2015 Champion: Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg

2016 Field

After losing in the finals each of the past two seasons, Lucas Malmberg of Messiah is hoping to finally take that last step up to the top of the podium and secure a first NCAA championship. He has dominated the rest of the field this season, with his only DIII loss coming when Chicago’s Richter, who failed to qualify, headlocked him at Wheaton. Before that match his last DIII loss to someone other than Fuenffinger came over two years ago. He appears to be pretty far ahead of the rest of the pack and is the only returning All-American to boot. A number of wrestlers can lay claim to being the second best wrestler on paper, but all have taken losses along the way. Olea lost to West region 3rd place finisher Goman, and Weinmann has lost to Denny twice late in the year. It is hard to imagine the final place order matching very well with the seeds.

Almost anyone in this bracket should be feeling like he has a chance to get on the podium. The number of upsets at the regionals shows that. The #2 ranked wrestler before the regionals (Fleck of Wilkes), failed to qualify, while numbers 3 (Weinmann), 4 (Vosters), 7 (Kaishian), 8 (Murray), and 9 (Pestano) all lost to lower ranked opponents but still made it into the tournament. Two possibly overlooked wrestlers in this weight include Bobby Jordan of Johnson & Wales and Jacob Spearman of Washington & Jefferson. Jordan won the Northeast Regional and only has one loss on the year to his teammate. Spearman is a prior NCAA qualifier who had some hiccups earlier in the year but seems to have gotten going at the right time to beat Fleck 7-0 at the regional and only lose 4-2 to Malmberg.

The 2016 d3wrestle.com Picks Contest is here. The rules are different this year, so read closely. The prize will be an item from the d3wrestle.com store. Here is a link to the brackets

1. You are to choose 10 wrestlers, one from each weight class.
2. You are to choose a maximum of one wrestler for each seed and a minimum of two unseeded wrestlers.
3. You may replace any seeded wrestler with an unseeded wrestler. e.g., if you want to pick an extra unseeded wrestler instead of the 8th (or other) seed at a weight, that is permissible, as long as you only choose one or zero wrestlers for a seeded spot.
4. Your score is the combined team points scored by your ten wrestlers. A list of scores will be provided after the tournament.
5. Post your team as a comment to this post before 11:59pm Eastern on Thursday, March 10th. The format is as follows: Seed, Weight, Name, School. Place each wrestler on a separate line in order of seed. Make sure the email address attached to your post is real so I can contact the winner.
6. Ties will be broken by whoever has the most champs, then runners-up, and so on.

2016 NCAA Championships Brackets

Monday 6pm: Brackets Released on NCAA.com

Tuesday: Previews of 125, 133, 141

Wednesday: Previews of 149, 157, 165, 174

Thursday: Previews of 184, 197, 285

Friday: Wrestling begins at 11:00AM Central

Here are the wrestlers in the 2016 NCAA Championships who have been All-Americans at some point in the past. Please leave a comment if someone was missed.

125
Lucas Malmberg, Messiah, 2nd in 2014 & 2015

133
Jesse Gunter, Baldwin Wallace, 4th in 2015, 3rd in 2014 (both at 125)
Nathan Pike, NYU, 6th in 2015
Connor Campo, Wartburg, 7th in 2015
Ryan O’Boyle, McDaniel, 4th in 2014

141
Drew Van Anrooy, Luther, 2nd in 2015
Layten Binion, North Central, 6th in 2015
Jeremy Border, Mount Union, 3rd in 2014 (at 133)
Nathaniel Behnke, Eau Claire, 5th in 2013
Jimmy Nehls, Elmhurst, 5th in 2014 (at 133 for Whitewater)

149
Kenny Martin, Wartburg, 1st in 2015
Derek Arnold, Ursinus, 4th in 2015
Dan Mirman, John Carroll, 6th in 2015, 6th in 2014

157
Jorge Lopez, Williams, 3rd in 2015, 3rd in 2014, 6th in 2013 (at 149)
Bobby Dierna, Cortland, 2nd in 2014, 3rd in 2013 (both at 149)
Drew Wagenhoffer, Wartburg, 5th in 2015, 6th in 2012 (at 149)
Antonio Mancella, TCNJ, 8th in 2015

