Wartburg remains No. 1, Augsburg up to No. 2 in first NCAA Div. III rankings of 2016

Undefeated Wartburg College of Iowa, which brings a 7-0 record into the 2016 year, enters the new year as the No. 1 team in the NWCA Div. III Coaches Ranking.


Wartburg retained its No. 1 ranking from the last poll. New at No. 2 is Augsburg College of Minnesota, which is now 6-0 and was ranked No. 3 in the last poll.


Rounding out the top five are No. 3 University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, No. 4 Roger Williams University of Rhode Island and No. 5 Ithaca College of New York.


These team rankings will be tested this weekend at the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind., January 8-9. There will be 24 teams in the event this weekend, including the top five programs, and 18 of the top 25 programs in this month’s rankings.


Individual rankings were also released. All 10 of the No. 1 ranked wrestlers from December have retained the No. 1 ranking going into January.


National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III

Team Ranking #4

January 4, 2016


Ranking Team Record Previous

1. Wartburg College (IA) (7 – 0) 1

2. Augsburg College (MN) (6 – 0) 3

3. University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (5 – 2) 4

4. Roger Williams University (RI) (7 - 0) 5

5. Ithaca College (NY) (4 – 1) 2

6. Messiah College (PA) (5 – 2) 7

7. Concordia College – Moorhead (MI) (9 – 2) 19

8. Wabash College (IN) (5 – 0) 9

9. Cornell College (IA) (7 – 3) 8

10. SUNY Cortland (NY) (2 – 0) 20

11. Johnson & Wales University (RI) (5 – 3) 14

12. Coe College (IA) (5 – 1) 10

13. Alma College (MI) (7 – 3) 6

14. The College of New Jersey (7 – 0) 11

15. Baldwin Wallace College (OH) (9 – 5) 16

16. Williams College (MA) (1 – 0) 15

17. Luther College (IA) (4 – 2) 17

18. Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) (8 – 2) 12

19. Central College (IA) (2 – 1) 13

20. University of Wisconsin – Whitewater (5 – 4) 18

21. University of Mount Union (OH) (6 – 4) 22

22. York College (PA) (4 – 5) 23

23. Wilkes University (PA) (8 – 2) 24

24. New York University (5 – 2) 25

25. Ferrum College (VA) (7 – 1) 21


Ranking Committee: Kevin Bratland (US Coast Guard Academy), Mike Howard (Oswego State), Corey Luce (New York University), Jon Laudenslager (Wilkes University), Eric Keller (Wartburg College), Matt Nagel (Concordia College - Moorhead), Joe Norton (North Central College)


Individual rankings


125 lbs.

1. Lucas Malmberg – Messiah College (jr)

2. Cole Ferguson – UW Platteville (sr)

3. Ben Vosters – UW Stevens Point (so)

4. Jakob Stageberg – Concordia College – Moorhead (so)

5. Jay Albis – Johnson & Wales University (fr)

6. Asher Kramer – SUNY Brockport (sr)

7. James Kaishian – Ithaca College (jr)

8. Jacob Spearman – Washington & Jefferson College (sr)

9. Arnulfo Olea – Wartburg College (jr)

10. Michael Fleck – Wilkes University (sr)


133 lbs.

1. Matthew Grossmann – Wilkes University (so)

2. Jesse Gunter – Baldwin Wallace College (sr)

3. Nathan Pike – New York University (jr)

4. Connor Campo – Wartburg College (jr)

5. Dustin Weinmann – UW La Crosse (jr)

6. Bryan Israel – Ithaca College (so)

7. Sam Bennyhoff – Augsburg College (fr)

8. Gabe Foltz – Concordia College – Moorhead (sr)

9. Chris Williams – Millikin University (fr)

10. Conor Kirkegard – Delaware Valley College (sr)


141 lbs.

1. Drew Van Anrooy – Luther College (sr)

2. Matt Adcock - UW Whitewater (sr)

3. Jimmy Nehls – Elmhurst College (sr)

4. Cody See – UW La Crosse (sr)

5. Josh Martin – Cornell College (so)

6. Ryan Budzek – The College of New Jersey (so)

7. Layten Binion – North Central College (jr)

8. Justin Kihn – Heidelberg College (jr)

9. Nashid Barrow – Buena Vista University (so)

10. Jeremy Border – University of Mont Union (sr)


149 lbs.

