UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Adrian College NCAA men's wrestling team is set to compete at the NCAA Division III Central Regional this weekend, hosted by John Carroll University. The Bulldogs will bring a youthful lineup to the tournament, complemented by three experienced returners.
Adrian Rosas will represent the Bulldogs at 125 pounds. Rosas enters the weekend with a perfect 16-0 record, capturing first-place finishes at both the Adrian Invite and the Messiah Petrofes Invitational. He is currently ranked fifth in the region according to the NWCA rankings and placed fourth at last year's NCAA Division III Regional.
Oscar Gutierrez will compete at 133 pounds. Gutierrez holds a 4-4 record this season, highlighted by a third-place finish at the Adrian Invite.
At 141 pounds, Kenneth Thomas brings a 13-17 record into the bracket. He recently placed seventh at the Adrian Futures event. Landyn Crance will wrestle at 149 pounds with an 8-11 record on the year. His season was highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Adrian Invite.
Rickey Lynch claims the starting spot at 159 pounds after compiling a 12-6 record during the regular season. Lynch turned in a strong performance at the Mid-States Invitational, placing fifth.
Aiden Smith returns to the lineup at 165 pounds after a standout 2024 postseason. Smith was crowned a Regional Champion last season before placing fourth at the NCAA Championships to earn All-American honors. He was also named MIAA Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive season. Currently ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 5 nationally, Smith carries a 20-1 record into Regionals with first-place finishes at the Adrian Invite and Messiah Petrofes Invitational, along with a second-place showing at the CUW Invite.
Calob Heilman will compete at 174 pounds with a 12-13 record. Heilman enters the postseason with momentum after claiming a first-place finish at the Adrian Futures event last weekend. Spencer Vos earns the nod at 184 pounds, finishing the regular season 11-5. Vos placed fifth at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational and went 3-1 in MIAA dual competition.
At 197 pounds, Shan Swank holds a 3-8 record and opened the season with a third-place finish at the Adrian Invite. Scott Smith will anchor the lineup at heavyweight with an 11-11 record. He placed second at the Albion College Men's Invite and seventh at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational.
"We are bringing a younger group to the NCAA Division III Central Regional this year," said head coach Bill Schindel. "The guys worked really hard this season to get here, and I am excited to see their hard work pay off this weekend. I believe we have the ability to wrestle into Saturday, make a splash, and secure some National Qualifiers."
The NCAA Division III Central Regional will take place at John Carroll University on February 27-28. Wrestling begins at 10:00 a.m. both days in a double-elimination format. All wrestlers who advance to Saturday will secure a top-eight finish and earn regional placement honors. The top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scheduled for March 13-14.
