Coming off the most successful season in program history, the New York University wrestling team enters the 2026-27 season looking to build on its historic national performance and compete for the NCAA Division III Championship.
The Violets wrapped up the 2025-26 season with a program-record fourth-place finish out of 62 teams at the NCAA Division III Championships, surpassing the program's previous best finish of 11th place in 2024. The Violets also captured their third consecutive University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, continuing their conference dominance.
NYU celebrated its second individual national champion as
Mo Talebi captured the 197-pound title at the NCAA's. He returns for his final season after posting a 15-1 record in his initial season as a Violet.
Junior
Alexander Diaz returns after a standout sophomore campaign in which he earned All-America honors with a third-place finish (125 pounds) at the NCAA Championships. He posted an overall 33-1 record during the season and was selected UAA Wrestler of the Year. His brother
Xavier Diaz, also a junior, returns after going 32-4 across the 125- and 133-pound weight classes.
The 2026-27 roster includes many experienced competitors throughout the lineup. Junior
Dmitry Derbedyenyev finished 23-7 at 184 pounds, while sophomore
Nathan Faxon posted a 26-14 record at heavyweight. Sophomore
Cristian Gioia added a 22-4 campaign at 174 pounds, and graduate student
Justin Mayes returns after recording a 32-6 mark across the 184 and 197-pound weight classes.
Other returning contributors include junior
James Carlock, who recorded 25 wins at 141 pounds, junior
John Gleason (19-15) at 165 pounds, and sophomore
Robert Leeds (17-18) at 157 pounds. Graduate student
Harrison Gordon also returns at 125 pounds after finishing last season with a 15-2 record.
Under Head Coach
Bruce Haberli, the Violets will begin the season on Saturday, November 7, at the Ned McGinley Invitational, hosted by King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. NYU will then compete at the Racich Rumble on November 14 before heading to the NY Collegiate Championships on November 21.
NYU hosts the Metropolitan Duals on November 24, then closes out December by hosting Trinity College and Johns Hopkins University for Senior Day on December 11 at the John A. Paulson Center.
The Violets open the new year at the UAA Challenge on January 2 in Cleveland, OH, followed by the NWCA National Duals on January 8-9 in Cedar Falls, IA. The January schedule continues with the NY/PA Duals on January 16, followed by NYU hosting Ithaca College for Alumni Day on January 30.
The season concludes with a series of championship meets in February and March. The UAA Championship will be held on February 13 hosted by the University of Chicago and will be follow by the NCAA Division III Region II Championships in Williamsport, PA, on February 27-28, and NCAA Division III Championships on March 12-13 in La Crosse, WI.
