We have a phenomenal dual meet between two NCAA DIII powerhouses this Saturday as the #7 Castleton Spartans take on the #3 Johnson & Wales Wildcats. When analyzing the talent that both teams display, it becomes overtly obvious how insanely difficult it will be to make it out of Regional I this year. Only the top 3 per weight class earn an invitation to the national tournament. This is why wins in these duals are so vital. You need them to get the best seed you can get.
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| #4 Gavin Bradley Vs #1 Joziah Fry 125 |
I tell you what, Gavin Bradley is very good wrestler. 7th in the D3 nation last year, likely to AA again this season & it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's one of the top contenders for a D3 title in '25-'26. With that said, this Saturday he faces whom could likely go down in history as one of the greatest 125 lbs'ers NCAA DIII wrestling has ever seen. Joziah Fry. 110-3 career record, already a two time D3 champ. The Wildcat owns an 18-8 major, a 19-3 technical fall, and two falls at the 4:42 & 4:22 mark over the Spartan.
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| U.R. Drew Marchese Vs #3 Peyton Ellis 133 |
I've argued now for three years, and I'll continue to argue that in a level of wrestling with close to 130 programs, ranking the top 15 isn't enough. D3 wrestling really needs to rank to at least 21, and preferably to the top 25. Do I think Drew Marchese would be within the top 25 if we ranked to the top 25? I think so, and if not, he'd only be slightly out of it. The Spartan has looked sharp at various times this season. Proved his intestinal fortitude at both the Ithaca Invitational & the Roger Williams Invitational by coming back to a 3rd place finish at both tournaments. This Saturday though, he'll face one of the best freshmen in D3 wrestling today. Peyton Ellis who has been ripping & clawing his way through the competition this year in a 24-1 record. This includes a 16-5 win over Marchese.
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| #8 James Rodriguez Vs #3 Cam Soda 141 |
I can't express how much I am looking forward to this match. Of all collegiate matches that will happen this weekend, in all Divisions of wrestling, I think this is the match I'm most excited about. James Rodriguez 8th-7th-R12 in the D3 nation, I still think if he wrestles as well as he is capable of wrestling could be a national champ this year. Honestly, so could Edinboro transfer Cam Soda, who currently stands at 19-2 on the season. These two met earlier this season in the semi-finals of the Ithaca Invitational with Soda winning a wild 5-1 tiebreaker slobberknocker. This could very well end up our Regional I final. Get out the popcorn, sit back and enjoy a great match.
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| U.R. Elijah Cyr Vs #4 Hayden Brown 149 |
Elijah Cyr is another Spartan not in the rankings, that has already and will continue to make some noise this year. He won the Ithaca Invitational earlier this season & he took runner-up honors at the Roger Williams Invite. On Friday, he has an extremely tough challenged against Hayden Brown, who took 3rd place honors at the NCAA DIII championships last year & currently carries a 29-1 record. The last the two met Cyr was able to keep things to a decision, as Brown won a 10-4 match.
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| #12 Nate Camiscioli Vs U.R. Vincent Faldetta 157 |
An NCAA D3 qualifier last season, Nate Camiscioli has 26 wins on the season, and a title won at the Roger Williams Invitational. His opponent Vincent Faldetta has 20 wins on the season. Odds favor the Spartans, but when you're a team as good as the Wildcats, you never want completely to count someone out.
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| U.R. Jashon Holmes Vs #10 Jack Richardson 165 |
The last time Jashon Holmes and Jack Richardson met up, it was a 7-3 victory for the Wildcat over the Spartan. I think this match could possibly be closer & more competitive. Holmes has 27 wins on the season, and took 2nd at the Roger Williams Invitational. Richardson currently carries a 24-4 record.
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| U.R. Desmond McLaughlin Vs U.R. Mike Schliem 174 |
This matchup at 174 lbs could end up being one of the most important of the dual. Desmond McLaughlin has 17 wins on the season, 3rd at the Ithaca Invitational & a champion at the Roger Williams Invitational. Mike Schliem, a transfer from Wartburg, has 21 victories on the year. The last the two met, McLaughlin won a tight 4-1 decision. Should once again be a good match.
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| #1 Sampson Wilkins Vs U.R. Ky'ell Roper 184 |
On paper, this one seems like it should be big points for the Spartans. We're talking about 4th in the D3 nation, '24-'25 national champion #1 prospect Vs a wrestler who is currently outside of the rankings. However, in three meetings, Wilkins has only been able to secure bonus points against Roper once. A 10-0 major decision, along with 5-1 & 6-0 decisions. Wilkins for the record, is currently 24-1.
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| U.R. Haven Tatarek Vs U.R. Dylan Harr 197 |
There's a lot within the wrestling community that doesn't make much sense. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how 4th & 5th in the D3 nation, Dylan Harr is currently outside of the rankings. It wasn't all that long ago that he competed, 1-26. His opponent here I believe will be Haven Tatarek, although he could end up being Josh Negron. Negron won the Ithaca Invitational, but Tatarek placed 3rd to his 5th at the Roger Williams invitational. Harr owns a 16-0 win over Tatarek.
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| #10 Evan Day Vs #14 Adolfo Betancur HWT |
If 141, 174 & now HWT look to be the best matches of the night. We have two D3 qualifier candidates here in Evan Day, who is currently 21-4 with a Roger Williams title & Adolfo Betancur who finished one match shy of D3 All American honors last season. Day won a tight 4-1 match earlier this year.
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