7 key storylines from a jam-packed weekend of college wrestling
Between shutouts, upsets, individual breakout stars and the return of a national champion, this weekend in college wrestling had it all. Here’s everything you need to know about the action and results from across the country.
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Ohio State All-American Sasso descents to 157 pounds, splits weekend matches
One of the biggest, most inspiring storylines this season in college wrestling has been the return of Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, a two-time NCAA finalist who survived a shooting in the fall of 2024 and is now healthy and back on the mat for his final season. Sasso, who wrestled most of his career at 149 pounds, started the year up at 165 pounds, has officially made the descent down to 157 pounds where he finished as the runner-up at the Franklin & Marshall Open to NC State’s Jackson Arrington by fall and notched a key win against Rutgers’ Conner Harer 3-2.
Sasso’s weight class move shakes up the Buckeye lineup a little bit as well but puts him back down at a weight closer to his prime competition weight earlier in his career. In the Buckeyes’ two duals this weekend, Ohio State’s national qualifier Paddy Gallagher and Sasso split time at 157 pounds, with Gallagher competing the weight against the Illini on Saturday while Sasso competed in the Franklin & Marshall Open before the veteran took over the weight against Rutgers. Gallagher dropped his match against Illinois’ Jason Kraisser 16-9, but the Buckeyes still won the dual 24-9. The Rutgers dual was much dicier.
Rutgers’ Dean Peterson and Dylan Shawver pulled off top-15 upsets against Ohio State’s Brendan McCrone and Nic Bouzakis to open the day at 125 and 133 pounds before NCAA champion Jesse Mendez, All-American Dylan D’Emilio and Sasso notched their wins. … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2025-01-13/7-key-storylines-jam-packed-weekend-college-wrestling
And …
College Wrestling Notebook: Nebraska defeats Minnesota, Shotwell delivers for Life, Maryland stuns Michigan
Week 11 has come and gone, college wrestling fans. This weekend was highlighted by the NWCA National Duals that featured some of the best wrestling across multiple divisions, the start of conference action for several programs, and so much more. It’s also worth noting that No. 3 Oklahoma State has rescheduled its dual against No. 5 NC State for Monday night at 7 p.m. CT, so there is one more event before we can officially close out the week. Check out a few highlights from this past weekend below. Move of the week
McKendree’s Kaylynn Albrecht won by fall in just 19 seconds into her first match as a Bearcat on Friday. Albrecht helped fourth-seeded and fifth-ranked McKendree to a third place finish at the NWCA National Duals this weekend.
Dual of the week
No. 6 Nebraska defeated No. 4 Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, 21-13. The win was the 300th dual win at Nebraska for head coach Mark Manning. The victory moved the Huskers to 6-1 overall, while the Gophers dropped to 4-1.
No. 6 Nebraska 21, No. 4 Minnesota 13
157: No. 5 Antrell Taylor dec. No. 10 Tommy Askey (MINN) SV-1, 4-1
165: Christopher Minto dec. No. 9 Andrew Sparks (MINN) 5-4
174: No. 16 Lenny Pinto dec. No. 24 Cam Whiting (MINN) 9-3
184: No. 4 Max McEnelly (MINN) major dec. No. 6 Silas Allred 16-6
197: No. 9 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) major dec. No. 22 Camden McDanel 8-0
HWT: No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN) tech. fall No. 24 Harley Andrews 19-4 (3:32)
125: No. 7 Caleb Smith dec. No. 5 Cooper Flynn (MINN) 2-0 … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/january/13/college-wrestling-notebook-nebraska-defeats-minnesota-shotwell-delivers-for-life-maryland-stuns-michigan
NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 11 Roundup: Duals Are The Way
The world’s finest collection of noteworthy happenings from the 11th week of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season.
Dual season is in full swing as the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season trudges along! And we’re here to document all the noteworthy happenings from the 11th week of the season!
Box Scores | Rankings | Last Week’s Roundup
The biggest wrestling event this weekend was the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals. This wrestling extravaganza, hosted by Northern Iowa in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, features the unofficial dual meet championship tournaments at multiple divisional levels.
It is the pinnacle of the dual meet season for the NAIA and NCAA D2 and D3 men’s levels. Ditto for the NAIA and NCAA women’s tournaments. The event used to feature a robust NCAA D1 men’s tournament, however, the number of top teams interested in participating began to dwindle, and then not long ago that portion of the program was dropped entirely.
But guess what? It looks like Division 1 is back on the menu!
14 programs from ‘non-power’ conferences participated (not including affiliates, so no programs whose football and basketball teams are in the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, ACC or Pac-12). Some would classify the participating programs as ‘mid-majors’, but I wouldn’t. Especially not within earshot of UNI head coach Dough Schwab. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13467368-ncaa-d1-wrestling-week-11-roundup-duals-are-the-way
Illinois’ Byrd New No. 1 at 133 in WIN’s Jan. 13 Rankings
NEWTON, Iowa — Lucas Byrd of Illinois has taken over the top spot at 133 pounds in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13 national rankings presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
Byrd, a senior, moved up from the No. 2 spot after the previous No. 1-ranked wrestler at 133 — Ryan Crookham of Lehigh — suffered an injury last weekend. A school spokesperson said the Mountain Hawk would miss the upcoming dual with Navy and was unsure how long Crookham would be out of action. This new ranking now sets up an upcoming battle between Byrd and Iowa’s No. 2 Drake Ayala when the Big Ten teams meet this Friday in Iowa City, where Iowa — ranked No. 2 in WIN’s Dual-Team rankings and No. 3 in WIN’s Tournament Power Index — will entertain the Illini, which ranks No. 12 in the dual rankings and No. 7 in WIN’s TPI.
