College stars prepare for action at the 2026 Galaxy U23 World Championships in Las Vegas
The turn to Fall signals the start of the NCAA wrestling season. While we still must wait a few more weeks for Division I men’s action to begin, this weekend in Las Vegas we will get a sneak preview of some of the top collegiate stars in international freestyle action.
The 2026 Galaxy U23 World Championships are currently underway in Las Vegas, and men’s freestyle action takes place October 16-18.
The U.S. squad is loaded as it looks to repeat as team champions, and college wrestling fans will recognize a lot of names, as these athletes are also expected to compete for NCAA titles at the 2027 NCAA Championships in St. Louis in March.
Here is a look at the collegiate status of the 2026 U23 U.S. men’s freestyle World Team.
57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (Penn State)
The list of accolades is long for Lilledahl. On the international level, he is the reigning U23 World champion and a three-time age-group World champion overall. In two seasons at Penn State, he has won an NCAA title (2026) and finished third (2025). He was the No. 1 seed in both of his NCAA runs and a two-time Big Ten champion. What will he do in season three? Even with five of the other seven All-Americans from 2026 returning this year, he is a heavy favorite to repeat as the NCAA champion at 125 pounds.
61 kg – Ben Davino (Ohio State)
In his first year in the Ohio State lineup last year, Davino was an NCAA finalist as the second seed, going 31-2 overall, and captured the Big Ten Championship. He enters his third year on campus ranked second, behind defending champion Jax Forrest of Oklahoma State. Like 125 pounds, six of the eight 2026 All-Americans return at 133 pounds, including the top four placers.
65 kg – Bo Bassett (Virginia Tech)
One of the most decorated high school recruits of all time, Bassett will look to make an impact at 141 pounds as a true freshman at Virginia Tech. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/october/13/college-stars-prepare-for-action-at-the-2026-galaxy-u23-world-championships-in-las-vegas?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
One of the most decorated high school recruits of all time, Bassett will look to make an impact at 141 pounds as a true freshman at Virginia Tech. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/october/13/college-stars-prepare-for-action-at-the-2026-galaxy-u23-world-championships-in-las-vegas?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Mat Talk Online’s D-I Dual Meet Schedule
This link is to a website operated by Jason Bryant and Mat Talk Online. It lists over 550 upcoming matches with almost all of the D-I teams’ schedules. … more at … https://almanac.mattalkonline.com/standings/schedule.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
2026 Campbell Wrestle-Off’s LIVE
The following is a link to the team wrestle offs at Campbell and is about 1 hour and 5 minutes long.
Campbell Wrestling at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QXgdGeGQOQ
The 2026 NWCA All-Star Classic Returns To Penn State On November 24
The NWCA All-Star Classic returns to Penn State University. The best college wrestlers in the country will square off in Rec Hall on November 24.
Get ready to rumble in Rec Hall! The 2026 NWCA All-Star Classic, presented by Nike Wrestling, is returning to Penn State. The showdown between college wrestling’s most elite athletes is slated for Tuesday, November 24.
The event will once again include 15 mega matchups, with all ten weight classes being represented by two of the top-ranked D1 competitors, in addition to four women’s bouts and another face-off between a DII and DIII men’s wrestler.
Those matchups will be announced as we get closer to the event. But you can … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/10/19/national-wrestling-coaches-association-the-2026-nwca-all-star-classic-returns-to-penn-state-on-november-24.aspx
Glenville State opens 2026-27 season atop Division II Men’s Coaches Association Rankings
MANHEIM, Pa. – Glenville State has taken the top spot in the first NWCA Division II Men’s Wrestling Coaches Association rankings of the season, released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Thursday.
The Pioneers, who take the top spot for the first time in program history, totaled 70.0 points, edging 2026 National Champions Nebraska-Kearney, which sits second with 61.5. UW-Parkside follows in third with 58.0 points, while UMary (57.5) and Gannon (54.0) round out the top five.
The rankings also show several notable climbs compared with the teams’ 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship finishes. Minnesota State is sixth after placing 18th at the championships, and Tiffin ranks seventh after finishing 16th. Indianapolis is 10th, up from 24th place at Nationals, while Central Missouri is 11th after a 17th-place finish.
Both Minnesota State and UMary feature two top-ranked individuals. Colton Hush sits atop 141 and Dominic Ducato is #1 at 133 for the Mavericks, while UMary’s Jacob Strausbaugh bumps up to #1 at 149 after his 133-pound title last season and Lane Ewing is top-ranked at 165.
Otgonbayar Batsuuri of UNK is atop the 174 rankings after his title a season ago, while McKendree’s Darion Johnson is also back to defend his title at 184, where he is #1 to start the season. A trio of national runners-up from last season find themselves atop the rankings, with Tiffin’s Anthony Aniciete at 125, St. Cloud State’s Joel Jesuroga at 157, and Glenville State’s Nick Johnson at 197 pounds. Carter Blough of … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/10/22/ncaa-division-2-men-glenville-state-opens-2026-27-season-atop-division-ii-mens-coaches-association-rankings.aspx
Four Wrestlers Named Preseason All-SoCon from Favored Mountaineers
BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling had four accomplished returners named to the SoCon’s preseason all-conference team for 2026-27, the league announced Thursday.
