CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The nation's best NCAA Division III men's wrestlers will converge on Eastern Iowa as the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling Championship takes place March 13-14 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) and Cedar Rapids Tourism will proudly serve as the host.
The championship welcomes 68 teams from across the country competing for team and individual national titles. From those 68 teams, 210 individuals emerged earning qualification through one of the seven regional tournaments. The 68 programs will highlight the nationwide reach of Division III men's wrestling. Johnson & Wales (Providence) and Wartburg College are the defending national champions. Dating back to the 1995 championship, a "Burg" institution has hoisted the national championship trophy between Augsburg and Wartburg. The Auggies are the lone team to qualify ten wrestlers to the championship as they look to raise the championship trophy for the first time since 2024.
The championship field features qualifiers across ten weight classes, with wrestlers competing through a double-elimination bracket to determine All-Americans and a national champion. Thousands of fans will enter Eastern Iowa to take in two days of high-level competition. The unofficial pre-championship brackets can be found
HERE.
Cedar Rapids is a strong destination for hosting Division III men's wrestling, as this will be the tenth championship in the area.
The championship will officially kick off on Thursday, March 12 with an opening press conference featuring regional champion head coaches and most outstanding wrestlers from each regional. The press conference will be livestreamed on
YouTube for those not able to attend in-person. Competition will begin on Friday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. with preliminary rounds one and two as well as consolation first rounds. The evening session on Friday will begin at 5:00 p.m. with championship quarterfinals and consolation second and third rounds. Saturday, March 14, wrestling will start back up at 10:00 a.m. with championship semifinals, consolation quarterfinals, consolation semifinals, and consolation matches for 3rd, 5th, and 7th place. The finals session will begin with a parade of All-Americans at 6:30 p.m. with the finals matches beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are available
HERE on the CREventslive website. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets at the ticket office to avoid Ticketmaster fees.
For fans of the A-R-C, a preview of the 29 qualifiers from the league will be available on Thursday ahead of the championship.
Thursday, March 12 Press Conference Lineup:
Student-Athletes (12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
- Jack Richardson, Johnson & Wales (Providence)
- Carl DiGiorgio, U.S. Coast Guard
- Josh Harkless, Rochester Institute of Technology
- DJ Henry, The College of New Jersey
- Myles Johnson, Ohio Northern University
- Christian Guzman, North Central College
- Eric Kinkaid, Loras College
- Easton Hull, Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Head Coaches (1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
- Jason Holder, Springfield College
- Anthony Bonaventura, Stevens Institute of Technology
- Joe Galante, The College of New Jersey
- Nate Yetzer, Roanoke College
- Matt Zwaschka, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Eric Keller, Wartburg College
- Tony Valek, Augsburg University
About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