Penn State remains the top-ranked team in both team rankings and features three top-ranked wrestlers: Tyler Kasak (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Carter Starocci. Oklahoma State, scheduled to wrestle Monday night against NC State, is ranked No. 3 in dual competition and No. 2 in WIN’s TPI.
WIN’s TPI projects where teams are expected to place in this season’s NCAA Championships in March, based on individual rankings at this point in the season. The following is a breakdown of those individual TPI points per ranking: 20 for 1st, … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/01/13/illinois-byrd-new-no-1-at-133-in-wins-jan-13-rankings/
High School Wrestling State Championship Hub | January 17-25
Wrestling state championships begin in late January with Dual competitions in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Here’s what you need to know.
For the last few weeks, the high school wrestling world has had its attention on elite high national and regional tournaments, but state championships are right around the corner. The month of January includes dual meet championship events in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. You can find links to brackets, and links to watch those events in this state championship hub!
GHSA Boys State Dual Championships – January 17-18
Watch the GHSA Boys State Dual Championships LIVE on FloWrestling! Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13428179-high-school-wrestling-state-championship-hub-january-17-25
Gardner-Webb Wrestling Defeats Duke, Scores Power Five Road Win
DURHAM, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University wrestling team scored a Power Five victory on the road on Tuesday afternoon, starting strong and riding early results to a 23-19 win at Duke
It would be the lower weight classes making the biggest difference for Gardner-Webb on Tuesday afternoon inside Card Gymnasium, with the Runnin’ Bulldogs picking up individual victories at 125, 133, 141 and 149 pounds. GWU ultimately sealed the deal with additional late wins at 184 and 197
To open the match, junior Jeffrey Jacome continued a fine junior season with a 10-2 major decision, defeating Ethan Grimminger to give GWU a 4-0 lead. Junior Tyson Lane increased that lead to 7-0 moments later in the 133 pound class, beating Raymond Adams by a 5-2 decision. Graduate Todd Carter returned to duals for Gardner-Webb in a big way in the 141 pound division, defeating Christian Coleman of Duke by tech fall, 19-4 and giving GWU a 12-0 lead. Sophomore Joseph Giordano then made it 15-0 to the Runnin’ Bulldogs after a win in the 149 pound class, 5-3 over Sean O’Donnell.
After Duke closed to within a point at 15-14, freshman Jackson Potts and junior Josh McCutchen stepped up to complete the victory. In the 184 pound class, Potts defeated David Hussey by a 7-5 decision while McCutchen scored a 17-1 tech fall over Kwasi Bonsu. The pair combined to give Gardner-Webb a 23-14 … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2025/1/14/wrestling-defeats-duke-scores-road-power-five-win.aspx
Ferrari on Both Coasts
Ferrari Nabs Second Pac-12 Weekly Honor
SAN RAMON, Calif. – For the second time this season, Cal State Bakersfield’s AJ Ferrari has been selected as the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week. The Roadrunners now have four weekly honors on the season, tied with Cal Poly for most in the Pac-12, as Ferrari extended his perfect record to 9-0 this past week.
Ferrari, the No. 1 ranked 197 pounder in the country, was once again unblemished, going 4-0 at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He opened the tournament against Andrew Donahue from No. 12 Northern Colorado, earning a dominant major decision (17-4). Ferrari went on to a 10-4 decision over Ibrahim Ameer (Drexel), a tech fall over Donovan Sprouse (George Mason), and a 93-second pin against SIUE’s Nick Nosler (2024 U20 US Open Greco National Champion).
Ferrari’s 6-point fall pulled CSUB within two points … more at … https://gorunners.com/news/2025/1/14/wrestling-ferrari-nabs-second-pac-12-weekly-honor.aspx
And …
Anthony Ferrari Will Compete For Long Island University This Season
Anthony Ferrari, the #14 wrestling recruit in the class of 2022, has decided to compete for the Long Island University Sharks starting in January, 2025.
Anthony Ferrari, the #14 ranked recruit in the class of 2022, announced that he will be competing for Long Island University starting this season. This will be the first time Ferrari has competed in a varsity lineup since completing high school two seasons ago. According to Ferrari, his first appearance as a Shark will be Sunday, January 26 when LIU duals both Kent State and Clarion.
Ferrari announced his commitment to LIU on Instagram. He felt a strong connection to the people at LIU in his recruiting process. “Coach Arceri was a huge part of making this happen and all of the guys on the team as well as the school were very welcoming.” As an added bonus, Ferrari mentioned that he’s, “excited to be wrestling back east near all of my fellow Italians.”
