March matness is in Providence, Rhode Island this weekend. The best wrestlers our country’s division three has to offer will be wrestling for championships and All American status. This is statistically the hardest division to qualify for nationals in. Births are earned and many wrestlers capable of standing on the podium will be watching at home. The tournament is Lacrosse’s this year to lose. They qualified nine for regionals, the most of any team in the nation. Other teams with Wisconsin ties that qualified a wrestler or wrestlers to nationals are: Whitewater 4, Stevens Point 1, Oshkosh 1, Carthage 1, MSOE 1, Eau Claire 3, Wartburg 2, Dubuque 1 and Augsburg 3.
Congratulations to all the programs who qualified wrestlers for nationals. It is huge to extend your season and get the full experience. Recruits love to see it can be done and your school and recency bias is real. Oshkosh has produced some magic back to back years to get some kids to the big dance. Some teams over performed, while others had setbacks. Wrestling is a cruel mistress at times. Remember you are not defined by your wrestling skills, rather by the person you are. But, history is written by the victors and of course do everything in your power to get your arm raised. Let’s dive into the weight classes individually.
125:
Jalen Dunson 5 UWW Junior
- Jalen has had a good season and is making his second trip to nationals. He has the skills to beat almost anyone in the group, but can lose focus. When he is locked in and pumped up, he’s a hard out. I expect him to All American. Jalen is seeded eighth and wrestles Fiser of Loras round one. The winner feeds into Wolbert.
Quintin Wolbert 11 UWL Sophomore
- Quintin is coming off a championship performance at Regionals. He looks to be peaking at the right time. The Eagles will soar to a national championship and Quintin will be part of that with an All American finish. Quintin is unseeded and will get a bye round one.
Wyatt Kaczrowski 12 AUG Senior
- Wyatt is coming off a third place finish in the regional. Wyatt has good skill and will be a tough out. We will be rooting for our Wisconsin native, but if he doesn’t score a lot the Lacrosse faithful won’t be too disappointed. Fire it up! Fire it up! Wyatt is unseeded and wrestles Ithaca round one.
Brett Birchman WART Sophomore
- Brett is a Fennimore native and as tough as they come. He is well versed in the Greco Roman skill set. Like Wyatt, if Brett goes down most of Wi won’t be too mad. A Wisconsin school has never won a national title, they will have to go through the Burgs to get it done. Birchman is unseeded and wrestles TCNJ round one.
133:
Dominik Mallinder 3 UWW Junior
- Dom was an All American here last year. This year he is the fourth seed and wrestles Centenary round one. He has the tools to win this bracket, just has to put everything together on the right day. Dom is my pick to win this weight.
Chance Suddeth 15 AUG Sophomore
- Chance is coming off a regional title. The Stoughton native is unseeded and wrestles Alfred State round one. He is starting to peak at the right time. If Augsburg wins the title, they will need to have Chance on the podium.
Brody Toledo OSH Freshman
- If you show me someone who had Brody punching his ticket to nationals outside of his coaching staff, family and teammates, I’ll show you a liar. Oshkosh does it again and has Cinderella the sequel getting Brody to the big dance. Brody is the lone wrestler in the field with an under 500 record. I love to see Oshkosh here and wish Brody the best. He is unseeded and has a bye round one.
Wyatt Magolski LAX Freshman
- In his first attempt Wyatt finished third in the region and punched his ticket to Providence. He comes in unseeded and has a bye round one. He has a good gas tank and can score from a variety of positions.
141:
Sam Lorenz 8 LAX Senior
- In our thinnest weight class of Wisconsinites, Sam is our lone representative. He comes in seeded sixth and wrestles TCNJ round one. Sam has had a load managed senior season. Lorenz shows up when the lights are brightest and I expect him to podium in Rhode Island.
149:
Zach Sato 5 Eau Claire Senior
- Sato enters the tournament seeded sixth and has a first round bye. Sato surprisingly stumbled at the regional, but is in a spot in the bracket to redeem himself. Sato can beat the best of them when he is on. If a match is close his mental toughness is suspect. Other wrestlers will need to drag him into deep water to get a victory or pin him early.
Brett Back Dubuque Freshman
- Dubuque qualified three for the tournament including Wisconsin’s own Back. Brett is a Greco Roman specialist and former Fargo champion. The Wisconsin Rapids prep wrestles fifth seeded Monn round one.
157:
Tyler Goebel 4 LAX Senior
- Tyler comes to Rhode Island by finishing third in the region. He has the skills to beat anyone, but has kept more matches close this year than I expected. He was a finals runner up last year and I expect him to win it this year. Coming from perennial powerhouse Mukwonago Goebel has solid fundamentals and a will to win. Tyler is seeded seventh and has a bye round one.
Zaren Anderson CAR Junior
- Zaren was a big surprise of the tournament. The Carthage wrestler upset 5th ranked Karsen Otis in the semifinals. It is phenomenal to see Carthage get a wrestler in the field. This is the Firebirds first qualifier as far as I can tell, please correct me if I’m wrong. Zane faces unseeded Woodburn round one.
165:
Cooper Willis 2 AUG Junior
- Cooper is coming off a runner up performance at regionals.The Union Grove prep was an All American here last season so we know he is capable. Cooper is seeded third and has a bye.
Tanner Gerber 3 UWL Junior
- Tanner was a regional champion and outstanding wrestler of the tournament. Gerber has had a great season and is expected to win nationals. He is seeded second and wrestles Stevens Tech round one. Tanner has one loss on the season going into Nationals.
