Ironically enough one of my least favorite articles to write each season, but also one of my most popular. 126 NCAA Division III programs & only the top 21 in each weight class get to go to national tournament. That is insane. It proves how incredibly tough it is to call yourself an NCAA Division III qualifier.
Today I want to take a look at the talent that is staying home. Really make you understand through credentials and achievements how good these wrestlers are despite the fact that they did not qualify for nationals this year. Keep in mind I'm only doing varsity wrestlers. I realize some backups/reserves had some outstanding wins/performances this season, but that discussion is for another time & another place.
Now let's take a look at who at least in the opinion of JT1Wrestle is the best not to qualify, NCAA Division III.
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| #11 Andrew Punzalan Wabash 125 |
The Florida native is one of the most improved wrestlers in the D3 nation. Going from not even placing at last year's Regional 5, to finishing one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier this year. Among his wins, he stuck Regional 6 runner-up Brayden Parke at the 1:53 mark. He also defeated Regional 6 champion Brett Birchman by a score of 4-1. A Millikin Open Champ, while taking runner-up honors at the North Central Invite. Has one more season of eligibility left.
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| #14 Luca Paladino UW-Stevens Point 125 |
My heart breaks for Luca Paladino. I've expressed many times how much I hate injuries. If you think I hate Willie Saylor, I love Willie Saylor compared to how I feel about injuries. To see Paladino's career end the way it did... What do you say? Life can be cruel sometimes. On the flip side of it, the destination isn't what it is about. It's the journey. 1st & 4th in Regional 7 in 2024 & 2025, the Pointer ends his career with many great wins & accomplishments. This year alone, a 7-3 decision over Regional 7 champ Izzy Balsiger & an 8-1 decision over Regional 4 3rd place finisher Kurt Mokros. Pete Willson runner-up & a WIAC champ.
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| #17 Adrian Rosas Adrian 125 |
Spending his last two seasons of collegiate eligibility at Adrian, Adrian Rosas was a Petrofes champion this year & someone they could always count on for a win during important duals. Entering Regional Five undefeated, things looked promising for the experienced Bulldog, but they were not meant to happen. Ends his career with Regional 5 finishes of 4th & 6th.
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| #19 Ethan Liptzin Delaware Valley 125 |
An NCAA Division III qualifier last year, I'm not sure what the story is on Ethan Liptzin. All I know is that he medical forfeited out of Regional 3. Hate to see that, especially since this was his last season. Nonetheless, an impressive 26-4 record on the year & a runner-up finish at the Middle Atlantic Conference.
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| #20 C.J. Horvath Muhlenberg 125 |
You know I saw a lot of guys make D3 nationals this year after coming painfully close the past couple of seasons in a row. I'm hoping that is the case for C.J. Horvath by the end of '26-'27. The Mule has one more shot at the NCAA D3 championships next year, having finished 6th & 4th the past two Regional 3's. 26 wins on the year, a Centennial Collegiate Conference champion.
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| U.R. Brady Phelps UW-Whitewater 125 |
The Warhawk freshman wasn't ranked in the top 20 by year's end, but my gawd, maybe he should have been. 20+ wins on the year, let's talk about some of those wins. 3-2 over Kurt Mokros who was 3rd at Regional 4. 4-1 s.v. over Aidan Gruenenfelder who was 3rd at Regional 6. 6:53 fall over Keno Vanier who was 3rd at Regional 7. Yeah, if I were the UW-Whitewater coaching staff, I'd be very excited about Phelps' potential next season. Was 5th at Regional 5.
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| U.R. Charlie Pavis WPI 125 |
Another 20+ winner on the season. The senior finished out his collegiate career one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier. On the year owned an 11-6 decision over Regional 2 runner-up Trevor Middendorf.
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| U.R. Evan Whiteside PSU-Behrend 125 |
Another senior who ends his career one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier. Defeated Regional 4 runner-up Adrian Samano earlier this season 6-4 & was an AMCC champ.
*NOTE* - I believe that about wraps up 125 lbs. Are there others I personally want to put on the list? Yeah. I was always a big fan of Jase Van Pelt of Cornell. 7th-6th-7th-5th, he was a four-time Regional place-winner in a Regional that is always locked and loaded. Not to mention, a two-time Pete Willson place-winner, which you know I believe firmly is the toughest in-season tournament for D3. Like I said at the beginning of the article, there are some backups/reserves who have illustrated how much damage they are capable of doing in '26-'27. Good luck to Matt Griffin keeping his varsity spot next season, TCNJ is stacked with talent at 125 lbs. While I was very happy to see Jack Thode win Regional 2 & make the NCAA D3 national tournament, he had some extremely ugly losses this year. A 20-5 tech fall loss to Hobe Givens? He went 0-2 at Regional 3 & finished out the season with a losing record. I could say similar things about Keno Vanier. Some plain get hot at the end of the season.