165
Farai Sewera, Coe, 1st in 2015
Nolan Barger, Lycoming, 3rd in 2015
Eric Hensel, Augsburg, 5th in 2015

174
Tyler Schneider, La Crosse, 2nd in 2015 (at 165)
Ethan Farmer, Wabash, 7th in 2015 (at 165)
Ryan Harrington, Coe, 4th in 2015
Garrett Chase, Baldwin Wallace, 7th in 2015
Stephen Aiello, Wheaton, 7th in 2014 (at 165)
Lou Puca, Cortland, 7th in 2014, 6th in 2013

184
Riley Lefever, Wabash, 1st in 2015, 1st in 2014
Christopher Chorzepa, Williams, 4th in 2015, 3rd in 2014
Josh Thomson, Messiah, 3rd in 2015 (at 174), 4th in 2014, 3rd in 2013

197
Joe Giaramita, Cortland, 1st in 2015, 6th in 2014, 8th in 2012 (at 285)
Gerard Roman, Wartburg, 6th in 2015
Matt Seabold, Central, 8th in 2015
David Welch, Roger Williams, 7th in 2014

285
Donald Longendyke, Augsburg, 1st in 2015
James Buss, Millikin, 1st in 2014, 4th in 2013 (both at Loras)
Zachary Roseberry, Delaware Valley, 3rd in 2015, 4th in 2014
Trevor Maresh, Alma, 6th in 2015
Conner Herman, Luther, 8th in 2015

List of Qualifiers Including Hometown

Map of Qualifiers Color Coded by Regional

View 2016 NCAA Division III Qualifiers in a full screen map

Qualifiers by Home State

Northeast Regional (Roger Williams) – Brackets
East Regional (Washington & Lee) – Results
Mideast Regional (Lycoming) – Results
Midwest Regional (Wabash) – Brackets
Central Regional (Loras) – Brackets
West Regional (Augsburg) – Brackets

Northeast Regional (Roger Williams) – Website | Preview | Live Results – Saturday & Sunday

East Regional (Washington & Lee) – Website | Preview | Live Results – Saturday & Sunday

Mideast Regional (Lycoming) – Website | Preview | Live Results – Saturday & Sunday

Midwest Regional (Wabash) – Website | Preview |  Live Results – Saturday

Central Regional (Loras) –  Website | Preview |  Live Results – Sunday

West Regional (Augsburg) – Website | Preview |  Live Results – Saturday

2016 Mideast Regional
Saturday & Sunday, February 27 & 28
Lamade Gymnasium – Lycoming College – Event Website

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Baldwin Wallace, Brockport, Case Western, Elizabethtown, Heidelberg, John Carroll, Lycoming, Messiah, Mount Union, Muskingum, Oswego, RIT, Scranton, Thiel, Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg, Wilkes, York

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #1 Malmberg (Messiah), #2 Fleck (Wilkes)
133 – #3 Gunter (Baldwin Wallace)
141 – #9 Kihn (Heidelberg)
149 – #1 Mirman (John Carroll), #5 Lansberry (Lycoming)
157 – #6 Cannon (Messiah)
165 – #2 Barger (Lycoming)
174 – #4 Swarr (Messiah), #7 Chase (Baldwin Wallace), #10 Blanco (Washington & Jefferson)
184 – #3 Thomson (Messiah), #5 Palmeri (Brockport), #7 Diesel (Wilkes)
197 – #8 Koser (Messiah), #10 Smith (Oswego)
285 – #8 Tristram (Brockport)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#2 Messiah
#17 Baldwin Wallace, Wilkes (tie)
#21 Lycoming
#23 John Carroll
#28 Brockport

Messiah has finished 3rd and 6th the past two years for the two best finishes in school history. This year, they hope to take at least one step higher as a team with hopes of making a run at Wartburg for the title. Lucas Malmberg and Josh Thomson have anchored the team with Malmberg finishing 2nd in each of his first two years and Thomson going 3rd, 4th, 3rd in his first three. Both will be contenders for the championship this year with Swarr, Koser, and Cannon giving the Falcons numerous All-American contenders. Baldwin Wallace and regional newcomer Wilkes will also send strong teams to the regional. Jesse Gunter has moved up to 133 for BW and will be in contention for a championship, while Garrett Chase can improve on last year’s 7th place finish. Wilkes is missing 2015 NCAA Champion Grossmann, but the return of #2 ranked Michael Fleck at 125 has softened the blow.

