Five wrestlers with roots in Western New York will take the mat on college wrestling’s biggest stage when the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships are held March 19–21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The national tournament brings together the best wrestlers in the country, with athletes competing for individual national titles and All-American honors while scoring team points for their schools.
For these five competitors, the road to Cleveland started in Section V gyms across the region. Their journeys—from small-town wrestling rooms to major Division I programs—highlight the strength of Western New York wrestling.
TICKET PUNCHED. Jace Schafer (23-8) earned an automatic bid to the @NCAAWrestling Championships with a 5-1 run through the @MACSports Championship at 125 lbs! #Unleashed | #RestoreTheGlory pic.twitter.com/G70x1Lzqog
— Bloomsburg Huskies (@GoBUHuskies) March 8, 2026
125 lbs – Jace Schafer (Palmyra-Macedon -> West Virginia -> Bloomsburg)
Palmyra-Macedon graduate Jace Schafer will represent Bloomsburg University wrestling program at 125 pounds. Schafer, a transfer from West Virginia Mountaineers wrestling program, secured his NCAA berth at the Mid-American Conference Championships by winning a decisive “true second-place” match.
Now a graduate student, Schafer has been a major contributor for the Huskies this season, producing bonus points with a steady mix of technical falls, major decisions, and pins. His qualification continues Pal-Mac’s long tradition of producing elite lightweight wrestlers.
Alumni Cam Catrabone (WN) is heading to Cleveland!!! Congratulations to Cam on qualifying for the NCAA Championships! pic.twitter.com/VPK7HeFsUU
— Friends of WNY Wrestling (@FOS6Wrestling) March 8, 2026
157 lbs – Cam Catrabone (Williamsville North -> Michigan)
Williamsville North’s Cam Catrabone will compete at 157 pounds for the University of Michigan. A standout during his high school career in Western New York, Catrabone transitioned quickly to the Division I level in the rugged Big Ten Conference.
Now entering the national tournament, he represents one of the region’s strongest pipelines to elite college wrestling. Wrestling for Michigan places Catrabone among some of the nation’s toughest competition, and Cleveland provides an opportunity to prove himself on the national stage.
TICKET PUNCHED! ??
— Buffalo Wrestling (@UB_Wrestling) March 7, 2026
With a 5-4 decision over top-seed Mason Schrader of Central Michigan, Kaleb Burgess took true fourth and is a National Qualifier! pic.twitter.com/ioqUYDTsx6
157 lbs – Kaleb Burgess (Palmyra-Macedon -> Buffalo)
Also competing at 157 pounds is Kaleb Burgess, another product of Palmyra-Macedon. Burgess now wrestles for the University at Buffalo, continuing a strong Section V connection to the Bulls program.
Known for his aggressive pace and strong scrambling ability, Burgess has emerged as one of the top wrestlers in the MAC. His appearance in Cleveland adds another chapter to Pal-Mac’s impressive tradition of producing Division I wrestlers.
165 lbs – Ryan Burgos (Hilton -> Edinboro)
Hilton graduate Ryan Burgos will take the mat at 165 pounds for the Edinboro Fighting Scots wrestling program. The 165-pound standout didn’t have the conference tournament he hoped for, but he put together an outstanding regular season that included several wins over nationally ranked opponents.
Burgos was ultimately granted an at-large selection to the NCAA Championships. With that bid, he becomes the 16th New York native competing at Rocket Arena in Cleveland this year—another testament to the Empire State’s deep wrestling talent pool.
Podium finish for Carter ?
— Oklahoma Wrestling (@OU_Wrestling) March 7, 2026
174 3rd Place | (4) Gaitan (ISU) def. (2) Schubert, SV-1 4-2.
Carter ends his Big 12 run in fourth place. pic.twitter.com/pvO5AQS79J
174 lbs – Carter Schubert (Williamson/Marion/Sodus -> Honeoye Falls-Lima -> Wyoming Seminary -> Oklahoma)
Carter Schubert’s path to the NCAA Championships is one of the most unique among the group. Originally competing in the Wayne County area for the Williamson/Marion/Sodus program, Schubert later transferred to Honeoye Falls-Lima before finishing his high school career at the nationally renowned Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania.
Now wrestling for Oklahoma at 174 pounds, Schubert brings a blend of New York toughness and national-level experience to the mat. Competing in the Big 12 Conference has prepared him for the depth and intensity of the NCAA Championships.
Western New York Representation on the National Stage
The presence of five wrestlers with Western New York roots in Cleveland underscores the region’s long tradition of producing elite wrestlers. From Palmyra-Macedon to Williamsville North, Hilton, and Wayne County programs, the area continues to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest level of college wrestling.
As the NCAA Championships begin March 19 in Cleveland, these athletes will carry their hometown pride onto the national stage—representing not only their universities, but also the wrestling-rich communities where their journeys began