2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Messiah

 

The Falcons lose NCAA Division III 7th place All American Josiah Gehr but return a two time NCAA Division III qualifier. 

165 lbs
Nick Barnhart or Garrett Cornell 

While I'm always up for a great wrestle-off I do hope that one of these guys either moves up or down a weight because there is way too much talent here for either of them to sit the post season.  Nick Barnhart was a Southeast Regional runner-up last season, earning his second NCAA Division III qualification. He was 34-6 on the season, a Middle Atlantic Conference title. May I add 18 of those 34 victories came via fall.  Cornell every bit as tough. A 5th place All American in 2021, he was also a qualifier in 2020.  25 wins on the season for him last year, 14 of them via fall. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Alvernia

 

Looks to be a good season for Alvernia as the Golden Wolves return three of their four NCAA Division III qualifiers with one being an All American as well as eight of their ten Regional place-winners.  Gone two time NCAA Division III qualifier Palmer Rodenhaber as well as Kyle Seibert.  All other top starters return. 

125 lbs
Keito Shaw 

Sophomore Keito Shaw had himself a very nice season last year going 31-10 with a 5th place finish at the Southeast Regional. 

141 lbs 
Quinn Tobin 

Going 29-12 last season Junior Quinn Tobin was 6th in the Southeast Regional. 

149 lbs
Jason Rezac 

Another Junior on the team. Jason Rezac was 5th at the Southeast Regional with a 29-7 record this past season. 

157 lbs
Robert Lawlor

Going into his senior season, Robert Lawlor was 5th at the Southeast Regional last season on a 30-15 record. 

165 lbs
Matt Lackman 

Matt Lackman will be one of the leaders of the Golden Wolves this season. The senior went 39-3 last year winning a Southeast Regional title & placing 5th at the NCAA Division III championsships. 

174 lbs
 Gavin Hollingsworth

Going 22-19 this past season, Gavin Hollingsworth placed 7th at the Southeast Regional.  He will look to improve upon both his regional placing & his record this season. 

184 lbs
Isaac Kassis 

An NCAA Division III qualifier this past season, Isaac Kassis took 3rd at the Southeast Regional finishing up the year on a 29-8 record. 

197 lbs
Mauro Pellot 

Mauro Pellot was one match shy of earning NCAA Division III All American honors this past season as a freshman.  One of the lone Golden Wolves not from Pennsylvania, the Virginia native will look to win a Regional title this season and earn his first top 8 placing at the national tournament. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Averett

 

The Cougars do lose two of their top wrestlers from last season, but they do bring back some quality talent as well.  Gone is Sam Braswell four time NCAA Division III qualifier & two time All American. 95 career wins, he was 3rd in 2021 & 4th this past season.  Also gone is Brandon Woody, a three time NCAA Division III qualifier, 6th in the nation this past season who earned 96 career victories.  I thought George Moseley a two time NCAA DIII qualifier, 6th in 2021 had another season of eligibility but he is not on a recently updated roster. Also gone, Trent Ragland a qualifier from 2021. 

133 lbs
Mason Barrett 

An 18-8 record this past season Mason Barrett strikes me as one who is very capable of taking a top 8 Regional placing this season. 

149 
Hunter Campbell 

One of two returning NCAA Division III qualifier from last season, Hunter Campbell made the Southeast Regional finals as a freshman last season with a 23-8 record. 

165 lbs
Alex Turley 

An All American in 2021 with a 7th place finish, Turley took runner-up honors at the Southeast Regional last season on a 19-8 record. The junior will look to reclaim All American status this season. 

184 lbs
Khalil Mitchell 

The Florida native was 6th at the Southeast Regional on a 23-15 record this past season as a freshman. 

197 lbs
Billy Baldwin 

Who would have thought there was another Billy Baldwin in wrestling?  This Billy Baldwin was a national qualifier in 2021, but missed out on qualification #2 last season on a 29-14 record. He will look to earn another trip to the NCAA Division III championships this season. 

2023 NJCAA The Season: Northwest Kansas Tech

 

Due to timing and a few other reasons I wasn't able to do write ups for all of the teams in the NJCAA. However when a coach sends you a boatload of information & you have everything you need right in front of you, why not?  The Mavericks have a good squad of guys this season. Let's take a look. 