Malmberg lost in the 2014 and 2015 finals to Augsburg’s Mike Fuenffinger, but he will not have that obstacle in his way this year. Malmberg was headlocked by Chicago’s Richter at Wheaton for his only DIII loss this season and his only non-Fuenffinger DIII loss since he was a freshman.#2 ranked Nolan Barger at 165 is undefeated so far this year after placing third a year ago. He has 11 falls this year with eight of them happening in the first period. Top ranked Dan Mirman of John Carroll returned tot he lineup at 149 for the second semester after competing unattached for the first half of the season. He has been an All-American twice and hopes to go out on top in Cedar Rapids.

An important part of NCAA tournament team success is doing well in the regional. Getting as many guys as possible to the tournament gives teams more opportunities to score points and gives more leeway if someone does not perform up to expectations. 23 of the 80 All-Americans last year were unseeded, proving the value of just punching a ticket to Iowa. If a team like Messiah, or any other top contender, wants to secure a team trophy, getting the unranked wrestlers through is nearly as important as having top wrestlers meet expectations. If guys like Walsh (141), Hojnacki (165), and Wright (285) can have a good weekend, then perhaps they can score a few points for Messiah in Iowa that will make the difference.

2016 Midwest Regional
Saturday, February 27
Wabash College – Event Website

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Adrian, Alma, Chicago, Elmhurst, Manchester, Mount St. Joseph, North Central, Ohio Northern, Olivet, Trine, La Crosse, Stevens Point, Whitewater, Wabash, Wheaton

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #3 Weinmann (La Crosse), #4 Vosters (Stevens Point)
133 -#6 Weinmann (La Crosse)
141 – #3 Adcock (Whitewater), #4 Nehls (Elmhurst), #5 See (La Crosse), #6 Kust (Stevens Point), Binion (North Central)
149 – #3 Santi (Elmhurst)
157 – #7 Bova (Wabash), #8 Fekete (Wheaton), #9 Tardy (North Central)
165 – #6 Gerszewski (Whitewater), #8 Hermsen (Stevens Point)
174 – #5 Schneider (La Crosse), #6 Farmer (Wabash)
184 – #1 Lefever (Wabash)
197 – #5 Arthur (Adrian), #6 Jakes (Alma), #7 Swider (Wheaton)
285 – #3 Maresh (Alma)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#3 La Crosse
#8 Wabash
#11 Stevens Point
#13 Whitewater
#17 Alma, Elmhurst (tie)
#25 Wheaton

La Crosse again brings a strong team into what is always a very strong regional. The third ranked Eagles have four top ten ranked individuals including returning NCAA runner-up Tyler Schneider. Four other wrestlers appear in the Contenders section of the latest rankings, giving the team a lot of balance and a chance for a large number of qualifiers with a good performance on Saturday. Wabash lost a pair of national finalists in Reece and Conner Lefever, but Riley is back at 184 and looking for a third championship in as many years. His performance will be bolstered by a number of talented teammates including returning All-American Ethan Farmer at 174.

Riley Lefever is the only returning NCAA champion in the region, and he has yet to be defeated by a Division III wrestler in his career. Earlier this season, he topped Division I 5th place finisher Kenny Courts on his way to the championship at the Eastern Michigan Open. Tyler Schneider of La Crosse was an NCAA runner-up at 165 last year but has moved up the 174 this season, as has the other 165 All-American from a year ago Ethan Farmer. Matt Adcock of Whitewater was the NCAA runner-up in 2014 but finished 7th last year.

