World-champion wrestler sues NCAA over eligibility to compete for Iowa State
Student says NCAA ‘five-year clock’ violates antitrust laws
A world-champion Cuban wrestler, Reineri Andreu Ortega, is suing the National Collegiate Athletic Association over rules that he says have unfairly barred him from wrestling for Iowa State University.
The lawsuit was filed this week by lawyers for Ortega, a student and prospective college wrestler at ISU, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s so-called “Five-Year Eligibility Clock” and the manner in which the NCAA decides when that clock begins running and thus when a student’s eligibility to compete expires.
Attorneys for Ortega argue that the NCAA’s application of the rule violates antitrust laws and unjustifiably restrains the ability of Ortega and other college athletes to “earn meaningful compensation that is now available to (other) NCAA Division I athletes.”
The lawsuit has its origins in a 2021 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that paved the way for college athletes to receive compensation for use of their names, images, and likenesses. Since then, the market for name, image and likeness compensation opportunities available to NCAA Division I athletes has “exploded into a multi-million dollar industry,” the lawsuit claims.
However, the lawsuit adds, that form of compensation is largely available only to NCAA Division I athletes. Athletes who compete outside of what the lawsuit calls “the NCAA monopoly” have no meaningful opportunity to collect revenue-sharing income or profit from their name, image or likeness.
Under NCAA bylaws, an athlete has five years of eligibility to play four seasons of “intercollegiate competition” in his or her chosen sport. … more at … https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/16/world-champion-wrestler-sues-ncaa-over-eligibility-to-compete-for-iowa-state/
Men’s College Notebook: Penn State Seeks History at Collegiate Duals
The top three ranked teams in this week’s NWCA DI Men’s Coaches Poll will all be in the same gym competing in duals this weekend, as Nashville plays host to the annual Collegiate Duals.
#1 Penn State, #2 Ohio State and #3 Iowa State will all be in action. #10 Illinois makes it four of the nation’s top-10 teams. While #17 Cornell, #19 Lehigh and #23 Stanford make it seven top-25 teams among the nine participating schools.
The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and all matches can be streamed on FloWrestling.
Here is the complete schedule of duals:
Collegiate Duals Schedule on Saturday, December 20
- 3 p.m. (ET) – #23 Stanford vs North Dakota State
- 5 p.m. (ET) – #1 Penn State vs North Dakota State
- 7 p.m. (ET) – #1 Penn State vs #23 Stanford
Collegiate Duals Schedule on Sunday, December 21
- 2 p.m. (ET) – #2 Ohio State vs Little Rock
- 2 p.m. (ET) – #17 Cornell vs #10 Illinois
- 4 p.m. (ET) – #2 Ohio State vs #3 Iowa State
- 4 p.m. (ET) – #19 Lehigh vs #10 Illinois … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/december/18/men-s-college-notebook-penn-state-seeks-history-at-collegiate-duals
NCAA DI Rankings Updated (12/16/2025)
All in all, we didn’t have too crazy of a week on the rankings front. With many teams out of action due to last week’s CKLV and possibly exams, there was a lighter schedule than in previous weeks.
A couple of notes about the rankings this week:
For the individual wrestlers’ records, I’ve tried to mirror the official record used for NCAA seeding and such. Personally, I prefer the previous versions as they were official matches – they just included some that were not used for seeding purposes. Let me know if you have a preference, maybe nobody cares!
For the team race….Carson Kharchla’s win over Matty Singleton and his move from fifth to fourth at 174 lbs helps Ohio State pull within a half point of Penn State. We also saw heavyweight Cole Mirasola drop a bit after his loss to Christian Carroll. The Kharchla/Singleton move also let Patrick Kennedy move up a spot and Iowa also gained some ground (1 point) from last week’s rankings.
As a team, the biggest mover in both duals and tournament format was Oklahoma. They jumped up three spots in both rankings after their two wins in New Jersey (Rider, Rutgers). North Carolina and Northern Iowa didn’t budge much in the tournament rankings, but each moved up a couple of spots in the dual rankings after good wins last week.
Now, to some individual weight classes.
125 lbs – We flipped Troy Spratley and Jett Strickenberger after Spratley’s win on Sunday.
