Johnson clinches All-America honors, advances to semifinals on Day 1 of 2026 NCAAA III Wrestling Championships

Johnson clinches All-America honors, advances to semifinals on Day 1 of 2026 NCAAA III Wrestling Championships
Championships Site Video Video
March 13, 2026

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Sophomore Myles Johnson (Springboro) clinched a top-6 finish and All-America honors to lead the Ohio Northern wrestling team on the first day day of the 2026 NCAAA III Wrestling Championships on Friday.

| NCAA III Championships Site | 

The Basics

  • Records: Ohio Northern (14-4 Overall)
  • Venue: Alliant Energy Power House – Cedar Rapids, IA.
  • Friday's sessions were one and two of four during the championships. Session three will be Saturday morning at 11 am EST, and the final session will be Saturday evening at 8 pm EST. 
  • The top 8 placers in each weight class earn All-American honors.

ONU Individuals

  • Johnson went 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the 197-pound weight class, clinching All-American honors. 
  • He won by major decision 15-6 over No. 11-seedeIan Pepple of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the first round.
  • Johnson then won by decision 8-6 over No. 3-seed Lorenzo Pellot-Vazguez of Roanoke (Va.) in the second round. 
  • He continues Saturday morning against second-seeded Josh Stahl York (Pa.) in the semifinals.
  • Freshman Londen Murphy (Moscow/Moeller) finished 2-2 in the tournament at 157.
  • He won in the championship preliminary round by decision 7-4 over Joe Penchi of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
  • Murphy then fell in the first round of the championship bracket to No. 4 seed Eric Kinkaid Loras (Iowa) by decision 10-4. 
  • He then won in the consolation preliminary over Thomas Wagner of Case Western Reserve by decision 7-3.
  • He won again in the in the consolation second round by pin over Thomas DiResta of Johnson and Wales (R.I.)
  • Murphy then fell in the third round of the consolation bracket against No. 3 seed Charlie Dojan of Wartburg (Iowa) by technical fall 16-0, 2:36.
  • He finishes his outstanding freshman season with a 33-8 record. 
  • Sophomore Jovanni Greco (Ross) finished 2-2 in the tournament at 149. 
  • He won in the championship preliminary round by decision 12-5 over Adam Whittier of Wisconsin-Platteville. 
  • Greco then fell by major decision 12-0 against No. 2 seeded Matt Randolph of Augsburg (Minn.) in first round of the Championship bracket. 
  • He won in the consolation preliminary by decision 8-5 over Ty Stewart of Springfield (Ill.).
  • He then fell in the first round of the consolation bracket to No. 10 seed Chase Fiser of Loras by major decision 11-3. 
  • Greco finishes his outstanding sophomore season with a 34-10 record and has a career record of 56-14.
  • Freshman Ben Hegler (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) finished 1-2 in the tournament at 165.
  • He fell in the championship preliminary round against Brian Petry of Cornell (Iowa) by decsion 7-6.
  • Hegler then won in the consolation preliminary round by decision 8-3 over No. 10 seed Kaiden Wagner of Lycoming (Pa).
  • He then fell in the consolation second round by pin against Peyton Brooks of Albion (Mich.) 
  • Hegler finishes his outstanding freshman season with a 31-11 record. 
  • Freshman Jack Hoffman (Springboro) finished 1-2 in the tournament at 174.
  • He fell in the championship preliminary round by decision 4-1 against Jaylen Young of Wabash (Ind.)
  • Hoffman then won in the consolation preliminary over Jake Luce of North Central (Ill.) by decision 2-1. 
  • He then fell in the consolation second round against No. 9 seed Konrad Parker of Ithaca (N.Y.) by decision 10-4.
  • Hoffman finished his outstanding freshman season with a record of 20-12. 
  • Freshman Kurt Mokros (Lewis CenterOlentangy) finished 1-2 in the tournament at 125 pounds.
  • Mokros won in the championship preliminary round by decision 10-7 over Aidan Gruenenfelder of Loras.
  • He then fell in first round of the championship bracket to No. 5 seed Nico Rivera of Johnson and Wales by major decision 15-3. 
  • He fell in the consolation second round to Matthew Barlay of Chicago (Ill.) by decision 3-2.
  • Mokros finishes his outstanding freshman season with a 37-11 record.

Notables

  • Johnson is making his second NCAA Championships appearance.
  • Greco, Mokros, Murphy, Hegler, and Hoffman all made their first NCAA Championships appearance.
  • Johnson is 37-4 on the season with 9 pins and 9 tech falls.
  • Johnson was also named 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year.
  • Ohio Northern head coach Ron Beaschler is in his 38th season and has a 421-268-4 dual meet record, a winning percentage of .607.

Up Next

  • The Polar Bears will return to action Saturday at the second day of 2026 NCAAA III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.