141 lbs. is one of the toughest in any region this year, as there are four top ten ranked individuals, including 2014 133 lbs. All-American (for Whitewater) Jimmy Nehls of Elmhurst as well as unranked Layten Binion of North Central who finished 6th last season. Only three can qualify, so someone in the top ten is staying home. We could see all three of the Weinmann brothers from La Crosse at the NCAA Championships this year. Ryan and Dustin are ranked 3rd and 6th at 125 and 133, while Derek is in the Contenders list at 165. They will struggle to match the Lefevers getting three brothers in the finals last year, but having all three at the tournament would give the Eagles a boost.

2016 Central Regional
Sunday, February 28
Five Flags Center – Dubuque, Iowa

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Augustana, Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Cornell, Dubuque, Huntingdon, Loras, Luther, Millikin, Simpson, University of the Ozarks, Wartburg

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #9 Pestano (Central), #10 Olea (Wartburg)
133 – #3 Campo (Wartburg), #7 Scheffert (Luther)
141 – #1 Van Anrooy (Luther), #7 Onoo (Wartburg), #10 Williams (Millikin)
149 – #6 Martin (Wartburg), #8 Gray (Luther)
157 – #4 Wagenhoffer (Wartburg)
165 – #1 Sewera (Coe), #3 Michael (Wartburg)
174 – #1 DeVos (Wartburg), #2 Harrington (Coe)
184 – #8 Kreiter (Luther), #9 Levsen (Wartburg)
197 – #3 Roman (Wartburg), #4 Seabold (Central)
285 – #4 Evans (Wartburg), #6 Buss (Millikin), #9 Herman (Luther)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#1 Wartburg
#6 Luther
#11 Coe
#22 Central

In 2015, Wartburg’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive title were dashed by a surprising performance from rival Augsburg. This year, the Knights appear to be comfortably ahead of the pack and on their way to another national and regional championship. The team has four returning All-Americans and a top ten ranked wrestler in every weight. Luther has five top ten ranked wrestlers of their own including a pair of returning All-Americans in Van Anrooy (2nd at 141) and Herman (8th at 285). #11 Coe is led by returning NCAA Champion Farai Sewera at 165 and returning 4th place finisher Ryan Harrington at 174.

The region features two returning NCAA Champions. Sewera is back to defend his 165 lbs. title and holds the top spot at the weight. Kenny Martin of Wartburg was the champ at 149 lbs. last year, but he is just 6th in the rankings right now after dropping three matches in his half a season of work since his return to the lineup for the second semester. Another pair of wrestlers are ranked #1 in this region. Drew Van Anrooy wrestled a marathon overtime match in the finals a year ago but came up just short. This year he is undefeated in somewhat limited action. He should reach 20 wins this weekend. Eric DeVos of Wartburg is new to the team after stops at Penn and Iowa and has earned the top spot at 174 with wins over Harrington and a few other All-Americans.

Millkin brought their team back for the 2015-2016 season after discontinuing the sport in 2008 and new coach Ryan Birt wasted no time building a competitive squad. They have two ranked individuals including James Buss who was last seen winning the 2014 NCAA heavyweight title for Loras. He returned to the mat in January and has gone 12-0 with a championship at the Pete Willson Invitational. In his last NCAA tournament appearance, Buss stopped Augsburg’s Chad Johnson from winning a third championship. There is another defending 285 champ from Augsburg in the way of a 2nd title for Buss, and we will get to see if he is up to the challenge.

