2016 Champion – Zach Roseberry, Delaware Valley
Central 1 | Lance Evans | Wartburg |
Central 2 | Adarios Jones | Augustana |
Central 3 | Quin Gilliam | Loras |
East 1 | Zachery Roseberry | Delaware Valley |
East 2 | Paul Triandafilou | Gettysburg |
East 3 | Victor Raigoza | Merchant Marine |
Mideast 1 | Jacob Evans | Waynesburg |
Mideast 2 | Sam Weinger | RIT |
Mideast 3 | Gabriel Mahaney | Baldwin Wallace |
Midwest 1 | Donny Ralston | Stevens Point |
Midwest 2 | Jesse Judge | Olivet |
Midwest 3 | Zac Rieger | Adrian |
Northeast 1 | James Bethel | Oneonta |
Northeast 2 | Jake O’Brien | Ithaca |
Northeast 3 | John Georges | Rhode Island |
West 1 | Donny Longendyke | Augsburg |
West 2 | Justice Davis | Concordia-Moorhead |
West 3 | Austin Bellile | MSOE |
Zachery Roseberry came in undefeated last year for Delaware Valley, but he only earned the #2 seed thanks to defending champion Donny Longendyke of Augsburg. Most assumed Longendyke would repeat as champion as he had not lost to a DIII opponent in either the 2015 or 2016 seasons. Roseberry had other plans and used outstanding leg attacks to pull the upset. Both are back this year along with 3rd place finisher Lance Evans of Wartburg. Evans is undefeated, has a pair of wins over Longendyke, and will be a top contender for the championship this weekend. Paul Triandafilou of Gettysburg is the four returning All-American from last year, and he lost in overtime to Roseberry in the East Region final.
James Bethel of Oneonta was a freshman All-American in 2015, finishing 4th and losing to Roseberry in the consolation finals. He missed all of last year but picked up right where he left off in 2016-2017. His only losses are to Longendyke and the EIWA champion from Columbia. If seeds hold, he will face Triandafilou in a battle of former freshman All-Americans. Quin Gilliam of Loras is one of two Louisiana natives in the tournament for Loras thanks to head coach TJ Miller spending five years there before returning to Iowa and the college ranks. Austin Bellile of MSOE began his career two seasons ago at 184 but moved up to 285 for his sophomore year. Now a junior, he earned his spot here with a 3rd place finish at the West Regional.