Friday Ithaca Invitational Buena Vista at Briar Cliff Penn State-Altoona at Waynesburg Brockport at RIT Nebraska Wesleyan at St. John’s York at Millersville North Texas (club) at Schreiner McMurry at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa TCNJ at Wilkes Ozarks at Carl Albert State
Haws/Elton 4 team Rumble TCNJ Scramble (Albright, Arcadia, Delaware Valley) Averett Duals NJCU Tri (Centenary, Hunter) Marymount at Averett UW-Parkside at UW-Whitewater McDaniel at Elizabethtown Baldwin Wallace vs. UW-La Crosse
In the fall of 2007, I was 26 years old and had just been named head coach at Gettysburg College. Gino Frank applied to be my part-time assistant. We met for the first time in his social studies classroom at Mechanicsburg Middle School. He was interested in college coaching, and I needed an assistant to help me rebuild the team I had just joined that only had ten wrestlers on the roster. His excitement and passion for wrestling and coaching were obvious from our first meeting, and I was really lucky he decided to join the team. He was my only applicant, and I do not know what I would have done without him.
We spent the next 13 years coaching together at Gettysburg. Every day, he would rush out of school, get in his oversized pickup, and drive 35 minutes south to Gettysburg. He usually managed to get there during the warmup, and he brought plenty of passion to everything we did, whether it was teaching technique, working out with an All-American heavyweight, or running extra conditioning or mental preparation for anyone who wanted to stay after practice. A few days each season, he had to miss practice for parent-teacher conferences at the middle school. These were his least favorite days of the year, and he never stopped complaining about how they made him miss practice. His energy always astounded me, as he would go to school early to run the weight room for the kids at Mechanicsburg, drive to Gettysburg for practice, drive home and do whatever he did to get ready for the next day, and then do it all again. I truly do not know how he kept doing it for years. I know I would not have lasted.
One of the reasons he kept showing up and gave up his nights and weekends for very little money or possibly even less recognition was loyalty. If I am ever asked to describe Gino, his loyalty immediately springs to mind. He kept coming all those years because he made a commitment and cared about the people he worked with. He showed up at the Mechanicsburg weight room to work with wrestlers, baseball players, water polo players, and whoever else wanted to work out before school because he cared about helping them get better. He did not coach any of their teams, but he was as committed to their success as ours at Gettysburg. He would coach anyone who needed it. He worked with his club team, Modern Day Gladiators, and would take anyone to any tournament. He sometimes did private lessons with wrestlers he knew that were not considering Gettysburg and never gave us a second look, and he would do it for free because they needed his help and wanted to work hard. I could always count on him to do whatever the team needed, even if I did not ask him to. I think back to a time when he turned all the showers in the locker room on as hot as they would go and started handfighting with a wrestler to help him make weight. Nobody asked him for that—he just knew that his guy needed to make weight.
When I found out that Gino had passed, one of the first things my wife said was, “I hope they are having his funeral in a big place.” I do not know if I could say anything about Gino that describes him better than that. I saw firsthand the impact he had on the wrestlers at Gettysburg. He was always relentlessly positive about the guys. He always believed they had a chance to win, no matter the opponent. I was always the more realistic one (he probably would have called it pessimistic, but he supported me too much to say so). His positivity absolutely rubbed off on the wrestlers and helped them to have confidence in their abilities. In his mind, he never coached a bad team, because he always had faith that his wrestlers would prevail. Reality could never dampen his spirits, and a loss was just a chance to do some more coaching. I have seen many tributes to Gino in the days since his passing, and they all sound a lot like this one.
In early 2023, Gino was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and he outlasted any prediction about his future. He managed to make his way back onto the Pennsylvania national coaching staff in Fargo and went to Greece this summer to coach one of his wrestlers in the U17 Greco-Roman world championships. I am thrilled that he was able to get back onto the mat and continue to do what he loved to do almost until the end. Missing a few practices for parent-teacher conferences is nothing compared to giving up coaching altogether even if only temporarily.
Gino had a lot of friends across the country, and I am glad I could count myself as one of them. I am also glad to have this website where I can share just a little bit about the hundreds of hours we spent together in practice, on the bus, and in gyms around Division III wrestling. He will be sorely missed, but he will never be forgotten.
Pitt Bradford Quad (Elmira, Utica, Jamestown CC) NEC Tri (Springfield, Norwich) Southern Maine at Bridgewater State Westminster at Millikin Cornell at UW-La Crosse
At the 2026 NCAA Convention, the Division III membership will vote on a proposal to sponsor a Division III women’s wrestling championship. If passed, the championship would be established for the 2027-2028 academic year. In the meantime, the first NCAA-sanctioned all-division championship for women will take place March 6-7 in the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The arena is the same place the NWCA DIII tournament was held in 2021 when the NCAA championships were canceled.