In 2022, Ferrari graduated as an Oklahoma State commit but never suited up for the Cowboys and didn’t log any matches during the 2022-23 season. Last year, Ferrari committed to Iowa and wrestled unattached in the Hawkeye state … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13479157-anthony-ferrari-will-compete-for-long-island-university-this-season
Moore Named ACC Wrestler Of The Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the second time this season, North Carolina wrestler Spencer Moore has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Wrestler of the Week, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. On Friday, Moore was victorious over Virginia Tech’s fourth-ranked Eddie Ventresca, with a 4-1 sudden victory decision.
The win for Moore was his first top-five and top-10 win of the season, helping the Tar Heels defeat the Hokies for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, and the first in Chapel Hill since the 2018-19 season. Moore was one of five Tar Heels to win on the night, lifting Carolina to a 1-0 start in ACC duals. Up next, Carolina travels to Duke on Friday, for the Tar Heels’ first ACC road matchup. Action between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils gets underway in Durham at 7 PM. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2025/1/14/wrestling-moore-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-week
National Wrestling Media Association announces 2023-24 Award Recipients
New Brighton, Minnesota – The National Wrestling Media Association is proud to announce the recipients of its annual media and journalism awards for the 2023-24 coverage season.
Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Klingman, Sam Janicki, TheMat.com, Baschamania, Leandra Harasta and Madie Brink are this year’s group of awards recipients. “I’m thrilled with our voter turnout, with over 70 percent of the membership taking the time to vote for their peers,” said NWMA President Jason Bryant. “Three categories were incredibly close, reflecting the exceptional quality of all the finalists. This year’s group is well deserving of their recognition, as were all the finalists.”
“The Class of 2024 award recipients have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields of media and have provided invaluable contributions to help shape the narrative of wrestling over the past year. On behalf of the NWMA, I’m proud to recognize these individuals’ achievements and am thankful for their leadership within our sport,” said Richard Immel, NWMA Vice President.
Broadcaster of the Year – Jordan Burroughs, ESPN/NBC Sports
World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs provided color commentary for two of the biggest championships in the world – the NCAA Division I championships and the Olympic Games. Burroughs was alongside ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Mike Couzens and fellow Olympian and analyst Daniel Cormier on ESPN’s broadcast of the NCAA championships. He joined longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Jason Knapp for the Olympic Games. This is Burroughs’ first award from the NWMA.
Journalist of the Year – Kyle Klingman, Flosports
One of the most respected writers in the sport for over two decades, Kyle Klingman created a college wrestling women’s beat at Flowrestling that is unmatched in the sport. Weekly recaps, recruiting information and now a weekly video podcast with longtime women’s wrestling supporter and parent Scott Beck are all part of Klingman’s arsenal. Klingman also routinely features interviews from notable names across all age levels in women’s wrestling. Klingman was previously named WIN Magazine’s Journalist of the Year in 2008. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/22/national-wrestling-coaches-association-national-wrestling-media-association-announces-2023-24-award-recipients.aspx
Heart to Add Three Women’s Wrestling Programs
The Heart of America Athletic Conference proudly announces the addition of three new programs that will compete in women’s wrestling in the conference.
Full member Graceland University announced that it will be adding women’s wrestling in the 2025-26 academic year.
Bismarck State (N.D.) will be joining the NAIA in its first year in 2025-26 and will be competing in the Heart in 2025-26 in women’s wrestling, while Bellevue (Neb.) will be adding the sport of women’s wrestling and will join the Heart in 2026-27.
The inclusion the three new schools enriches the conference’s women’s wrestling membership, bringing the total number of members to ten:
Baker University
Bellevue University (Neb.)
Bismarck State College (N.D.)
Central Methodist University
Dickinson State (N.D.)
Graceland
Grand View
Missouri Valley
William Penn
William Woods
“We are thrilled to welcome Bismarck State College and Bellevue University to the Heart of America Athletic Conference as affiliate members in women’s wrestling,” said Heart Commissioner, Nik Rule. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/22/national-wrestling-coaches-association-heart-to-add-three-womens-wrestling-programs.aspx
National Duals, conference schedules create significant change in Mid-Major Top 20
Manheim, Pennsylvania – Northern Iowa, fresh off its championship in the Division I bracket at the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals, remained No. 1 in the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Mid-Major Top 20 released on Wednesday.
The Panthers (9-0) defeated South Dakota State (10-3) in the Division I finals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls two weeks ago. Little Rock (13-2) finished third and Northern Colorado (7-4) fourth.
Army West Point (6-1) moved into the top five for the first time this season. Drexel, Central Michigan and North Dakota State all moved into the Top 20 after being unranked in the season’s first Mid-Major poll.
Northern Iowa, Cornell, South Dakota State, Little Rock and Army West Point and Lehigh are all ranked in the Top 25 in the NWCA Men’s Wrestling Division I Coaches Poll. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/22/ncaa-division-1-men-national-duals-conference-schedules-create-significant-change-in-mid-major-top-20.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
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