2025-26 Boys High School Wrestling National Rankings – Feb. 20, 2026
State Tournaments remain at center stage; NJ Duals take place this week; California and Oklahoma move within one step of state finals.
Billy Buckheit | Feb 20, 2026
With Bo Basset being moved from 150 to the No. 1 ranking at 144, Kellen Wolbert of Oconomowoc High (Wisc.) is the nation’s new top-ranked wrestler at 150. / Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK
As we get near the end of February state tournaments are center stage with just Ohio still holding onto regular season activities. The big event this weekend is the National Prep Tournament, which you can read all about in our nifty preview.
Breaking Down the Question of Weight Class Placements
As we begin moving people around based on their state tournament weight we want to note that in the case of guys like Dallas Russell (Jefferson, GA), Lincoln Valdez (Pomona, CO), and others, we are leaving them at the weight where they made their bones this year.
Each time these guys stepped into a big tournament they did so at the lower weight and that is more representative of their weight class for the season. Nevada’s SLAM! Academy just had most of their lineup bumped up a weight at states from where they have been all year. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/2025-26-boys-high-school-wrestling-national-rankings-feb-20-2026-01khxzm4ke9z
College Wrestling Rankings: Penn State Remains No. 1 In New Top-25
Penn State remains No. 1 in the latest FloWrestling Top-25 team tournament rankings, updated Tuesday morning with key movement across the top 25.
Feb 24, 2026 by Joe Harrington
With conference tournaments looming and NCAA seeding implications tightening, the latest FloWrestling Top-25 team tournament rankings carry increasing weight. Updated on Feb. 24, the team race remains headlined by a dominant Penn State squad, but the margin battles behind the Nittany Lions continue to intensify.
- The Complete NCAA Wrestling Rankings This Week
- All The Upsets From Week 17 Of The 2025-26 NCAs Wrestling Season
- NCAA D1 Wrestling Box Scores For February 16-23
Penn State Wrestling holds firm at No. 1 with 160 points, maintaining a sizable cushion over No. 2 Ohio State (89) and No. 3 Oklahoma State (88.5). Iowa State and Nebraska round out the top five, each staying in position as teams jockey for critical tournament points in March.
Further down the rankings, movement continues to shape the landscape. Stanford climbs to No. 12, while Arizona State makes a notable jump to No. 14. Purdue and SIUE are tied at No. 19, and South Dakota State and UNI share the No. 21 spot as the team race tightens across the board.
Questions or comments for the rankers? We welcome and encourage your feedback. Hit up Jon Kozak (email: Jonathan.Kozak@flosports.tv; Twitter: @KozakJon) and JD Rader
Here are the team rankings.
College Wrestling Rankings This Week
- Penn State, 160, Previous Ranking: #1
- Ohio State, 89, Previous Ranking: #2
- OK State, 88.5, Previous Ranking: #3
- Iowa State, 80.5, Previous Ranking: #4
- Nebraska, 79, Previous Ranking: #5
- Iowa, 58, Previous Ranking: #6
- Cornell, 54, Previous Ranking: #7
- NC State, 50.5, Previous Ranking: #8
- Virginia Tech, 37, Previous Ranking: #9
- Illinois, 33.5, Previous Ranking: #10 … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15520943-college-wrestling-rankings-penn-state-remains-no-1-in-new-top-25
NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 17 Roundup: That’s A Wrap
The world’s finest collection of noteworthy happenings from the 17th week of the 2025-26 NCAA D1 wrestling season.
Every year, I say the season is going to go by faster than you think it will, and does anyone ever believe me? Yeah, probably, I guess. I’ve never actually sought out confirmation when making rhetorical statements like that.
But guess what? The season did end, and it did go by fast! So I hope you cherished every week of the regular season (I know I did), and I also hope you enjoy the final Roundup of noteworthy weekly happenings during the 2025-26 NCAA D1 wrestling season!
Week 16 Rankings | Week 17 Box Scores
Roundups: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16
There is technically still one more dual this week, assuming you’re reading this Monday before noon, as that is when VMI is scheduled to wrestle Presbyterian. If it’s after that, then the season is officially dunzo. It is finito, terminated, shuffled off this seasonal coil. Either way, it’s time for the recapping to begin.
