CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Wartburg College men's wrestling team crowned seven NCAA All-Americans following the opening day of the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling Championships inside the Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

The Knights sit atop the team standings with 61.5 points, holding a 7.5-point lead over the field heading into Saturday's championship finals.

Brett Birchman (125), Patrick Mullen (133), Kade Blume (141), Charlie Dojan (157), Kasey Ross (184), Cal Dorota (197), and Mitchell Williamson (285) secured All-America honors for Wartburg, tying the program's most All-Americans at a national championship since the 2022 season.
 
SESSION I
Wartburg opened the tournament with a strong start across the brackets.

At 149 pounds, freshman Caleb Olson began the day with a fall over C. Babb of Alvernia in 4:11 during the pigtail round before falling in sudden victory to UW-Whitewater's D. Mallinder in the championship bracket.

At 174 pounds, Mike Slade dropped a 10-6 decision in the preliminary round but remained alive in the consolation bracket with a 7-3 decision over T. Vandenbush of MSOE.

Ninth-seeded Brett Birchman earned a 7-4 decision over UW-Eau Claire's I. Balsiger in the opening championship round at 125 pounds.

The Knights strung together a series of bonus-point victories early in the session. Third-seeded Kade Blume opened his tournament with a dominant 19-2 technical fall over K. Ware of Penn Tech at 141 pounds. Just a few mats away, fourth-seeded Charlie Dojan recorded a 17-0 technical fall against UW-Whitewater's L. Swan at 157 pounds.

At 184 pounds, second-seeded Kasey Ross delivered Wartburg's second fall of the day with a pin in 2:51, while top-seeded heavyweight Mitchell Williamson rolled to a 16-1 technical fall in his opening match.

At 197 pounds, Cal Dorota dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to N. Woodruff of Penn Tech before responding with a 9-1 major decision over Springfield's N. Rogers in the consolation bracket.

Following the first session, Wartburg sent six wrestlers into the championship rounds and three into the consolation bracket, leading the team standings with 23.5 points.

Team Scores After Session I – Top 10
1. Wartburg – 23.5
2. Augsburg – 21
3. Roanoke – 18.5
4. UW–La Crosse – 18
5. NYU – 14.5
6. TCNJ – 12.5
T7. Coe – 10.5
       Springfield – 10.5
9. Coast Guard – 10
10. Luther – 10
 
SESSION II
Wartburg began stacking All-America honors during the quarterfinal and consolation rounds.

Kade Blume became Wartburg's first All-American of the weekend after securing an 8-0 major decision over sixth-seeded P. Baldwin of Central. The freshman advanced to the 141-pound semifinals, where he will face second-seeded N. Diaz of Stevens.

At 157 pounds, Charlie Dojan suffered just his second loss of the season in the quarterfinals after a last-second takedown by Elmhurst's R. Augusto was upheld after review. Dojan rebounded in the consolation bracket with his second technical fall of the day to move into the consolation semifinals.

Cal Dorota continued his run through the consolation side with a 4-2 decision over Coe's J. Ngoma before adding another victory to secure All-America status and a spot in the placement rounds.

Second-seeded Kasey Ross earned All-America honors with a 5-0 quarterfinal decision over NYU's J. Mayes and will wrestle Roanoke's Hunter Moore in the 184-pound semifinals.

At heavyweight, Mitchell Williamson collected a 5-0 quarterfinal decision over Loras' J. Clark to secure All-America status and advance to the semifinals, where he will meet UW–La Crosse's unseeded Matt Mihalopoulos.

Brett Birchman battled back through the consolation bracket after his quarterfinal defeat, earning his first career All-America honor with a 4-2 decision in the late consolation rounds.

Patrick Mullen also claimed All-America recognition with a clutch 10-8 decision over NYU's J. Venezia to advance to the consolation semifinals.

Team Scores After Session II – Top 10
1.Wartburg – 61.5
T2.Augsburg – 54
     UW–La Crosse – 54
4. Roanoke – 45.5
5. NYU – 41
6. TCNJ – 35.5
7. Baldwin Wallace – 30.5
8. Coast Guard – 28.5
T9. Loras – 24.5
    Williams – 24.5
 
2026 WARTBURG ALL-AMERICANS
125: Brett Birchman (Jr., Fennimore, Wis.)
133: Patrick Mullen (Fr., Naperville, Ill.)
141: Kade Blume (Fr., Roland, Iowa)
157: Charlie Dojan (Mounds View, Minn.) – 2x All-American
184: Kasey Ross (Sr., Urbandale, Iowa) – 2x All-American
197: Cal Dorota (So., Highland, Wis.)
285: Mitchell Williamson (Sr., River Falls, Wis.) – 2x All-American
 
TAKE NOTE

• Wartburg's seven All-Americans are the most for the program at the national championships since 2022.
• Two Wartburg freshmen earned All-America recognition.
• Wartburg's all-time NCAA All-American total increased to 235.
• The Knights have produced five or more All-Americans at every NCAA Championship since 2019.