In the 2025-2026 regional alignment for women’s wrestling, there are 108 NCAA women’s wrestling teams assigned. 67 of those are Division III, 35 are Division II, and 6 are Division I. Clearly, Division III sponsorship numbers warrant the creation of a separate championship, and the Division III Presidents Council agreed, expressing support for the proposal.
Welcome to the 2025-2026 season. This first set of rankings does not include freshmen or transfers from outside of Division III. The wrestlers in the H.M. and Contender tiers are listed in alphabetical order only. Eventually, wrestlers will be removed for inactivity or moved to the weights where they are actually wrestling.
The first set of 2025-2026 d3wrestle.com Rankings will be published later this week. The first set will not include freshmen or non-DIII transfers. After the season gets underway, those wrestlers will start to appear as they compete. In the meantime, see the NWCA National and Regional rankings.
The season starts on Saturday with close to a dozen tournaments across the country. After 231 days of quiet mats, Division III wrestling will be back in action.
Here are the new coaches for the 2025-2026 season. Some joined their current teams since last season, while others have been in place for awhile and will compete for the first time this fall. Lynchburg and Wittenberg will begin competition in the Fall of 2026. Click the coach’s name for the article announcing the hire.
Several wrestlers were named to the 2024-2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America teams this week. The honorees were drawn from the All-District teams announced earlier this summer. Headlining the group is first team member Mike Glynn of RIT. The senior mechanical engineering major had a 4.0 GPA and finished 8th at 149 lbs. at the NCAA Championships. Cooper Pontelandolfo of NYU made the 2nd team with a 3.6 GPA in Real Estate. He finished as the 157 lbs. runner-up at the NCAA Championships. Seven wrestlers made the third team including Cameron Butka, a national runner-up from Wilkes. Gavin Layman of Ohio Northern was a repeat honoree, also making the third team in 2024.
FIRST TEAM Michael Glynn III, RIT, Sr., 4.0, Mechanical Engineering
SECOND TEAM Cooper Pontelandolfo, New York University, Sr., 3.6, Real Estate
THIRD TEAM Casey Aikman, North Central College, Jr., 3.67, Exercise Science Cameron Butka, Wilkes University, Sr., 3.86, Biochemistry Eric Kinkaid, Loras College, Jr., 3.92, Mechanical Engineering Joey Petrella, Baldwin Wallace University, Sr., 3.98, Exercise Science Gavin Layman, Ohio Northern University, Sr., 4, Computer Science John Santowski, Washington and Lee University, Jr., 4.0, Biology Cael Vanderhorst, Ohio Northern University, Sr., 4.0, Mechanical Engineering
Manchester University is seeking a dedicated and passionate Wrestling Assistant Coach to support the Head Coach in leading a successful NCAA Division III program. This role involves assisting in all aspects of the program, including coaching, recruiting, retention, eligibility, team management, and fundraising. The ideal candidate will uphold the mission of Manchester University and contribute to the holistic development of student-athletes.
What You’ll Do:
Assist in coaching, practice planning, game preparation, and team management.
Support the recruitment and retention of student-athletes with a strong commitment to academic and athletic success.
Monitor and report on eligibility and academic progress in coordination with the Student Success Center.
Coordinate travel, lodging, meals, and equipment needs for the team.
Help manage the program budget and maintain equipment inventory.
Collaborate with athletic staff on scheduling, publicity, and facility readiness.
Promote a culture of sportsmanship, integrity, and accountability among student-athletes.
Drive University vehicles to team events and assist with game day responsibilities.
Complete required departmental reports and fulfill other duties as assigned.
The College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Men’s At-Large Teams have been announced for 2024-2025. Among those recognized are those who have been selected as finalists for Academic All-America honors to be announced later this summer. Unfortunately, the All-District recognition no longer lists the sport for each athlete, though the number recognized is much higher than in the recent past. The full list is linked below, and here is a selection of the finalists who are Division III wrestlers. Apologies in advance for any missed names.
Owen McDaniel, Albion Seth Goetzinger, Augsburg Brandt Bombard, Augsburg Chance Suddeth, Augsburg Jacob Badger, Augustana Joey Petrella, Baldwin Wallace Art Martinez, Case Western Reserve Jared Voss, Coe Freddy Pimental, Johns Hopkins Eric Kinkaid, Loras Zeb Gnida, Loras Jared Gallub, Nebraska Wesleyan Cooper Pontelandolfo, NYU Casey Aikman, North Central Jacob Reed, Ohio Northern Gavin Layman, Ohio Northern Cael Vanderhorst, Ohio Northern Teagan Hendricks, Ohio Northern Tyler Bodovetz, Ohio Wesleyan Mike Glynn, RIT Josh Harkless, RIT Luke Hoerle, Stevens Ryan Smith, Stevens Sam Kotch, TCNJ Tyler Herrema, Olivet Ben Kamali, Olivet Gunnar Garriques, Chicago Sean Conway, Chicago Colby Frost, Southern Maine Demetri Teddlie, Ozarks Marcus Orlandoni, UW-La Crosse James Day, Wabash Taylor Smith, Washington & Jefferson John Santowski, Washington & Lee Cam Butka, Wilkes Tanner Thatcher, WPI
Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, is searching for a full-time assistant wrestling coach to work with both the men’s and women’s teams. Click the link for the full job description and to apply.