The Dual of the Century of the Week
Good Revenge, Cowboy – Oklahoma State Downs Iowa 32-11
You all knew this was going to be DotCotW. The hype was simply too strong to deny.
FloWrestling had boots on the ground with our very own Christian Pyles and Connor Petros in attendance, slinging content. Christian managed to sneak a peak of the insane crowd gathering outside historic Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Gallagher-Iba was sold out, with 12,629 rabid Cowboy fans in attendance. And they were all in a big mood by the time things started cooking in the arena. Everyone should experience a big Oklahoma State dual in their lives, and make sure you arrive in time for their iconic run out to Marilyn Mason’s Beautiful People.
This was a rematch of a semifinal bout of the National Duals Invitational presented by Paycom, and it’s interesting to see how different the lineups for both teams were on Sunday compared to the mid-November dual.
Here’s the NDI box score:
Iowa 18, Oklahoma State 16
125: #10 Dean Peterson (Iowa) over #2 Troy Spratley (OK State) Dec 5-4 .. morre at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15475275-ncaa-d1-wrestling-week-17-roundup-thats-a-wrap
NCAA Wrestling Award Standings
NCAA women’s wrestling award standings update for the 2026 season
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has released the standings for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Awards. These will be awarded in March during the very first Women’s Wrestling Championship.
The three awards will honor the Most Dominant Wrestler as well as the student-athletes that have accumulated the most falls and the most technical falls throughout the course of the regular and postseasons.
For falls and tech falls to be counted for the awards they must come against opponents from other NCAA women’s varsity programs. Ties in the two categories are broken based on the aggregate time.
This is the second week of standings of the Most Dominant Wrestler award, which is a 16-match minimum to qualify for the standings.
The Most Dominant Woman Wrestler standings are calculated by adding the total number of team points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled.
Points per match are awarded as follows:
- Fall, forfeit, injury default or DQ = 6 points (-6 points for a loss)
- Tech falls = 5 points (-5 points for a loss)
- Major decision = 4 points (-4 points for a loss)
- Decision = 3 points (-3 points for a loss)
🤼♀️ NEW HERE? Here’s everything you need to know about NC women’s wrestling
The leaderboard for Most Dominant Wrestler remains the same. First is Savanna Witt of Eastern with an average of 4.73. Next is Fort Hays State’s 180-pounder Isabella Renfro with a 4.68 average. Talisha Lewis rounds out the top three with an average of 4.56.
Ella Gahl of Manchester remains in the lead with 22 falls in 41:01. … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-women/article/2026-02-18/ncaa-womens-wrestling-award-standings-update-2026-season
And …
NCAA men’s wrestling award standings update for the 2026 season
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has released updated standings for the 2026 NCAA Men’s Wrestling Awards that will be awarded in March at the respective Division I, II and III Wrestling Championships.
The inaugural NCAA Men’s Wrestling Awards were presented at the 2012 wrestling championships. The three awards, given in each division, honor the Most Dominant Wrestler as well as the student-athletes that have accumulated the most falls and the most technical falls throughout the course of the regular and postseasons.
For falls and tech falls to be counted for the awards they must come against opponents in the same division (i.e. Division III vs. Division III). Ties in the two categories are broken based on the aggregate time.
This is the second week of standings for the Most Dominant Wrestler award, which is a 16-match minimum to qualify for the standings.
The Most Dominant Wrestler standings are calculated by adding the total number of team points awarded through match results and dividing that number by the total number of matches wrestled.
Points per match are awarded as follows:
- Fall, forfeit, injury default or DQ = 6 points (-6 points for a loss)
- Tech falls = 5 points (-5 points for a loss)
- Major decision = 4 points (-4 points for a loss)
- Decision = 3 points (-3 points for a loss)
RANKINGS: Latest DI NWCA Coaches Poll
Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink continues to lead Division I with a 5.28 average and in second is Jesse Mendez of Ohio State with a 4.89 average.
