Navy Wrestling Club
Season results, coaching news, and program announcements from the mat at Annapolis.
Navy Wrestling at the 2026 EIWA Championship · Photo: Naval Academy Athletics
On the Calendar
We're excited to welcome Elijah Oliver to the club as both a coach and athlete for NWC. Elijah brings an incredible resume to the room: a 4-time state champion in high school, a Fargo National Champion in folkstyle, a 4-time Big Ten placer, and a 4-time NCAA Division I national qualifier. On the freestyle side, he placed 4th at the Bill Farrell International Open at 57kg senior level and reached the quarterfinals of the World Team Trials at 57kg.
Before joining us, Elijah spent four years as an assistant coach at Maryland, helping develop athletes at the Division I level. He currently serves as head coach and director of Capital Wrestling, where he continues to build the next generation of wrestlers. That combination of elite competitive experience and coaching background makes him a great fit for our program, both on the mat as an athlete and in the room as a coach.
Elijah joins a coaching staff dedicated to helping our wrestlers grow, compete, and represent Navy at the highest level, and we know he'll bring energy, expertise, and a competitive edge to the team.
Please join us in welcoming Elijah Oliver to the Navy Wrestling Club family. We're excited for what this next chapter holds for him and for our program.
Mark your calendars for October 23! Navy Wrestling Club is hosting our biggest fundraising event of the year — the Blue & Gold Fundraiser at Latitude 38 in downtown Annapolis. It's a night that helps fuel our entire season, and we'd love for you to be part of it.
Every dollar raised goes directly toward what keeps our program strong: training, travel, equipment, and the everyday costs of competing at a high level.
This year's live and silent auction is packed with great items, generously donated by hotels and restaurants across Annapolis. Highlights include NCAA championship tickets, a golf outing, singlets, and other Navy Wrestling Club exclusives you won't find anywhere else.
Whether you're an alum, a wrestling family, or a longtime supporter, your presence and generosity make a real difference for our wrestlers. We'd love to see you there on October 23.
Go Navy, Beat Army!
After a decorated 33-year coaching career, Navy assistant wrestling coach Barry Davis has announced his retirement to spend more time with his family.
Navy (2024–2026): Served as an assistant coach, making a significant impact in recruiting and mentoring. He helped the Midshipmen secure a share of the 2024-25 EIWA regular-season title and guided multiple athletes to All-American honors.
Wisconsin (25 years): Served as head coach and became the program's all-time winningest coach with a 227-167-11 record, leading the Badgers to 15 top-20 NCAA finishes and three national champions. Named 2010 National Coach of the Year.
Iowa (1986–1992): Began his coaching career as a graduate and assistant coach, helping the Hawkeyes win three NCAA Championships and seven consecutive Big Ten titles.
As a competitor, Barry was a three-time NCAA Champion and four-time Big Ten Champion at Iowa, won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics, gold at the 1983 Pan American Games, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Navy wrestlers Josh Koderhandt (141 lbs) and Danny Wask (174 lbs) capped off the 2024-25 season by earning All-America honors at the 94th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. Koderhandt finished sixth and Wask eighth — the first pair of Navy wrestlers to earn All-America status in the same season since 2009.
Their performances helped Navy finish 21st as a team, the program's best showing since 2016. Koderhandt, a senior team captain, finished his career with 106 total wins (tied for 13th all-time in Navy history) and 31 career pins (sixth all-time). Wask, a sophomore, became the fifth Navy wrestler to earn All-America honors at 174 lbs.
The 46th Annual Navy Classic returned to Wesley Brown Field House in Annapolis. The Midshipmen finished with eight athletes placing in the top five and one champion: 3/C Daniel Wask repeated as 174 lb champion for the second straight year, an honor shared by only 17 wrestlers in Naval Academy program history. Navy finished 3rd as a team.
Alumni and families gathered for Blue vs. Gold Weekend — a Friday social at the Federal House followed by the Blue vs. Gold wrestling match at Dahlgren Hall, then a Saturday tailgate and Navy Football game. The weekend remains one of the Club's signature events for keeping generations of Navy wrestlers connected.
Navy Wrestling welcomed Ben Barton as the new Director of Operations for the Midshipmen. Ben joins after working with Rudis Wrestling Apparel, and previously qualified twice for the Division I NCAA Tournament with Campbell University and once with Lock Haven University, where he also earned a Master's degree in sports administration.
Summer 2024 Navy Wrestling Camps kicked off with the Father/Son-Daughter Camp on Father's Day weekend, followed by a Technique Camp drawing over 200 campers, the SEALs Elite Camp focused on physical and mental toughness, and a season-closing Team Competition Camp where athletes wrestled up to 30 matches against competitors from across the country.
Former Navy Wrestling alumni and fans met on a Zoom call to strategize the future of the NWC, Navy Wrestling, and avenues for support. With over 30 participants, the session opened with Coach Kolat's season review and a Q&A covering the program's trajectory, the influence of NIL, and four new staff hires.
Josh Koderhandt was named team captain heading into the 2024–25 season, recognizing his leadership both on and off the mat.
Head Coach Cary Kolat shared a full recap of the 2023–24 wrestling season, highlighting team progress and individual performances throughout the year.
Presented by the Trustees, Athletic and Scholarship Programs of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, the Travis Manion Award honors the graduating Navy wrestler who displayed outstanding leadership and work habits throughout his career — aggressiveness, determination, good sportsmanship, and compassion for others, putting team success ahead of personal achievement.
Every result, every retirement, every milestone is made possible by donor support.