Brayden Peet 9 UWW Sophomore
- Brayden is coming in off a regional championship. Peet is getting better as the season goes on. Losing in heartbreaking fashion on a controversial call last year to some All Americans, Braydenshowed he can wrestle with anyone. I expect him to stand on the podium and push for a national title. Peet is the seventh seed and wrestles Ithaca round one.
Josh Heuss UWSP Senior
- Another team with a single qualifier, The Pointers will be represented at nationals. Congratulations to Josh for pushing through in his last season. Heuss comes to Rhode Island by way of a third place finish at Regions. Heuss will wrestle top seeded Lackman round one.
174:
Jared Stricker 1 UWEC Senior
- Jared is entering nationals undefeated at 39-0. I predict him to win his second title and be the outstanding wrestler of the tournament. Stricker won his regional for the third time to qualify.The High Bridge native is seeded one and has a bye first round.
Eddie Simes 8 UWL Sophomore
- The Amery prep finished fourth in his freshman season, one win away from qualification. He will be ready and able in his first opportunity. He was third in his region, but is dangerous and will push for All American status.
184:
Marcus Orlandoni 3 UWL Senior
- Marcus is a wrestler who has steadily improved as the season progressed and is peaking at the right time. A lot of the Eagles seem to be on this trajectory, good job staff. The St. Mary’s Springs prep wrestled in this tournament last season, I expect that experience to pay dividends this weekend. Orlandoni is seeded fifth and has a bye round one.
Gavin Koehl UWW Sophomore
- Gavin has been a wrestler I have been a fan of for a while. A grinder who is competitive with everyone and always shows the will to win. He has had an up and down season, but is putting it together when it counts. Koehl is unseeded and wrestles seventh seed Withers round one.
Gavin Graham MSOE Junior
- Back to back 184 pound Gavins from Wisconsin in the same bracket! Congratulations to MSOE for getting a competitor to Providence. This West Allis prep wrestles fourth seeded Jared Voss.
197:
Ben Kawczynski 4 UWL Senior
- Ben is a regional champion and comes in seeded third. Ben was an All American here in the past. He has the tools to beat anyone, just needs to string some matches together to get where he needs to be. Ben will be a big part of Lacrosse’s national championship and has a bye first round.
Ian Pepple UWEC Sophomore
- Ian is an exciting wrestler. He can score from a variety of positions and can pin to win. This will be his first appearance at nationals. He got third in the region, is unseeded and will wrestle a fellow unseeded opponent from Messiah round one.
285:
Mitch Williamson WART Junior
- Mitch is a River Falls prep to come to Wartburg by way of Iowa Lakes community college. Mitchell was a NJCAA national champion. This is his first appearance at division three nationals. He is unseeded and faces Alvernia round one.
Michael Douglas LAX Senior
- Michael was a national runner up last season. I expect him to win the title this year and seal the deal for the national champion Eagles. Douglas was champion of his region and only has one loss on the season. He is seeded first and has a bye round one. A possible match up to feed into him is Robby Bates of North Central. Robbie and Michael have battled before in several one point matches, that is a potential landmine.
Best not to qualify:
Izzy Balsinger Eau Claire 125
Niall Schoenfelder Eau Claire 184
Josh Cherba Lacrosse 149
Karsen Otis Augsburg 165
Charlie Stuhl Augsburg 157
Nathan Fuller Wartburg 165
Matt Rogge Wartburg 174
Evan Onstad Whitewater 141
Luke Swan Whitewater 157
Jalin Conner Whitewater 149
Individual Weight Predictions:
125:
Gold- Joziah Fry Johnson and Wales
Silver- Christian Guzman North Central
Bronze- Zach Beckner Ferrum
Darkhorse- Jalen Dunson University Wisconsin-Whitewater
133:
Gold- Dominik Mallinder University Wisconsin-Whitewater
Silver- Peyton Ellis Johnson and Wales
Bronze- Chase Randall Coast Guard
Darkhorse- Chance Suddeth Augsburg
141:
Gold- Jacob Reed Ohio Northern
Silver- Pierre Baldwin Central
Bronze- Josh Wilson Greensboro
Darkhorse- Bradley Rosen North Central
149:
Gold- Angelo Centrone SUNY Cortland
Silver- Matt Randolph Augsburg
Bronze- Hayden Brown Johnson and Wales
Darkhorse- Zach Sato Eau Claire
157:
Gold- Michael Petrella Baldwin Wallace
Silver- Tyler Goebel University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Bronze- Cooper Pontelando New York
Darkhorse- Rhenzo Augusto Elmhurst
165:
Gold- Tanner Gerber University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Silver- Cooper Willis Augsburg
Bronze- Matt Lackman Alvernia
Darkhorse- Brayden Peet University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
174:
Gold- Jared Stricker University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Silver- Nathan Lackman Alvernia
Bronze- Zeb Gnida Loras
Darkhorse- Dejon Glaster Millikin
184:
Gold- Kasey Ross Wartburg
Silver- Marcus Orlandoni University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Bronze- Jack Ryan Oneonta State
Darkhorse- Gavin Koehl University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
197:
Gold- Massoma Endene Wartburg
Silver- Ben Kawcyznski University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Bronze- Parker Venz Augsburg
Darkhorse- Charles Baczek Wabash
285:
Gold- Michael Douglas University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse
Silver- Rayshawn Dixon Ferrum
Bronze- Mitchell Williamson Wartburg
Darkhorse- Robby Bates North Central
Thank you for reading this far. It has been a pleasure to be a small part of your experience this season and thank you for being a part of mine. I’ll leave you with some words from Steve Prefontaine, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
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