Cooper Flynn drops a bit after an 0-2 Friday. One of the opponents who beat him, Bridger Ricks, is knocking on the door for a spot in the top 33.
133 lbs – We added Ronnie Ramirez in place of Richie Figueroa for the first time. Dylan Shawver tumbles to #20 after a loss to Drexel’s Kyle Waterman. At this point, Shawver’s only ranked win is #31 Troy Hohman and he has losses to Waterman and Evan Mougalian. Waterman has a limited resume this year and a loss to #33 Javaan Yarbrough. If he keeps winning, he could make the top 33.
141 lbs – #1 Mendez teched #6 Ryan Jack. At this point, I don’t think there’s a good spot to move Jack down to. The three wrestlers behind him haven’t necessarily warranted a top-five ranking based on anything of late. Jack’s three losses have come to #1 Mendez, #2 Vega, #5 Olivieri. Dario Lemus drops a few spots after a loss to Briar Priest. … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/ncaa-di-rankings-updated-12162025-r100702/
And …
2025-26 NCAA DI Wrestling Rankings
P4P – Mitchell Mesenbrink
There were no changes in the pound-for-pound in this set of the rankings.
If you have any questions, we welcome and encourage your feedback. Hit up Jon Kozak (email: Jonathan.Kozak@flosports.tv; X: @KozakJon) and JD Rader (email: jd.rader@flosports.tv; X: @rader_jd). … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/rankings/14300895-2025-26-ncaa-di-wrestling-rankings/55198-p4p-mitchell-mesenbrink
And …
WIN’s Dec. 16 updated Tournament Power Index, Top-20 Dual Teams and Individual Rankings
NEWTON, Iowa — WIN’s Dec. 16 updated Tournament Power Index (TPI), Top-20 Dual Teams and Individual Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic, set the scene for an action-packed weekend slate that boasts the Journeymen Collegiate Duals, set for Dec. 20-21 in Nashville, Tenn. Of WIN’s Top-20 Dual Teams, seven will participate in the event, including the Top-3 teams in Penn State, Iowa State and Ohio State. The latter two, Iowa State and Ohio State, will face off on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. ET.
Additionally, another Top-10 dual-meet matchup looms, as No. 5 Oklahoma State travels to Lincoln, Neb. to take on No. 6 Nebraska on Sunday, Dec. 21.
The Tournament Power Index remained the same this week in terms of the Top 20 teams. Penn State remained No. 1, while Iowa State, Ohio State, Iowa and Oklahoma State rounded out the Top 5, respectively. WIN’s TPI projects where programs could finish at the 2026 NCAA Division I Championships, which will be held March 19-21 in Cleveland.
The following is a breakdown of those individual TPI points per ranking: 20 for 1st, 16 for 2nd, 13.5 for 3rd, 12.5 for 4th, 10 for 5th, 9 for 6th, 6.5 for 7th and 5.5 for 8th. Wrestlers ranked 9-12 earn two points each, followed by one and a half points for wrestlers ranked 13-16 and one point for those ranked 17-20. Penn State features five top-ranked wrestlers with Nittany Lions Shayne Van Ness (149), PJ Duke (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/12/16/wins-dec-16-updated-tournament-power-index-top-20-dual-teams-and-individual-rankings/
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Opens Executive Director Search
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum (NWHOF) is the preeminent institution dedicated to preserving the history of wrestling, celebrating its greatest contributors, and inspiring future generations to achieve excellence, on and off the mat.
Founded in 1976, the vision of the NWHOF is to be the definitive steward and champion of wrestling history and achievement while honoring athletes, coaches, officials, and contributors who embody the sport’s core values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and service.
Headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, and 37 state chapters nationwide, the NWHOF serves as both the historical heart and cultural ambassador of the sport. Its mission is to preserve wrestling history, recognize extraordinary achievement and inspire greatness.
As the sport continues to evolve and grow, the NWHOF remains committed to expanding the visibility of wrestling, and ensuring that wrestling’s timeless lessons of hard work, humility, and honor are shared across the United States and around the world.
