LA CROSSE, WI – Wilkes University wrestling junior Cameron Butka (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) won twice to cement All-American status for himself at the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Friday at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.

Full Results

Butka, the No. 7 seed and Southeast Regional Champion at 197-pounds, defeated Dylan Harr of Johnson and Wales University in the Round of 16 by a 4-1 decision to advance to the night session's Quarterfinals. Following a scoreless three-minute first period Harr deferred the choice to Butka with the Wilkes junior deciding to start the second period on the bottom. Butka took a 1-0 lead on an escape just 16 seconds into the second period and took that edge into the third. Harr worked a quick escape from the bottom in nine seconds to tie the score at 1-1. From there it was Butka that connected with the lone takedown of the bout with 30 seconds remaining to go ahead 4-1. He was able to keep control of Harr from there to pick up the decision.

In the Quarterfinal bout Butka faced No. 2 seed Coy Spooner of the United States Coast Guard Academy with a chance to clinch All-American status on the line. Butka won a hard-fought bout by an 8-6 decision to move to the Saturday's Semifinals and clinch a top-six position and All-American honors which go to the top eight in each weight class.

In the bout Spooner had the initial takedown in the first period to go ahead 3-0 and was awarded a penalty point following two stalling calls on Butka to go ahead 4-0. Butka worked an escape with 23 seconds left in the first period to trail 4-1. The Wilkes grappler deferred choice at the start of the second period and Spooner chose bottom. Spooner was hit with his second stalling warning, so Butka received a penalty point to make it 4-2. Spooner then scored an escape with 22 seconds left to make it 5-2 but Butka earned a late-period takedown to tie the score at 5-5 heading to the third. Butka chose neutral for the start of the third and scored the dramatic winning takedown with 20 seconds left in the bout to earn the victory and become the first Wilkes wrestler to earn All-American honors since the 2015 season.

Butka, who is now 38-2 overall, is set to face No. 3 seed Gabriel Zierden of Concordia-Moorhead in the Semifinals on Saturday during Session Three which starts at 11:00 a.m.

Butka's teammates Jaryn Hartranft (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) and Caleb Burkhart (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) saw their incredible seasons come to a close on Friday at the NCAA Championships.

In the Round of 16 at 157-pounds, Hartranft, who was the runner-up in the Southeast Region, lost an 8-2 decision to No. 3 seed Peter Kane of Williams College. Kane scored a first period takedown and used an escape and takedown in the second period to go ahead 7-0 before Hartranft scored an escape point. Hartranft started the third period on the bottom and worked an escape to make the score 7-2 but was unable to find a takedown as Williams added a riding time point for the 8-2 decision.

Hartranft faced Patrick McGraw of John Carroll University in the Consolation Second Round. The sophomore lost the bout by a 19-8 major decision. He scored his points in the match with escape and takedown combinations in the first and third periods, but it was not enough to be able to keep up with the scoring on McGraw.

The Wilkes wrestler finished his terrific season with a 30-11 overall record.

In the Round of 16 at 285-pounds, Burkhart, the third-place qualifier in the Southeast Region, lost by a 21-5 technical fall in 4:57 to No. 4 seed Michael Douglas of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Burkhart then wrestled Mason Slocum of Adrian College in the Consolation First Round about 45 minutes later and advanced to the night session's Consolation Second Round with a fall in 1:42. Slocum had an initial takedown 35 seconds into the first period, but Burkhart managed to escape 16 seconds later. The junior then hit a takedown 1:02 into the period before finishing the fall 40 seconds later for his 22nd of the season.

Burkhart faced Walter West of Luther College in the Consolation Second Round, dropping the bout by a 12-2 major decision which ended the great season for Burkhart in which he finished with a 32-11 overall record.

Action resumes Saturday at the La Crosse Center at 11:00 a.m. with the Championship Semifinals and the Consolation Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and matches for Third, Fifth, and Seventh place. The Championship finals are set for 8:00 p.m. as Butka looks to become the first National Champion for Wilkes since 2015 and 12th overall.