Six qualify for nationals, helps Wrestling to third place finish at NCAA III Regional IV Championships

Six qualify for nationals, helps Wrestling to third place finish at NCAA III Regional IV Championships
Tournament Site Photos Video Video Results
February 28, 2026

ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team had six individuals qualify for the national championships with top three finishes, leading ONU to a third place team finish at the 2026 NCAA III Region IV Championships on Friday and Saturday.

| NCAA Regionals Site |

The Basics

  • Records: Ohio Northern (14-4 Overall)
  • The Polar Bears finished 3rd of 20 teams with 177.5 points.
  • #2 Roanoke (Va.) won the team title with 217.5 points, #18 Baldwin Wallace was second with 188.5 points, and Washington & Lee (Va.) was 4th with 153.5 points.
  • Venue: ONU Sports Center – Ada, Ohio.

ONU Individuals

  • No. 13-ranked sophomore Myles Johnson (Springboro) went 4-0 with two pins to win the at 197-pound title.
  • Sophomore Jovanni Greco (Ross) went 3-1 with a tech fall and finished second at 149.
  • Freshman Kurt Mokros (Lewis Center/Olentangy) went 4-1 with two pins to finish third at 125.
  • Freshman Londen Murphy (Moscow/Moeller) went 4-1 with three pins to finish third at 157.
  • Freshman Ben Hegler (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) went 4-1 to finish third at at 165.
  • Freshman Jack Hoffman (Springboro) went 4-1 with a pin to finish third at 174.
  • Sophomore Chase Vanderhorst (Covington) went 3-2 with a pin to finish fourth at 133.
  • Sophomore Casper Caizzo (Norwalk/St. Paul) went 4-2 with two pins to place fifth at 141.
  • Freshman Troy Dyszkiewicz (Cleveland, Tenn./Walker Valley) went 4-2 with a pin to finish fifth at heavyweight.
  • Senior Ajay Locke (Lancaster) 3-3 with a pin and a technical fall to place sixth at 184.

Notables

  • The top three placers in each weight class qualify for the NCAA III Championships March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
  • All 10 ONU wrestlers placed in the top six of their respective weight classes.
  • Johnson was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.
  • Murphy won the Most Pins/Least Amount of Time award with three pins in 8:13.
  • Murphy has a team-high 16 pins this season with a 30-5 record. 
  • Johnson is 35-4 on the season with 9 pins and 9 tech falls.
  • Hegler is 30-9 on the season with 11 pins and six tech falls.
  • Mokros is 36-9 with eight pins and six tech falls.
  • Caizzo is 33-9 with 14 falls.
  • Greco is 32-8 with 13 major decisions.
  • Locke is 35th in program history in career wins with 88 and is 21-14 this year.
  • Dyszkiewicz is 29-15 with 14 pins.
  • Johnson is ranked No. 13 nationally at 197 pounds by the NWCA and was also named 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year.
  • Ohio Northern head coach Ron Beaschler is in his 38th season and has a 421-268-4 dual meet record, a winning percentage of .607.

Up Next

  • The Polar Bears will return to action at the 2026 NCAA III Championships on March 13-14 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.