125 lbs
Jett Strickenberger 

Strickenberger is a transfer from North Idaho where he won a regional title & placed an impressive 3rd at the NJCAA championships last season. The Colorado High School state runner-up will do great things for the Mavericks this season. 

133 lbs 
Casey Strand Jr 

Casey Strand Sr was a phenomenal standout at Arizona State placing 6th & 7th in the 1997 & 1998 NCAA Division I Championships respectively.  I am anxious to see how well Jr will perform at the collegiate level himself. 

157 lbs 
Hunter Gonzales 

The California native had himself a very respectable season last year. Placing 3rd in a tough Menlo Open, he finished one match shy of NJCAA All American status. 

165 lbs
Ashton Habeil 

Expect to see big things out of Life transfer Ashton Habeil, a three time Florida High School State champion this season. 

174 lbs
Temuujin Mendbileg

Look for the Mongolian who has won various championships throughout his career to make some noise at the NJCAA level. 

184 lbs
Jameel Coles 

The Pennsylvania native has already shown us what he's capable of a couple of different times throughout his career. He had what many argue was the biggest upset of the 2019 PIAA championships when he knocked off Cole Urbas. Last year he was one match shy of NJCAA All American Status. Fluent in the languages of both freestyle as well as Greco-Roman look for him to earn a top 8 finish this season. 

197 lbs
Jared Volcic

A Colorado State High School Champion, Jared Volcic comes to Northwest Kansas Tech a transfer from Colby. A HWT, he has moved down to 197. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: York (PA)

 

Graduation hit the Spartans hard this past season as four of their top starters from last season have now graduated.  Southeast Regional champs Dalton Rohrbaugh who was 3rd in the NCAA Division III championships & Camden Farrow who was 4th, are now gone.  Also gone is two time NCAA Division III qualifier Eric Hutchinson as well as Jared Kuhns who was one match shy of qualification this past season.  It'll be a rebuilding year for York (PA). 

149 lbs
Jared Bair 

With freshmen coming in, possibly some transfers & of course others who will step it up, Jared Bair looks to be the leader as the Spartans rebuild.  He was 29-9 last season with a 7th place finish at the Southeast Regional. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Washington & Jefferson

 

The Presidents did lose some very tough wrestlers to graduation this past season.  NCAA Division III qualifier Jaden Datz who made the R12 as well as Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) runner-up Alex Donahue have since graduated. On the upside, The Presidents do return two tough wrestlers. 

157 lbs
Logan Marko 

His record itself didn't say much at 6-5, but Logan Marko wrestled well enough last season to make the PAC finals & earn and 8th place finish at the Southeast Regional.  A full season of wrestling should do him good. 

184 lbs
Brayden Roscosky

Pennsylvania native Brayden Roscosky had himself a pretty good first year of collegiate wrestling. 7th wasn't exactly where he wanted to finish within the Southeast Regional, but nevertheless in your first year of collegiate wrestling 15-3 is pretty impressive record. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Washington & Lee

 

One of the oldest wrestling programs in the country the Generals begin their 102nd season this year.  Winning the Centennial Conference team title last season, that was their 13th conference team title. Last season was the first time that the Generals have crowned two All Americans in the same year. BOTH return this season for their final year of competition. 

125 lbs
Riley Parker 

Senior Riley Parker had an outstanding season last year going 33-10 in route to to a Centennial Conference title, a 3rd place showing at the Southeast Regional & a 6th place All American finish at the NCAA Division III championships. 

157 lbs
Ryan Luth 

Connecticut native Ryan Luth had himself a standout season last year as well. 32-3 on the season, we saw titles won at both the Centennial Conference & the Southeast Regional as he earned a 4th place All American finish at the NCAA Division III championships. Also a qualifier in 2020, he looks to become a three time Qualifier & a two time All American this season. 

174 lbs

There's good reason to think that Cameron Blizard may very well join Parker & Luth in a trip to the NCAA Division III championships this season. A little inconsistent he still had a 3rd place showing at the Centennial Conference championships & a 4th place finish at the Southeast Regional. 

