126 wrestlers per weight class & only 21 of them get to call themselves NCAA Division III National qualifiers. That's only 16%. I cannot emphasize enough many really good, really talented wrestlers stay home year in and year out. I want wrestling fans to truly understand the level that I'm talking about, so I made a list.
My list may be different than your list. I may have left off wrestlers you would have included, and I may have included wrestlers you would have left off your list. I did my best to make this list comprehensive and inclusive. My apologies if I left off someone that should be added to it. I based my list off of results and accomplishments.
It is also in no particular order.
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| Trevor Cortright Utica |
A tough sophomore, Trevor Cortright has back to back 4th place finishes within the Regional. To make it even more heartbreaking for the young Pioneer, he actually defeated Caden Frost 7-2 earlier in the Regional, but Frost came back to defeat him 10-4 for 3rd. Among the many things that Cortright has done for the new program, he was 22-4 on the year & won a SUNY-AC title.
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| Bobur Berdiyorov New England College |
25-5 on the season, Bobur Berdiyorov was a Regional runner-up last season, but unfortunately suffered some upsets at this year's Regional & finished 7th. Another victim of the fact that in NCAA DIII wrestling, there is no room for error. Among his wins over this year's qualifiers, 14-7 over Xavier Pena & 4-1 over Sam Kotch. As to eligibility, I'm not sure. The Uzbekistani came to NEC from Northwest Community College, and I can't remember if it was after one year of NJCAA wrestling or after two. He either has one year of eligibility remaining, or unfortunately his collegiate career is done.
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| Nathan Fitt USCGA |
A two-time NCAA DIII qualifier, Nathan Fitt actually won a Regional title last year. 19-4 on the season, he also defeated everyone who defeated him at the Regional, earlier in the season. 8-3 over Xavier Pena, 7-4 over Elijah Cyr, 11-9 over Caleb Seyfried. Fitt has one year of eligibility remaining.
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| Spencer Fetrow Roger Williams |
Spencer Fetrow was a very talented wrester, who seemed to always have a good season, full of highlights, that unfortunately never could quite put it all together at the Regional. He finished 6th-4th-6th the past three seasons. 23-7 in '24-'25, he teched qualifier Blaise Wager 17-2 & also defeated qualifier Haven Tatarek 7-0.
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| Wenchard Pierre-Louis Ithaca |
It hurts to see someone have a nightmare of a tournament regardless of what it happens, but it really takes the starch out of you when you know it is their final one. Not sure what all went wrong for WPL this regional, but he finished in 6th place. We're talking about a guy that was a Regional champion in 2023 & finished in 2nd place last year. 22-6 on the season he stuck Evan Lindner at 6:28, nearly majored Zach Sato 13-7 & defeated Xavier Pena 5-2.
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| Jaryn Hartranft Wilkes |
A Regional runner-up last year as a sophomore, the Colonel was painstakingly close to qualification as both a freshman two years ago & as a junior this season with 5th & 4th place finishes respectively. Has one more season of eligibility to go for qualification #2.
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| Joey Lamparelli Muhlenberg |
I realize that '24-'25 was not the best season within the career of Joey Lamparelli. I know some would have left him off the list this year. That's fine. I still think the Victor had a very respectable career that should be recognized. 2nd-2nd-4th-7th within the Regional, placing all four years in itself is not easy accomplishment. Not sure if the weight cut got to him, or what it was this year, but we are talking about a guy that was 8th in the D3 nation in 2023.
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| Xavier Howard McDaniel |
Like WPL, juts a nightmare of a tournament for Xavier Howard at the Regionals. Finished a disappointing 6th. 26-7 on the season, defeated qualifier Tyler Rossini 6-3. Was a Regional champ last year & 8th in the D3 nation.
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| Trent Furman NYU |
A two-time NCAA D3 R12'er, my heart really goes out to Trent Furman who lost in a tiebreaker this year to miss out on what would have been qualification #3 for Violet. 28-5 on the year, won the Racich Rumble & the Ned McGinley Invitational. Majored qualifier Ganon Smitih 11-2.
