JT1Wrestle College Wrestling : 2025-2026 NCAA Division III Preview

NCAA DIII 165 lbs

Cooper Willis
Augsburg

2025-2026 looks to be an eventful year for Cooper Willis. 5th-5th-2nd thus far in the D3 nation, Willis looks to become a four-time All American & he'll be a favorite to win the whole thing. 2nd-3rd-2nd at Regionals, he'll also look to win his first Regional title. 87 career wins thus far, he's very likely to reach that 100 career win pinnacle.

Tanner Gerber
UW-La Crosse

22-1 on the year, the North Dakota State transfer won a title at Regional 7 & finished 3rd at D3 national tournament. Among his wins, a 6-4 decision over Cooper Willis.

Tate Flege
UW-La Crosse

I find it difficult to believe that Tanner Gerber would lose the varsity spot this season, but I tell you when it comes to backups, you may not find a better one than Tate Flege. 25 wins on the year, one of them was a 3-0 decision against qualifier Dustin Bohren & another was a 9-5 decision over D3 R12'er Jack Richardson. A runner-up at both the Auggie Invite & the Concordia (WIS) Open, he's been 2nd & 3rd thus far in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).

Braydon Peet Scott Busse
UW-Whitewater

Things aren't much different in Whitewater than they are in La Crosse. Have two extremely tough wrestlers duking it out to represent the Warhawks at 165 lbs. Brayden Peet who was one of the best wrestlers in 2024 to not make the NCAA DIII tournament proved the validity of that statement by having an excellent '24-'25. 24-6 on the year, he won Pete Willson, finished 2nd at the WIAC, won Regional 5 & then finished 4th in the D3 nation.

Teammate Scott Busse only wrestled five matches last season, but a 4-1 decision over D3 R12'er Jack Richardson is enough to suggest to me his potential.

Andrew Supers
Baldwin Wallace

40-6 on the year, Andrew Supers racked up an assortment of credentials & honors last year. Winning titles at John Summa, North Central & Regional 4, the two-time NCAA Division III qualifier earned his first All American honor with a 5th place finish.

Brian Petry
Cornell (IA)

38 wins on the year, it was a runner-up finish at Pete Willson & a 3rd place showing at Regional 6 for Brian Petry this past season. He finished one match shy of being a D3 All American.

Jack Richardson
Johnson & Wales

In 2024, Jack Richardson was another of the 165'ers that I classified as the best to not make the NCAA D3 tournament. He too proved that to be a very true statement last season going 30-7 on the year, earning NCAA D3 qualification with a runner-up finish at Regional 1. Among his W's, he defeated Andrew Supers twice by scores of 8-1 & 2-1. Finished one match shy of being an All American.

Konrad Parker
Ithaca

The New Hampshire native heads into his senior season looking to become a two-time NCAA Division III qualifier & a three-time Regional place-winner. Thus far he's been 4th & 2nd at Regionals, winning the Ithaca Invitational this past year. Among his wins, an 8-3 decision over D3 R12'er Jack Richardson.

Kaiden Wagner
Lycoming

A transfer of Lock Haven, Kaiden Wagner earned NCAA Division III qualification with a 3rd place showing at Regional 2.

Justin Richey
Gettysburg

24-9 on the year, Justin Richey earned NCAA Division III qualification with a 3rd place showing at Regional 3.

Mark Troni
Washington & Lee

7th-5th-3rd thus far at Regionals, Mark Troni looks to become a four-time Regional place-winner this season & a two-time NCAA D3 qualifier. Among these credentials, he'll also look to become a four-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) finalist & three-time champion. He won 26 matches last year.

Dustin Bohren
Loras

24-7 on the year, Dustin Bohren was a D3 All American in 2024 with a 7th place finish. 3rd & 1st thus far at Regionals, he defeated 2025 D3 R12'er Brian Petry by 16-1 & 4-2 scores.

Carson Martinson
Central

The former Iowa Hawkeye made the Regional 6 finals, and had a 16-5 record last season.

Carter Davis
Penn Tech

Strong rookie season for the Wildcat as he finished 27-5, one match shy of NCAA Division III qualification with a 4th place showing at Regional 2. He also won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC).

Keegan DeMarest
Messiah

Another tough freshman from last season, Keegan DeMarest won 41 matches this past season, as he won titles at both the Messiah Open & the Racich Rumble. A runner-up at the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), DeMarest finished 5th at Pete Willson & 4th at Regional 3. Among those 41 victories, a 7-2 decision & a 10-2 major decision over qualifier Justin Richey. He also defeated qualifier Mark Troni twice as well. A 4-1 decision & a 6:52 fall.

Aiden Brosinski Nathan Fuller
Wartburg

There's going to be a lot of good wrestle-offs to start off '25-'26, and this is one of them. Aiden Brosinski an NCAA D3 R12'er in 2023, finished one match shy of D3 qualification last year. Nathan Fuller who had a respectable season himself, won the Cliff Keen Mike Duroe.

Toren Vandebush
MSOE

A product of the Askren Wrestling Academy, Toren Vandenbush finished both one match shy of NCAA D3 qualification & of a top 8 finish at Pete Willson last year as a freshman. Among his 37 victories, a 12-11 decision over qualifier Carson Martinson.

Landon Kearns
USCGA

24 wins on the season for Landon Kearns, who finished 5th at Regional 1.

Jack Lamson
R.I.T.

The Tiger is wanting the Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl this season & although I remain faithful to the Miami Dolphins, I wouldn't mind seeing Detroit finally get that big W. Listing Jason Nolf, David Taylor & Yianni Diakomihalis as his favorite wrestlers, Jack Lamson won 19 matches in his first start as a D3 varsity wrestler last season. He finished 5th at Regional 2.

Xavier Swanson
Averett

Xavier Swanson heads into his senior season of competition now a two-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) runner-up. 5th at Regional 4, he won 24 matches last year.

Bryce McDonough
Luther

5th-4th-5th thus far at Regionals, Bryce McDonough is one of the top 165 lbs'ers yet to make the NCAA Division III tournament. 22 wins in '24-'25, one of which was an 8-3 decision over D3 R12'er Brian Petry.

Preston Carlisle
UW-Eau Claire

An NWCA Scholar All-American, Preston Carlisle was 5th at Regional 7 this past season & one match shy of placement at Pete Willson. Among 22 wins, a 2:20 fall over qualifier Mark Troni.

Fisher Stites
Williams

21 wins on the season, Fisher Stites took 6th at Regional 1 in his first season as an Eph.

Caleb Lawrence
Wilkes

This sport can be unforgiving at times, and Caleb Lawrence found that out last season. He defeated qualifier Kaiden Wagner 18-3 technical fall at Regional 2, but unfortunately ended up having to Medical Forfeit out of the tournament. Fortunately, has three seasons of eligibility left to make up for it.

Justice H Folk
Elizabethtown

Another tough freshman from last season. Justice H Folk won 28 matches last season in route to a 6th place finish at Regional 3.

Kale Roth
Dubuque

Kale Roth heads into his junior season of competition now a two-time NWCA Scholar All-American & a two-time Regional place-winner with 8th & 6th place finishes. Scored an 8-2 decision over qualifier Carson Martinson last year.

Austin Martin
Aurora

165 lbs in D3 had a lot of tough freshmen in it, and Austin Martin was one of them. 25 wins on the season & finished 6th at Regional 7.

Jashon Holmes
Castleton

25 wins on the season, Jashon Holmes took runner-up honors at Roger Williams & placed 7th at Regional 1. Scored a 5-4 decision over qualifier Dustin Bohren.