LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Junior Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) won three consecutive matches in the wrestle-back bracket to become the University of Southern Maine Huskies' wrestling team's eighth individual All-American in a gutsy performance at the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championship Tournament held at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
 
Unseeded and getting a tough draw in the 149-lb bracket, Frost squared off against returning national champion, and back-to-back finalist Michael Petrella of Baldwin Wallace – the bracket's no. 1 seed. Petrella entered the tournament 38-0 on the season and is ranked as the top wrestler in the country at 149 lbs.  Battling Petrella, Frost dropped his opening match setting him up for a must-win situation the rest of the tournament's day one events.
 
Frost's first big test came in his first wrestle-back bout against third-seed Nate Fitt of Coast Guard. Having secured the 2024 Northeast Regional Championship at 149 lbs just a week ago, Fitt had defeated Frost in the regular season in overtime 8-5.  Scoring seven points early against Fitt in the first period with a takedown and a near fall, Frost dominated his Northeast regional opponent and went on to win 21-7, major decision. 
 
Advancing to the next round, Frost won again by major decision, 17-5, over Albion's Max Honis.  Scoring seven points in the first, four in the second and six more in the third period, Frost led wire-to-wire against Honis, eliminating him from competition.
 
Needing one more win to advance to day two of the national championship and earn the title of All-American, Frost faced returning All-American Charlie Stuhl of Augusburg.  Ranked third in the nation by d3wrestle.com at 149 lbs, Stuhl was the third seed in the bracket to start the day.  Stuhl struck first against Frost securing a takedown as time expired in the first period, and went up 4-0 in the second with an escape.  Trailing 4-0 in the third, Frost earned his first point by escape and then was awarded a second point to trail 4-2 after a stalling violation on Stuhl.  With less than a minute to go, Frost took his shot and scored a takedown to lead 5-4 and earned the 6-4 final with an additional point for riding time.
 
Frost, who can finish as high as third in the nation, will face RIT's Mike Glynn on Saturday (12:00 pm). Glynn earned his spot in the tournament as the runner-up in the Mideast Regional Championship and was seeded eighth to begin the tournament.
 
Sophomore Jake Craig (Skowhegan, Maine), a 2023 NCAA Division III All-American, also competed for the Huskies. In a rematch of the 2023 NCAA semifinal, Craig dropped a 7-1 decision to North Central's Christian Guzman.  Picking up an injury in the loss, Craig unfortunately had to pull out of the tournament. He concludes his sophomore campaign with a record of 29-8, and is 55-12 in his career.  
 
 
2024 NCAA Division III National Championship – Southern Maine Wrestling Results
125 – Jake Craig
Champ. Round 1 - Christian Guzman (North Central) won by decision over Jake Craig (Southern Maine)  (Dec 7-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Matt Griffin (TCNJ)  won by medical forfeit over Jake Craig (Southern Maine)  (MFFL)
 
149 – Colby Frost
Prelim. Round 1 - Michael Petrella (Baldwin Wallace)  won by tech fall over Colby Frost (Southern Maine) (TF-1.5 7:00 (17-2))
Prelim. Round 2 - Colby Frost (Southern Maine)  won by major decision over Nate Fitt (Coast Guard)  (MD 21-7)
Cons. Round 1 -  Colby Frost (Southern Maine)  won by major decision over Max Honiss (Albion) (MD 17-5)
Cons. Round 2 -  Colby Frost (Southern Maine)  won by decision over Charlie Stuhl (Augsburg) (Dec 6-4)
 

–cac–