No. 20/21 Ephs jump into 2025-26 season Saturday

Links: 2025-26 Roster | 2025-26 Schedule | 2025-26 Coaches

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - It is time for a new season of Williams College wrestling.

The No. 20/21-ranked Ephs begin their 2025-26 journey on Saturday, Nov. 8, with four dual matches at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The group competes against The Citadel (9 a.m.), Campbell (10:30 a.m.), Bloomsburg (noon) and George Mason (1:30 p.m.).
 

"We return a great core of experienced wrestlers, returning six of our eight region place winners with the graduation of Jack Napeloni '25 and Thomas Goodwin '25," said head coach Scott Honecker. "There is an exciting bunch of newcomers and each of them seem poised to take the wheel when their opportunity comes. Our schedule is as challenging as always, opening our season with four dual meets against Division I opponents this weekend."

The Ephs compete in their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 15, as they host University of Bridgeport and Roger Williams in Lasell Gym. The unit will also host the annual Williams Open on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m., and then Vermont State University Castleton in a dual meet on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. The NCAA Division III Northeast Regional takes place on Feb. 28-March 1 in New London, Connecticut, and then the NCAA Championship occurs on March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"We remain focused on incremental improvements over the next four months, hopefully showcasing our best wrestling of the year at our culminating events," said Honecker. "These guys are excited to light the fires and kick the tires of the 2025-26 season, and I could not be more excited to stand beside them and watch them compete with my great assistants Tom Foote and William Smith."

The 2025-26 roster features 23 student-athletes, including 17 returners and six newcomers, as leadership will be provided by senior captains Lucas Johnson, Peter Kane, Donnie Morton and Caleb Seyfried. Enzo Bell '27, Zach Borzio '27, Christopher Colon '28, Cullen Davis '27, Jamie Evarts '28, Henry Forte '27, David LaPrade '27, Leonardo Maiuolo '27, Will Rorech '28, John Schneider '28, Fisher Stites '28, Tylor Stubbs '27 and Sean Tansey '27 bring well-rounded experience. The first years are Hayden Haber, Isaac Judson, Connor Reynolds, Jake Strianese, Leo Tansey and Gage Wiggins.

During the 2024-25 season, Williams achieved an abundance of success, as Honecker was recognized as the Massachusetts College Coach of the Year. The Ephs finished first out of 14 teams at the RIT Invitational and secured a fourth-place performance out of 18 opponents during the NCAA Regional.

Williams defeated No. 9 Oneonta, 43-9, on Feb. 8 and No. 17 Springfield, 37-12, on Jan. 26. The group went a perfect 3-0 in dual matches on Nov. 16, defeating Cortland (44-7), Utica (50-3) and Roger Williams (32-13), as the program celebrated 100 years of existence at historic Lasell Gym.

Kane, who went 42-2 last year, qualified for the NCAA Championship, earning his third consecutive All-American honor at 157 pounds. The Fairfield, Connecticut, native earned runner-up honors during the 2024 national meet and will attempt to be the first-ever Eph wrestler to win a national championship in 2025-26. The outstanding student-athlete will also try to be the second person in program history to earn All-American laurels four times. Evarts made his debut on the national stage at 184 and posted a 27-8 record during his rookie season.
 

Written by Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
tw11@williams.edu