2019 NCAA Preview: 197 lbs.
- Etiini Udott, Centenary
- Guy Patron, Loras
- Lance Benick, Augsburg
- Keajion Jennings, Millikin
- Antonio McCloud, Mount St. Joseph
- Michael DiNardo, Johnson & Wales
- Taylor Mehmen, Coe
- Riley Kauzlaric, Whitewater
Dan D’Agostini, Scranton
Dylan Dubuque, Cortland
Gage Gladysz, Thiel
Jonathan Wagner, Coast Guard
Ken Burrs, Waynesburg
Luke Dodd, St. John’s
Michael Curtis, WPI
Travis Ogden, Lycoming
Tyler Hammack, Heidelberg
Zeckary Lehman, Baldwin Wallace
Just three All-Americans are back at this weight including the top two seeds. Eiini Udott of Centenary is a four time NCAA qualifier and was 5th here last year. Guy Patron was 3rd as a freshman and 2nd last year as a sophomore. Udott is undefeated against DIII competition, though he has perhaps not seen the same level of opponent as some of the other top seeds. Patron has wins over the 4th and 7th seeds but losses to the 3rd and 8th seeds. Keajion Jennings, the 4th seed, was an All-American at 184 last year, and he has a win this season over #3 Benick of Augsburg. Seeding this weight must have been a challenge.
Michael DiNardo (JWU), Jonathan Wagner (Coast Guard), Ken Burrs (Waynesburg) all return to the weight after qualifying last year, while Zeckary Lehman (Baldwin Wallace) and Tyler Hammack (Heidelberg) join Jennings in making it at 197 a year after qualifying at 184. Thiel’s Gage Gladysz was a qualifier at 197 in 2017 before moving up to 285 and missing the tournament. Back down to 197, he is making a second trip to the championships.
Mount St. Joseph has not had a national qualifier since 2014, and they went through a rough stretch where the team was shut down for a season to give them time to build the roster back up. Freshman Ohio state champion Antonio McCloud won the Central Region and gives the Lions a shot at an All-American in their return to the national stage. Michael Curtis is one of two qualifiers for WPI, and the Engineers have multiple qualifiers for the first time in 16 years.