2016 East Regional
Saturday & Sunday, February 27 & 28
Warner Center – Washington & Lee University – Event Website

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Centenary, Delaware Valley, Ferrum, Gettysburg, Greensboro, Hampden-Sydney, Hunter, Johns Hopkins, King’s, McDaniel, Merchant Marine Academy, Mount Saint Vincent, Muhlenberg, New York University, Stevens Institute of Technology, The College of New Jersey, Ursinus, Washington & Lee

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #8 Murray (Stevens)
133 – #1 Pike (NYU), #10 Kirkegard (Delaware Valley)
141 – #8 Budzek (TCNJ)
149 – #2 Arnold (Ursinus)
157 – #3 Meister (Ferrum), #5 Mancella (TCNJ)
165 – #4 Herring (TCNJ), #5 Navickas (Stevens)
174 – #9 Sibblies (Centenary)
184 – #4 Kowal (Stevens), #10 Gockel-Figge (NYU)
197 – #9 Fisher (USMMA)
285 – #2 Roseberry (Delaware Valley)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#8 TCNJ
#14 Stevens
#23 NYU
#25 Delaware Valley
#28 Ferrum

TCNJ and Stevens are set to battle for the team title in the East Region this year. The two New Jersey schools have been the class of the region and each has three wrestlers ranked in the top ten. Budzek (141), Mancella (157), and Herring (165) have helped propel TCNJ to a #8 ranking, and they have plenty of help from just outside the top ten. Murray (125), Navickas (165), and Kowal (184) give Stevens some firepower as well. The next two teams in the rankings battled to the final match for last year’s regional title. Delaware Valley clinched the title over NYU when current #2 Zach Roseberry provided the margin of victory with a fall in the finals.

Nathan Pike is the sole top ranked wrestler in the tournament, and his second year at NYU has been outstanding as he works to improve on last year’s 5th place national finish. He is able to score points in a hurry. There are wrestlers here who could test him, as 133 has some depth, including 2014 All-American Ryan O’Boyle. Derek Arnold won the region last year at 149 and went on to place 4th in the NCAA. This year, he made a late descent to the weight and is back as the top competitor, even though he has only wrestled twice at the weight. Roseberry is a two time All-American and is ranked 2nd like Arnold. He will be a heavy favorite to repeat as regional champ.

2013 qualifier and 2014 All-American Ryan O’Boyle has one more shot to reach the podium again. He was ill for last year’s regional and underperformed. This year, he has had some good wins mixed in with a few unexpected losses and wins that were less dominant than is typical. If he is on, he is tough to beat. Another wrestler to watch is Ferrum’s #3 ranked Logan Meister at 157. He qualified for the NCAA tournament at 141 in Ferrum’s first year of competition but missed all of last season. He is back and up two weight classes with a good chance to become Ferrum’s first All-American.

2016 West Regional
Sunday, February 27
Augsburg College – Event Website

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Augsburg, Concordia-Moorhead, Concordia Wisconsin, Lakeland, MSOE, Pacific, St. John’s, St. Olaf, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Platteville

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #5 Stageberg (Concordia-Moorhead)
133 – #5 Foltz (Concordia-Moorhead), #8 Bennyhoff (Augsburg)
141 – #2 Behnke (Eau Claire)
149 – #7 Kennedy (Augsburg)
157 – none
165 – #9 Sladek (Concordia-Moorhead), #10 Fucile (Lakeland), Hensel (Augsburg)
174 – none
184 – none
197 – none
285 – #1 Longendyke (Augsburg), #7 Bellile (MSOE), #10 Gibson (St. Olaf)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#8 Augsburg
#16 Concordia-Moorhead
#28 Eau Claire

After surprising many on their way to the 2015 NCAA team title, Augsburg returns again as the top team in the smallest region. While it will be tough for them to repeat at NCAA champions, they are in the driver’s seat to again win the West region. Both of the 2015 All-Americans in the region wrestle for Augsburg including 285 lbs. champion Donny Longendyke and last year’s 5th place at 165 Eric Hensel. Concordia-Moorhead is the only team with a shot to dethrone Augsburg and brings a solid group including three top ten ranked wrestlers #5 Jakob Stageberg (125), #5 Gabe Foltz (133), and #9 Cole Sladek (165). The lack of strength in the West ensures that both of these teams will have large groups at the NCAA Championships.