Coaches also picked the Mountaineers to finish first in the league. Head coach JohnMark Bentley‘s roster includes three NCAA Championships qualifiers and the seven other wrestlers who were starters in the 10-man lineup for a 2025-26 team that earned a share of another SoCon regular-season title and won a fourth straight SoCon tournament title.
The three NCAA qualifiers from last season — Aldo Hernandez (141 pounds), Tomas Brooker (184 pounds) and Stephan Monchery — plus 2026 SoCon finalist Anthony Conetta (165 pounds) were named to the preseason All-SoCon team.
App State’s 2026-27 season is presented by Hungry Howie’s and Penn Station. The season officially begins Nov. 1 at the Southeast Open.
2026-27 SoCon Wrestling Preseason Coaches’ Poll (FIrst-place votes)
1. App State (8) – 64 points
2. Chattanooga (1) – 56 points
3. Bellarmine – 51 points
4. Gardner-Webb – 40 points … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2026/10/22/wrestling-four-wrestlers-named-preseason-all-socon-from-favored-mountaineers.aspx
NC State Wrestling Schedule 2026-27: Full Schedule & Key Matchups
View NC State’s complete 2026-27 schedule, featuring every dual, tournament and postseason event for the Wolfpack.
NC State has announced its 2026-27 schedule, a slate that features National Duals, the Southern Scuffle and a challenging ACC schedule as the Wolfpack look to build on their 10th-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
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The Wolfpack open the season at the Southeast Open before competing at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. NC State’s schedule also includes non-conference duals against Navy, Ohio State, Buffalo and Cornell, along with appearances at the George Mason Patriot Open and Southern Scuffle.
NC State returns three national qualifiers from the 2025-26 season. Zach Redding returns after qualifying for the NCAA Championships at 133 lbs, while Koy Buesgens and Matty Singleton are also back after earning NCAA bids at 149 and 174 lbs, respectively. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16231710-nc-state-wrestling-schedule-2026-27-key-matchups?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Returning DI All-Americans for the 2026-27 Season
We’re less than a month away from the start of the collegiate season. This year is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in quite some time. Penn State looms large over everyone, though Oklahoma State appears to be ready to close the gap. Nebraska has settled into a perennial trophy contender status. There’s a lot of young talent at Virginia Tech and Stanford. And don’t forget about Iowa and Ohio State.
With freshmen being able to hit the ground running and win immediately in this era, it makes for some loaded individual brackets as the All-American medal stands are not largely dominated by seniors, as in past eras. In fact, this season only one weight class features fewer than six returning All-Americans (285 lbs – four). Maybe this changes a bit with a couple of weight changes that aren’t sorted out quite yet, but the point remains. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s a weight class with three returning national champions and another with 11 past All-Americans!
Speaking of All-Americans, here are wrestlers who have earned All-American honors, at one time or another, in their careers and will be expected to compete in 2026-27.
125 lbs
Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) – 2026/1st, 2025/3rd
Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton) – 2026/2nd
Nico Provo (Stanford) – 2026/3rd
Vince Robinson (Nebraska) – 2026/4th, 2025/1st … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/returning-di-all-americans-for-the-2026-27-season-r101251/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Robert Morris announces addition of Division I men’s wrestling program
RMU is an all-sports member of the Horizon League. No conference affiliation has been announced.
From Robert Morris Athletic Communications (Link)
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (October 9, 2026) – Robert Morris University announced today that it will add NCAA Division I men’s wrestling as its newest varsity athletics program, creating new opportunities for student-athletes throughout Western Pennsylvania and across the country, while building on the region’s deep wrestling tradition.
The RMU Wrestling Team is expected to begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year, with additional details regarding the program’s inaugural season, coaching staff, competition schedule, and home venue to be announced as plans are finalized.
“Western Pennsylvania’s wrestling tradition has been built by generations of outstanding athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate families,” said Dr. Ron Moses, Vice President and Director of Athletics at RMU. “Adding men’s wrestling at Robert Morris gives talented student-athletes another opportunity to compete at the Division I level close to home while earning an outstanding education. We want young wrestlers throughout this region, and beyond, … more at … https://mattalkonline.substack.com/p/breaking-robert-morris-announces?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=3187901&post_id=219593007&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1wrfjl&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Justin Harty Steps Down as Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach
Greensboro, NC – Greensboro College men’s and women’s head wrestling coach Justin Harty has stepped down from his position, effective immediately. Harty led the two programs for five seasons.
Under Harty’s leadership, the Pride saw substantial growth in both the men’s and women’s wrestling programs. Josh Wilson won a National Championship in 2023-24, while multiple other men’s wrestlers have earned all-conference recognition and NCAA Regionals appearances.
On the women’s side, Destiny Vaughans became the first female wrestler to be named an All-American in 2024-25 under Harty’s tutelage. Both Hailie Misplay and Kyra Tomlinson have been nationally ranked, while Tomlinson earned a trip to the NCWWC Nationals in 2024-25 and the NCAA Regionals in 2025-26. The team had six total wrestlers make the NCAA Regionals in 2025-26. … more at … https://greensborocollegesports.com/news/2026/10/6/mens-wrestling-justin-harty-steps-down-as-mens-and-womens-wrestling-coach.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
