197 lbs in the NCAA Division III didn't have a ton of wrestlers competing in their final season of eligibility but it did have one in particular story that was rather inspirational. Plus a couple of other wrestlers I have followed for quite sometime.
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| Gabriel Zierdan Concordia (MN) |
The NWCA runner-up in 2021, it was two heartbreakers in a row for Gabriel Zierdan who finished 4th at both the 2022 & the 2023 Upper Midwest Regional. In his final season of competition, he would not be denied as not only did he qualify for the NCAA DIII championships, he did so by winning the Upper Midwest Regional title. He capped off his career by making the NCAA D3 finals. 35-4 on the season, he was also 3rd at both the 2023 & 2024 Pete Willson Invitational.
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| Gable Crebs Lycoming |
An NCAA D3 All American with a 7th place finish in 2022, Gable Crebs came up short of a qualification in 2023. Although he did not get back onto the NCAA award stand, he did earn another qualification this year, with a 3rd place finish at the Southeast Regional. I believe he ended his career with 94 wins.
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| Jackson Punzel Wheaton |
In my personal opinion, head coach Jim Gruenwald is one of the most sincere and genuine individuals in the sport of wrestling & I enjoy watching his wrestlers have success. Jackson Punzel is one of those wrestlers that never did make the NCAA DIII championships, but still have quite a bit about his career to be celebrated. 8th-8th-4th at the Upper Midwest Regional, he took back to back 5th place finishes at the Pete Willson Invitational the past two seasons. 21 wins in his last year on the mat.
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