2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships: Iowa qualifiers, team and individual contenders

Here is a primer to the 2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Roanoke, Va.

When: Friday and Saturday

Where: Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va.

Top qualifiers:

8 — Augsburg, Baldwin Wallace

7 — Stevens Institute of Technology, Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wartburg

6 — Alvernia, Johnson & Wales, North Central, Wabash

5 — Castleton, U.S. Coast Guard

Coe qualifiers (4): 174 — L.J. Richardson (So., 18-6); 184 — Tristin Westphal (Sr., 21-5); 197 — Jared Voss (So., 21-7); Hwt. — Kaleb Reeves (Sr., 16-1)

Cornell qualifiers (1): 174 — Jacob Sherzer (Sr., 19-7)

Luther qualifiers (2): 149 — Clayton McDonough (Fr., 29-9); 184 — Donovan Corn (Sr., 29-7)

Central qualifiers (1): 197 — Gage Linahon (Jr., 23-6)

Loras qualifiers (4): 141 — Eric Kinkaid (Fr., 22-7), 157 — Zeke Smith (Jr., 14-1), 165 — Gabe Fiser (Sr., 20-9), 184 — Shane Liegel (Sr., 31-1),

Dubuque qualifiers (3): 125 — Brady Koontz (Sr., 14-1), 133 — Dylan Koontz (Sr., 11-2), Darryl Aiello (Sr., 7-5)

Wartburg qualifiers (7): 133 — Joe Pins (Jr., 16-2), 141 — Zayren Terukina (Sr., 23-1), 149 — Kris Rumph (Sr., 7-3), 157 — David Hollingsworth (Sr., 13-3), 165 — Nathan Fuller (Fr., 22-2), 174 — Zane Mulder (Jr., 22-1), 197 — Massoma Endene (So., 23-1)

2022 top three teams: 1. Wartburg 79, 2. Wabash 78, 3. (tie) Augsburg and North Central 62.5

Returning 2022 champions: Jacob Decatur (Baldwin Wallace, 125), Robbie Precin (North Central, 133), Nathan Lackman (Rhode Island College, 157), Jaritt Shinhoster (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 184)

Other returning champions: Hollingsworth (Wartburg, 157), Shane Liegel (Loras, 184)

Top seeds:

125 — Joziah Fry, Johnson & Wales

133 — Precin, North Central

141 — Terukina, Wartburg

149 — Michael Petrella, Baldwin Wallace

157 — Hollingsworth, Wartburg

165 — Lackman, Rhode Island College

174 — Michael Ross, Johnson & Wales

184 — Shinhoster, Wisconsin-Whitewater

197 — Coy Spooner, U.S. Coast Guard

Hwt. — Jack Heldt, Wabash

Outlook: Wartburg is poised for another tournament run. The Knights edged Wabash for the title last season. They have seven in the field, including top-seeded Zayren Terukina (141) and 157-pounder David Hollingsworth. Zane Mulder (174) and Massoma Endene at 197 are seeded second for Wartburg. All seven Knights are projected to be All-Americans, seeded seventh or better. Johnson & Wales is a strong contender as well as perennial power Augsburg. The Wildcats have top-seeded Joziah Fry, who is unbeaten at 125 after transferring in from Campbell, and Michael Ross at 174. Ross is a former Wartburg wrestler. Augsburg has eight qualifiers but doesn’t have the higher seeds. It is led by fourth-seeded duo Tyler Shilson (157) and heavyweight Tyler Kim. The Auggies’ balance will keep them in the mix for a trophy. Stevens Institute of Technology, Wisconsin-La Crosse and North Central will be teams to watch as well.

Team predictions: 1. Wartburg, 2. Johnson & Wales, 3. Augsburg

Individual champion predictions:

125 — Fry, Johnson & Wales

133 — Precin, North Central

141 — Terukina, Wartburg

149 — Petrella, Baldwin Wallace

157 — Nolan Hertel, Wisconsin-La Crosse

165 — Lackman, Rhode Island

174 — Ross, Johnson & Wales

184 — Shinhoster, Wisconsin-Whitewater

197 — Endene, Wartburg

Hwt. — Donovan King, Olivet