Photo for Wartburg athletics by Dexter Bass, Kodiak Creative

The Wartburg men's wrestling team captured the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Wrestling National Championship, securing the program's 17th national title at the championship meet inside the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Freshman Kade Blume and senior Kasey Ross each claimed individual national championships to lead the Knights, while head coach Eric Keller was named NCAA Division III Tournament Coach of the Year. Wartburg's staff also earned Tournament Coaching Staff of the Tournament honors.

The Knights separated themselves from the field with 110.0 team points, finishing 42 points ahead of runner-up UW-La Crosse.

Freshman Kade Blume defeated reigning national champion and top-seeded Mark Samuel of Roanoke with a 4-3 decision at 141 pounds to secure the national title. Blume struck first with an escape in the second period to take a 1-0 lead. With 23 seconds remaining in the period, Blume recorded a takedown before Samuel responded with a reversal, leaving Blume with a two-point advantage entering the final period. Blume held off the defending champion the rest of the way to claim the 141-pound national championship.

Blume had a huge freshman year, as he finishedwith a 25-2 overall record, going a perfect 4-0 at the national championships while contributing 21.5 team points for the Knights.

At 184 pounds, Kasey Ross capped his senior season with a perfect 30-0 record. The Urbandale, Iowa, native won each of his matches at the national tournament with two bonus-point victories and two decisions. Ross secured the 184-pound national title with a 5-0 decision over top-seeded Ganon Smith of Elizabethtown, handing Smith his lone loss of the season after entering the finals with a 38-1 record. Ross led Wartburg with a team-best 22.0 points, delivering the strongest national performance of his career.

Senior heavyweight Mitchell Williamson battled No. 3 seed Josh Harkless of RIT in the championship bout but fell by a 4-1 decision. Williamson concluded his senior season with a 25-1 record and finishes his career as a three-time All-American. He previously captured the 2025 national championship and placed runner-up in 2026.

In addition, Charlie Dojan finished third at 157, Patrick Mullen placed fifth at 133, Brett Birchman seventh at 125 and Cal Dorota seventh at 197 to round out the national placers for the Knights.