Anyway..onwards to 133...
*Note* - Again going to try and be as objective here as I can be. Truly look at the best guys in '25-'26 to not make it to the national tournament at 133 lbs. Again, I'm not including reserves or guys who are taking a year off. Although if you want a glimpse at how good Peyton Ellis is going to be next year, just take a look at his record in his 'redshirt' or whatever they call it here at D3. Am I going to make a big deal out of every loss Esaur Ordonez took this year? Probably not. Do I put a guy like Kie Anderson on the list? I'm sure sticking Chance Suddeth in 31 seconds will be a story Grandpa Anderson tells his grandkids some 30 years from now. At the end of the day you can't help but be subjective, even when trying to be objective. Anyway...here is my list at 133.
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| #15 Bobby Gardner Lycoming 133 |
The Clarion transfer put together a pretty respectable season this year going 13-0 on the regular season. Unfortunately that did not translate into a trip to Cedar Rapids, as Gardner finished one match shy of qualification at regional 2.
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| #18 Jackson Rustad Chicago 133 |
6th & 7th the past two Regional 5's, I wonder if injury played a part in why Jackson Rustad did not place at this year's tournament. He last wrestled at Pete Willson, where he had to medical forfeit out of the tournament. A junior this season, he has one more season of eligibility to make it happen.
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| #19 Trevor Cortright SUNY-Oneonta 133 |
One match shy of NCAA D3 qualification in both his freshman & sophomore seasons, I was outright shocked with Trevor Cortright failed to place this year at Regional 2. It just goes to show how unforgiving these Regional tournaments can be, & how this sport gives no one a day off. Nevertheless, he entered the tournament on a 15-2 record & he won the SUNY-AC.
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| U.R. Jordan Rasof UW-Whitewater 133 |
I definitely feel that Jordan Rasof belongs on this list. A little bit inconsistent, this young Warhawk givse the UW-Whitewater coaching staff plenty of reason to be excited about the '26-'27 season. For one, he made the finals of Pete Willson. To top it off, a 5-4 decision over Regional 5 bronze medalist Art Martinez & a 6-4 decision over Regional 6 bronze medalist Connor Fiser. Rasof himself took 5th at Regional 5.
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| U.R. Vince Paolucci York (PA) 133 |
The sophomore put together a 27-8 record, finishing one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier. Notable wins over qualifiers Esuar Orodonez (5-3) & Vince Ziccardi (Fall 4:04).
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| U.R. Chase Vanderhorst Ohio Northern 133 |
The sophomore didn't take to the mat much this year, otherwise, I'd probably be listing more reasons why he belongs in the discussion. 6th last year as a freshman, this year he was the dreaded 4th aka one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier. Had a 6-4 win over Esuar Ordonez.
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| U.R. Ty Daugherty John Carroll 133 |
A match shy of NCAA D3 qualification, Ty Daugherty put together a pretty respectable record this season. This included a 4-2 win over Chase Creque who took 3rd at Regional 4.
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| U.R. Wyatt Magolski UW-La Crosse 133 |
The sophomore earned NCAA D3 qualification last year as a freshman, but unfortunately fell short by one match this year. A two-time Pete Willson place-winner with finishes of 3rd & 4th, the Eagle is a strong candidate to end his career a three-time qualifier.
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| U.R. Brody Neighbor Coe 133 |
I really wish that D3 rankings would go to at least 25, because if they did, I'm pretty sure that Brody Neighbor would've been ranked somewhere between 21st & 24th by regular season's end. Finishing 5th in Regional 6 bracket that had no business being as tough as what it was, there are many reasons for Fred Roger's favorite wrestler to be pumped about next year. Perhaps none better than knowing he defeated four-time NCAA DIII qualifier (soon to be multiple time AA) James Day by a score of 5-2.
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| U.R. A.J. Orlando Averett 133 |
I'm going to move on to 141 lbs here soon, but I do believe that A.J. Orlando is another name that belongs on the list. 5th & 6th at Regional 4, 22 wins on the season including beating up on Regional 6 bronze medalist Connor Fiser 15-7.
