Few have a voice in college wrestling announcing with such strong impact as Jason Bryant, a seasoned journalist and historian with years of reporting under his belt for college wrestling’s most prestigious events, including Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) championships. However, with a recent statement, controversy in both fan and competitor communities ensued. What did he say, though?

He places the NCAA DIII Nationals in the top five largest events in the world for wrestling. For most, it was a surprising statement. After all, DI wrestling is at its finest in regards to NCAA competition, blue blood programs, future Olympic hopefuls, and full stadiums with a national television presence. But for Bryant, that might not be the case. For him, DIII wrestling is most untouched in its form, powered by heart and unbridled competition.

“DIII wrestling is about as pure a form of the sport” as one can possibly have. What it wasn’t about, in his estimation, was technical skill and athletic performance—but about the environment, the level of stakes, and the motivation for wrestlers. With no full-ride scholarships and no big-money programs’ coercion, DIII wrestlers ascend onto the mat for one reason: for its sake alone.

The perception of Bryant challenged conventional thinking in college wrestling. For years, DI, considered college wrestling’s most elite level, has drawn top high school recruits and housed a number of college sports’ largest venues. But is big necessarily best? Bryant’s observation begs a deeper analysis of the differences between these two and what precisely constitutes heart and soul in wrestling.

Does the DIII wrestling represent the purest form of wrestling?

The greatest contrast between DIII and DI wrestling is in funding and recruitment. DI schools have a lot of financial backing, offering full scholarships, first-class facilities, and access to first-class coaching. DIII wrestlers, in contrast, receive no athletic scholarships. That sets a competitive environment in which each match is fueled by individual desire and not financial reward.

Beyond funding, there’s also a difference in competition format and intensity. NCAA DI wrestling programs usually attract the cream of the high school wrestling crop. Division I wrestling recruits are among the top one percent of high school wrestlers nationwide, often ranked among the top 100 wrestlers in the country. Many of them are multi-time state champions who have also competed at the highest levels in national tournaments. Wrestling at the DI level is essentially a full-time job, requiring year-round training and unwavering commitment to the sport. DI wrestling is often seen as a stepping stone to Olympic and professional opportunities, while DIII is rooted in community, camaraderie, and grassroots passion.

The fan atmosphere even varies. Meanwhile, Division III is actually the largest in terms of wrestling, with most schools offering a wrestling program. Moving on, National television and sellout stadiums are for DI championships, but DIII Nationals have an intensity unmatched, with each competitor having fought through hardships to make it to that level. Long-time enthusiasts say that at DIII events, the atmosphere is a little more intimate and electrifying—with wrestlers competing for school legend, not national glory.

While DI wrestling will forever have its spotlight, Bryant’s statement for DIII Nationals for one of life’s greatest experiences compels everyone in the mat community to redefine what is considered great. Do wrestlers need big-name headliners and television deals in order to become successful, or is the soul and heart of the sport in the heart-thudding, blood-thudding battles of DIII wrestlers? Wherever your position, one fact is for sure—this conversation is not even close to over yet.