Still in the lead for Division II is heavyweight Isaiah Vance with a 4.85 average. Taking second this week is Tiffin’s 165-pounder Nolan Gessler.
Division III top leaders stay the same. 157-pounder Trent Mahoney … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-men/article/2026-02-18/ncaa-mens-wrestling-award-standings-update-2026-season
West Virginia SSAC approves Girls Wrestling for 2026 season
WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — The WVSSAC will introduce a new preliminary sanctioned sport for the 2026-2027 athletic season.
The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission Board of Directors voted on Tuesday night to approve girls wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport beginning next school year.
The decision officially establishes a WVSSAC girls wrestling state championship, supported by a regional qualifying format that will be conducted separately from the boys’ state wrestling tournament.
According to the WVSSAC, participation in girls’ wrestling has grown significantly. In 2023, 142 student-athletes participated in the sport, and this year, more than 300 student-athletes participated, representing 86 different schools.
WVSSAC Executive Director Wayne Ryan stated, “The WVSSAC is excited to add girls wrestling to our championship offerings. We’re proud of the growth and progress that this sport has made in recent years, and this move gives these athletes a clear pathway to compete for a state championship while allowing schools to continue strengthening and expanding their programs.”
Executive Director Ryan says the preliminary designation allows the sport to keep expanding without placing additional infrastructure demands of being a full team sanctioned sport.
Ryan says those demands require a minimum number of complete programs statewide, as well as adherence to national federation regulations that govern roster limits, … more at … https://www.wtrf.com/news/wvssac-approves-girls-wrestling-for-2026-season/
University of Buffalo Mourns Passing of Legendary Wrestling Coach Ed Michael
BUFFALO, NY – Ed Michael, the winningest coach in University at Buffalo wrestling history, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 83. Michael spent 21 seasons as the Bulls head coach and after leaving his mark on the wrestling program, went on to serve the UB Division of Athletics for 18 years as an administrator and the Director of Recreation and Intramurals.
As head coach from 1970-91, Michael guided the Bulls to a program-record 215 dual wins, highlighted by winning the 1978 Division III National Championship. He led UB to the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championship seven times, as well as reaching top 20 NCAA rankings an impressive 13 occasions.
Michael coached 39 All-Americans, 27 New York Collegiate Individual Champions and 96 Tournament Champions. Eight of his wrestlers have been inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gecewicz UB Athletics Hall of Fame.
A member of seven halls of fame, Michael, was an associate professor at UB and taught physical education classes for 21 years. He authored several sports journal publications and co-authored a wrestling book.
In 1995, Michael and the 1978 national championship team were inducted into the UB Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted again in 1997 as an individual.
In 2011, UB honored him by naming their newly renovated wrestling facility the Ed Michael Wrestling Complex.
In 2016, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. … more at … https://ubbulls.com/news/2026/2/1/general-ub-mourns-passing-of-legendary-wrestling-coach-ed-michael
Pair of Montreat College freshmen qualify for nationals
KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially announced the qualifiers for the 2026 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championships on Tuesday evening, and according to the release, a pair of Montreat College freshmen will represent the Cavaliers in Park City, Kan., next week. Kane Bryson seized an at-large bid in the 125-lb weight class, while Boedi Kirkland did the same at 149.
For Bryson and Kirkland, these selections marked the first of their collegiate careers. Meanwhile, it also marked the second time in program history in which the Cavs sent a pair of wrestlers to the national championships.
A native of Canton, N.C., Bryson registered a 19-12 record in his debut season. The freshman placed fourth at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men’s Wrestling Championships last week, and he currently stands as the NAIA’s 23rd-rated wrestler at 125.
Kirkland’s freshman campaign featured 31 victories, the most in a single season in program history. Overall, the nation’s No. 17-ranked wrestler at 149 owns a 31-10 record. Kirkland is coming off a sixth-place finish at the AAC Championships, where his only losses occurred due to injury. … more at .. https://montreatcavaliers.com/news/2026/2/24/mens-wrestling-pair-of-montreat-college-freshmen-qualify-for-nationals.aspx
Appalachian State Leans On Sustained Culture Of Winning As Postseason Nears
Appalachian State’s track record of SoCon success is something coach JohnMark Bentley points to in an effort to get the Mountainers climbing toward March.
