TIFFIN, Ohio – After one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Tiffin University men's wrestling team enters the 2026-27 campaign with high expectations as the Dragons return four national qualifiers and a lineup loaded with experience under the direction of fifth year head coach
Antonio Guerra. The 'Gons were placed No. 7 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Division II preseason rankings and feature several wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes.
The Dragons are coming off a memorable 2025-26 season that saw them capture the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season championship, rise as high as No. 3 in the national rankings, and earn multiple conference and regional champions. Now, Tiffin looks to take the next step as it pursues its first conference tournament championship since 2020. Returning to lead the charge are national qualifiers
Anthony Aniciete,
Nolan Gessler,
Emilio Arellano, and
David Davis, each of whom stood atop the conference podium a season ago.
Leading the way is
Anthony Aniciete, who put together one of the finest seasons in program history at 125 pounds. The reigning Great Midwest Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year captured both the conference and Super Region 3 championships before advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship match, ultimately finishing as the national runner-up. Aniciete enters the season as one of the premier lightweight wrestlers in the country and a contender to bring home a national title.
At 165 pounds, two-time All-American
Nolan Gessler returns after another dominant postseason run. Gessler claimed both the conference and Super Region 3 titles while earning the No. 1 seed at the NCAA Championships. His résumé was highlighted by a victory over eventual three-time national champion David Hunsberger at the prestigious Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. Despite suffering an injury in the national semifinals and being forced to medically forfeit his remaining matches, Gessler still secured a sixth-place national finish and will once again be among the favorites to contend for a national championship.
Emilio Arellano emerged as one of the breakout performers in the region last season. The standout earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Meet honors after upsetting then-No. 2-ranked Sevi Garza of Ashland University in the conference finals. He followed that performance with another statement victory, defeating top-ranked Josh Kenny of Grand Valley State University to capture the Super Region 3 championship and punch his first ticket to the NCAA Championships. He's bumped up to 174 lbs. and will look to continue to make noise.
At 184 pounds,
David Davis returns after winning a conference championship and placing fourth at the Super Region 3 Championships, earning a national tournament berth. He's a two-time nationals qualifier and turned in a 19-12 record, which included three falls a season ago.
The roster will also feature several new faces with 10 freshmen along with transfers
Brodie Dominique (Michigan State),
Jacob Jackson (Trine University) and
Jaiden Sarabia (Kent State).
Tiffin will open the 2026-27 season on Saturday, November 7 at the Adrian Invite at 10 a.m.
