PHOTO PROVIDED Lycoming’s Kaiden Wagner, a Lewisburg graduate, has his hand raised after a match this year. Wagner suffered a meniscus tear in January and is back competing at the NCAA Division III tournament today for a second straight season.

When Kaiden Wagner graduated from Lewisburg High School, the former Green Dragon standout found himself competing at Lock Haven University.

Wagner was a two-time state medalist as he took home a bronze medal and fifth-place medal in his career, and was a four-time state qualifier with a 126-27 record.

Sometimes, though, a college just isn’t exactly the right fit. That’s what Wagner experienced while wearing a Bald Eagle singlet. And the longtime wrestler suddenly found himself not interested in wrestling.

He wasn’t sure what would be next.

Enter Lycoming and longtime coach Roger Crebs.

“Went to Lock Haven, wasn’t a good fit and then he hated wrestling. When he left Lock Haven, I got in touch with him and he got in touch with me and we started putting things together,” Crebs said. “We knew he wasn’t on track up there, so he had to sit a semester. Got the grades and started wrestling second semester right away, got mono and got back.

And now, for the second straight year, Wagner is heading to the NCAA Division III tournament. The former Green Dragon won the NCAA Region II Qualifier at 165 pounds to secure another trip to nationals, which begins today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“It was awesome. We had a guy do it last year, one of my teammates Kaden Majcher, so it was really cool to watch him,” Wagner said. “It’s really great to go and win a qualifier going into nationals. It sets you up well, builds good momentum going in and can keep that rolling from regionals into the national tournament. It’s a good momentum builder.”

But what makes this year even more special for Wagner is the fact that he is just a little over a month removed from a torn meniscus in his knee. While practicing over winter break, Wagner was wrestling with his brother and felt a pop and knew something was wrong.

“We’re proactive about it, went in and saw doctors, got an MRI right away and saw it was a meniscus thankfully. So I was able to go and get that scoped out,” Wagner said. “It was a three, four week recovery time, get back on the mats, and get back and finish my season and go into regionals with a few more matches under my belt to get back and get the rust off.”

There was never a doubt in Wagner’s mind that he couldn’t keep wrestling after the tear. He knew he was able to keep going at a high level. Same goes for Crebs who knew the right doctor would have Wagner ready.

“You need a doctor that’s educated in wrestling knees, that understands we don’t stitch meniscus, we take them out,” Crebs said.

“Even if it was a torn ACL and stuff like that, I was going to tape it up or do what we could to create a fake one and go because you only get so many seasons, so why not go and see what you can make happen,” Wagner said. “Just believe in yourself, believe in your coaches, believe in your training. Even when something doesn’t go your way you’re still at a good enough ability to go and make something happen.”

Wagner is an extremely tough wrestler. A year ago, Wagner caught mono and coming off the illness, only was able to practice for two days prior to the regional tournament. The result? A third-place medal and berth to nationals.

“We knew he could gut things out. We got him back, put a couple bouts in him vs. Thiel, Misericordia, Osego and we just trained and trained and trained and got him ready to wrestle.”

Now it’s back to the NCAA Division III tournament where Wagner knows he has to wrestle at a high level he’s capable of. Last year, Wagner went a disappointing 0-2 and this year he’s eyeing more.

“It’s definitely nice to get the chance, that’s always the goal. The goal’s not just to make it but to go there and do something,” Wagner said. “I want to be the 2026 NCAA champ at my weight. It’s great to make it, but it’s just a building block for my end game.”

Wagner went 4-0 at this year’s regional qualifier. He opened with a 15-0, 1:34 tech fall over Pitt-Bradford’s Peyton Mitchell before pinning St. John Fisher’s Trevor Sheehan in 1:21. In the semifinals, Wagner earned an 8-3 decision against Oneonta State’s Ryley Monica. Then, wrestling for gold, Wagner earned an 8-0 major against Carter Devis of Penn College.

“We got some work to do before we get out there, but anything can happen at that tournament. It’s crazy,” Crebs. “His weight class, when you get past the top three guys, it’s kind of wide open.”

In the end, Wagner’s glad the injury wasn’t so severe he had to miss out on the end of the season given he’s a junior.

“That was definitely really comforting news. I was able to work with a doctor that was really helpful and he understood wrestling, so we created a good timeline for me and worked a timeline for me to return on,” Wagner said. “It was good to have a doctor help out and understand.”

Staying in District 4 at Lycoming is something Wagner is glad he’s able to do. He traded in the green and white singlet for a blue and gold one, but he’s still in the district he wrestled in for four years in high school.

“It’s awesome. I love that I’m able to stay close to home and still from time to time pop into the Lewisburg room and help out when I can,” Wagner said. “It’s great to stay in District 4 and have the ability to represent them at a Division III level, so it’s something that I enjoy.”

And Wagner’s glad he is once again enjoying wrestling. After having doubts while at Lock Haven if he’d ever wrestle again and falling out of love with the sport, he’s not competing with the best of the best in Division III in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.