No. 15 Ephs Jump into 2026-27 Season

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — In New England, many people do not support the turning of the calendar to November because that means winter weather is on the horizon, but in more upbeat news it also signifies the beginning of the the 2026-27 Williams College wrestling season.

The Ephs are carrying a great deal of momentum into this new journey, as they are ranked No. 15 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Preseason Coaches Poll. Junior Jamie Evarts, sophomore Gage Wiggins and senior Zach Borzio check in at No. 1, 10 and 12, respectively, in the 184, 174 and 197 weight classes.

During the 2026 NCAA Championship, the unit earned its best-ever team finish at eighth place, while also seeing a program-best six wrestlers represented on the national stage and compiling a new high in points with 45.5. Peter Kane '26 became the program's first-ever individual nation champion, winning the title at 157 pounds, while also becoming only the second four-time All-American in team history.

The 2026-27 season kicks off for the group on Saturday, Nov. 7, as the Ephs make the trip to George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia, to compete in four dual meets. Williams will square off against Davis & Elkins (10:30 a.m.), Marymount (noon), George Mason (1:30 p.m.) and Union Community College (3 p.m.) from the Recreation Athletic Complex.

"We are excited about the group we have this season and the work the student-athletes have put in leading up to competition," said first-year head coach Ryne Morrison. "It is a group that can compete at the highest level nationally, and we are looking forward to seeing that hard work translate on the mat. Our focus is on continuing to develop as a team, our effort and improving every day in the room."

Morrison takes over control of the wrestling program at Williams after an immensely successful five-year stint at St. John Fisher in Rochester, New York. He revived the Cardinals' wrestling program after a 38-year hiatus, compiling a 30-12 record in dual meets over the past four seasons, including a 10-1 mark in 2023-24.

While at St. John Fisher, he developed one All-American, a pair of NCAA qualifiers and 17 Region II place winners, seven of which came this past winter. Not only were his student-athletes successful on the mats, but in the classroom as well, compiling the fifth-best team GPA (3.73) in Division III during 2025, as Morrison mentored 19 NWCA Scholar All-Americans during his tenure.

Going into the 2026-27 season, the Ephs are well represented in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Preseason Coaches Rankings. Williams is ranked third as a team, while Evarts took the top spot at 184, and Wiggins and Borzio are second at 174 and 197, respectively.

Senior Tylor Stubbs and junior Fisher Stites earned a No. 4 ranking at 141 and 165, respectively, while sophomore Connor Reynolds (5th, 285), junior Christopher Colon (6th, 125), sophomore Jake Strianese (7th, 133), sophomore Hayden Haber (8th, 149) and sophomore Leo Tansey (8th, 157) are primed for big seasons.

The Ephs will host two events this season inside Lasell Gymnasium, as they prepare for the annual Williams Open on Sunday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. The team also welcomes Bridgewater State to Williamstown for a dual meet on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m.

The NCAA Regional is set for Feb. 26-27 at Blake Arena in Springfield, Massachusetts, and then the national championship takes place on March 12-13 at La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.