197 
John Ryan Sedovy 

Another General who will help to win duals & earn higher placements within tournaments will be John Ryan Sedovy. 5th in the Southeast Regional, he was 20-13 last season. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Stevens Tech

 

The Ducks had an extremely good team last year winning the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)  team title, the Southeast Regional team title & finishing 5th at the NCAA tournament. They only lose one wrestler from last season, Brett Kaliner a three time All American (3rd in 19' & 3rd in 21' ) who won the national title last year. While his loss will be felt, if others in the lineup step up, the Ducks should have just as good of a showing in 23' as they had in 22'. 

125 lbs
Akhil Vega 

An NCAA Division III qualifier in 2020, Vega slipped to a 7th place finish at the Southeast Regional this past season. A MAC runner-up, he will look to regain his qualification status in what will be his final season as a Duck. 

133 lbs
Luke Hoerle

An NCAA Division III qualifier in 2021 as a freshman, Luke Hoerle missed out on qualification #2 by one match last season. Going 23-11 he was 4th in the Southeast Regional. 

141 lbs
Kyle Slendorn 

Kyle Slendorn had a fantastic season last year as a junior as he earned his third NCAA DIII qualification and his second All American honor. A MAC champion & a Southeast Regional champion he once again took 4th place at the national tournament. This season he should contend for a spot in the NCAA DIII finals. 

157 lbs
Hunter Gutierrez

An MAC runner-up this past season, Hunter Gutierrez was one match shy of NCAA Division III qualification when he finished 4th at the Southeast Regional. He went 29-10 on the year. 

165 lbs
Harrison Hinojosa or Nick Boggiano 

I believe we will have ourselves a tough wrestle-off at 165 lbs. Harrison Hinojosa went 20-12 on the season last year as freshman earning a 6th place finish at the Southeast Regional.  Boggiano a NCAA DIII qualifier in 2021 was 17-5, earning a 3rd place finish at the MAC championships.  Among his notable wins Scott DeFex and Garrett Cornell. 

174 lbs
Stefan Major or Joel Martsinovsky 

You'd think being as good as Stefan Major, having won the MAC title & the Southeast Regional title while placing 7th at the NCAA Division III championships that you wouldn't have to worry about losing your spot. Yet he will be challenged as he was last season by Joel Martsinovsky.  Thus far Major has won all meetings, but they have all been close. A 5-2, a 7-5 & a a 3-2 decision. Many times a wrestler is often as good as he is because of how hard he is being pushed in the room. This classic example here. 

184 lbs
Frank Medina 

Frank Medina is another Duck who finished one match shy of NCAA Division III qualification last season. He was a runner-up at the MAC championships posting a 27-12 record. 

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I think it's a realistic as well as a fair expectation to think that everyone listed here could be an NCAA Division III qualifier. I am curious to see if maybe there might be some weight adjustments. You have very good wrestlers at 165 & 174, so is there a chance that maybe some might move up a weight in order to make room for more talent in the starting lineup?  Don't know, but I am anxious to find out. 

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2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Wesleyan

 

Two east coasters and a southerner, the Cardinals have three tough wrestlers on the squad this season who should make some noise. 

157 lbs
Aaron Goldman 

Texas native Aaron Goldman came very close to NCAA Division III qualification last season when he took 4th at the Northeast Regional.  25-6 on the year, look for him to contend for that qualification this season. 

165 lbs
Jack Reusing 

Going 17-14 in his initial season, Jack Reusing was 7th at the Northeast Regional last year. The sophomore out of New York ought to improve upon his record as well as his regional placing. 

174 lbs
Marco Gaita 

Two time NCAA Division III qualifier Marco Gaita will be going for his third qualification this season. 23-5 last year, he was 3rd at the Northeast Regional. 

2023 NCAA Division III The Season: Norwich

 

A note to Regional place-winner Daniel Curran who has graduated, the Cadets return an All American & have a HWT would should also do very well this season. 

149 lbs
Kyle Merritt 

Kyle Merritt gave the Cadets their first All American in 23 years last season when he took 7th at the NCAA Division III championships. A 24-5 record, he goes into his sophomore season with the opportunity on the table to become a four time All American. Not many from Rhode Island have said that throughout the history of collegiate wrestling. This two time state champion might very well. 

HWT 
Mason Sprinkel 

Going 21-11 on the season last year junior Mason Sprinkel strikes me as one who will compete hard throughout the season & place within the top 8 at the Regional tournament. Addison Boisvert among his victories last year.