ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The 2024 NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional weekend began Thursday evening when Elizabethtown College wrestling head coach Eric Walker was named the region's Coach of the Year for the second time and concluded on Saturday with senior Dylan Waller, one of seven to place for the Blue Jays, winning the 285-pound weight class as Etown finished third overall, the program's best result since winning the Mideast Region in 2013.

Elizabethtown was able to accomplish a few things that the program hasn't done before on record. The seven wrestlers to reach the podium is a program record as is their 115.5 points totaled as a team. The Blue Jays had six all-region performers twice before, in 1998 and 2013, but never seven, until this weekend.

Seven reached the quarterfinals and five were into the semifinals for the Jays. Then, three reached their weight class championships matches. Those were Ethan Liptzin at 125, who upset the top seed on his way there. Brian Schneider at 165 and Dylan Waller at 285 also did the same and each would face the top seed.

Liptzin and Schneider would finish as runners-up, but for both, it was their best finishes at the regional championship. Schneider was third a year ago and Liptzin was sixth.

Waller led 3-1 after the first period and 3-2 after the second period in a close matchup with his TCNJ counterpart. A late takedown secure the regional title for the senior, the first champ for Etown since Luke Fernandez at 197 in 2016.

By advancing to the first-place matches, Liptzin, Schneider and Waller each punched their tickets to the NCAA Div. III National Championships at Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Ganon Smith dropped his semifinal bout, so he needed a win in the wrestlebacks to get into the third place match and have his chance at getting to NCAAs. Smith was able to do that, winning twice to capture third place and become the fourth Blue Jay to head to nationals, which is the most for the team since five went in 2012-13.

Shane Strausser just kept winning in wrestlebacks and made his way to the fifth place match where he'd take the win. Strausser came into the weekend unranked in the Mideast.

Will Davis placed sixth and Gavin Fehr was eighth for the Blue Jays as six of the seven wrestlers either matched their seed or bettered it with their placements.

The 2024 NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships will take place at Wisconsin-La Crosse from March 15 through March 17.