WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Eleventh-ranked and three-time defending champion Wis.-Eau Claire highlights a group of 16 teams, including six in the national rankings, that will head to Lamade Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 9, for the start of the two-day 37th annual Budd Whitehill National Duals hosted by Lycoming College.
 
One of the premier events in Division III wrestling, the tournament, which moved to Lycoming College 30 years ago in 1995, is named for legendary coach Budd Whitehill, who coached the Warriors for 37 years and won 376 matches and 10 Middle Atlantic Conference titles.
 
The tournament will feature four groups of four competing in a round robin on Friday, with the winners of the groups being reseeded into a championship bracket on Saturday, Jan. 11, and competing in a four-team tournament for the championship. Brackets for Friday's second, third and fourth-place group finishers on Saturday will also take place.
 
Wis.-Eau Claire, ranked 11th in the Dec. 30 NWCA Division III dual meet rankings, earned the top seed and will head Group A, which also features Wilkes, Ithaca and TCNJ. The group will begin its run at the tournament at 9 a.m. on Friday.
 
Washington & Lee, ranked 12th by the NWCA, earned the second seed and will head Group B, which also features Springfield, MSOE and York (Pa.). This group will begin competition at 9 a.m.
 
Group C, which begins competition at 10:30 a.m., will feature third-seeded Stevens, ranked 16th by the NWCA, 24^th-ranked Ohio Northern, Wis.-Stevens Point and Oswego.
 
Group D is headed by fourth-seeded Messiah, ranked 22nd in the country, and also features 23rd-ranked Williams, Cortland and Lycoming, beginning competition at 10:30 a.m.
 
Six rounds of the duals will take place on Friday, Jan. 12, with four matches taking place in each round on mats spread across Lamade Gymnasium. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the tournament will conclude with four rounds of wrestling. The championship round is set for 1:30 p.m. with the tournament awards following at 3 p.m.
 
Lycoming enters the duals with a 3-1 overall record, which includes a 24-21 win over 22^nd-ranked McDaniel College on Nov. 23.
 
The Warriors feature four wrestlers in the regional rankings, with junior Kaiden Wagner (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) the top-ranked grappler in Region 2 and ranked seventh nationally at 165 pounds. Sophomore 174-pounder Nolen Zeigler (Loysville, Pa./West Perry) is second in the region and ranked 10^th nationally. Senior 184-pounder Eli Crum (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) is fifth and senior 157-pounder Kobin Karper (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) sits seventh.
 
The Warriors are looking to place at the event for the 21st time in its 37 years. In 2025, the Warriors took 10th place, posting wins over McDaniel (26-22) and Cortland (35-22) and falling to Springfield (24-21), Stevens (31-15) and Ohio Northern (36-15).
 
Lycoming will open the duals by facing 22^nd-ranked Messiah on Mat 3 at 10:30 a.m., before facing 23rd-ranked Williams at 1:30 p.m. on Mat 4 and finishing the day by taking on Cortland at 4:30 p.m. on Mat 4. The Warriors are 96-62 (.608) all-time at the duals and have won titles in 1997 and 1999.
 
Budd Whitehill National Duals
Tournament Schedule
Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
Round 1 – Group A + B - 9 a.m.
Mat 1: Group A: Wis.-Eau Claire vs. TCNJ
Mat 2: Group A: Wilkes vs. Ithaca
Mat 3: Group B: Washington & Lee vs. York
Mat 4: Group B: Springfield vs. MSOE
 
Round 1 – Group C + D – 10:30 a.m.
Mat 1: Group C: Stevens vs. Oswego
Mat 2: Group C: Ohio Northern vs. Wis.-Stevens Point
Mat 3: Group D: Messiah vs. Lycoming
Mat 4: Group D: Williams vs. Cortland
 
Round 2 – Group A + B – 12 p.m.
Mat 1: Group A: Wis.-Eau Claire vs. Wilkes
Mat 2: Group A: Ithaca vs. TCNJ
Mat 3: Group B: Washington & Lee vs. MSOE
Mat 4: Group B: Springfield vs. York
 
Round 2 – Group C + D – 1:30 p.m.
Mat 1: Group C: Stevens vs. Wis.-Stevens Point
Mat 2: Group C: Ohio Northern vs. Oswego
Mat 3: Group D: Messiah vs. Cortland
Mat 4: Group D: Williams vs. Lycoming
 
Round 3 – Group A + B – 3 p.m.
Mat 1: Group A: Wis.-Eau Claire vs. Ithaca
Mat 2: Group A: Wilkes vs. TCNJ
Mat 3: Group B: Washington & Lee vs. Springfield
Mat 4: Group B: MSOE vs. York
 
Round 3 – Group C + D – 4:30 p.m.
Mat 1: Group C:  Stevens vs. Ohio Northern
Mat 2: Group C:  Wis.-Stevens Point vs. Oswego
Mat 3: Group D: Messiah vs. Williams
Mat 4: Group D: Cortland vs. Lycoming
 
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
Round 4 - 9 a.m. - Group 9-12, Group 13-16
Mat 1:  9-12 Group:  Group A vs. Group D 
Mat 2:  9-12 Group:  Group B vs. Group C
Mat 3:  13-16 Group: Group A vs. Group D
Mat 4:  13-16 Group: Group B vs. Group C
 
Round 4 - 10:30 a.m. - Championship Group, Group 5-8
Mat 1:  Championship Semifinal: Group A vs. Group D 
Mat 2:  Championship Semifinal: Group B vs. Group C
Mat 3: 5-8 Group: Group A vs. Group D 
Mat 4: 5-8 Group: Group B vs. Group C 
 
Round 5 - 12 p.m. - Group 9-12, Group 13-16
Mat 1:  9th-Place Match
Mat 2:  11th-Place Match 
Mat 3:  13th-Place Match  
Mat 4:  15th-Place Match
 
Round 5 - 1:30 p.m. - Championship Group, Group 5-8
Mat 1: Championship Final
Mat 2: 3rd Place Match
Mat 3: 5th Place Match 
Mat 4: 7th Place Match 
 
Awards - 3 p.m.