2018 NCAA Preview: 141 lbs.

133 Grossman (Wilkes) vs Bartschenfeld (Augsburg) (2)

Matthew Grossmann was an NCAA champion back in 2015 and returns to the NCAA tournament for the first time since then.

Mat Talk Online DIII Championships Guide

  1. Brett Kaliner, Stevens
  2. Josh Martin, Cornell
  3. Jimmy McAuliffe, Elmhurst
  4. David Flynn, Augsburg
  5. Joseph Ghione, Elizabethtown
  6. Joseph Ferinde, Johnson & Wales
  7. Ben Brisman, Ithaca
  8. Chase Wilson, Manchester

Tim Ambacher, Delaware Valley
Zach Bylykbashi, Washington & Lee
Matthew Grossmann, Wilkes
Kevin Kelly, Loras
Brendan Ladd, Alma
Sean Lyons, NYU
Charles Nash, Baldwin Wallace
Hayden Schlough, La Crosse
Austin Shorey, Southern Maine
Chris Williams, Millikin

Stevens has brought in a national champion contender as a freshman for the second year in a row in Brett Kaliner. The Pennsylvania product has defeated six of the other entrants in what should be a very competitive weight. It would not be a shock if the final results look nothing like the seeding. Josh Martin of Cornell, David Flynn of Ausburg, and Chris Williams of Millikin have all been ranked #1 at one point or another this season. Flynn is the highest returning finisher after taking 3rd last year, though he lost in the regional semifinal. He gave Kaliner his last loss at the Cornell tournament, but Martin has defeated Flynn twice already. Williams is a two time All-American and returns to the tournament up a weight from last year. He lost a month of the season to injury but is back healthy aiming for a third podium finish.

Joseph Ferinde is the last remaining returning 2017 All-American at this weight, and he placed 6th last year for Johnson & Wales. He has split with Kaliner and avenged a loss to Temple of Castleton to punch his ticket to Cleveland. His only other win against a qualifier at this weight came in the regional final against Lyons of NYU. Matthew Grossmann was not an All-American last year or the year before that, but he was a freshman NCAA champion at 133 in 2015 in Hershey. He has not been back to the tournament since but is here now with one last shot at returning to the podium. He has, however, gone 0-4 against other qualifiers so far this season. Another one to watch here is Kevin Kelly of Loras. He was the 4th seed at the Lower Midwest Regional, but he defeated the previously mentioned Martin and Williams to win the tournament and position himself for a great NCAA tournament.