BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The SUNYAC announced Thursday, April 2nd, that Trevor Middendorf has been named the 2026 Men's Wrestling Rookie of the Year. The conference honors, which also include Wrestler of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year, are nominated and voted on by the conference's coaches.

Middendorf compiled a historic freshman campaign, becoming one of two Golden Eagles to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships this season. He secured his national berth with a dominant second-place finish at the NCAA Regionals in the 125-pound division, recording three victories and 17.5 team points to lead Brockport at the regional meet.

A SUNYAC Championship title highlighted the freshman's postseason run. At the conference tournament, Middendorf recorded three consecutive technical falls before pinning Cortland's Christian Lievano at the 4:10 mark in the final to claim the title. His performance throughout the season earned him a No. 2 ranking at 125 pounds in Region 2, along with a peak national ranking of No. 35 on WrestleStat.

Beyond conference competition, Middendorf proved to be a strong presence in tournament action. At the New York State Championships, he contributed 19 team points, highlighted by a pin in 2:12 and a hard-fought 13–12 decision in the semifinals. He also recorded a third-place finish at the Wilkes Invitational and a fourth-place showing at the Messiah Invite, further strengthening his impressive first-year résumé.

Middendorf concludes his debut season ranked No. 40 nationally, solidifying his status as one of the premier young talents in the 125-pound weight class