Defending champion Wartburg College earned the top seed for the 2025 NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals set for Friday and Saturday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Knights will open the tournament against either Central College or Olivet College.

Wisconsin-La Crosse, Augsburg University and Johnson & Wales are seeded 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

The tournament features eight of the Top 10 dual teams and 10 of the Top 12.

This is the 23rd time Division III has had its own tournament with Wartburg and Augsburg combining for 21 of those titles. UW-La Crosse is the only other program to capture a crown, winning in 2022 when neither Augsburg nor Wartburg was able to make it to Louisville, then the host city.

The Division III competition starts at 10 a.m. with eight preliminary matches and the first round is scheduled for noon.

Scouting The Top Four Seeds

Wartburg rolls into the tournament at 6-0 and has lost just four matches in those six duals.

The Knights have all 10 of their projected starters ranked – James Levy (#7 at 125), Josh Gervy (#6 at 133), Kyler Romero (#2 at 141), Charles Dojan (#1 at 149), Blaine Christie (#4 at 157), Aiden Brosinski (#13 at 165), Matt Rogge (#14 at 174), Kasey Ross (#3 at 184), Massoma Endene (#1 at 197) and Mitchell Williamson (#5 at 285).

Second-seeded UW-La Crosse has seven ranked wrestlers — Quintin Wolbert (#14 at 125), Sam Lorenz (#15 at 141), Tyler Goebel (#2 at 165), Eddie Sames (#7 at 174), Marcus Orlandoni (#7 at 184), Ben Kawczynski (#3 at 197) and Michael Douglas (#1 at 285).

The Eagles are 6-0 and own a victory over top-five opponent UW-Eau Claire. UW-La Crosse will face either Wabash or Cornell. The Eagles beat Cornell in early November.

Third-seeded Augsburg is 8-0 and has top 25 wins over Ohio Northern, Loras, New York University and the University of Chicago under its belt. The Auggies have also beat one of two teams they could face in a first-round match Albion. Albion and RIT square off in a preliminary dual to determine which teams advances to face Augsburg.

The Auggies also have seven ranked wrestlers: Chance Suddeth (#15 at 133), Matt Randolph (#11 at 149), Karsen Otis (#7 at 157), Cooper Willis (#3 at 165), Seth Goetzinger (#6 at 174), Brandt Bombard (#4 at 184) and Parker Venz (#2 at 197).

Fourth-seeded Johnson & Wales is 9-0 and own wins over #6 Baldwin Wallace, Wabash, Whitewater, College of New Jersey and RIT.

The Wildcats have six ranked wrestlers — Joziah Fry (#1 at 125), Peyton Ellis (#3 at 133), Cameron Soda (#3 at 141), Hayden Brown (#4 149), Jack Richardson (#10 at 165), Adolfo Betancur (#14 at 285).

One Reason Each Of The Top Four Seeds Will Win

Why Wartburg will win: The Knights’s depth probably is the biggest challenge to any of the other contenders. The Knights will put out a ranked wrestler or ranked-worthy reserve at almost every weight.

Why UW-La Crosse will win: The Eagles are a program that at the end of a dual the other team knows it has been in a battle. UWL is never out of a match.

Why Augsburg will win: Much like UWL, the Auggies find ways to win even when not favored. You don’t win eight NWCA dual titles without winning a few matches on paper you weren’t supposed to win.

Why Johnson & Wales will win: The Wildcats have perhaps the scariest group of four from 125 through 149. There is a good chance they go 4-0 with a bonus win or two to start most duals. And when you get to 17-18 points, you are usually within striking distance.  

Best Of The Best

There will be no lack of individual talent competing.

More than 90 ranked wrestlers, including seven wrestlers – Joziah Fry (Johnson & Wales), 125, Charles Dojan (Wartburg), 149, Michael Petrella (Baldwin Wallace), 157, Matt Lackman (Alvernia), 165, Sampson Wilkins (VTSU Castleton), 184, Massoma Endene (Wartburg), 197, and Michael Douglas (UW-La Crosse), 285 – who are ranked # 1 at their respective weight classes.

Fry and Endene are both two-time national champions.

There won’t be many duals that won’t feature two ranked wrestlers going head-to-head or potentially returning all-Americans battling.

Recapping The 2024 Tournament

Wartburg won four of the first five matches, including Kyler Romero beating reigning national champion Sam Stuhl at 141 to propel the Knights to a 21-19 win over Augsburg University in the finals.

It was Wartburg’s 13th NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals championship. The Auggies have won the title eight times.

Wartburg narrowly edged UW-La Crosse in the semifinals (20-17), while Augsburg rolled over North Central College, 37-14.

Complete results

Round of 16

Augsburg 49, Cornell College 0

Johnson & Wales 23, Coe 21

Baldwin Wallace 22, Luther 16

North Central 25, Luther 15

Wisconsin-La Crosse 45, Millikin 4

Wabash 25, TCNJ 16

Wartburg 29, Loras 18

Quarterfinals

Augsburg 35, Johnson & Wales 10

North Central 34, Baldwin Wallace 4

Wisconsin-La Crosse 21, Wisconsin-Whitewater 20

Wartburg 54, Wabash 0

Semifinals

Augsburg 37, North Central 14

Wartburg 20, UW-La Crosse 17

Championship: Wartburg 21, Augsburg 19

Third place: Wisconsin-La Crosse 22, North Central 15

Fifth place: Coe 33, Johnson & Wales 10

Seventh place: Castleton 35, Wisconsin-Whitewater 4