EWING, N.J. – The Messiah Wrestling team is ready for action at the NCAA Region III Regional Championships set to take place at The College of New Jersey from Friday, Feb. 27 to Saturday, Feb. 28. Check out a preview of the Falcons in action this weekend.
Falcons on the Mat
At 125 lbs.,
Austin Jeffrey has collected a record of 13-21 this season, securing four falls. Jeffrey earned fourth at the Scotty Wood Invitational.
Caiden Heller has collected a record of 26-14, earning eight falls in the 133 lbs. weight class. He claimed third at the Racich Rumble, first at the Scotty Wood Invitational, second at Messiah Petrofes, and third at MAC Championships. Heller will look to improve upon his fifth-place finish at last season's Regional.
Jacob Cunningham holds a 32-17 record at 141 lbs., earning one win via fall this season. Cunningham earned fourth at 149 lbs. at the Scotty Wood Invitational before making the switch to the 141 lbs. weight class. He then finished third at Messiah Petrofes, and sixth at the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational. At 149 lbs,
Levi Snyder has amassed an overall record of 20-4 in his return from energy, collecting six falls. Snyder claimed fourth at Messiah Petrofes, third at MAC Championships, and second at the D. Kenneth Ober Invitational. At 157 lbs.,
Noah Rice holds a record of 27-11, tallying 10 falls thus far. He finished third at the Scotty Wood Invitational, seventh at Messiah Petrofes, third at MAC Championships, and first at the Messiah Open.
Keegan Demarest has produced a strong sophomore campaign at 165 lbs., holding a 44-1 record heading into the weekend. Demarest leads Division III with 29 technical falls thus far and has added five falls. He leads the Falcons with 208 takedowns. In the 2025-26 season, Demarest has earned tournament wins at the Messiah Invitational, the Racich Rumble, the Scotty Wood Invitational, Messiah Petrofes, MAC Championships, and finished second at the esteemed Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational. Demarest looks for his first trip to the National Tournament after a fourth-place finish at Regionals during his freshmen season.
At 174 lbs.,
Zach Needles looks to earn a place back at the National Tournament after missing last season due to injury. Needles holds a 19-6 record this season, collecting three falls. He claimed the top spot at the Messiah Invitational, a sixth-place finish at the Racich Rumble, and a seventh-place finish at the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational. Needles earned a spot at the National Tournament at 165 lbs. during the 2022-23 season after finishing third at the Regional Championship.
Austin Brass looks to make a return to the National Championship after earning a spot at 174 lbs. during the 2024-25 season. Wrestling at 184 lbs. for the 2025-26 season, Brass earned second at the Messiah Invitational, first at the Racich Rumble, and second at the Scotty Wood Invitational. Brass has amassed a record of 23-5 this season, collecting three falls. During the 2023-24 season, Brass finished eighth in the Region before punching a ticket to Nationals in the 2024-25 season with a third-place finish.
At 197 lbs.,
Tucker Seidel has had a successful first season as a Falcon, collecting a record of 36-10 with six falls and ranking fourth in technical falls in Division III with 17. Seidel opened tournament action with a third-place finish at the Messiah Invitational before claiming first at the Racich Rumble, first at the Scotty Wood Invitational, first at Messiah Petrofes, third at MAC Championships, and eighth at the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational.
At 285 lbs.,
Kaleb Britting holds an overall record of 23-16 with six falls. Britting earned a second-place finish at the Scotty Wood Duals before finishing seventh at Messiah Petrofes, and fifth at MAC Championships.
