New England will be well represented at this year’s NCAA Division III national tournament. There are 22 New England based wrestlers that have qualified for the National Championship by placing top 3 in one of the seven DIII regional tournaments; this is extremely impressive as DIII has the largest number of programs (123 DIII programs) and the lowest number of qualifiers (210 qualifiers across all weights). More impressively, there is at least one wrestler qualified from each of the six New England states (CT – 8, RI – 4, ME – 3, MA – 3, NH – 3, VT – 1) and at least one wrestler qualified in each of the 10 collegiate weight classes (125 – 3, 133 – 3, 141 – 1, 149 – 5, 157 – 1, 165 – 3, 174 – 1, 184 – 3, 197 – 1, 285 – 1).
The DIII National Championships will be on March 14 - 15th at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island. These 22 wrestlers will get to make a run at All-American status in front of a hometown crowd!
125
No. 1 Joziah Fry (Sr.) – Johnson & Wales UniversityÂ
Coventry, RI – Coventry
High School Accolades:
3x RI State Champion (2018, 2019, 2020)
CNESSPA New England Champion (2019)
3x CNESSPA New England Placer (2nd 2018, 1st 2019, 4th 2020)
NHSCA Champion (2019)
Fargo All American (5th 2019)
College Accolades:Â
2021:
Wrestled DI for Campbell University
2023:
1st Northeast Region (NQ)
1st DIII Nationals (AA, National Champion)
2024:
1st Northeast Region (NQ)
1st DIII Nationals (AA, National Champion)
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
Fry enters the tournament as the top 125lb wrestler in DIII for the third straight year. As a Rhode Island native, Fry will likely have a large cheering section as he chases his third title. The senior should be the favorite to take the top spot and will also lead the charge for a strong JWU team that is in serious contention for a team trophy this year.Â
No. 7 Jake Craig (Jr.) – University of Southern MaineÂ
Norridgewock, ME – Skowhegan/Hill School
High School Accolades:
ME All-State Champion (2018)
CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2018)
NHSCA All American (6th 2022)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
2nd Northeast Region (NQ)
4th DIII Nationals (AA)
2024:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
2025:
2nd Region I (NQ)
Craig competed most of the season at 133lbs and was ranked in the top 10 at that weight before dropping down to 125lbs for the regional championship. The weight cut paid off as Craig placed 2nd and his only loss came by forfeit in the final to Fry of JWU. This will be Craig’s 3rd trip to NCAA’s and he looks to regain his 2023 form where he placed 4th.
No. 9 Isiac Paulino (Jr.) – Roanoke CollegeÂ
Athol, MA – Monty Tech
High School Accolades:
MA All-State Champion (2022)
CNESSPA New England Champion (2022)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (6th 2020, 1st 2022)
2x NHSCA All American (3rd 2021, 3rd 2022)
Fargo All American (7th 2021)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
8th Northeast Region
2025:
3rd Region IV (NQ)
Isiac is the first of two Paulino’s on this list as his brother also qualified for NCAAs at 133lbs. The elder Paulino started his career at Springfield college before transferring to Roanoke College in Virginia this season where he has found success and qualified for his first NCAA Championship by placing 3rd in Region IV.
133
No. 2 Peyton Ellis (Fr.) – Johnson & Wales UniversityÂ
Coventry, RI – Coventry
High School Accolades:
4x RI State Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
2x CNESSPA New England Champion (2023, 2024)
3x CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2022, 1st 2023, 1st 2024)
2x NHSCA All American (6th 2021, 2nd 2024)
College Accolades:Â
2025:
2nd Region I (NQ)
Peyton Ellis has assimilated to collegiate wrestling without a hitch. Fresh off four RI High School State titles and two CNESSPA New England titles, Ellis never missed a beat and quickly rose in the NCAA rankings. The freshman phenom comes into the tournament as the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the nation, with only returning national Champion, Chase Randall of Coast Guard ranked ahead of him. He is poised to make a big run at NCAA’s.
