2018 NCAA Preview: 165 lbs.
Anthony Arroyo is hoping to improve upon last year’s 5th place finish in front of the home crowd
Mat Talk Online DIII Championships Guide
- Mike Ross, Wartburg
- Lucas Jeske, Augsburg
- Anthony Arroyo, Baldwin Wallace
- Frank Aiello, Wheaton
- Andrew Tolbert, Ferrum
- Thomas Poklikuha, Stevens
- Taylor Shay, Roger Williams
- Nick Velez, Ithaca
Nicholas Bonomo, Whitewater
Blake Dixon, John Carroll
Adrian Gonzalez, Johnson & Wales
Tyler Grimsley, Olivet
Ben Hewson, Cornell
Jeff Hojnacki, Messiah
Colin Kowalski, Gettysburg
Nick Remke, Coast Guard
Jeremy Vester, Central
Zach Zupan, Cortland
Mike Ross is the latest in a series of New England wrestlers to make their way west and into the Wartburg lineup. Kenny Anderson was a three time champion for the Knights from Massachusetts. Cross Cannone, the top seed at 149, is from Connecticut as is Ross. The undefeated freshman is the top seed at 165 though he did not compete in either Wartburg-Augsburg dual, so he has not yet faced the #2 seed Lucas Jeske. Jeske is the top returning wrestler at the weight after a third place finish last season. He would likely have been the top seed except for a loss he took at the Don Parker Open. He is otherwise undefeated with over half of his wins coming from his 19 falls this season.
The host school Baldwin Wallace qualified 9 wrestlers to the tournament, and the only returning All-American in that group is Anthony Arroyo, the third seed here. He finished in 5th place last year. His only loss this year was to Smith of Loras who is not in this bracket. His last loss before that came against Jeske in the consolation semifinals last year via a 21-6 tech fall. He pinned the 7th seed Taylor Shay of Roger Williams back in December. Nick Velez was an All-American for Ithaca in 2016 but missed out last year. He is again seeded, though he lost in the regional final to Thomas Poklikuha of Stevens who is making his NCAA debut as the 6th seed. His one loss on the year is to Ferrum’s Andrew Tolbert, the Southeast Region champion.