MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced its Individual Rankings over the weekend for NCAA Division III. The Adrian College men's wrestling team earned five top-8 regionally ranked wrestlers along with one nationally ranked wrestler.
Zachary Phifer ranks fifth in the Central Region at 125 for Adrian. Phifer currently holds an 8-1 record on the season with five pins. He also holds a win by decision (5-4) and a win by tech fall (18-1). His most recent win came in a non-conference dual with crosstown rival, Siena Heights, where he won by a 12-4 major decision.
Zachary Platte holds a fifth-place regional ranking at 157. Platte is 7-3 on the season lead by a first-place finish at the Adrian Invite. He's totaled five pins on the season to go with a win by decision (11-9) and a won by major decision (16-6).
At 184,
Blake Williams ranks fourth in the Central Region. Williams is 3-1 on the year after being named a national qualifier last season. Williams finished the Adrian Invite with a 2-1 record with a win by fall and a major decision (14-2). His most recent victory came against Siena Heights where he won by fall.
At 197,
Dylan Wellbaum ranks at the top of the Central Regional, and tenth nationally. Wellbaum returns to the team after taking the first semester off. He picked up where he left off at 197 after qualifying for Nationals the last two seasons. Wellbaum starts the season at 1-0 after winning by fall against Siena Heights.
Lastly,
Mason Slocum holds the No. 4 spot in the Central Region at 285. Slocum holds an 11-6 record on the season with the help of deep runs at the Adrian Invite, Millikin Open, and BW Invite. Slocum has five pins on the season, two wins by major decision, three wins by decision, and victory by forfeit. Slocum landed a win by major decision in his last match against Siena Heights by a score of 20-8.
Adrian has sometime off for semester break and will resume action with the MIAA Conference season. The Bulldogs will travel to Albion College on Thursday, January 18 for a 7:00 PM dual to begin MIAA play.