No. 6 Jonah Paulino (Fr.) – Roanoke CollegeÂ
Athol, MA – Monty Tech
High School Accolades:
2x MA All-State Champion (2023, 2024)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2023, 2nd 2024)
College Accolades:Â
2025:
2nd Region IV (NQ)
Jonah, younger brother of Isiac, has had a great freshman campaign for Roanoke so far this season. Much like Ellis, he has risen through the DIII ranks and enters the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 ranked wrestler in the country at 133lbs with only 2 losses to DIII opponents on the season. With the hometown crowd behind him, Paulino could very easily find himself on the podium as an All-American in his first collegiate season.
No. 15 Caden Frost (Jr.) – New England CollegeÂ
Steep Falls, ME – Bonny Eagle
High School Accolades:
2x ME All-State Champion (2020, 2022)
CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2022)
College Accolades:Â
2025:
3rd Region I (NQ)
Caden is part of the second set of siblings on this list, his brother, Colby, qualified for nationals at 149 lbs. Caden transferred to New England College this year from the University of Southern Maine and is the lone qualifier for the Pilgrims this year. This will be his first trip to NCAA’s.
141
No. 14 Hayden Meyers (So.) – Wesleyan UniversityÂ
Coventry, RI – Coventry
High School Accolades:
3x RI State Champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
CNESSPA New England Champion (2023)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2022, 1st 2023)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
4th Northeast Region
2025:
3rd Region I (NQ)
Meyers just missed the cut for NCAA’s last season as a freshman, finishing 4th in the Northeast Region. This season Meyers avoided the same fate by punching through with a 3rd place finish in Region I. Meyers was a 3-time RI High School State Champion and a 4-time finalist; he should have plenty of support in the Amica Mutual Pavillion.
149
No. 1 Hayden Brown (Sr.) – Johnson & Wales UniversityÂ
Exeter, NH – Phillips Exeter Academy/Exeter
High School Accolades:
NH All-State Champion (2018)
CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2018)
2x Prep National All American (8th 2016, 5th 2017)
College Accolades:Â
2020:
1st Northeast Region (NQ)
NCWA 1st Team All American
2023:
1st Northeast Region (NQ)
3rd DIII Nationals (AA)Â
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
Brown enters the tournament as the No. 1 wrestler in the country at 149lbs and is coming off an impressive win over Frost in the Region I final. Brown missed last season due to an injury but has rebounded strong and is looking like he will improve on his 3rd place finish from 2023. He has not lost a match at 149lbs this season and has racked up an impressive 18 falls, 4 tech falls, and 8 major decisions.
No. 3 Colby Frost (Sr.) – University of Southern MaineÂ
Steep Falls, ME – Bonny Eagle
High School Accolades:
2x ME All-State Champion (2019, 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2022:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
2023:
5th Northeast RegionÂ
2024:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
6th DIII Nationals (AA)
2025:
2nd Region I (NQ)
Colby Frost, older brother of Caden, has had a spectacular season this year and is a legitimate threat for a national title. He lost his first match of the season in the regional final to fellow New England native, Hayden Brown of JWU, but will be looking for a re-match at the big dance (potential for an all New England Final?). This will be Frost’s third trip to NCAA’s and he had a strong showing last season finishing 6th.Â
No. 7 Michael Glynn III (Sr.) – Rochester Institute of TechnologyÂ
Salem, NH – Central Catholic
High School Accolades:
MA All-State Champion (2020)
3x CNESSPA New England Placer (6th 2018, 3rd 2019, 2nd 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2022:
5th Mideast Region
2023:
8th Mideast RegionÂ
2024:
2nd Mideast Region (NQ)
8th DIII Nationals (AA)
2025:
3rd Region II (NQ)
Glynn is looking to make it back-to-back All-American seasons after finishing 8th at last year’s championship. He took a tough overtime loss in the quarterfinal of the Region II tournament, only his second loss of the season, but battled all the way back for 3rd to punch his ticket to NCAAs for the second time.
