MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's wrestling team takes aim at NCAA individual berths at this weekend's Region VI Championships at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque.
 
The two-day tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday and continues at 10 a.m. Saturday. The top three finishers in each of the 10 weight classes qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids.
 
Coach Brent Hamm's Rams enter with a deep lineup that has all 10 individuals ranked in the region's top eight. Last year, Cornell had nine wrestlers reach the podium as regional placewinners.
 
Always among the toughest regions in the country, this year's 19-team field includes four Top 20 programs and 30 nationally-ranked individuals.
 
Cornell's 12th-ranked 165-pounder Brian Petry (25-7) looks to punch a return trip to nationals after a third-place regional showing a year ago. The junior is ranked No. 3 in the region. Five of his losses this season have been against nationally-rated opponents.
 
Junior 10th-ranked AJ Parrish (25-7) is among the top contenders in a loaded 157-pound bracket that includes five rated individuals. Parrish, who placed fourth last year, defeated Coe's 11th-ranked Zachary Montez in his last match Feb. 11.
 
Senior Jase Van Pelt (20-12) is a three-time regional placewinner, taking seventh twice and sixth in 2024. Seniors Eli Sneed (26-11 at 133) and Jackson Brinker (24-6 at 197) are both back at regionals for the third consecutive year. Sneed was sixth in 2025. Brinker is a two-time placer, taking fifth and seventh.
 
Five Rams will make their regional debuts with sophomore Dylan Heater (11-8 at 141), freshman Owen Adlfinger (21-19 at 149), freshman Nolan Howell (21-8 at 174), senior Austin Wilkins (16-8 at 184) and junior Braydon Hoffman (9-15 at 285).    
 
Cornell finished seventh in last year's regional team standings with 92.5 points. The Rams have landed 51 NCAA qualifiers since 2006.
 
The region field includes No. 1 Wartburg, No. 7 Loras, No. 10 Luther, No. 20 Central, Blackburn, Buena Vista, Coe, Cornell, Dubuque, Eureka, Huntingdon, Illinois Wesleyan, Lyon, McMurry, Nebraska Wesleyan, Ozarks, Schreiner, Simpson and Westminster.