Wrestling Opens 2025-26 Season In Racich Rumble At Ursinus College

About The 2025-26 Cardinals 

Head Coach: Ryne Morrison (fourth season)

Assistant Coaches: Eric Mullen, Alex Ekstrom, Luke Lupisella, Brandon Contreras, Josh Maslyn

2024-25 Graduated Wrestlers: Adam Grover (141 lbs), Daniel Parkulo (125 lbs), Otto Davidson (157/165 lbs)

2025-26 Freshmen: Ethan Christmas (141), Case Clapps (149), Own Englert (174), Ayden Estep (149), Micah Gillespie (285), Cameron Guffey (125), Dikota Hamilton (184), Aidan LeStrange (197), Rider Ludrosky (165), Chris Mazur (133), Dylan Mueller (133), Daniel Visha (125), Matthew Wengatz (184), Hasen Wehterbee (141), Brayden Wright (184)

About Head Coach Ryne Morrison 

 Ryne Morrison has successfully led the recommencement of the St. John Fisher wrestling program, which went on a 38-year hiatus before being re-added to the university’s growing intercollegiate athletics profile in 2022. 

Over three seasons under Morrison, the Cardinals have gone 22-9 in dual action, including 10-1 in 2023-24. Several wrestlers have placed in the NCAA Division III Region II Championships, including six last season, and Alex Samson (141 lbs) became the program’s second-ever wrestling All-American and first since the program’s resumption in 2023-24. Samson placed seventh in the NCAA DIII National Championships that season.

The Cardinals have also excelled in the classroom under Morrison, posting the fifth-highest team grade-point average (3.73) in Division III in 2024. Additionally, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) named senior Daniel Parkulo (biochemistry), junior Derek Bernardino (data analytics), freshman Trevor Bishop (cybersecurity) and sophomores Paul Lichter (athletic performance), Dylan Devine (finance) and Jackson Burns (marketing) 2024 Scholar All-Americans. 

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Wrestlers To Watch

Derek Bernardino (Sr., 133 lbs) – Bernardino will begin the season ranked fifth in the region at 133 pounds. He went 20-13 overall last season with six wins by fall, three by technical fall and three by major decision. Bernardino placed second in the SUNYAC Wrestling Championships. 

Trevor Bishop (So., 141 lbs) – Bishop, ranked fourth in the region at 141 pounds, took fifth place in the NCAA Division III Region II Championships last March. He finished his freshman season 18-11 overall with seven wins by fall and earned Empire 8 Co-Rookie Wrestler of the Year honors. 

Paul Lichter (Jr., 157 lbs) – Ranked fifth regionally in his weight class to start the season, Lichter went 19-6 overall last season, recording six victories by technical fall, three by major decision and two by fall. He competed in the NCAA DIII Region II Championships and placed fifth at 157 pounds.

Braydon Vandenberg (Jr., 197 lbs) – Vandenberg enters the season as the second-ranked wrestler in the region at 197 pounds. He went 19-8 last year and wrestled to a fifth-place finish in the NCAA DIII Region II Championships. 

Jackson Burns (Jr., HWT) – Burns, the No. 2-ranked heavyweight in the region, took fifth at regionals last year. He posted a 19-8 overall record with 14 pins, the most on the team, and a technical fall win.