No. 14 Evan Lindner (Jr.) – Washington & Lee University
New Milford, CT – New Milford
High School Accolades:
CT Open Champion (2022)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (5th 2020, 2nd 2022)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
7th Southeast RegionÂ
2024:
2nd Southeast Region (NQ)
2025:
3rd Region IV (NQ)
Lindner makes it back to NCAAs this year after taking two tough overtime losses at last season’s national tournament. He finished 3rd in Region IV and currently sits as the No. 14 ranked wrestler in a deep 149lbs weight class but has experience on his side and has proved he belongs in the mix for the podium.
No. 18 Elijah Cyr (Gr.) – Vermont State University, CastletonÂ
Middletown, CT – Middletown
High School Accolades:
CT Open Champion (2019)
CNESSPA New England Placer (2nd 2019)
Fargo All American (3rd 2018)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
7th Northeast Region
2025:
3rd Region I (NQ)
Cyr has had a solid season in a loaded region, finishing 3rd behind Brown and Frost who have both held the No. 1 spot in the country throughout the season. This will be Cyr’s first NCAA tournament. He is currently the No. 18 ranked wrestler at 149lbs but will be looking to make a Cinderella run to the podium.Â
157
No. 2 Peter Kane (Jr.) – Williams CollegeÂ
Fairfield, CT - Green Farms Academy
High School Accolades:
3x Prep New England Champion (2019, 2020, 2022)
2x Prep National All American (4th 2021, 5th 2022)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
7th DIII Nationals (AA)
2024:
2nd Northeast Region (NQ)
2nd DIII Nationals (AA)
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
Kane is already a returning national finalist, a two-time All American, and now a three-time national qualifier as a Junior. This year he comes into nationals as the No. 2 wrestler at 157lbs, behind only Michael Petrella of Baldwin Wallace who is a two-time national champion and last year’s champion at 149lbs. Kane will have his hands full if he meets Petrella in the finals but is more than capable of getting the job done. He is a perfect 37-0 on the season so far.
165
No. 4 CJ Shea (Sr.) – Wesleyan University
Milford, CT – Green Farms Academy
High School Accolades:
3x Prep New England Placer (2nd 2018, 3rd 2019, 2nd 2020)
Prep National All American (8th 2021)
NHSCA All American (6th 2021)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
7th Northeast RegionÂ
2024:
5th Northeast Region
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
As a senior Shea is having his best season by far, currently ranked as No. 4 in the country at 165lbs, his only loss on the season came to Jacob Deguire of Springfield College during a dual meet in January. He then avenged that loss at a separate dual in February. Shea beat Richardson of JWU in the Region I final and qualified for NCAAs for the first time in his career. He will look to keep the momentum going and finish his senior season as an All-American.
No. 5 Jack Richardson (So.) – Johnson & Wales University
Danielson, CT - Killingly
High School Accolades:
CT Open Champion (2023)
2x CNESSPA New England Champion (2022, 2023)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
4th Northeast RegionÂ
2025:
2nd Region I (NQ)
Richardson improved on his finish from last season where he came up just short on qualifying for nationals and is one of several Johnson & Wales wrestlers who will look to make deep runs in their brackets. He lost a 1-point match to Shea of Wesleyan in the Region I final but will be looking to rebound and find the podium at NCAA’s.
No. 7 Konrad Parker (Jr.) – Ithaca CollegeÂ
Danville, NH - Timberlane
High School Accolades:
3x NH All-State Champion (2019, 2020, 2022)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
4th Mideast RegionÂ
2025:
2nd Region II (NQ)
Parker is having a breakout season for the Bombers this year. He narrowly missed qualifying for nationals last season after finishing 4th in the Mideast Region. This year he has shown he is of national caliber and has been solidly in the rankings all season long. He is coming off a runner up finish in Region II and will look to continue his breakout at his first NCAA tournament.
