SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Fifth-ranked 285-pound Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) of the 21st-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team battled his way to his second career All-American honor, while six Golden Bear grapplers took the stage on the first day of the NCAA Division II National Championships inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Friday.

The Golden Bears' heavyweight grappler was set up in a strong position to open the tournament, which he started by claiming an opening round pin to advance in the championship bracket. Despite dropping a ten-point quarterfinal match against the fourth-ranked wrestler in the nation, the Quakertown, Pa., native claimed a 14-3 victory in the blood round to lock in a spot on the podium tomorrow night.

Retter headlined a program record-tying six grapplers that took the spotlight for the Maroon and Gold on the national stage, including Nic Allison (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) at 125 pounds, Joey Ortega (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) at 141 pounds, fifth-ranked Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) at 174 pounds, Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg) at 184 pounds and Wayne McIntyre (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) at 197 pounds.

Allison joined Retter as the only other Golden Bear to advance past the first round, something he accomplished with an upset pin in the opener over sixth-ranked Devin Gomez in 22 seconds. While he was on track to claim his first national honor, he ran into a pair of grapplers ranked among the top five of the nation's best, both of whom dashed his chances at continuing the redshirt junior's strong season.

Ortega dropped a pair of bouts to strong contenders in the opening and consolation preliminary rounds, concluding his first trip to nationals after a stellar showing by the sophomore at Super Regionals. It was the same for the fifth-ranked Gimbor, who dropped a sudden victory decision in the first round and wrapped up his season with a tightly contested, 5-2 loss in the consolation prelims.

Casilio was given a tough road to success, as he started his day with an extra match in the championship preliminary round. After a sudden-victory loss, he bounced back with a pair of strong decision victories in the consolation prelims and opening round before falling one bout short of All-American status in the blood round.

McIntyre was dealt the fifth-ranked grappler in the 197-pound class, and after slipping up by major decision, saw a similarly challenging opponent in the consolation prelims and lost by major decision once again to close out his 2025-26 campaign.

As for Retter, he becomes an All-American for the second time in his career, making him Kutztown's 11th multi-time wrestling All-American, while continuing to build on the lore of the multi-sport All-American, as he earned the same honor with the Golden Bear football team as a defensive end this past season.

The Golden Bears sit tied for 20th in the tournament team standings thanks to the individual victories and the success of wrestlers in both the championship and consolation sides of the bracket. Reigning national champion Nebraska-Kearney (48 pts.), Wisconsin-Parkside (46.5 pts.) and Lander (44.5 pts.) sit in the top three, while McKendree, Central Oklahoma and St. Cloud State are within striking distance and have at least one grappler remaining in the championship bracket.

The Golden Bears' season will live to see another day, as Retter will continue to battle in the consolation bracket, where he will first face off against Cale Gray from the University of Indianapolis tomorrow, March 14, with wrestlebacks resuming at 11 a.m. EST in Sioux Falls.

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NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026 | SIOUX FALLS, S.D. | DENNY SANFORD PREMIER CENTER

#21 KUTZTOWN RESULTS
TEAM: T-20th (11.5 points)
 
125 LBS.
Nic Allison (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County)
R1: Won by fall over #6 Devin Gomez (WCO), [T – 0:22]
QF: Loss by major dec. to #3 Jack Parker (GVSU), 11-3
CR2: Loss by tech. fall to #5 Eli Kirk (UCO), 16-0 [T – 5:00]
 
141 LBS.
Joey Ortega (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson)
R1: Loss by dec. to #5 Joseph Airola (UNK), 5-0
Cons. Prelim: Loss by major dec. to Luke Kunath (BAC), 11-1
 
174 LBS.
#5 Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg)
R1: Loss by dec. to Maxwell Kiel (LAND), 4-1 (SV-1)
Cons. Prelim: Loss by dec. to Drake Hayward (MSU), 5-2
 
184 LBS.
Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg)
Champ Prelim: Loss by dec. to Sullivan Ramos (UWP), 4-1 (SV-1)
Cons Prelim: Won by dec. over Jack MacKiernan (UMO), 7-2
CR1: Won by dec. over Kyler Pickard (BAC), 7-3
CR2: Loss by tech. fall to #5 Kaden Hart (UNK), 15-0 [T – 7:00]
 
197 LBS.
Wayne McIntyre (East Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg North)
R1: Loss by major dec. to #5 Logan Kvien (MCK), 12-1
Cons Prelim: Loss by major dec. to Caleb Moore (BAC), 12-3
 
285 LBS.
#5 Freddie Retter (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown)
R1: Won by fall over Parker Bentley (WLU), [T – 1:46]
QF: Loss by major dec. to #4 Carter Blough (GVSU), 13-3
CR2: Won by major dec. over Cooper Caraway (UWP), 14-3
CQF: vs. Cale Gray (UINDY)
ALL AMERICAN (2nd career All-American honor)