2018 NCAA Preview: 197 lbs.
Guy Patron lost his first match last year but won six matches in a row to take 3rd.
Mat Talk Online DIII Championships Guide
- Kyle Fank, Wartburg
- Guy Patron, Loras
- Kyle Koser, Messiah
- Etiini Udott, Centenary
- Devon Carrillo, Wesleyan
- Triston Engle, Brockport
- Wesley Schultz, La Crosse
- Michael DiNardo, Johnson & Wales
Hasan Alic, York
Ramsey Bloy, Eau Claire
Blake Bunce, Merchant Marine
Ken Burrs, Waynesburg
Dylan Diebitz, Stevens Point
Andrew Holladay, Coe
Drew Kasper, Otterbein
Antavian Leary, Ferrum
Tyler Maclellan, Baldwin Wallace
Jonathan Wagner, Coast Guard
This is one of two weights with four returning wrestlers who placed at the same weight last year. Guy Patron of Loras was 3rd, Triston Engle of Brockport was 4th, Kyle Fank of Wartburg was 5th, and Kyle Koser of Messiah was 7th. Fank is the favorite here with his only losses this year at the hands of Jordan Newman, the top seed at 184 lbs. He has a pair of wins over Patron including in the regional final. He beat Patron twice last year during the season as well before falling to the Loras wrestler during his run from the preliminary consolation round all the way to 3rd place.
Patron made a six match run to third place last year because Kyle Koser of Messiah beat him in the first round. He is on the same side of the bracket and the two could meet up again in the semifinals. Koser placed 7th last year. Triston Engle of Brockport is the fourth returning All-American here. He lost to Koser in the regional final last year before pinning him in the consolation rounds on his way to 4th place. He could match up with Koser again in the quarterfinals if they both win in the first round. Etiini Udott of Centenary and Devon Carrillo of Wesleyan were both in the bracket last year and return looking to get on the podium. Udott’s only DIII loss is to Carrillo while Carrillo has only lost to Koser and Engle. Keep an eye on Wesley Schultz of La Crosse. The Wyoming transfer is dangerous and can pin anyone as evidenced by his consecutive falls against Jordan Newman and Kyle Koser at the Wheaton Invitational.