Waynesburg University junior Jake Evans knew what he would be up against at the 2018 NCAA Division III Nationals. The Elizabeth-Forward graduate qualified for the 2017 National Tournament at 285 pounds where he took seventh place for the Jackets. A year later Evans was one of four returning All-Americans at heavyweight, two of which finished higher on the podium than him. 

After capturing the Central Regional title a week earlier Evans came in as the fifth seed. He picked up a pair of decisions in his first two matches, including a 3-1 decision over the fourth seed Isaiah Bellamy in the quarterfinals. It was a battle of the Evans in the semifinals as Jake took on Wartburg’s Lance Evans for a spot in the National Finals. Lance was not only the top seeded wrestler at 285 pounds but also earned a fall over Jake a year earlier in the quarterfinals of Nationals.

That match was most definitely on Jake’s mind as he went out against Lance Evans. Jake would hold on late to secure an 8-6 win over Lance Evans and advance into the finals where he faced second seed James Bethel of SUNY Oneonta. Last season the two did not face off as Bethel finished in fifth place at Nationas. Jake Evans took it to him early storming out and holding on for a convincing 10-5 decision to win his first National Championship.

Pennsylvania had two additional National finalist with Brett Kaliner of Stevens Tech at 141 pounds and York’s Greg Warner at 149 pounds. Kaliner, 2017 graduate of Bayard-Rustin in District 1, was the top seed, advancing into the Championship finals but falling to Ithaca’s Ben Brisman 10-7. Big Spring graduate Greg Warner captured his third All-American finish for York College with a second place finish at 149 pounds. It was his highest finish on the podium thus far with previous finishes of fifth in 2016 and eighth in 2017. 

Other All-American included Trevor Corl (Bellefonte) of Lycoming who took eighth at 149 pounds; Kevin Edwards (Avon Grove) taking sixth at 157 pounds for Messiah; and former National Champion Ben Swarr (Garden Spot) who took fifth at 174 pounds to earn his third career All-American honors.

 

125 lbs.

1st Place – Jay Albis of Johnson & Wales (RI)
2nd Place – Carlos Fuentez of Wheaton (IL)
3rd Place – Mike Tortorice of Wis.-Whitewater
4th Place – Jonathan Haas of Brockport
5th Place – Nick Mancini of Mount Union
6th Place – Clarren Pestano of Central (IA)
7th Place – Ferdinand Mase of Ithaca
8th Place – Christopher Doyle of Baldwin Wallace

 

133 lbs.

1st Place – Brock Rathbun of Wartburg
2nd Place – Sam Bennyhoff of Augsburg
3rd Place – Troy Stanich of Stevens
4th Place – Austin Sisco of SUNY Oneonta
5th Place – Anthony Munoz of Elmhurst
6th Place – Joao Vicente of Johnson & Wales (RI)
7th Place – Owen McClave of Coast Guard
8th Place – Brenden Velez of Delaware Valley

 

141 lbs.

1st Place – Ben Brisman of Ithaca
2nd Place – Brett Kaliner of Stevens
3rd Place – Chris Williams of Millikin
4th Place – Joseph Ghione of Elizabethtown
5th Place – Josh Martin of Cornell College
6th Place – Brendan Ladd of Alma
7th Place – Jimmy McAuliffe of Elmhurst
8th Place – Joseph Ferinde of Johnson & Wales (RI)

 

149 lbs.

1st Place – Cross Cannone of Wartburg
2nd Place – Gregory Warner of York (PA)
3rd Place – Austin Bethel of Wabash
4th Place – Evan Drill of NYU
5th Place – Alex Wilson of Augsburg
6th Place – Sean Peacock of Brockport
7th Place – Bradan Birt of Millikin
8th Place – Trevor Corl of Lycoming

 

157 lbs.

1st Place – Ryan Epps of Augsburg
2nd Place – Logan Thomsen of Wartburg
3rd Place – Cole Erickson of Coe
4th Place – Zach Wilhelm of Stevens
5th Place – Mark Choinski of Wis.-Oshkosh
6th Place – Kevin Edwards of Messiah
7th Place – Raymond Jazikoff of NYU
8th Place – Kyle Hatch of Wabash

 

165 lbs.

1st Place – Lucas Jeske of Augsburg
2nd Place – Nick Velez of Ithaca
3rd Place – Anthony Arroyo of Baldwin Wallace
4th Place – Frank Aiello of Wheaton (IL)
5th Place – Nick Remke of Coast Guard
6th Place – Jeff Hojnacki of Messiah
7th Place – Ben Hewson of Cornell College
8th Place – Mike Ross of Wartburg

 

174 lbs.

1st Place – Jairod James of Mount Union
2nd Place – Jon Goetz of Wis.-Platteville
3rd Place – Eric Devos of Wartburg
4th Place – Darden Schurg of Wabash
5th Place – Ben Swarr of Messiah
6th Place – Sawyer Massie of Wis.-La Crosse
7th Place – Tanner Vassar of Augsburg
8th Place – Jake Voss of Coe

 

184 lbs. 

1st Place – Jordan Newman of Wis.-Whitewater
2nd Place – Tyler Lutes of Wartburg
3rd Place – Jake Ashcraft of Ithaca
4th Place – John Boyle of Western New Eng.
5th Place – Christos Giatras of Augustana (IL)
6th Place – Dan Squires of Wis-Stevens Point
7th Place – Keajion Jennings of Millikin
8th Place – Khamri Thomas of Johnson & Wales (RI)

 

197 lbs.

1st Place – Kyle Fank of Wartburg
2nd Place – Guy Patron of Loras
3rd Place – Wesley Schultz of Wis.-La Crosse
4th Place – Andrew Holladay of Coe
5th Place – Etiini Udott of Centenary (NJ)
6th Place – Triston Engle of Brockport
7th Place – Dylan Diebitz of Wis-Stevens Point
8th Place – Devon Carrillo of Wesleyan (CT)

 

285 lbs.

1st Place – Jake Evans of Waynesburg
2nd Place – James Bethel of SUNY Oneonta
3rd Place – Isaiah Bellamy of Wesleyan (CT)
4th Place – Lance Evans of Wartburg
5th Place – Jake O`Brien of Ithaca
6th Place – Konrad Ernst of Wis.-La Crosse
7th Place – Austin Bellile of MSOE
8th Place – Tyler Ortmann of Cornell College

 

Final Brackets

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