DUBUQUE, Iowa - The postseason has arrived, and the Loras College men's wrestling team is ready to defend its home mats as it hosts the 2026 NCAA Division III Region VI Regional Championship this Friday and Saturday at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque. With only the top three finishers at each weight class advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships, the stakes couldn't be higher.

For Loras, the opportunity to compete for national berths in front of a home crowd adds another layer of excitement.

"It's going to be an exciting weekend, not only because it's regionals, but the fact that we're hosting," said head coach Devin Bahr. "We should have a lot of fans here and our guys seem ready to go, so I think we'll get quite a few through to nationals."

According to the latest NCAA Division III Regional Rankings released on Feb. 20, several Duhawks enter the weekend ranked inside the top three of Region VI, putting them in a strong position to earn national qualifying spots.

At 125 pounds, Aidan Gruenenfelder enters the tournament as one of the top contenders in the region. He is ranked among the top three in Region VI and also sits just outside the national top 10, signaling that he is firmly in the mix to qualify for nationals if he performs to his potential.

Connor Fiser has established himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the bracket at 133 lbs. He is ranked near the top of the region and inside the national top 10. A returning national qualifier, Fiser brings both experience and consistency into the postseason.

At 141 pounds, Nosa Egbon is ranked just outside the automatic qualifying spots in the region. While he enters slightly below the top three, he is within striking distance and positioned to make a push into qualifying position with a strong weekend performance.

Chase Fiser is viewed as one of the top wrestlers in Region VI and is also ranked inside the national top 10 at 149 lbs. As a returning national qualifier, he brings proven postseason success and will be expected to compete for a regional title while also securing a spot at nationals.

At 157 pounds, Eric Kinkaid stands out as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the field. He is ranked near the top of the region and among the top five wrestlers in the country at his weight. A returning All-American and national qualifier, Kinkaid enters the weekend not only looking to qualify, but to dominate his bracket.

Braylon Griffiths enters the tournament ranked in the middle of the regional standings at 165 lbs. While not currently projected inside the top three, he has the opportunity to outperform his seed and climb into qualifying position with a strong showing.

At 174 pounds, Dustin Bohren headlines the Loras lineup. He is the top-ranked wrestler in Region VI at his weight and is also ranked among the top five in the nation. A returning national qualifier, Bohren will be expected to lead both individually and in the team race.

Landry Barker is positioned as one of the strongest contenders in the bracket at 184 lbs. Ranked near the top of the region and among the top wrestlers nationally, Barker has a clear path to qualification and will aim to contend for a regional championship.

At 197 pounds, Kam Royster enters ranked in the regional standings and will need to exceed expectations to break into the top three. His path likely requires a deep run through either the championship or consolation bracket.

Jonah Clark rounds out the lineup as one of the region's top competitors at heavyweight. Ranked near the top of Region VI and inside the national rankings, he brings experience and poise into a weight class where one match can define the weekend.

With the regular season complete, the Loras coaching staff shifted its attention to individualized preparation, fine-tuning technique and sharpening situational awareness.

"This past week we just took advantage of getting to work with each guy individually and breaking down different techniques," Bahr said. "It's a lot of one-on-one stuff with the coaches that you don't necessarily get throughout the season."

That focused approach could make the difference in a tournament where one match can determine whether a season continues or ends.

While regionals is ultimately about individual qualification, the team race remains a major storyline. Region VI features several nationally competitive programs, and having barely coming up short to Wartburg College last year, Bahr anticipates key head-to-head battles shaping both podium finishes and team standings.

"In terms of the team race, I think you'll see a lot of Loras vs. Wartburg matchups, whether it's in the semifinals or finals," Bahr said. "We have to win the matchups and go out there and compete.

With multiple projected semifinal and championship bouts potentially featuring the Duhawks against their conference rivals, execution in those swing matches will be critical.

Hosting the regional tournament provides a rare postseason opportunity for Loras to compete in front of its home supporters. Energy inside the arena could play a pivotal role as the Duhawks chase national berths.

The NCAA Division III Region VI Regional Championship begins Friday with preliminary and championship bracket action, continuing Saturday with medal rounds and finals. The top three finishers at each weight will punch their tickets to the NCAA Division III Championships on March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

For the Duhawks, the goal is clear: defend home turf, win key matchups, and send as many as possible to the national stage.