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| David Reid Roanoke |
24-5 on the season, David Reid is another tough, tough wrestler that barely missed out on NCAA DIII qualification this year. A Regional runner-up last year, he finished 4th after two extremely close losses. On the year had plenty of W's over qualifiers. Stuck Mark Troni in the first period at 2:36. A 14-13 victory over Jacob DeGuire, defeated Teagan Hendricks 5-2.
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| Carter Lloyd Baldwin Wallace |
3rd in the Regional last year, Carter Lloyd took 4th this year. 20 wins on the season, one of them was a 4-0 decision over Xavier Preston.
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| Art Martinez CWR |
I tell you what, my heart truly breaks for this kid. We can say how tough D3 wrestling is, how unforgiving it is, how "_______" it is. I'm telling you, the Spartan is the image of what we're all talking about when we voice our concerns and frustrations with how few qualifiers the Division receives. 40 wins on the season. 40 wins! One of which was a 10-7 s.v. over last year's NCAA D3 runner-up Jaden Hinton! 5th-4th-4th thus far in the Regional, Martinez has one more season to make it to the dance.
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| Desmond Diggs Mount St. Joseph |
3rd & 2nd in the past two Regionals, Desmond Diggs was 8th in the D3 nation last year. What really killed Diggs this year was an inability to figure out Dylan Phelps. He gave him some good tight matches, but in the end, Diggs just couldn't figure the Comet out. Lost twice to him at the Regional 5-4 & 1-0, finishing in 4th place.
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| Payton Geigner North Central |
Again I repeat, being a four-time Regional place-winner, even if it never did translate into NCAA D3 qualification is STILL one Hell of an accomplishment. It should be recognized and celebrated as such. 30-5 on the year, Payton Geigner earned his fourth Regional placing. 5th-7th-5th-4th for the Cardinal.
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| Landon Card Cornell (IA) |
31-8 on the year, Landon Card ended his career having never qualified for the NCAA DIII championships. Nevertheless he did many great things for the Rams over the seasons, and that includes this one. Among his wins, 11-6 over Cael Vanderhorst & 7-1 over Tyler Hereema, both qualifiers. Card is also a two-time Pete Willson place-winner with 3rd & 4th place showings. In my opinion, Pete Willson is the toughest in-season D3 tournament.
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| Bryce McDonough Luther |
In my opinion, Bryce McDonough is going to enter '25-'26 as one of the toughest wrestlers in the D3 nation yet to qualify for the NCAA D3 championships. The Norseman has thus far been 5th-4th-5th within very tough Regionals. 22 wins this year, one of which was an 8-3 decision over Brian Petry. For what it is worth, he also defeated Cole Ritter who was 5th in the D2 nation last year.
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| Cael McLaren Cornell (IA) |
An NCAA D3 R12'er last year, Cael McLaren ended his illustrious career with Regional finishes of 4th-2nd-5th. 30-5 on the season, owns a 4-3 decision over Marcus Orlandoni & a 4:32 fall over Blake Williams. A Pete Willson champ last year, he was 8th this year.
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| Treyten Steffen Cornell (IA) |
Treyten Steffen is another one of those wrestlers who always put together a great season, but just never could quite get over the hump at the Regional. 34-7 on the year, ended his career with 5th-7th-5th finishes at the Regional. Nevertheless, still had a great season & a great career overall. 5-3 over Charles Baczek, he tech'd Bryce McCloskey 21-6 & later defeated him 4-2. He also majored Gunnar Garriques 15-4. Back to back Pete Willson finishes of 4th.
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| Izzy Balsiger UW-Eau Claire |
"No room for error" ought to be the official motto of NCAA D3 wrestling, because plain and simple, that's the truth of it. Izzy Balsiger was a Regional runner-up this season & unfotunately ran into a few upsets to finish in 5th place this year. A Pete Willson runner-up, 12-7 and 12-5 over Quinton Wolbert, 7-5 over Isiac Paulino & 13-10 s.v. over Jalin Dunson.
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| Niall Schoenfelder UW-Eau Claire |
You know the other thing that D3 wrestling doesn't forgive? Injuries. I cannot express how much I hate injuries. They are my least favorite part of this great sport. Niall Schoenfelder was 3rd in both the Regional & the D3 nation a year ago. Injury saw him finish in 6th at the Regional this year. A 9-5 decision over Vincenzo Corvetto, Schoenfelder shined at Pete Willson taking 3rd place honors.
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