PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The defending national champion JWU (Providence) wrestling team opens the 2025-26 campaign this Saturday, November 8 at the Roger Williams Invitational in Bristol, R.I.

Led by longtime head coach Lonnie Morris, the Wildcats begin their quest to repeat ranked No. 6 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and No. 4 in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Team Tournament Rankings.

Senior Jake Eckerle (141 lbs.) and junior Jack Richardson (157 lbs.) both enter the season ranked No. 1 in their respective weight class by the NEWA.  Eckerle won the NCAA Northeast Regional this past March while Richardson took second and went on to win a pair of matches at the National Championship in Providence.

Sophomore Peyton Ellis (133 lbs.) enters the season No. 2 after he placed second at regionals and later went 2-2 in nationals in his first season at JWU. Senior Adolfo Betancur earned the first All-America nod of his career last spring with a sixth-place finish at nationals and is ranked No. 2 at 285 lbs.

Junior Vincent Faldetta won 28 matches last year and is ranked No. 5 at 157 bs. to start the season. Junior Anthony Fernandez (197 lbs.) and sophomore Zach Miller (285 bs.) are ranked sixth and eighth in their respective weight classes.

Nationally, Augsburg topped the poll with 64.5 points, followed by TCNJ (42), Roanoke (41.5), Wartburg (41), Wis.-La Crosse (30.5), and JWU. Coast Guard sits first in the NEWA rankings (105 points), ahead of VTSU-Castleton (91), Williams (85), and JWU (78).