The d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year award is given to the top Division III wrestler who competed in high school in the previous season. The 2020 Freshman of the Year is Ryan Anderson of Centenary University. Anderson came to the Cyclones from Bethlehem Catholic High School where he was a two-time state champion and three-time placewinner, helping his team to a pair of state duals championships.
Anderson was the #1 seed at 149 lbs. in the canceled NCAA Championships and was ranked 1st in the final d3wrestle.com Rankings. He finished the season with a 31-3 record and did not lose to a DIII opponent. He won his last 28 matches in a row to finish his season with a title in the Mideast Regional. He also won the Doug Parker Invitational, Bob Quade Cyclone Open, and the Shorty Hitchcock Open. He had 15 falls this season with 13 coming in the first period. His final regular season victory came against the previously #1 ranked wrestler at his weight, and his final victory of the season was a win over a 2018 NCAA champion. Anderson is the second winner from Centenary after Chris Burdge in 2011.
For 2020, the d3wrestle.com All-Freshman team is any wrestler listed on their team’s roster as a freshman or redshirt freshman. This list was taken and verified from the TrackWrestling NCAA brackets. If someone was missed, please put it in the comments so everyone who ought to be recognized has the opportunity.
| Name | School | Weight |
| Jack Stanley | Baldwin Wallace | 125 |
| Zac Blasioli | Millikin | 125 |
| Robbie Precin | North Central | 125 |
| Joey Manginelli | Springfield | 125 |
| Travis Jones | Ithaca | 133 |
| Hayden Brown | Johnson & Wales | 133 |
| Kyle Slendorn | Stevens | 133 |
| Noah Caskey | Coast Guard | 141 |
| Riley Wright | Coe | 141 |
| Garret Cornell | Messiah | 141 |
| Chandler Merwin | Cortland | 141 |
| Ryan Anderson | Centenary | 149 |
| Chase Sumner | Ohio Northern | 149 |
| Ryan Whitten | Otterbein | 157 |
| Charlie Grygas | Oswego | 165 |
| Zack Lawrence | Springfield | 165 |
| George Moseley | Averett | 184 |
| Doug Byrne | Baldwin Wallace | 184 |
| Shane Liegel | Loras | 184 |
| Tonee Ellis | Alvernia | 197 |
| Gabriel Zierden | Concordia-Moorhead | 197 |
| Cole Fibranz | Chicago | 285 |
| Wyatt Wriedt | Loras | 285 |
| Rocky McGeary | Waynesburg | 285 |
Previous Freshman of the Year Winners
2019 – Antonio McCloud, Mount St. Joseph
2018 – Brett Kaliner, Stevens
2017 – Troy Stanich, Stevens
2016 – Angus Arthur, Adrian
2015 – Matthew Grossmann, Wilkes
2014 – Riley Lefever, Wabash
2013 – Josh Thomson, Messiah
2012 – Nate Giorgio, Coast Guard
2011 – Chris Burdge, Centenary
2010 – Kyle Kwiat, Ohio Northern
Do not know what Qualifications are required but Jake Burford at 157 from Wisconsin Whitewater was a true freshman and placed third at WIAC championships and 7th at the Upper MidWest Regional
Nevermind…Read that NCAA Qualifier…LOL
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