2019 NCAA Preview: 285 lbs.
- James Bethel, Oneonta
- Adarios Jones, Augustana
- Jake Evans, Waynesburg
- Konrad Ernst, La Crosse
- Garrett Wesneski, Lycoming
- Drew Kasper, Otterbein
- Jake O’Brien, Ithaca
- Patrick Irwin, Coast Guard
Bowen Wileman, Wartburg
Brandon Ballard, York
Connor Calkins, RIT
Grant Miller, Wheaton
Jerhett Lee, Ozarks
Jesse Webb, Castleton
Lucius Rinehart, Platteville
Tommy Wrzesien, Johnson & Wales
Trevor Piggott, Olivet
Wade Ripple, Wabash
There is a lot of firepower at 285 this year. Jake Evans is the defending champion and has 186 career wins. Top seed James Bethel is undefeated in DIII and leads the NCAA in dominance. He is second behind Evans in falls. Adarios Jones missed last year with an injury but is undefeated this season. In 2017, he defeated Bethel and Evans at the NCAA Championships. Konrad Ernst of Lacrose is also undefeated this year and is third in dominance. Garrett Wesneski of Lycoming defeated Evans in the regional final and has split with the Waynesburg wrestler this year for his only loss.
Fifth seed Jake O’Brien is the remaining All-American in the weight. He was a semifinalist last year before finishing 5th with a win over Ernst in his final match. Of the wrestlers not yet mentioned, only RIT’s Connor Calkins was in the bracket last season, though Otterbein’s Drew Kasper qualified in 2018 at 197 lbs. Hoping to make the most of his chance is Bowen Wileman of Wartburg. He has been behind All-Americans the past few seasons for the Knights and has qualified as a senior is his first chance in the starting lineup.
Two of the wrestlers that qualified here did not compete until February. Grant Miller of Wheaton is a football player for the Thunder, and his first competition was February 7th in the CCIW Championships. Brandon Ballard came to York after earlier stops at South Dakota State and Labette Community College. He has a few more matches than Miller under his belt but his first one came in a dual on February 1st.