DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The No. 1/2-ranked Wartburg College men's wrestling team claimed its fifth-straight NCAA Division III Region VI championship—and 12th overall—amassing 210.5 team points and qualifying nine wrestlers for the NCAA Division III National Championship meet – the Knights' team-point total ranks as the third-most across all of the NCAA Div. III Regionals this year. 

Head coach Eric Keller was named Region VI Coach of the Year for the fifth time, while the Wartburg coaching staff earned Region VI Staff of the Year honors.

The Knights crowned five regional champions, led by Brett Birchman, Kade Blume, Kasey Ross, Cal Dorota, and Mitchell Williamson. Wartburg's five individual titles marked the program's highest total since the 2017–18 season, when the Knights produced seven champions.

Birchman completed an undefeated weekend at 125 pounds, securing national qualification with a pair of decisions. He earned a 12–8 semifinal victory before grinding out a 3–1 win in the championship bout.

At 133, Patrick Mullen advanced to the national meet with a runner-up finish. Mullen opened day two with a 7–2 semifinal decision before suffering his first loss of the regional in the championship match.

Blume dominated the 141-pound bracket, posting a perfect 4–0 record on day two. He recorded major decisions over fifth-seeded Nosa Egbon (Loras) and third-seeded Dresden Grimm (Coe), with all victories coming via bonus points. Blume totaled 25.0 team points over the weekend.

Caleb Olson placed third after an early semifinal setback at 149. Olson rebounded with a pin at 2:03 in the consolation semifinals over Ty Koedam (Coe) and followed with a 9–8 decision against Ashton Hayhurst (Dubuque) in the third-place bout.

Charlie Dojan delivered a technical fall in the 157-pound semifinals against Zachary Montez (Coe) before suffering his first loss of the season in a tightly contested 10–8 decision to Eric Kinkaid (Loras) in the championship match. Dojan finished the weekend with 21.0 team points.

At 165, Aiden Brosinski dropped his semifinal match to top-seeded Clayton McDonough (Luther) before rebounding with an 8–2 decision in the consolation semifinals. Brosinski placed fourth, contributing 14.5 team points.

Mike Slade punched his ticket to the national championship meet with a 2–1 sudden-victory win in the third-place match at 174. Slade totaled 16.5 team points over the weekend.

Ross led all of Region VI with 28.0 team points at 184, recording two falls, two technical falls, and a major decision in the championship bout to secure a perfect 26–0 season record and the regional title.

Dorota also completed an undefeated weekend at 197, earning decision victories in both the semifinal and championship matches. He edged a 4–3 decision to capture the Region VI crown.

Williamson closed the tournament in dominant fashion at heavyweight, totaling 23.0 team points. He secured his first regional title with a 2–1 decision over Jonah Clark (Loras), sealing another championship performance for the Knights.
 
TAKE NOTE

• Blume recorded the second-quickest tech fall at 1:49
• Dojan produced two tech falls (6:33) to rank fourth amongst the Region VI field – Blume (7:33) and Ross (8:21) ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.
• As a team, Wartburg led Region VI with 10 tech falls, and ranked fourth in pins (9)
• First regional title for Birchman, Blume, Dorta and Williamson
• Third-straight regional title for Ross

 
Wartburg National Qualifiers (9)
Brett Birchman, 125
Patrick Mullen, 133
Kade Blume, 141
Caleb Olson, 149
Charlie Dojan, 157
Mike Slade, 174
Kasey Ross, 184
Cal Dorota, 197
Mitchell Williamson, HWT
 
2026 Region VI Major Awards:
Coach of the Year: Eric Keller
Staff of the Year: Wartburg
 
Wartburg Regional Team Titles By Year (12)
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
 
Wartburg Individual Regional Titles by Year
2012-13: (5)
Gilberto Camacho, 125
Kenny Anderson, 133
Kodie Silvestri, 149
Cole Welter, 157
Landon Williams, 165

2013-14: (6)
Gilberto Camacho, 125
Kenny Anderson, 133
Connor Campo, 141
Cole Welter, 165
Landon Williams, 174
Ryan Fank, 285

2014-15: (7)
Jake Agnitsch, 125
Connor Campo, 133
Kenny Martin, 149
Andrew Steiert, 165
Devin Peterson, 184
Gerard Roman, 197
Ben Nagle, 285

2015-16 (7)
Arnulfo Olea, 125
Connor Campo, 133
Kenny Martin, 149
Drew Wagenhoffer, 157
Eric DeVos, 174
Gerard Roman, 197
Lance Evans, 285

2016-17 (5)
Kenny Martin, 149
Logan Thomsen, 157
Eric DeVos, 174
Kyle Fank, 197
Lance Evans, 285

2017-18 (8)
Brennen Doebel, 125
Brock Rathbun, 133
Cross Cannone, 149
Logan Thomsen, 157
Mike Ross, 165
Eric DeVos, 174
Tyler Lutes, 184
Kyle Fank, 197

2018-19 (4)
Brock Rathbun, 133 (Regional Outstanding Wrestler)
Kris Rumph, 149
Cross Cannone, 157
Kyle Briggs, 174

2019-20
Kris Rumph, 133
Kyle Briggs, 174

2019-20 (2)
Kyle Briggs, 174
Kris Rumph, 133
 
2020-21
No tournament due to COVID-19
 
2021-22 (3)
Zayren Terukina, 141
Kris Rumph, 149
David Hollingsworth, 157

2022-23 (4)
Kris Rumph, 149
David Hollingsworth, 157
Zane Mulder, 174
Massoma Endene, 197

2023-24 (3)
Kyler Romero, 141
Kasey Ross, 184
Massoma Endene, 197

2024-25 (3)
Kyler Romero, 149
Kasey Ross, 184
Massoma Endene, 197

2025-26 (5)
Brett Birchman, 125
Kade Blume, 141
Kasey Ross, 184
Cal Dorota, 197
Mitchell Williamson, HWT
 
 
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Wartburg - 210.5
Loras - 173.5
Coe - 167.5
Central - 143
Luther - 124
Cornell - 115.5
Dubuque - 89
Univ. of Ozarks - 67
Huntingdon - 52
Simpson - 38.5
Scheiner - 37
Illinois Wesleyan - 30
Nebraska Wesleyan - 23.5
Eureka - 21.5
Buena Vista - 20
Westminster - 14
Lyon - 6.5
Blackburn - 0 
 
REGION VI INDIVIDUAL SEEDS
125 – Brett Birchman (2)
133 – Patrick Mullen (1)
141 – Kade Blume (1)
149 – Caleb Olson (3)
157 – Charlie Dojan (1)
165 – Aiden Brosinski (4)
174 – Mike Slade (3)
184 – Kasey Ross (1)
197 – Cal Dorota (1)
285 – Mitch Williamson (1)