The Division II wrestling season reaches its defining moment this weekend in Sioux Falls, where 180 wrestlers will chase individual honors while the team race may be one of the most unpredictable in years.

The 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships begin Friday at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, and there’s no clear favorite to hoist the team trophy. Seven teams qualified at least seven wrestlers, several contenders have legitimate championship threats, and two stars — Central Oklahoma’s Gabe Johnson and Lander’s David Hunsberger — are chasing their third NCAA titles.

Here are five things to watch at the 2026 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

A Wide Open Team Race

Last year, Nebraska-Kearney won the team title by an astonishing 52-point margin over runner-up Augustana. Unlike last year, this year's NCAA tournament team race has no clear favorite and may come down to the wire. Seven teams have qualified seven wrestlers or more, including: 

Gannon — 9

Lander — 9

Central Oklahoma — 8

Grand Valley State — 8

St. Cloud State — 7

Wisconsin–Parkside — 7

Nebraska–Kearney — 7

Each of these teams has elite talent and wrestlers capable of reaching the top of the podium. Since 2002, only three active Division 2 teams have won team titles: Central Oklahoma, St. Cloud State, and Nebraska-Kearney. That experience may give them a leg up on the field. 

Coach Todd Steidley of Central Oklahoma knows that anything can happen this weekend. 

"It should be a great tournament,” he said. “There are several teams capable of winning it, and we're definitely one of those. Our guys are excited about the opportunity, and they're ready to go."  

Lander is a team hoping to break through for its first team title this year after finishing as runners-up in 2023 and 2024. 

“We have got to just keep riding the momentum,” Lander coach R.C. LaHaye said. “We have nine guys, and all nine have a chance to be an All-American.”

The team race may not be decided until late on Saturday, and it would not be a surprise if the heavyweight title match was a deciding factor in the team race.    

Will Gannon Make History? 

The Gannon Golden Knights rolled into the postseason on the heels of a 12-1 dual record and a fourth-place finish at the Midwest Classic. Then they won their Super Regional. Gannon has never placed higher than eighth at the NCAA Championships, but that could change this weekend. 

Coach Todd Boyd was proud of his team after their regional victory, but he knows that the real goal is just ahead. 

“This is a great start to what we hope will be a tremendously successful national championship season,” he said. 

Gannon has both depth and firepower with eight of its nine qualifiers seeded in the top eight, and three wrestlers receiving top-two seeds — #2 Jeremiah Echevarria (133), #2 Jake Niffenegger (141) and #1 Dorian Crosby (285)

Can Adams State Keep Momentum?

The Adams State Grizzlies qualified a surprising 6 wrestlers to the national tournament, including the top-seeded Isaiah Gamez (125). While 6 wrestlers may not be enough to bring home a team title, the Grizzlies should have a chance to crack the top 5, as returning All-American Aaden Valdez (157) and freshman Jakob Romero (133) are seeded in the top 6, with 2024 All-American Angel Flores (149) entering the tournament unseeded. 

In a year that promises to be full of unexpected storylines, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Adams State can keep its momentum going and come away with a handful of All-Americans and a national champion.  

A Dozen Seeking Perfection

This year’s field is stacked with four returning national champions and five returning runner-ups. With all of that firepower at the top, it is no surprise that there are many wrestlers chasing perfection. Here are the 12 wrestlers coming into the tournament with an undefeated record: 

133 — Frostberg State’s Tanner Halling (23-0)

133 — Adams State’s Jakob Romero (6-0)

141 — San Francisco State’s Johnny Lopez (9-0)

149 — Grand Valley State’s Chris Donathan (10-0)

157 — Central Oklahoma’s Gabe Johnson (19-0)

157 — St. Cloud State’s Joel Jesuroga (21-0) 

157 — Gannon’s Holden Huhn (10-0)

165 — Tiffin’s Noah Gessler (19-0)

184 — St. Cloud State’s Cole Glazier (20-0)

197 — Augustana’s Max Ramberg (15-0)

285 — Gannon’s Dorian Crosby (14-0)

285 — St. Cloud State’s Zach Glazier (7-0)

Johnson and Hunsberger Seek Third Titles

The two most decorated wrestlers coming into the tournament are Central Oklahoma’s Gabe Johnson at 157 pounds and Lander’s David Hunsberger at 165 pounds. Both wrestlers enter their final national tournament in search of a third NCAA title. 

The road to a third title will not come easily for either wrestler. Hunsberger comes into the tournament with a 25-1 record. His lone loss came against Tiffin’s top-seeded Nolan Gessler, who evened their series 1-1 after Hunsberger notched a win last year against Gessler. 

Johnson is undefeated on the season. However, he could meet another undefeated wrestler — St. Cloud State’s Joel Jesuroga — in the finals. Last season, Johnson and Jesuroga split their matches, with Jesuroga besting Johnson at the NWCA National Duals and Johnson getting revenge in the NCAA finals. Both matches went to sudden victory. 

“This is a great opportunity,” Johnson said. “We have a chance to win it as a team and I just want to go have fun. Go out and enjoy it.

“The work's been put in, so now it's just going out and doing it. I'm excited."