morris in the finals, he'll first have to get past Harrison Kelly of Washington & Lee, who has already defeated him by a 9-5 decision. 19-3, Kelly won the New Standard Invite & finished 2nd at last year's Southeast Regional competing at 165 lbs.
As we look to the rest of the bracket, we're probably looking at some great talent that will not be on the qualification list. With that said, I'm well aware of what upsets are and how they work. Eli Crum of Lycoming is 23-5 on the year. If 174 in the Southeast Regional has any darkhorses, I say they're Xavier Preston of Roanoke who was 5th at Pete Willson & Khalil Mitchell of Averett.
3rd in '22 & a Southeast Regional champion last season, Isaac Kassis of Alvernia looks to repeat again this tournament. Standing in his way will be Joel Martsinovsky, who whether Stefan Major likes me saying it or not, was one of the best backups in the D3 nation last year, behind Major. Martinsovsky has in more than one way proven that to be a fact, including a 4-1 decision over Kassis. Should be another great battle between the two in the finals.
I don't see Nick Hall of Delaware Valley getting past Kassis or Martsinovsky. For one the last they met, Kassis tech'd him 23-4. However, I also don't see anyone standing between Hall & a bronze medal that will get in a trip to La Crosse, Wisconsin to compete at the National tournament.
22-1 on the season, Mauro Pellot Vazquez of Alvernia was 3rd at last year's Southeast Regional. He'll look to win the tournament this season, but it'll be anything but easy. Thus far he's had very close matches with all of the top competition he'll face this weekend. A 2-1 decision over Gable Crebs of Lycoming, it was a 4-3 decision over Daniel Eckley of Delaware Valley. He owns both a 10-6 & an 8-7 decision over Cameron Butka of Wilkes. When the Southeast Regional is all said and done, MPV, could very well be MVP or in this particular case MVW.
Crebs was 5th in last year's Regional, as Eckley was 6th. Crebs owns both a 7-3 decision as well as a 0:57 fall over Butka & he's defeated Eckley 7-3. Eckley on the other hand, does own a 8-6 victory over Vazquez.
Lastly, do not like the U.R. next to Butka's name fool you. He's as much a threat to qualification as is anyone else here. He's defeated Eckley twice by scores of 10-7 & 5-3.
3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, RayShawn Dixon of Ferrum came up just a hair short of earning his first D3 All American honor. I thought to myself & I said in previous articles that I thought Dixon would never come up short again. I'm wrong about things often enough, but in this particular case, the Panther has been proving me right all season. 27-0 on the year he's collected gold at both the Cougar Open & the Pete Willson Invitational. I say he once again collects gold this weekend.
Predicting a good semi-final battle on the other side of the bracket between Logan Flynn of Delaware Valley & Caleb Burkhart of Wilkes. Flynn won their last battle in a 10-6 decision. Whoever loses this match, should come back to be our bronze medalist.
2nd in the Southeast Regional last season & one match shy of D3 All American honors, Colby Morris of Waynesburg is looking to trade in that silver for gold, & head into La Crosse, Wisconsin looking to nab that top 8 national finish that eluded him last year. 32-1 on the season, in '23-'24, his only loss is to a Division I opponent. He won a PAC title earlier this season.
Looking to stop him will be the Abe Lincoln shiny copper generous doner to JT#1, Stefan Major of Stevens Tech. A Southeast Regional champion last year, the two time D3 All American ('22 7th & '23 5th) looks to settle on nothing less this tournament. He's already proven that he can defeat Morris, as he took down the Yellow Jacket 5-4 in last year's finals. 3rd at the New Standard & a MAC champ, he's 23-8 on the year.
As Major looks to duke it out with Morris in the finals, he'll first have to get past Harrison Kelly of Washington & Lee, who has already defeated him by a 9-5 decision. 19-3, Kelly won the New Standard Invite & finished 2nd at last year's Southeast Regional competing at 165 lbs.
As we look to the rest of the bracket, we're probably looking at some great talent that will not be on the qualification list. With that said, I'm well aware of what upsets are and how they work. Eli Crum of Lycoming is 23-5 on the year. If 174 in the Southeast Regional has any darkhorses, I say they're Xavier Preston of Roanoke who was 5th at Pete Willson & Khalil Mitchell of Averett.
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| 184 lbs |
3rd in '22 & a Southeast Regional champion last season, Isaac Kassis of Alvernia looks to repeat again this tournament. Standing in his way will be Joel Martsinovsky, who whether Stefan Major likes me saying it or not, was one of the best backups in the D3 nation last year, behind Major. Martinsovsky has in more than one way proven that to be a fact, including a 4-1 decision over Kassis. Should be another great battle between the two in the finals.
I don't see Nick Hall of Delaware Valley getting past Kassis or Martsinovsky. For one the last they met, Kassis tech'd him 23-4. However, I also don't see anyone standing between Hall & a bronze medal that will get in a trip to La Crosse, Wisconsin to compete at the National tournament.
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| 197 lbs |
22-1 on the season, Mauro Pellot Vazquez of Alvernia was 3rd at last year's Southeast Regional. He'll look to win the tournament this season, but it'll be anything but easy. Thus far he's had very close matches with all of the top competition he'll face this weekend. A 2-1 decision over Gable Crebs of Lycoming, it was a 4-3 decision over Daniel Eckley of Delaware Valley. He owns both a 10-6 & an 8-7 decision over Cameron Butka of Wilkes. When the Southeast Regional is all said and done, MPV, could very well be MVP or in this particular case MVW.
Crebs was 5th in last year's Regional, as Eckley was 6th. Crebs owns both a 7-3 decision as well as a 0:57 fall over Butka & he's defeated Eckley 7-3. Eckley on the other hand, does own a 8-6 victory over Vazquez.
Lastly, do not like the U.R. next to Butka's name fool you. He's as much a threat to qualification as is anyone else here. He's defeated Eckley twice by scores of 10-7 & 5-3.
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| HWT |
3rd in the Southeast Regional last season, RayShawn Dixon of Ferrum came up just a hair short of earning his first D3 All American honor. I thought to myself & I said in previous articles that I thought Dixon would never come up short again. I'm wrong about things often enough, but in this particular case, the Panther has been proving me right all season. 27-0 on the year he's collected gold at both the Cougar Open & the Pete Willson Invitational. I say he once again collects gold this weekend.
Predicting a good semi-final battle on the other side of the bracket between Logan Flynn of Delaware Valley & Caleb Burkhart of Wilkes. Flynn won their last battle in a 10-6 decision. Whoever loses this match, should come back to be our bronze medalist.
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