Stevens Institute of Technology is searching for a full-time assistant wrestling coach. Click the link below for the full description, desired qualifications, and to apply.
Assist the wrestling head coaches develop, recruit, and administer highly competitive wrestling programs, consistent with the student-athlete philosophy of Division III, which generates College and community enthusiasm and support. Assist with assigned administrative and coaching activities within the programs.
Assist with the coordination of the recruiting efforts of the wrestling programs with those of the admission office to maintain a competitive program through recruiting efforts and strategies. Develop a successful team recruiting strategy; visit high schools to meet with recruits; call, e-mail, text, and write prospects and coaches; record recruiting action. Maintain active communication with the admission staff through phone, interpersonal, and electronic means. The recruiting load will vary depending on the gender and needs within the program each year.
Supervise the graduate assistant coaches for the wrestling programs. Assign the recruiting duties and territories for each GA with appropriate follow-up meetings on a regular basis. Set recruiting target numbers for each GA in collaboration with the head wrestling coaches.
Assist with the development and retention program for the wrestling programs in conjunction with other key departments and individuals on campus.
Actively encourage leadership and scholarship among student-athletes. Help monitor the academic progress of all the athletes on the teams, in connection with the director of student success, assistant/associate athletics director, and the senior director of athletics. Adhere to all compliance and eligibility rules and regulations. Participate in the department’s leadership and scholarship programs when available.
Wilkes University invites applicants for Assistant Coach / Intern for Men’s Wrestling in the Intercollegiate Athletics Department for the 2025-2026 academic year.
A Bachelor’s degree and previous participation and/or coaching experience is required. This position includes a stipend and housing is available.
The successful candidate is responsible to assist the head coach in all facets of the program; exhibit the ability to utilize various technologies; have active involvement in student-athlete recruitment; assist with practice and game preparation with a focus on player development; fulfill administrative tasks as assigned and participate in team community service and fundraising events.
Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.
Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.
To apply, send an email to Director of Wrestling Jon Laudenslager at jon.laudenslager@wilkes.edu. Please be sure to include a cover letter, resume and three references. Review of applications begins immediately.
Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.
Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.
Contact Tim Fader, Head Coach, faderta@uwec.edu, 608-385-4885
POSITION: A 12-month, $2000/month stipend with housing provided, professional limited staff position is available in Intercollegiate Athletics beginning July 1, 2025. UW Eau Claire Wrestling has a growing staff of coaches who have built a nationally competitive wrestling program that has finished in the Top 10 in Division III the past two years. UW Eau Claire competes in the highly competitive WIAC and Region 7 and has had Conference, Regional and National Champions in the recent past.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree is required. Knowledge of sports is essential, as is a proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented setting. Must have strong moral character, work ethic, leadership, and communication skills. A commitment to athletic excellence within an academic environment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Prior successful playing and/or coaching experience at the collegiate level with a desire to invest in others in a challenging/rewarding coaching position. A master’s degree may be considered an asset
DUTIES:
Assist the head coach in directing a highly successful program within the guidelines of the University, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), and NCAA Division III.
Assist in the planning and direction of all practices, matches and team events.
Assist in the recruitment and retention of qualified student athletes consistent with the academic standards of the University.
Assist with the care and inventory of equipment for the program.
Assist with the promotion of the sport of wrestling with students, alumni, and members of the community.
Assist with promoting program revenue generation related to the program.
Participate in department fundraising and public relations events.
Assume other duties as agreed upon by the Head Coach and Athletics Director.
THE UNIT: The unit of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of 60+ staff members. The Intercollegiate Athletics website is www.blugolds.com
UNIVERSITY and EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY: UW-Eau Claire, an institution of approximately 11,500 students and 1,400 faculty and staff, is consistently recognized as a top comprehensive university in the Midwest and is widely known as a leader in faculty- undergraduate research and study abroad. We strive for excellence in liberal education and select graduate and professional programs through commitment to teaching and learning and dedication to our core values of diversity, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. The City of Eau Claire, situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, is at the center of a metropolitan area of approximately 100,000 people located 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The area features beautiful parks and trails, strong public schools, a vibrant arts scene and local food culture, and abundant recreational opportunities.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is searching for a head women’s coach. The team will enter its second season in 2025-2026. See the description and application link below.