1. Blake Santi – Elmhurst College (sr)

2. Mark Pinero – Wartburg College (sr)

3. Isaiah Vela – UW Whitewater (so)

4. Dakota Gray – Luther College (sr)

5. Trevor Engle – Cornell College (sr)

6. Daniel Del Gallo – University of Southern Maine (jr)

7. Zach Joseph – Springfield College (jr)

8. Jake Savoca – Williams College (so)

9. Dan Pak – Ithaca College (sr)

10. Seth Lansberry – Lycoming College (jr)


157 lbs.

1. Jorge Lopez – Williams College (jr)

2. Bobby Dierna – Cortland State (jr)

3. Derek Arnold – Ursinus College (jr)

4. Drew Wagenhoffer – Wartburg College (jr)

5. Logan Meister – Ferrum College (jr)

6. Dan Mirman – John Carrol University (sr)

7. Josh Tardy – North Central College (sr)

8. Ty Herzog – Roger Williams University (jr)

9. Christopher Sullivan – US Coast Guard Academy (so)

10. Nick Bova – Wabash College (jr)


165 lbs.

1. Farai Sewera – Coe College (sr)

2. Nolan Barger – Lycoming College (jr)

3. Eric Hensel – Augsburg College (sr)

4. Andrew Steiert - Wartburg College (jr)

5. Nick Velez – Ithaca College (so)

6. Nick Herring – The College of New Jersey (jr)

7. Colin Barber – Cortland State (jr)

8. Francisco Colom – Roger Williams University (sr)

9. Ryan Vandall – Central College (jr)

10. Colin Navickas – Stevens Institute of Technology (jr)


174 lbs.

1. Tyler Schneider – UW La Crosse (jr)

2. Ryan Harrington – Coe College (jr)

3. Josh Sibblies – Centenary College (jr)

4. Lou Puca – Cortland State (sr)

5. Eric Devos – Wartburg College (so)

6. Travis Heller – Alma College (so)

7. Derek Beitz – Messiah College (so)

8. Garrett Chase – Baldwin Wallace College (sr)

9. Dan Ressler – Roger Williams University (sr)

10. Doug Hamann – The College of New Jersey (sr)


184 lbs.

1. Riley Lefever – Wabash College (jr)

2. Christopher Chorzepa – Williams College (jr)

3. Josh Thomson – Messiah College (sr)

4. William Gockel-Figge – New York University (jr)

5. Kyle Diesel – Wilkes University (sr)

6. Carlos Toribio – Ithaca College (jr)

7. Jeff Palmeri – SUNY Brockport (sr)

8. Brett Roberts – Simpson College (sr)

9. Bryan Levsen – Wartburg College (jr)

10. Joe Albina – Roger Williams University (jr)


197 lbs.

1. Gerard Roman – Wartburg College (sr)

2. David Welch – Roger Williams University (sr)

3. Matt Seabold – Central College (jr)

4. Joe Giaramita – Cortland State (sr)

5. Jamie Jakes – Alma College (sr)

6. Kyle Koser – Messiah College (so)

7. Ricky Fisher – US Merchant Marine Academy (sr)

8. Dennis Melendez – Hunter College (sr)

9. AJ Kowal – Stevens Institute of Technology (so)

10. Angus Arthur – Adrian College (fr)


285 lbs.

1. Donny Longendyke – Augsburg College (jr)

2. Zach Roseberry – Delaware Valley College (jr)

3. Trevor Maresh – Alma College (sr)

4. Kyle Foster – Roger Williams University (jr)

5. Lance Evans – Wartburg College (so)

6. Matan Peleg – Ursinus College (jr)

7. Mike Spencer – York College (sr)

8. Clay Broze – UW La Crosse (fr)

9. Paul Triandafilou – Gettysburg College (fr)

10. Zachary Gibson – St. Olaf College (sr)