Donny Longendyke has been the wire to wire #1 wrestler at 285 since last season’s NCAA title. Against DIII competition, only wrestler has avoided giving up bonus points, and that was a 7-1 decision. The former Nebraska Husker has anchored the top of the Augsburg lineup since his arrival last season and enters the regional and the NCAA tournament as perhaps the heaviest favorite in the field. Teammate Eric Hensel won the most falls award at last year’s tournament and played a huge role in securing the team title for Augsburg. This year, he has mixed in big wins along with some losses to the types of wrestlers he will need to beat to get on the podium again.

Nathaniel Behnke of Eau Claire finished in 5th place at the 2013 NCAA Championships at 141 and has not made it back on the podium since then. He has a new coach this year in former DIII Coach of the Year Tim Fader and has some big wins over a few of last year’s All-Americans. He is 2nd in the current rankings and will try to become an All-American for the second time in his final season.

2016 Northeast Regional
Saturday & Sunday, February 27 & 28
Springfield College – Event Website

d3wrestle.com Rankings

2015 Results

Teams
Bridgewater State, Coast Guard, Cortland, Daniel Webster, Ithaca, Johnson & Wales, Norwich, Oneonta, Plymouth State, Rhode Island, Roger Williams, Springfield, Trinity, University of Southern Maine, Wesleyan, Williams, Western New England, WPI

Top Ten Ranked Individuals – 2015 All-Americans in bold
125 – #6 Jordan (JWU), #7 Kaishian (Ithaca), Amato (WPI)
133 – #4 Israel (Ithaca)
141 – none
149 – #4 Joseph (Springfield), #9 Gaccione (JWU), #10 Del Gallo (Southern Maine)
157 – #1 Dierna (Cortland), #2 Lopez (Williams), #10 Sullivan (Coast Guard)
165 – #7 Velez (Ithaca)
174 – #3 Puca (Cortland), #8 Ressler (Roger Williams)
184 – #2 Chorzepa (Williams), #6 Toribio (Ithaca)
197 – #1 Welch (Roger Williams), #2 Giaramita (Cortland)
285 – #5 Foster (Roger Williams)

Top 30 Teams (d3wrestle.com list)
#4 Cortland
#5 Ithaca
#7 Roger Williams
#14 Williams
#25 Johnson & Wales

#4 Cortland leads the pack at the Northeast Region with returning 197 lbs. NCAA Champion Joe Giaramita and a pair of 2014 All-Americans who missed last season in #1 ranked Bobby Dierna at 157 and #3 ranked Lou Puca at 174. #5 Ithaca is right on the heels of the Red Dragons with four ranked wrestlers and a very balanced team from top to bottom. Bryan Israel at 133 is their top ranked individual, but Jimmy Kaishian at 125 and Nick Velez at 165 were NCAA qualifiers a year ago. Also in the mix is Roger Williams. The Hawks are in the midst of one of their finest seasons ever that included a 3rd place finish at the National Duals. 2014 All-American David Welch currently has the #1 ranking at 197 and is eyeing a return trip to the podium.

Cortland’s Dierna missed all of last season after finishing 3rd in 2013 and 2nd in 2014, both at 149 lbs. He returned at 157 lbs. for 2015-2016 and has not been seriously challenged by a DIII opponent this year. He enters as the favorite but will have to deal with the #2 ranked wrestler at the weight in Jorge Lopez, a three time All-American from Williams. The other potential 1 vs. 2 matchup is at 197 lbs. where #1 David Welch could face #2 Joe Giaramita, the 2015 NCAA champion at the weight. The two have not met since the 2015 regional final won by Giaramita via injury default.

#2 ranked Christopher Chorzepa of Williams is a two time All-American who has placed 3rd and 4th at 184 his first two seasons. This year, he is undefeated and has a pair of wins over the likely #2 seed at the regional Carlos Toribio of Ithaca. He will hope to continue that winning streak here and in Iowa in a tough weight nationally. At 125 lbs., Brian Amato of WPI got hot and won at the right time to go from third in the region last year to 8th in the NCAA. This year, he has already lost to four in-region opponents without seeing either of Jordan or Kaishian yet. Will he be able to catch lightning in a bottle again in this postseason?