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InterMat’s Top Wrestling Stories for 2025

We’ve only got a few hours left in 2025 and are ready to look forward to a big 2026. Before changing the calendar (or letting it update on your phone), let’s take a quick look back at some of the biggest wrestling-related stories of the year for InterMat. Please let us know if you have some that we might have missed!
10. Ohio State wins National Duals Invitational
The college wrestling needs more juice. We need events that excite and energize the fanbases, creating arguments and debate, and hypotheticals. Those things are healthy. It needs to be more than just focusing on those three days in March.
The National Duals Invitational came along and filled that void very nicely. Coming into the event, one of the main storylines was whether or not Oklahoma State’s freshman-laden lineup could win it all. Maybe Nebraska could build off their second-place finish at nationals in 2025. Or trusty Iowa.
What happened was Ohio State’s lightweights blitzed the field and the Buckeyes disposed of Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa. Nic Bouzakis debuted at 125 lbs, Ben Davino beat a returning national finalist, and Jesse Mendez prevailed in an NCAA finals rematch.
And for the 400 lb elephant in the room (or not in the room), Penn State. The Nittany Lions declined an invitation to participate. Their absence spurred plenty of debate between fans on social media and on the message board- maybe they should go in the future vs. why do they need to go, would it be better with them or without them, do they have an obligation to go? Those were all questions thrown around by fans in the days leading up to the event and in the aftermath. Whichever side you fall on in the debates, just the conversation and interest is good for our sport.

9. Recruiting/NIL/Transfer Portal
This is a bit of a catch-all for a couple of different topics. Basically, the new-era of collegiate sports wrapped up into one point. Like the “Penn State at National Duals Invitational” topic, you may not agree with one side in the debate; however, there are plenty of people interested in the overall conversation.
As someone who looks at the metrics of articles and social media, recruiting battles, recruiting flips, NIL rumors, and transfer decisions move the needle.
Some of the important stories of the year related to these categories are:

  • Bo Bassett’s recruiting graphic/commitment to Iowa/decommitment and signing with Virginia Tech.
  • The Hokies, along with Oklahoma State, Penn State, Iowa, and Cornell amassing huge recruiting classes.
  • Three 2025 NCAA DI champions transferred in the prior offseason.
  • The game of musical chairs at 184 lbs with the Rocco Welsh/Zack Ryder transfers.
  • The potential for Jax Forrest to join the Oklahoma State team instead of finishing his final HS season.
  • Some notable transfers are not faring as well in their new homes.
  • The portal helped make Iowa State into a top-three team after missing the top 20 in Philly.

8. Iowa State finally wins the CyHawk Dual
For the first time since 2004, Iowa State has beaten their in-state rivals, Iowa, in dual meet competition. Iowa head coach Tom Brands had been in his current position since 2006-07 … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/intermats-top-wrestling-stories-for-2025-r100729/

January 4, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

#6 Lander Dominates King 38-6 to Open 2026

GREENWOOD – In a rematch of last season’s Conference Carolinas Championship match, the sixth-ranked Lander Wrestling team opened the 2026 calendar year in dominant fashion with a 38-6 win over King on Friday night inside Horne Arena.
The Bearcats won eight of ten bouts, with seven coming by bonus-point margin, as Lander controlled the dual from the opening whistle.
Kaden Kuenzi got the Blue and Gold rolling immediately at 125, needing just 45 seconds to record a first-period pin and give Lander (11-0, 4-0 CC) a 6-0 lead. #6 James Joplin and #1 Elijah Lusk followed with back-to-back major decisions at 133 and 141 to stretch the advantage to 14-0.
King (5-4, 4-2 CC) answered at 149 with a narrow decision to get on the board, but Lander quickly seized control once again. Reid Noble responded with a 19-3 technical fall in 4:06 at 157 before #2 David Hunsberger added an 18-1 tech fall in 4:28 at 165 to make it 24-4 through six matches. At 174, Sean Crews battled tightly with fourth-ranked Clint Morrisette, falling just short in a 4-2 decision.
Lander clinched the dual at 184 as #8 Dylan Kohn breezed to a 15-0 second-period technical fall, pushing the Bearcats past the 30-point mark. #14 Marvelous Rutledge added another hard-fought win at 197, securing a 4-1 sudden-victory decision over the 15th-ranked wrestler in the weight class, before #13 Isaac Sheeren closed the night in emphatic fashion with a first-period pin (2:06) at heavyweight.
Lander now turns its attention to the NWCA National Duals, … more at … https://landerbearcats.com/news/2026/1/2/wrestling-6-lander-dominates-king-38-6-to-open-2026.aspx
And …

Coker Cruises to a 40-7 Win Over Allen
Mason Moody, Frank Bianco, Benjamin Newton, and Hunter Miller all put 6 points on the board for the Cobras

Hartsville, S.C.: The Cobras started the new year with a win over conference rivals Allen University. The Coker won with a commanding score of 40-7. … more at … https://www.cokercobras.com/sports/wrest/2025-26/releases/20260102npgy95
And …

Maroon wrestling opens 2026 with 51-0 win over Penn College
The Facts:
Score: Roanoke 51, Penn College 0
Location: Front Royal, Va. – Skyline High School 
The Short story: The Roanoke College wrestling team quickly defeated Penn College 51-0 Thursday in a non-conference dual hosted at Skyline High School in Front Royal, Va.
The Maroons had two pins and six technical falls.
Roanoke is No. 5 this week in theopenmat.com dual rankings and are No. 6 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Poll.
How it happened:  
*The Maroons opened with three-straight technical falls to go ahead 15-0. … more at … https://roanokemaroons.com/news/2026/1/1/wrestling-maroon-wrestling-opens-2026-with-51-0-win-over-penn-college.aspx

January 4, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment