Penn State Wrestling Is Having a Remarkable Offseason So Far
After winning their fifth straight NCAA title, the Nittany Lions and Cael Sanderson are maintaining their strong roster.
After winning its fifth straight NCAA wrestling title, Penn State is winning the offseason as well. At least so far.
The NCAA Transfer Portal for wrestling opened April 1, and through the first 10 days, no Nittany Lions have entered. Which is remarkable, considering the program returns enough talent that it could be even better next season. Penn State loses just one starter, returns three undefeated national champions and brings back eight wrestlers who have won All-America honors.
Basically, Penn State’s 10-wrestler starting lineup has one opening, yet no Nittany Lions officially have announced decisions to leave yet. That makes Penn State an outlier in the portal, which closes April 30.
Flowrestling has built an exhaustive transfer tracker listing the dozens of college wrestlers who have entered the portal. Yet none are from Penn State. In fact, Penn State is the only team ranked in InterMat Wrestling’s top 15 without a portal entrant.
“We’re a blessed program. We follow the rules,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland. “There’s not a lot of that going on right now. And that’s one of the reasons we can sleep when the wind blows. We train hard and do the right things to the best of our ability and things will work out.”
“We’re a blessed program. We follow the rules. There’s not a lot of that going on right now, and that’s one of the reasons we can sleep when the wind blows.”
Penn State’s Cael Sanderson after winning his 13th NCAA Wrestling title. pic.twitter.com/LRet5BGyYB— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) March 22, 2026
Penn State broke the scoring record at the NCAA Wrestling Championships for the third consecutive season, finishing with 181.5 team points. Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds), … more at … https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/wrestling/penn-state-wrestling-is-having-a-remarkable-offseason-so-far
Endene Transfers to Little Rock
One of the prominent names in the transfer portal announced his next move this afternoon, as Massoma Endene announced that he’ll transfer to Little Rock.
Endene was a three-time DIII national champion for Wartburg and transferred to Iowa during the 2025 offseason. He quickly established himself as a high All-American candidate, at the DI level, after an undefeated showing at the National Duals Invitational. Endene’s victory over the eventual national runner-up, Cody Merrill, clinched Iowa’s win over Oklahoma State. Less than a week later, Endene knocked off returning All-American Mac Stout of Pittsburgh.
Endene’s final match in a Hawkeye singlet came in late-November in the CyHawk dual against four-time All-American Rocky Elam. Somewhere around that time, Endene suffered an injury and was no longer a member of the team in mid-January. He finished 2025-26 with a 6-1 record.
Now, Endene will use his final year of eligibility competing at heavyweight for Little Rock. He and three-time All-American Stephen Little will make for an imposing 1-2 punch at the end of the Trojan lineup. … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/pac-12/endene-transfers-to-little-rock-r100951/
Team USA Qualifying Schedule: The Meets To Know In 2026
Here’s the 2026 Team USA wrestling qualifying schedule, including the U.S. Open, Senior World Team Trials and Final X.
he road to Team USA looks a little different depending on the style, but for senior-level world team qualification in 2026, three events matter most for freestyle fans: the U.S. Open, the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, and Final X. All three are broadcast on FloWrestling.
- More Information On The US Open Wrestling Championships 2026
- Domestic Men’s Freestyle Rankings
- 2026 US Open Senior Level Wrestling Entries
Each event plays a different role in the process, from setting the field to deciding who earns a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team. For men’s and women’s freestyle wrestlers, these events make up the key stops on the road to Team USA.
*For Greco-Roman, the process is different, with the world team determined in Las Vegas rather than at Final X.
Here’s what to know about the meets that will decide Team USA in 2026.
Team USA Qualifying Schedule 2026
- April 21-26, 2026 – U.S. Open Championships
- May 14-15, 2026 – Senior World Team Trials
- June 19, 2026 – Final X
U.S. Open Championships
April 21-26, 2026 – Las Vegas, Nevada
The U.S. Open is the first major stop in the senior world team process. In men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle, champions at each weight advance directly to Final X, making it one of the most important events on the domestic calendar.
U.S. Open champions who earn Final X berths are not entered into the Senior World Team Trials.
Senior World Team Trials
May 14-15, 2026 – Louisville, Kentucky
The next stop for senior freestyle wrestlers is the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. This event is the final qualifying step into Final X for men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle athletes who did not win the U.S. Open.
The Challenge Tournament winner advances to Final X in weights where there is no returning 2025 World medalist already sitting in that Final X spot, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15787159-team-usa-qualifying-schedule-the-meets-to-know-in-2026
Wyoming Wrestling Headed Back to National Duals Invitational
LARAMIE, Wyoming (4/14/26) – The University of Wyoming wrestling team needed to win the National Duals Invitational lottery back in 2025. This time around, that wasn’t the case. The Cowboys automatically qualified for the 2026 edition of the tournament by way of a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The 2026 National Duals Invitational will once again take place inside the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’ll run from Dec. 12-13.
All participating teams will once again earn $20,000. More prize money is at stake for the first-place team, as $250,000 is on the line. Again, like last year, the top eight teams will gain an additional payout. … at … https://gowyo.com/news/2026/4/14/wrestling-headed-back-to-national-duals-invitational.aspx
Minnesota Headed Back to National Duals Invitational
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota wrestling team has confirmed its participation in the second annual National Duals Invitational, scheduled for December 12-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
The 16-team event will feature a total purse of more than $1.2 million. The top eight teams will all earn payouts, with the winning squad walking away with $250,000. The second- and third-place teams will earn $175,000, while fourth and fifth place are both set to win $100,000. Sixth through eighth place payouts will be: $40,000, $25,000 and $20,000, respectively. All participating teams will receive $20,000 for attending and have the opportunity to compete for $50,000 in takedown bonuses, as well. Automatic entry was awarded to the top 10 teams in the final 2026 NCAA Division I standings, at which Minnesota finished ninth. The remaining spots will be filled by teams drawn from those finishing 11th through 20th in the NCAA rankings. At press time, … more at … https://gophersports.com/news/2026/4/15/wrestling-headed-back-to-national-duals-invitational
And …. The following teams are also committed to the Invitational … Oklahoma State, Missouri, Ohio State, N.C. State, Virginia Tech., Iowa State and Pittsburgh. There ar 7 openings at this time. … at … https://nationaldualsinvitational.com/#teams
April 2026: Transfer Portal Updates (4/14/2026)
The transfer portal has only been open for 14 days, but there has been plenty of activity during the last two weeks. For the most part, wrestlers have needed some time to take visits, so there was a bit of a lag in between wrestlers entering the portal and the announcement of transfer decisions. This weekend, those decisions started to roll in and it will probably be that way for the next few weeks.
Here’s where we stand right now. The first section consists of wrestlers who have announced their transfer locations. The second features notable names in the portal.
Transfers
Brendan McCrone (North Carolina) – 125 lbs: From Ohio State
Ryan Crookham (Iowa) – 133 lbs: From Lehigh
Carter Schmidt (Northern Colorado) – 133 lbs: From Oklahoma
Zan Fugitt (Missouri) – 141 lbs: From Wisconsin
Kade Brown (Ohio State) – 149 lbs: From Pittsburgh
Carson DesRosier (Binghamton) – 149 lbs: From The Citadel
Jayden Scott (Lehigh) – 149 lbs: From North Carolina
Kai Owen (Indiana) – 157 lbs: From Columbia
Kyrell Leavell (Little Rock) – 157 lbs: From The Citadel
RJ Weston (Life) – 157 lbs: From Northern Iowa …. more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/april-2026-transfer-portal-updates-4142026-r100950/
Davidson Names Bassett Assistant Wrestling Coach
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson head wrestling coach Nate Carr, Jr. announced on Thursday that Avery Bassett has been named an assistant coach.
“I’m excited to add Avery Bassett to our coaching staff,” said Carr, who led the Wildcats to their most conference wins and best finish in school history this past season. “He is a high-character individual with elite-level wrestling experience that will add value to the further development of our team. His work ethic and dedication to academics during his college career make him a tremendous addition to our program.”
A 2025 graduate of Lock Haven University, Bassett was a two-time (2025, 2026) NCAA Division I National Qualifier, four-time NWCA Scholar All-American and two-time MAC All-Academic selection for the Bald Eagles.
“I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity to join the Davidson wrestling staff and transition from competing as a wrestler to coaching,” Bassett commented. “Wrestling has given me a lot, and I don’t take lightly the responsibility that comes with leading others in the sport. I look forward to making an impact on the athletes at Davidson both on and off the mat.”
Bassett, who competed at 165 pounds as a senior, finished his career with 104 wins, … more at … https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2026/4/9/davidson-names-bassett-assistant-wrestling-coach
Trent Hidlay accepts 92 kg men’s freestyle berth at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management
Reigning World champion Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has accepted his automatic bid to 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, and will battle for the men’s freestyle 92 kg spot on the 2026 U.S. World Team. Final X is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Hidlay was a force at the 2025 World Championships en route to claiming the gold medal at 92kg, which automatically qualified him for Final X. His World final against Russia’s Amanula Gadzhimagomedov was perhaps the most electric match of the event. Hidlay overcame an eight-point, first-period deficit to win his first World title by 13-10 decision.
It was a banner 2025 for Hidlay, who won three international medals on top of his World gold. He finished with a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series before topping the podium at both the Pan American Championships and Budapest Ranking Series. He is off to a nice start in his 2026 title defense with a silver medal performance at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.
Hidlay was a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA finalist for North Carolina State, where he currently trains full-time. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/09/trent-hidlay-accepts-92-kg-men-s-freestyle-berth-at-2026-final-x-presented-by-kerberos-capital-management
Wolfpack Wrestling Signs Upperweights Dailey and Tabor
RALEIGH – NC State wrestling adds two transfers to its roster for the 2026-27 season, as announced by head coach Pat Popolizio on Tuesday. The Wolfpack has signed 184 lbs Jake Dailey from North Carolina and heavyweight Bennett Tabor from Minnesota.
Looking to fill two holes left in the lineup from 2026 graduating seniors Don Cates and Isaac Trumble, Pat Popolizio and his coaching staff have recruited Jake Dailey and Bennett Tabor out of the transfer portal. Dailey, a familiar face from across town, was the North Carolina Tar Heels starter at 184 lbs this past season, while Tabor, a heavyweight, hails from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Both incoming members of the Pack have previous experience qualifying for the NCAA Division I Championships.
Dailey is a Kingston, Pa., native who attended the well-known Wyoming Seminary for his prep career. He has been down the road at North Carolina for the start of his collegiate career, collecting a total record of 28-11 and has only dropped one loss in a dual-match. He spent his freshman campaign (2024-25) competing at 184 lbs but using his redshirt. This past season, his redshirt-freshman campaign (2025-26), Dailey had his official debut in a starting lineup and quickly gained eyes at the national level. Finishing at 19-6 overall, … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/14/wolfpack-wrestling-signs-upperweights-dailey-and-tabor
Huskers Add 2025 NCAA Champion Vincent Robinson
Two-time All-American and 2025 NCAA Champion Vincent Robinson will join the Nebraska wrestling program as a transfer, head coach Mark Manning announced Friday.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Robinson compiled a 45-9 record over two seasons at NC State, qualifying for consecutive NCAA Championships.
Robinson posted a 21-6 record during the 2025-26 season, including a 12-3 mark in dual competition. The redshirt sophomore earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also placed third at the ACC Championships and recorded eight bonus-point wins on the season, including three technical falls and five major decisions. During the 2024-25 season, Robinson captured the NCAA title at 125 pounds, finishing with a 24-3 record and a 9-1 dual mark. He placed second at the ACC Championships and totaled 11 bonus-point victories.
Robinson prepped at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2026/04/17/huskers-add-2025-ncaa-champion-vincent-robinson
Conference Carolinas has 11 programs, 49 athletes recognized on NWCA Scholar-All America awards
MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the recipients of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America and Team Scholar All-America awards this week. Conference Carolinas had individuals from 11 institutions honored as well as two programs in the Team Scholar All-America award.
Newberry College finished fifth in the NCAA Division II Men’s Team Scholar All-America list with a 3.504 GPA and the University of Montevallo was 24th with a GPA of 3.261.
NWCA NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
The NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar Academic program garners the team GPA from the 10 starters a program puts out at it’s respective NCAA Super Regional tournament.
Conference Carolinas had 49 individuals from 11 institutions earn NWCA NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America honors, led by nine from Newberry. The University of Mount Olive and the University of Montevallo followed with seven each while Lander University added six. UNC Pembroke had five while Shorter University had four and Belmont Abbey College and Emmanuel University added three each. … more at … https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2026/4/3/mens-wrestling-conference-carolinas-has-11-programs-49-athletes-recognized-on-nwca-scholar-all-america-awards.aspx
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
Takedown Report 