2022-23 NCAA Division III Rankings

125 pounds

Happy wrestling season, DIII fans! The first week of competition is complete and we learned a lot about potential lineups for programs across the country. A lot of wrestlers competed up a weight class and some even made the move down. This first set of rankings has some wrestlers ranked at a lower weight class due to the fact that some are descending down to the weight class. Adjustments will be made if these wrestlers continue to compete at the higher weight class by ranking #2. 

This first set of rankings was based on the following:

2022 NCAA Championship All-American

2022 NCAA Qualifier

2022 NCAA Regional Placement

Results from November 1st to November 6th

The tournament poll is based on points accumulated by ranked individuals. The more individuals you have ranked, the higher your ranking will be in the tournament poll. Wartburg, the returning NCAA team champs, takes the #1 spot to start the season. The Knights have five returning All-Americans in their lineup, two start the season at #1 in the country: 141 Zaren Terukina and 174 Zane Mulder. Wartburg opened its competition schedule with a dominant conference dual win over Nebraska Wesleyan, 46-3. Augsburg University comes in at #2. The Auggies took third in 2022 and are looking to move up a couple spots in 2023. They return three All-Americans from their national team in 2022 and are led by 157 #1 Tyler Shilson who finished in third last year at the NCAA Championships. 

Rounding out the top five in the tournament poll are North Central College, UW-La Crosse, and Stevens Institute of Technology. North Central is led by 2022 NCAA champ Robbie Precin, plus returning All-Americans Alex Villar and Robby Bates. UW-La Crosse and Stevens both return two All-Americans from 2022 and are poised to be team trophy contenders in 2023. 

Below are a few notable wins from Week 1:

Alvernia Invitational: 125 Keito Shaw (Alvernia) over 2022 NCAA qualifier Joey Lamparelli (Muhlenberg), TB-1 3-2

Ned McGinley Invitational: 125 Luke Hoerle (Stevens) over 2022 NCAA qualifier Austin Fashouer (Wilkes), 7-2

Ithaca Invitational: 141 All-American James Rodriguez (Castleton) over All-American (fifth at 133) Josh Wilson (Greensboro), 3-2

Ithaca Invitational: 157 Hayden Brown (JWU) over 2022 All-American (seventh at 149) Kyle Merrit (Norwich), fall 2:47

Pointer Open: 285 Cullen Quick (Luther College) over 2022 All-American Robby Bates (North Central College), 4-2

Key an eye on these wrestlers who are moving down a weight class: 

125 Luke Hoerle - (Stevens), 2022 SE Regional fourth at 133

184 Donovan Corn - (Luther,) 2022 NCAA Qualifier at 197

174 Jason Geyer - (NYU), 2022 NCAA Qualifier at 184

157 Patrick McGraw - (John Carroll), 2022 NCAA Qualifier at 165