CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Two Falcons will be representing Messiah Wrestling at the 2026 NCAA DIII Men's Wrestling National Championships in Cedar Rapids on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. Sophomore
Keegan Demarest will be in action at 165 lbs., with Senior
Zach Needles taking to the mat in the 174 lbs. weight class. See below for how the pair earned their spot at the championship weekend.
Keegan Demarest entered the postseason with a strong sophomore campaign at 165 lbs., holding a 44-1 record heading into the Regional weekend. Demarest led Division III with 29 technical falls thus far and has added five falls. He led 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. After a fourth-place finish at Regionals during his freshmen season, Demarest earned the win at the 2026 Regional Championships to punch his ticket to Nationals. Demarest secured a pair of technical falls to advance to the quarterfinal where he earned a 17-3 major decision to advance to the championship bout with a guaranteed spot at Nationals. He claimed the 165 lbs. top spot after a 16-3 major decision over familiar foe Justice Hockenberry-Folk of Elizabethtown. Demarest is seeded sixth and will open the weekend against Henry Forte of Williams on Friday morning.
At 174 lbs.,
Zach Needles earned a place back at the National Tournament after missing last season due to injury. Needles held a 19-6 record heading into the Regional Championships, 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. He returns this season at 174 lbs. after a third-place finish at the 2026 Regional Championships. Needles opened the Regional Tournament with a pair of technical falls before securing a fall to advance. After dropping to the consolation bracket, he battled his way back with a 12-8 decision and 14-9 decision to secure third and punch his ticket to Nationals. Needles will open his weekend against RIT's Jack Lamson on Friday morning.
