CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Four Maroons are guaranteed All-American honors and the Roanoke College wrestling team is in fourth place after day one of the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, held at the Alliant Energy Power House. Although final places have not yet been set,
Jude Robson (133 pounds),
Mark Samuel (141),
Xavier Preston (174) and
Hunter Moore (184) each earn All-American honors and will continue onto Saturday's competition. The top eight finishers in each weight class earn All-American honors.
Before the event began, Roanoke College head mentor
Nate Yetzer earned the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III National Men's Coach of the Year honors. Yetzer led the Maroons to a 15-0 record this year, a No. 1 team dual ranking in the nation and Old Dominion Athletic Conference and Region 4 titles.
Defending 141-pound champion Samuel takes home All-American honors for the third-straight season. The No. 1 seed opened with an 8-2 win over Cole Becker of Augsburg and bested his foe from Wesleyan 20-3 (6:47) by technical fall to roll into the semifinals.
Robson earns All-American honors after two victories as well at 133 pounds. The No. 5 seed had an 11-2 major decision to open the day against Daniel Haws of Centenary (NJ) and followed up with an 8-2 win over Conner Kidd from Luther. He faces the No. 1 seed Saturday with the winner advancing to the finals.
Moore took a tough path in the 184-pound bracket. He fell behind 5-0 in the first period of his first match but bounced back for an 8-7 victory and then posted back-to-back wins in the sudden victory session to reach the semifinals. He squares off with the No. 2 seed Saturday for the right to make the finals.
Preston scored a take down and a nearfall in the final 30 seconds of his first match to win 8-7. A loss sent him to the consolation bracket, but he secured All-American status with a 4-2 win over Konrad Parker from Ithaca.
Samuel, Robson and Moore each have chances at individual national championships with two wins Saturday.
Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez had a last-second take down overturned by video review or would have joined the other four Maroons as an All-American. After a pin in 3:50 at 197 to open the day, he trailed 8-6 in the quarterfinals. He took down his Ohio Northern opponent as time expired, but the three points were taken away and Pellot-Vazquez was eliminated in his next match.
Cade Parent had three wins Friday at 165 pounds, one by pin and one by major decision, but was knocked out by the No. 6 seed Friday evening.
Nicholas Cook dropped his first match of the day at 285 pounds but bounced back to win his next two before suffering his second loss.
Mac Cafurello was upset in the first round at 125 and won his second match 2-0 in the consolation bracket, but was eliminated in his next bout.
Taylor Smith was defeated twice at 149 to get knocked out.
Session III begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the finals at 7 p.m.
Top Five Team Scores:
- Wartburg (61.5)
- T-2. Augsburg (54)
- T-2. Wisconsin-La Crosse (54)
- Roanoke (45.5)
- NYU (41.0)