*NOTE* - I might catch some Hell for leaving Eli Sneed of Cornell off the list, but I don't feel he did as much this season as what he did last. A 10-7 over Quintin Wolbert 2nd at Regional 7, but that was at 133 lbs.
And before I move on to 141....
*NOTE* - Again, it becomes a question of who to include & who not to include. I mean would you include Keegan McMahon? He was the starter most of the reason for Baldwin Wallace & he had the #15 ranking. Yet come Regional 4 time, the Yellow Jackets went with Antonio Shelley & he earned D3 qualification.
Aaron Boone? You want a strange circumstance as to Loras & this weight class. Nosa Egbon in four years as a Duhawk wrestled his first Regional 6 tournament this past weekend placing 5th at 141. One of his wins this year, was a 22-5 technical fall over 133 lbs Regional 6 runner-up Patrick Mullen. Teammate Boone? An 11-2 major over Regional 5 champ Sean Conway.
Both #19 Dean Costantino & #20 James Carlock failed to place at Regional 2 & Regional 3 respectively. Granted Constantino has a win over Regional 3 runner-up Daniel Metzler.
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| #16 Hunter Keane CWR 141 |
Hell of a season for the rookie from Georgia. Nearly 40 wins on the year & a runner-up finish at Pete Wilson. A 5-4 decision over Region 5 champion (last year's NCAA D3 runner-up) Sean Conway & for whatever it's worth a 4:04 fall over Danny Haws while Haws a natural 133 lbs'er tested the waters up at 141. I'm sure 7th in Regional 5 isn't where the Spartan saw himself, but he's got three more years to make it happen. Just try not to wait until your senior year for your first Q like teammate Art Martinez did!!
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| #17 Casper Caizzo Ohio Northern 141 |
Another tough sophomore with over 30 wins on the season. Finishing 5th at Regional 4, Casper Caizzo nearly majored Regional 4 bronze medalist Antonio Shelley earlier this year by a score of 8-1. Was 5th at the prestigious Pete Willson.
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| U.R. Ryan Mansueto Eastern 141 |
31-13 on the season, Ryan Mansueto finished one match shy of being an NCAA D3 qualifier at Regional 3. Stuck Regional 3 runner-up Daniel Metzler earlier this season at the 1:15 mark. Eastern, a newer program in NCAA D3 qualified Malik Asfour as their first ever qualifier this year. Look for Mansueto be a qualifier for the Eagles in 2027.
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| U.R. Quinn Tobin Alvernia 141 |
Listed as a graduate student, but other seasons ending prematurely due to injury, I can't say for sure if we'll see Quinn Tobin in action again or not. I'd hate for his career to end the way it did. He defeated Regional 3 runner-up Daniel Metzler twice this year by scores of 10-3 & 20-7. Somehow or another Metzler pinned him 'when it mattered' & that sent the Golden Wolf down to the consolations. Tobin wound up in 5th place. 26 wins on the year, another of which is a 6-4 decision over Regional 3 bronze medalist Drew Schaen.
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| U.R. Nick Balella Castleton 141 |
23 wins on the season, Nick Balella had a 4-1 s.v. over Regional 1 finalist Kyle Moore. Balella himself finished in 5th place.
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| U.R. Adom Sharpley John Carroll 141 |
Only a one-time state qualifier while in high school, in his first year of collegiate wrestling Adom Sharpley was both one match shy of placing at Pete Willson & one match shy of making the NCAA Division III championships. 22 wins on the season, one of which was an 8-5 dec over Regional 4 3rd place finisher Antonio Shelley.
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| U.R. Edgar Albino Carthage 141 |
I believe Edgar Albino, Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin champion belongs on the list. A 5th place finisher at a loaded Regional 7. Had a 10-8 dec over Josh Robison, bronze at Regional 5 earlier this season.
*NOTE* - Others to include? Ty Fink of UW-Eau Claire was 7th at both Pete Willson & Regional 7. An 8-5 win over Regional 7 finalist Marcus McIntyre on the year. Brendan Callahan of Gettysburg, 22-8, has been 6th & 7th the past two Regional 3's, defeated Regional 4 3rd place finisher Drew Schaen twice this season by scores of 7-6 & 18-4. Mateo Ochoa, 7th at Regional 6, destroyed McIntyre earlier this year 20-3.
