Three Pennsylvania College of Technology wrestlers are poised to compete this weekend on the sport’s biggest stage at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and coach Dalton Rohrbaugh sees potential for each of them.

Representing the college on Friday and Saturday will be sophomore Carter Davis, of York, at 165 pounds; junior Kaden Ware, of Brooklyn, Connecticut, at 141; and junior Nick Woodruff, of Wyalusing, at 197. In Region 2 eliminations on Feb. 28 and March 1, Davis placed second, while Ware and Woodruff both finished third.

“I was very pleased with our regional performance,” the second-year coach said. “Four all-region wrestlers (David M’Balla, of Easton, was eighth at 157), with three going to the NCAAs, is a great weekend. Even the guys who did not place, I felt, wrestled very well and just lost to some very good opponents. There are always things to work out, but I was very pleased with the performance. As a staff, we do our best to get our guys to peak at the right time. They bought into what we’ve been telling them this year, and it all worked out.”

Assessing the three, Rohrbaugh said, “Kaden is one of the hardest wrestlers to compete against; he has such an unorthodox style, which allows him to score from anywhere, along with being very good at basics and refusing to give up points. With Kaden, I refuse to believe anyone can beat him, until they actually do. If he gets to his stuff in Iowa, there’s a very good chance he’s standing on that podium Saturday night. 

“Carter was heartbroken last year after his fourth-place finish at regionals last year and made sure to solidify his trip to nationals by making the region finals this year. Carter is one who does the basics very, very well, rarely comes out of position, rides well on top and rarely gets ridden out. We have been working to tweak a few things with his offense this week, and I’m very optimistic he’s going to be scoring some points out in Iowa. 

“Nick has had a rough year with injuries keeping him out, but since coming back has been on a tear, winning an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship and taking third at regionals, losing only to the champ by decision. He’s finally starting to trust his offense and get to shots, and once he’s on top, there aren’t many people in the country who can get out from him. He also has a few wildcard moves in his back pocket that make him dangerous for anyone who steps on the line with him. I’m excited for him to see a new level of competition and go after it.”

Davis takes a 28-4 record into nationals, Ware is 16-3, and Woodruff is 12-5.

Davis will open against Joshon Holmes, of VTSU Castleton (29-9), with the winner to face third-seed Tanner Gerber, of Wisconsin La Crosse (31-3).

Ware will open against Albright’s Dan Metzler (27-13), with the winner to meet third-seed Kade Blume, of Wartburg (21-2).

Woodruff will open against AJ Frescura, of North Central Illinois (29-10), with the winner to meet fourth-seed Cal Dorota, of Wartburg (24-4).

“Overall, I’m very excited for all three of these guys to see new competition and see what it’s like to compete at the national tournament. All three have a shot to be standing on the podium if they go out and do what they are capable of,” Rohrbaugh said.

For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.

For additional information, visit https://www.ncaa.com/sports/wrestling-men/d3