 
WHAT'S AT STAKE ON CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

• Wartburg enters the final day with 61.5 points as the Knights pursue the program's 17th NCAA Division III national championship.
• Mitchell Williamson (24-0) will look to defend his heavyweight national title with two victories on Saturday while maintaining his undefeated record.
• Kasey Ross (28-0) also remains unbeaten and seeks the highest NCAA Championship finish of his career in the 184-pound bracket.

SESSION I / SESSION II RESULTS - WARTBURG

125
Brett Birchman (19-7) placed 8th and scored 4.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brett Birchman (Wartburg) 19-7 won by decision over Izzy Balsiger (Wis.-Eau Claire) 17-3 (Dec 7-4)
Quarterfinal - Christian Guzman (North Central (IL)) 35-0 won by major decision over Brett Birchman (Wartburg) 19-7 (MD 17-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Brett Birchman (Wartburg) 19-7 won by decision over Aidan Gruenenfelder (Loras) 30-6 (Dec 4-2)

133
Patrick Mullen (26-6) placed 8th and scored 4.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) 26-6 won by decision over Jay McDonnell (Ithaca) 29-7 (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal - James Day (Wabash) 38-7 won by decision over Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) 26-6 (Dec 11-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Patrick Mullen (Wartburg) 26-6 won by decision over Jacob Venezia (NYU) 32-8 (Dec 10-8)

141
Kade Blume (23-2) placed 6th and scored 10.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kade Blume (Wartburg) 23-2 won by tech fall over Kaden Ware (Penn Tech) 17-6 (TF-1.5 6:46 (19-2))
Quarterfinal - Kade Blume (Wartburg) 23-2 won by major decision over Pierre Baldwin (Central (IA)) 29-3 (MD 8-0)

149
Caleb Olson (20-10) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.
Prelim - Caleb Olson (Wartburg) 20-10 won by fall over Chance Babb (Alvernia) 27-9 (Fall 4:11)
Champ. Round 1 - Dominik Mallinder (Wis.-Whitewater) 29-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Caleb Olson (Wartburg) 20-10 (SV-1 11-8)
Cons. Round 1 - Avery Leonard (SUNY Oneonta) 33-7 won by decision over Caleb Olson (Wartburg) 20-10 (Dec 6-4)

157
Charlie Dojan (28-2) placed 8th and scored 7.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) 28-2 won by tech fall over Luke Swan (Wis.-Whitewater) 27-10 (TF-1.5 5:26 (17-0))
Quarterfinal - Rhenzo Augusto (Elmhurst) 31-2 won by decision over Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) 28-2 (Dec 11-9)
Cons. Round 2 - Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) 28-2 won by tech fall over Londen Murphy (Ohio Northern) 33-8 (TF-1.5 2:36 (16-0))

174
Mike Slade (25-11) place is unknown and scored 0.5 team points.
Prelim - Nick Alexander (Augsburg) 20-17 won by decision over Mike Slade (Wartburg) 25-11 (Dec 10-6)
Prelim - Mike Slade (Wartburg) 25-11 won by decision over Toren Vandenbush (MSOE) 41-6 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 1 - Zach Needles (Messiah) 26-9 won by fall over Mike Slade (Wartburg) 25-11 (Fall 2:46)

184
Kasey Ross (28-0) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) 28-0 won by fall over Khalil Mitchell (Averett) 14-9 (Fall 2:51)
Quarterfinal - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) 28-0 won by decision over Justin Mayes (NYU) 31-3 (Dec 5-0)

197
Cal Dorota (27-5) placed 8th and scored 5.5 team points.
Prelim - Cal Dorota (Wartburg) 27-5 won by major decision over Nick Rogers (Springfield) 17-8 (MD 9-1)
Champ. Round 1 - Nicholas Woodruff (Penn Tech) 14-7 won by decision over Cal Dorota (Wartburg) 27-5 (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Cal Dorota (Wartburg) 27-5 won by decision over Jean Ngoma (Coe) 14-6 (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Cal Dorota (Wartburg) 27-5 won by decision over Lorenzo Pellot-Vázquez (Roanoke) 19-4 (Dec 9-3)

285
Mitch Williamson (24-0) placed 6th and scored 9.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) 24-0 won by tech fall over Kamdyn Dorchester (Ithaca) 34-12 (TF-1.5 7:00 (16-1))
Quarterfinal - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) 24-0 won by decision over Jonah Clark (Loras) 16-4 (Dec 5-0)