Wrestling 3/15/2016 10:54:00 AM

Welch Captures NCAA Division III National Championship Title

Cedar Rapids, IA- The Roger Williams University wrestling team has it's first national champion, senior David Welch (Salem, N.H). The hawks had six wrestlers compete at the NCAA Division III championship this past weekend in Cedar Rapids, IA. The team finished fifteenth overall and senior David Welch won the national championship title in his weight class at 197. Welch's national championship title is the first title in school history.

Danny Downes (Houstin, TX) made it to the semi-finals to wrestle Trevor Engle from Cornell College in weight class 149. Downes was defeated by Engle by major decision. Ty Herzog (Slatington, PA) also made it to the semi-finals to bout first seeded Robert Diema from SUNY-Cortland in their weight class at 157. Diema defeated Herzog by a fall. Kyle Foster (Somers, CT) was seeded fifth in his weight class at 285. Foster made it to the quarter-finals, but was defeated by fourth seeded, Trevor Marsesh from Alma College.

This past Friday and Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center at the 2016 Division III championships senior captain, David Welch (Salem, NH) showed just how deep he was willing to dig as Welch captured his first ever, National Championship title in his weight class 197.Welch was seeded first in his weight class for the NCAA Division III Championship. In Welch's first bout he took on Mason Baugartner from Concordia University. Welch defeated Baugartner by decision 5-0. Welch would then face Dennis Melendez in the quarter finals who was seeded eighth. Welch defeated Melendez to go onto the semi-finals to take on Angus Arthur from Adrian College. Welch never let up as he went on to defeat Arthur by decision to put him in the finals of the NCAA Division III Championship. In the finals, Welch was taking on second seeded, Gerard Roman from Wartburg. Welch had never looked so comfortable during a bout than he did during the NCAA Championship finals. Under the hot lights and in front of the cheering crowd, he was ready for his last collegiate bout. Welch got his first two points in the first period, but Roman would get an escape for one point. Welch was up going into the second period 2-1. Roman got another escape with 1:17 to go in the second period to tie it up 2-2. With seven seconds left to go in the second period, Roman recieved two points with a take down now making the score 4-2. Welch got a huge reversal in the last seven seconds of the second period to tie the score going into the third period 4-4. With his decision, Welch started the third period on bottom and recieved another point for an escape, going ahead now 5-4. David Welch defeated Gerard Roman 5-4 to capture his first National Championship title. This is the team's first ever National title as well as the Universities National Championship Title.

Watch David Welch capture the National Championship Title Here

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Players Mentioned

Danny Downes: 149; 5' 10"; Junior

Kyle Foster: 285; 6' 1"; Junior

Ty Herzog: 157; 5' 10"; Junior

David Welch: 197; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Danny Downes
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 149

Kyle Foster
: 6' 1"; Junior
: 285

Ty Herzog
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 157

David Welch
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 197