174
No. 16 Cameron Hines (Sr.) – Western New England UniversityÂ
Killingworth, CT – Haddam-Killingworth
High School Accolades:
3x CIAC Class S Placer (4th 2018, 3rd 2019, 3rd 2020)
CT Open Placer (6th 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
8th Northeast Region
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
Hines improved from an 8th place regional finish last season to being a Region I champion this season. In his senior year he makes his first NCAA tournament and is the lone qualifier for the Golden Bears. Hines is currently ranked No. 16 at 174lbs but has been on a good run with his last loss coming to CJ Shea in the 165lbs final of the Will Abele Invitational in January. He is 11-0 at 174lbs this season.
184
No. 1 Jack Ryan – SUNY OneontaÂ
Trumbull, CT - Trumbull
High School Accolades:
Class LL Champion (2020)
CNESSPA New England Placer (6th 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
3rd Mideast Region (NQ)
2024:
2nd Mideast Region (NQ)
7th DIII Nationals (AA)
2025:
1st Region II (NQ)
Jack Ryan (not be confused with another New England based wrestler, Ryan Jack) has been on a tear this season. He is the No. 1 wrestler in the country at 184lbs and has not lost to a DIII opponent yet this season. He has also won in dominating fashion with 15 wins by fall, 2 by tech fall, and 3 by major decision. Ryan is now a three-time qualifier and finished 7th at last year's NCAAs. He will likely move up the podium this year. Â
No. 4 Sampson Wilkins (Sr.) – Vermont State University, CastletonÂ
Bennington, VT – Mount Anthony Union
High School Accolades:
4x VT State Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
2x CNESSPA New England Champion (2018, 2020)
3x CNESSPA New England Placer (1st 2018, 6th 2019, 1st 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2023:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
2024:
1st Northeast Region (NQ)
4th DIII Nationals (AA)
2025:
2nd Region I (NQ)
Wilkins is putting together another impressive season. Heading into the regional tournament he had only 1 loss on the year and at one point in the season he held the No. 1 ranking for his weight. He took a surprising loss to Evarts of Williams in the Region 1 final but also has a win over Evarts from a dual in February. He enters NCAAs as the No. 4 wrestler in the country at 184lbs and will look to improve on his 4th place finish from last year.
No. 10 Jamie Evarts (Fr.) – Williams CollegeÂ
Brookline, MA – Brookline
High School Accolades:
MA All-State Placer (5th 2024)
MA D1 State Placer (3rd 2024)
College Accolades:Â
2025:
1st Region I (NQ)
Evarts is finding his stride on the mat as a collegiate wrestler. As a freshman this year he has put together a 27-6 record and won the Region I title punching his ticket to NCAAs. Along the way he knocked off a returning All-American who he had lost to only a couple of weeks prior. This is what is meant by peaking at the right time. Evarts will have to keep his momentum going as he heads into his first NCAA tournament.
197
No. 17 Carson LiCastri (Sr.) – SUNY OneontaÂ
Easton, CT – Joel Barlow
High School Accolades:
2x CT Open Champion (2019, 2020)
CNESSPA New England Champion (2019)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (1st 2019, 3rd 2020)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
5th Mideast Region
2025:
3rd Region II (NQ)
LiCastri improved from 5th place last season to 3rd place in the region this year to make his first NCAA tournament as a senior. He and Jack Ryan are Oneonta’s only qualifiers this season and the pair likely work together in the wrestling room. He is currently the No. 17 ranked wrestler at 197lbs but has shown he can contend with top opponents throughout the season.
285
No. 14 Adolfo Betancur (Jr.) – Johnson & Wales UniversityÂ
Johnston, RI – Bishop Hendricken
High School Accolades:
3x RI State Champion (2020, 2021, 2022)
CNESSPA New England Champion (2022)
2x CNESSPA New England Placer (3rd 2020, 1st 2022)
NHSCA National Champion (2022)
College Accolades:Â
2024:
3rd Northeast Region (NQ)
2025:
3rd Region I (NQ)
Betancur has put together another solid season for the Wildcats with his second consecutive trip to NCAAs. He is currently ranked as the No. 14 heavy weight in the country. As a Rhode Island native he may get a boost from having a home arena advantage that could propel him to a top 8 finish. A trip to the podium by Betancur could be a huge boost for JWU’s bid for the team title.
All rankings provided by The Open Mat Â