The 2020 NCAA Division III Championships is set to take place this weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the U.S. Cellular Center. One hundred eighty student-athletes will take the mats this weekend with their eyes set on finishing the 2019-20 season on top of the podium. 

There are seven individuals who will be looking to repeat as a national champion in 2020, and the DIII team race should add to the excitement this weekend. Augsburg University, the returning team champions, won the title in dominant fashion in 2019 and will be the favorite to repeat in 2020. The Auggies have eight national qualifiers and all eight received a top-eight national seed. #3 David Flynn, #2 Ryan Epps, #4 Lucas Jeske, and #3 Lance Benick are all returning champs for Augsburg. The Auggies also have #4 Victor Gliva, #4 Aaron Wilson, #3 Solomon Nielsen, and #1 Tanner Vassar — which means Augsburg could potentially put eight wrestlers on the podium in 2020 which would be tough to beat. 

Loras College, 2020 American Rivers Conference and Lower Midwest Regional champions, also put eight wrestlers into the NCAA Championships field. The Duhawks will look to push the Auggies this weekend and are led by three-time All-American Guy Patron Jr., the #1 seed at 197. Loras also have #6 Clint Lembeck, #4 Brandon Murray, #5 Eddie Smith, #6 Jacob Krakow, and #7 Shane Liegel to boost their lineup. Daniel Ruiz and Wyatt Wriedt are both unseeded but had nice showings at the regional; they will be threats to All-American this weekend and look to add some valuable team points. Loras College was the NCAA runner-up in 2019 and will be ready to do some damage in their home state this weekend. The Friday evening session could play a big factor in the team race. Loras and Augsburg could potentially meet head to head in the quarterfinals at four weight classes. 

Stevens Institute of Technology, 2020 Middle Atlantic Conference and Southeast Regional champions, brought seven wrestlers to Cedar Rapids and three received a top-eight seed. The Ducks are led by #1 Troy Stanich, a two-time All-American, and enters the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in his illustrious career as the #1 seed; he will look to finish his career on top of the podium. Stevens' other two seeded wrestlers are #2 Brett Kaliner and #7 Michael Dooley. Kaliner will look to get to the finals for the second time in his career and Dooley is looking for his first All-American finish. Dylan Van Sickell and Thomas Poklikuka are both unseeded but were ranked in the top 10 throughout the entire season; they will look to reach the podium and help the Ducks chances in keeping pace in the team race. Stevens’ final national qualifier is Akhil Vega, who will look to build off his regional performance and make the most of his first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Wartburg College had a tough regional showing but did get five individuals through; four of their wrestlers received a top-eight seed. The Knights are led by #1 Kristian Rumph who will look to secure his first All-American finish after falling short of the podium in 2019. Rumph was a big storyline in the beginning of year when he moved down two weight classes to 133. He has been looking great at 133 all season and will look to finish it off with an individual title. Other seeded wrestlers for the Wartburg are #3 Max Forsyth, #2 Kyle Briggs, and #5 Jordan Brandon. The Knights will be in the mix this weekend and look to take home a team trophy in their home state. 

Other Teams in the Hunt

6 Qualifiers

• Ithaca College
• Baldwin Wallace
• Coast Guard Academy
• Johnson and Wales University

5 Qualifiers

• La Crosse
• Messiah, Mount Union
• North Central
• RIT
• TCNJ

Returning National Champions

• 133 Jordin James (Up at 141)
• 141 David Flynn
• 157 Ryan Epps
• 165 Lucas Jeske
• 174 Darden Schurg
• 184 John Boyle
• 197 Lance Benick

Top Seed at each weight

• 125 Mike Tortorice
• 133 Kristian Rumph
• 141 Troy Stanich
• 149 Ryan Anderson
• 157 Grant Zamin
• 165 Kyle Hatch
• 174 Cornell Beachem
• 184 Tanner Vasser
• 197 Guy Patron Jr.
• 285 Drew Kasper

2020 NCAA DIII Championships Brackets | NCAA Tournament Page