With roughly 50 days left in the NCAA men’s wrestling season, athletes around the country can feel a heightened sense of urgency with each passing moment. The season will be over before you know it — and for some, their college careers.
But amidst that ticking clock (and mounting pressure), Appalachian State head coach JohnMark Bentley wants his wrestlers to know they’re at a place perfectly suited to ready them for what’s ahead. That place — nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina — has been under Bentley’s stewardship for 17 years now.
During that tenure, the four-time national coach of the year finalist has amassed nearly half (13/28) of the program’s regular season/tournament titles as a member of the Southern Conference. He’s also helped produce 64 individual NCAA qualifiers, including four of the eight wrestlers in App State history to earn NCAA All-American honors. “We can point to the ratings and stuff that we’ve won over the last several years, (the) last decade, and you can talk about those and say, ‘Hey guys, this is evidence that we know how to prepare you for the postseason, and you can have confidence that you’re in a program that has a culture of sustained winning,” Bentley said. “I think just having our guys take confidence in that, like hey, you’re going to be the best version of yourself in March. “That’s how this program’s always been built. And yeah, there’s been some ups and downs throughout the season and competition, but that’s going to help prepare you for March. And you can take confidence in that because there’s results to back it up.”
Staying In The Fight
Sporting a 6-5 dual record to date (3-0 in the SoCon), the Mountaineers, like most teams, have had their highs and lows this season. Coach Bentley has regularly tested his guys against the best programs in the region, and this year is no different.
Of App State’s five dual losses, three have come against ranked power conference foes, including #9 NC State, #11 Virginia Tech and #17 West Virginia. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/15319073-appalachian-state-leans-on-sustained-culture-of-winning-as-postseason-nears
Koy Buesgens Named ACC Wrestler of the Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wolfpack wrestling’s 149 pounder, Koy Buesgens, has been named the ACC Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the conference Tuesday, February 24.
Continuing to shock the league, Koy Buesgens added his fifth ranked win to his resume for the season after defeating Cornell’s No. 2 Jaxon Joy on Friday. The 6-3 win in sudden victory for Buesgens marked the first loss for Joy this season (now 21-1).
The Minnesota native now carries four top-10 wins this year heading into the postseason with a 20-2 record, with both of his losses being to top-10 opponents. Buesgens is now ranked No. 8 at 149 … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/2/24/wrestling-koy-buesgens-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-week
This Week in ACC Wrestling
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The 2026 ACC Wrestling Regular-Season Dual Meet Championship will be decided Friday night as conference competition concludes with a pivotal slate of matchups across the league.
No. 6 Virginia Tech controls its own destiny and can claim the title outright with a home victory over Duke on February 20. The Hokies enter the final weekend unbeaten in ACC action, and a win would secure a perfect 6-0 conference record and the outright regular-season championship.
The title picture, however, could shift depending on the outcome in Blacksburg. No. 8 NC State will be watching closely, as a Duke victory over Virginia Tech would create a tie atop the standings. In that scenario, the Wolfpack and Hokies would each finish 5-1 in conference duals and share the 2026 ACC Wrestling Regular-Season Dual Meet Championship.
Friday’s action features three ACC duals and a key non-conference matchup, all beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Cornell visits No. 8 NC State as the finale for the ACC Friday Night Duals airing on ACC Network, while No. 20 Stanford travels to No. 12 North Carolina and Virginia competes at No. 15 Pitt on ACCNX. Duke closes its conference schedule at No. 6 Virginia Tech on ACCNX.
The weekend continues Sunday as Cornell faces Duke at noon ET on ACCNX and No. 6 Virginia Tech competes at the Patriot Last Chance Open.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2026 ACC Wrestling Championship, scheduled for Sunday, March 8, at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia. … more at … https://theacc.com/news/2026/2/19/this-week-in-acc-wrestling.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 