COMPLETE BRACKETS (PDF) | LIVE RESULTS

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - RIT finished sixth after the first day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships as the NCAA resumed its Division III National Championships in wrestling for the first time since 2019 with four RIT athletes competing this weekend at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse and hosted by American Rivers Conference.

Highlights from the first day included three Tigers moving on to day two, with one still in the mix for a national championship, and two others already assured of top-eight finishes and All-America honors. Saturday's action is set to start at 11 a.m. (EST).

RIT's four NCAA Championship qualifiers include seniors Kaidon Winters and Zach Stedeford, who join junior Austin Lamb and freshman Josh Harkless. Each wrestler had a memorable day on Friday, March 11.

Kaidon Winters

• DAY 1 RESULTS (157-pounds):
• No. 1 Kaidon Winters (RIT) over Schuyler Caprella (Ohio Northern); Fall (5:30)
• No. 1 Kaidon Winters (RIT) over Stanley Bleich (Baldwin Wallace); Fall (6:36)
• DAY 2 OPPONENT NCAA SEMIFINALS
• No. 1 Kaidon Winters (RIT) vs. No. 5 Tyler Shilson (Augsburg)

Zach Stedeford

• DAY 1 RESULTS (174-pounds):
• No. 2 Zane Mulder (Wartburg) over Zach Stedeford (RIT); MD 15-1
• Zach Stedeford (RIT) over Tristan Westphal (Coe); Decision, 11-5
• Zach Stedeford (RIT) over No. 8 Charlie Gryas (Oswego); Decision, 4-1
• DAY 2 OPPONENT NCAA CONSOLATION QUATERFINALS
• Zach Stedeford (RIT) vs. Stefan Major (Stevens Institute of Technology)

Austin Lamb

• DAY 1 RESULTS (165-pounds):
• Austin Lamb (RIT) over Preston Morgan (UW-Oshkosh); Decision, 7-3
• No. 6 Philip Rogers (US Coast Guard Academy) over Austin Lamb (RIT); Decision, 7-2
• Austin Lamb (RIT) over Fox Maxwell (Bridgewater State); Fall (5:43)
• Austin Lamb (RIT) over Jaden Datz (Washington & Jefferson); Decision, 7-0
• DAY 2 OPPONENT NCAA CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS
• Austin Lamb (RIT) vs. Cooper Pontelando (NYU)

Josh Harkless

• DAY 1 RESULTS (197-pounds):
• No. 1 Cody Baldridge (Baldwin Wallace) over Josh Harkless (RIT); Decision, 3-2
• Josh Harkless (RIT) over Gage Linahon (Central); fall (2:47)
• No. 8 Tyler Hannah (UW-Platteville) over Josh Harkless (RIT); Decision, 3-1

Winters is ranked No. 1 at 157 pounds and is a four-time national qualifier with impressive credentials. The NCAA ranks Winters as the D-III Most Dominant Wrestler with a nation-leading 5.64 (out of 6) average points per bout. Winters is also tied with Joe Salerno (Washington and Lee) for the most D-III pins at 21 this season.

The fifth-year senior finished first in four tournaments this season; Ned McGinley Invitational, NYS Collegiate Championships, RIT Invitational and the NCAA Regionals.

"As a four-time NCAA tournament qualifier, Kaidon is a veteran of this tournament. He definitely is operating from a position of experience. Kaidon's goal is to win and has done everything he can do to prepare himself to realize that goal," RIT head wrestling coach Jason Bovenzi said.

Bovenzi traveled to Winters' high school in Athens, Pa. to recruit him after one state championship appearance and a podium finish.

Winters' wrestling career began at a young age after looking for a high school combat sport that complimented his taekwondo training. The match between the two benefited Winters well as RIT's all-time pin leader. The fifth-year Tiger is one pin away from matching another RIT record for most pins in a season; a record that he currently holds. Winters attributes his success through hard physical work and mental training that allows him to dominate his opponents.

"My goal is to be a national champion," said Winters. 

Stedeford is in his first NCAA Championship Tournament and took the toughest journey to get the opportunity. With only the top-three Regional winners advancing, Stedeford needed to win all four wrestlebacks for a chance to advance and did.

Stedeford is looking to cementing his legacy at RIT with an All-American finish after never having qualified for a state tournament in high school.

"Zach comes from one of the more storied program ls in Pennsylvania history. Wrestling in the WPIAL, he has been in the fire as it pertains to big matches and tough competition. He is a senior who has been close to qualifying before and finally has punched his ticket," RIT Coach Bovenzi said.

"It's always been a dream of mine to qualify for the National Tournament. My experience at RIT has been fantastic. We all work so hard and we all have that goal of being the best that we can be," Stedeford said.

Lamb entered RIT after placing three times at the NYSPHAA Championships out of Tioga High School and punched his ticket to Iowa after a second-place finish at Regionals. Lamb fell in love with sport after watching WWE matches on television as a child.

The junior finished first in two tournaments this season in the NYS Collegiate Championship and the RIT Invitational and has been solid at 165 pounds.

"If I put a solid tournament together, I can definitely be on the podium this weekend," Lamb said.

"Austin, much like Zach, is a very tactical wrestler. He comes from a terrific high school program and has a good amount of experience in big matches," RIT Coach Bovenzi said.

Harkless is the first RIT freshman since Winters to make the National Tournament in his first year of eligibility.

"Josh is a freshman who has wrestled the best kids in the country this year. He will be an opponent that nobody wants to see because of his conditioning and physical style of wrestling," RIT Coach Bovenzi said.

A two-time state qualifier and runner-up his senior year at Wilson West Lawn High School (Pa.), Harkless is excited about the opportunity this weekend.

The freshman finished first in two tournaments this season in the Ohio Intercollegiate Open and the RIT Invitational.

"It feels pretty good and pretty rewarding. I know I worked really hard and I'm looking forward to it. I know as long as I wrestle as hard as I can and to the best of my ability, good things will happen," said Harkless, who was drawn to RIT by its engineering program and a chance to wrestle for Coach Bovenzi.

"He (Bovenzi) loves to coach and helping the team and he really invests in his wrestlers," Harkless said.

A detailed schedule of events and information can be found here.