Alfred, NY – The Alfred State men's wrestling team is ready to hit the mat as the Pioneers announced their 2026-27 schedule, featuring a demanding slate of tournaments, dual competition, and championship events throughout the Northeast.

Head Coach Justin Signorelli said this about moving into the SUNYAC,

SUNYAC Men's Wrestling now features 13 total teams and we are looking forward to the challenge of competing against some great regional competition in the largest SUNYAC Championship event. I am most looking forward to us taking the mats in November for our first few competitions of the new season. With more than 20 freshmen set to make their collegiate wrestling debuts, it is always exciting to see them get out there and scrap for the first time as collegiate wrestlers. We also have a great group of returners, including returning region place winners Aaron Johnson & Richard Morales, and I am looking forward to seeing them and many others put on display the work they have been relentlessly putting in to take big jumps forward this season.

Senior Leader, Aaron Johnson added,

To be honest, I don't think it changes much. We dualled some of the SUNYAC teams and even saw some of them at tournaments. I am just excited to be in a bigger conference and excited to actually show other teams the true power and strength of Alfred State Wrestling.

The Pioneers enter the season with momentum after qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships in each of the last three seasons, including a breakthrough appearance in 2024.

The season opens on November 1 at the Lycoming Invitational in Williamsport, Pa., kicking off a busy first month that also includes appearances at the Tonee Ellis Memorial Tournament (Nov. 7), the Washington & Jefferson Invite (Nov. 14), and the NYS Collegiate Championships (Nov. 21).

Following a brief break, the Pioneers return to action at the New Standard Invite in York, Pa. on Dec. 5-6 before closing out the calendar year with at the Berg Holiday Duals on Dec. 12.
Alfred State begins 2027 competition at the Williams College Open on Jan. 3 before traveling to the prestigious Budd Whitehill Duals at Lycoming College on Jan. 8. The team will also compete at the Will Abele Open on Jan. 16 before turning its attention to postseason implications at the SUNYAC Championships on Jan. 23 in Ithaca.

The Pioneers will host fans in Orvis Gym on two occasions during the season. Alfred State welcomes Jamestown Community College for the Alfred Tri-Meet on Jan. 30 before hosting the Alfred State Tri-Meet on Feb. 13, featuring matchups against Penn State Behrend and Onondaga Community College.

The regular season concludes with three key events in February. The Pioneers travel to the John Summa Invite at Baldwin Wallace on Feb. 6, face the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in a dual meet on Feb. 11, and wrap up tournament competition at the Joseph Pellicano Invitational on Feb. 20 in Rochester.

Aaron Johnson also talked about winning the AMCC Championship last season and his motivation and goals for this year.

It was huge for me, the two years before that I was the runner up. I was so close to the goal but could not get it done and when it finally happened, I was filled with joy. The team saw me come up short back-to-back years and when my hand was finally raised in the final at AMCC, the team knew that I finally accomplished one of my goals I set out to accomplish.
This year I still have a lot of goals I want to accomplish. With one goal being making the NCAA National Championship bracket, it motivates me more to work harder and to show how far I truly came since coming to Alfred my freshman year.

Coach Signorelli added this about the NCAA National Championships,

After breaking through for the first time as an NCAA program in 2024, we have now earned three consecutive trips to the NCAA National Championships. The plan has always been to elevate the program to a position where we are competing on not just a regional level, but on the national level as well, and we have successfully been able to accomplish that in recent years. It is a tall task each year to qualify for the National Championships and in order for us to have a chance to make it 4 consecutive trips this March we will need to stay consistent in our preparation and the easiest way to do that is to enjoy the journey and not worry about the destination and see where we end up in March.

As Alfred State embarks on its first season in the SUNYAC, the Pioneers will look to build on three straight NCAA Championship appearances while challenging themselves against one of the deepest wrestling conferences in Division III. With experienced returners, a talented freshman class, and a demanding schedule ahead, the foundation is in place for another successful campaign.