INDIANAPOLIS – The 20th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team finished their season with a program-best eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships inside the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, closing out a historic season with four grapplers on the podium for the first time in program history.
The Golden Bears had four wrestlers competing for placing on the day, with No. 2 Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (184 lbs.) and Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) (285 lbs.) among the final four in their respective weight classes, while 165-pound Bailey Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) and 10th-ranked 174-pound Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) secured All American honors on Friday and also competed for placing on Saturday.
Both Weinberg and Retter were within striking distance heading into the final period of their respective semifinal bouts, with Weinberg holding a 1-0 advantage and Retter trailing 3-2. But late third-period takedowns from the opposition ultimately tipped the scales against both Kutztown grapplers, sending them to the consolation bracket just short of the championship bout.
In the end, Weinberg made quick work of his final two opponents to win the consolation bracket and claim third place, while Retter upset another ranked opponent to win the fifth-place bout. The Gimbor brothers both finished eighth in their respective weight classes.
No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney took home the team title with 115 points over the two-day competition. No. 5 Augustana (SD) took second place with 63 points, followed by No. 2 St. Cloud State (57.5), No. 8 Lander (56) and No. 3 Central Oklahoma (55.5) rounding out the top five. Kutztown's eighth-place finish was the best from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, topping No. 17 Pitt-Johnstown (33.5, 13th place) and No. 13 Gannon (31, 16th place).
Kutztown finished eighth overall as a team at the NCAA Championships, eclipsing their previous best finish in 2018-19, when they finished 10th after a 14-1 regular season. The 2024-25 Golden Bears finished with an 11-1 regular season record and a 5-1 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, both among the best marks under head coach Robert Fisher, who surpassed 250 wins in his 24th season at the helm.
Weinberg closes his KU career as a three-time All-American while finishing atop the career pins list (38) and third-best in career wins (96). His 2024-25 season saw him wrestle to a perfect, 23-0 regular season, while his 32 wins in his redshirt senior season is tied for the second most in program history.
Retter and the Gimbor brothers look ahead to the 2025-26 season as they chase Kutztown's sixth individual national championship.
NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
FRIDAY, MAR. 14 – SATURDAY, MAR. 15 | INDIANAPOLIS, IND. | CORTEVA COLISEUM
#20 KUTZTOWN RESULTS
TEAM: 8th/50 (42.5 pts.)
165 LBS.
Bailey Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg)
CR3 – Loss by dec. to Jace Fisher (Newman), 8-5 (SV-1)
7th Place Match – Loss by dec. to #3 Nolan Gessler (Tiffin), 7-5
8TH PLACE; ALL-AMERICAN (2nd career All-American honor)
174 LBS.
#10 Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg)
CR3 – Loss by dec. to Drake Hayward (Minnesota State), 6-5
7th Place Match – Loss by dec. to #2 Joshua Kenny (Grand Valley State), 7-3
8TH PLACE; ALL-AMERICAN (1st career All-American honor)
184 LBS
#2 Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan)
SF – Loss by dec. to #3 Keegan Gehlhausen (Chadron State), 4-1
CSF – Won by tech. fall over #6 Garrett Wells (Central Oklahoma), 16-1 [T – 4:29]
CF – Won by fall over #10 Damon Ashworth (Central Missouri), [T – 1:44]
3RD PLACE; ALL-AMERICAN (3rd career All-American honor)
285 LBS
Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown)
SF – Loss by major dec. to #5 Isaiah Vance (Pitt-Johnstown), 11-2
CSF – Loss by major dec. to #1 Crew Howard (Nebraska-Kearney), 10-2
5th Place Match – Won by major dec. over #6 Jake Swirple (Minot State), 12-1
5TH PLACE; ALL-AMERICAN (1st career All-American honor)
