DIII Results from U.S. National Championships

Senior National Results (FloArena)

Five current or former Division III wrestlers made the podium at last weekend’s U.S. Senior National Championships at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. All five placed in Greco-Roman, with former world team member Joe Rau (Elmhurst) leading the way in 2nd place at 87kg. Rau rode a trio of tech falls to the finals where he faced former Cuban national team member Alan Vera and fell 7-1. Vera fled Cuba in 2016 and is nearing the end of the process required to represent the US in world and Olympic competition.

Veteran Greco wrestler Donny Longendyke (Augsburg) finished 3rd at 130kg, avenging an earlier loss in the tournament in the consolation finals. Fellow former Auggie Ryan Epps finished 5th at 77kg after finishing up his college career last season. Epps beat the #2 and #7 seeds along the way. A pair of Loras wrestlers wrapped up the DIII placers. Current senior Brady Vogel finished 5th at 97kg and 2020 graduate Eddie Smith finished 8th at 77kg.

The next USA Wrestling event that could have a DIII contingent is the U23/UWW Junior Championships in Omaha November 12-15. Athletes born between 1997 and 2002 can compete in the U23 event while those born between 2000 and 2003 can compete in the UWW Junior event.

NameStyleWeightCollegeResults
Ryan EppsGR, FS77, 86Augsburg5th GR, 1-2 FS
Donny LongendykeGR130Augsburg3rd place
William BaldwinFS97Averett1-2
Samuel BraswellGR60Averett0-2
Joseph JonesFS65Averett0-2
Alex LogsdonFS57Averett0-2
Trent RaglanFS125Averett0-2
Joe RauGR87Elmhurst2nd place
Eddie SmithGR77Loras8th place
Brady VogelGR97Loras5th place
Jake EvansGR130Waynesburg0-2
Elroy PerkinFS74Whitewater1-2
Tom FooteGR130Williams1-2
Jack NigroGR, FS77, 74WPI0-2 GR, 1-2, FS