The Board of Governors seeks a passionate and credible Champion of the NWHOF’s vision, mission and values who will steward the institution’s legacy while propelling it into a new era of innovation, growth, and impact. The Executive Director will serve as the public face and chief spokesperson for the NWHOF and will oversee all aspects of the organization’s operations, including the Stillwater and Waterloo museums, state chapters, finances, staff, programs, and donor relations. This executive will be responsible … more at … https://nwhof.org/news/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-opens-executive-director-search
Mendez-Led Buckeyes Thinking Big After Fast Start
Thanks in part to the influence of two-time NCAA champ Jesse Mendez, the Ohio State Buckeyes are chasing big goals.
It might be natural to assume the 2025-26 campaign has Ohio State coach Tom Ryan flying high.
His Buckeyes are undefeated (8-0), his lightweights are performing at podium-in-March levels and there’s plenty of chatter in the wrestling world about how good this group of the scarlet and gray-clad grapplers can be. It’s not an overly bold notion to predict that two undefeated programs will clash in two months when Penn State hosts Ohio State in February.
Ryan won’t make such predictions. Despite opening eyes at the National Duals Invitational — where the Buckeyes handled Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa on their way to the title — Ryan insists on staying in each current moment. “That stuff is for fans, and it’s fun for them,” Ryan said. “But, as cliché as it sounds, we’re focused on the now, trusting our process, staying inside our system. Nothing’s changed.” Ryan spoke of his team’s need to be ready for Sunday’s showdown with Iowa State, calling the retooled, transfer-laden Cyclones “tough” and saying they “pulled in some really good kids this year.”
There’s a lot of season left and many big challenges are still ahead of the Buckeyes, which Ryan is well aware. Looking down the road, though, does he believe this Ohio State team is capable of taking down Penn State for the national title in March? … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14984821-mendez-led-buckeyes-thinking-big-after-fast-start
Davidson ‘Cats Defeat Presbyterian in League Opener; Fall to Frankin & Marshall
CLINTON, S.C. – Highlighted by a 21-9 victory in its Southern Conference Opener, Davidson finished 1-1 Thursday at Presbyterian’s Quad-Dual inside Templeton Gymnasium.
Following their win over the Blue Hose, the Wildcats dropped a 25-13 decision to Franklin & Marshall to move to 3-6 overall.
Against Presbyterian, Davidson won six of the first seven weight classes by decision to all but put the dual out of reach.
Dylan Smith, who finished the day 2-0 in his first dual action of the season, put the final points on the board for the Wildcats with a 10-8 win over Toler Hornick.
Brady Joling (125), Anderson Heap (149) and Marc Koch (174) also finished the day with a pair of wins. Davidson 21, Presbyterian 9
Clinton, S.C. | Templeton Gymnasium 125 – Brady Joling (DAV) over Brayden Adams (PC) by Decision, 3-0
133 – Luke Passarelli (DAV) over Fernando Dominguez (PC) by Decision, 15-10
141 – Ryan Luna (PC) over Marley Washington (DAV) by Decision, 2-0 … more at … https://davidsonwildcats.com/news/2025/12/18/wrestling-cats-defeat-presbyterian-in-league-opener-fall-to-frankin-marshall
USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender Receives 2025 George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award
Dec 17, 2025, 2:21 PM EST
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Rich Bender receives 2025 George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, pictured alongside Susanne Lyons, Haley Steinbrenner Swindal and William J. Hybl.
USA Wrestling is proud to recognize Rich Bender, its Executive Director of nearly 25 years, as the recipient of the prestigious George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award, which is presented by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Endowment as one-of-four annual awards given out by the organization.
The George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award honors individuals who have made sustained and meaningful contributions to sports within the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Recipients of this award demonstrate exceptional communication and leadership skills that personify excellence, advancing sport at both the national and international levels.
Bender is the longest-serving executive director in USA Wrestling history, taking over the position in 2001. Under his leadership, USA Wrestling has earned 33 Olympic medals and well over 100 World Championship medals, and reached historic milestones, including the first U.S. women’s Olympic wrestling champion. He also oversaw record membership growth, strengthened financial stability, and advanced international governance and rule development.
Joining Bender as USOPE awards recipients for 2025 were … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/december/17/usa-wrestling-executive-director-rich-bender-receives-2025-george-m-steinbrenner-iii-sport-leadership-award
Davis Takes Home Second SoCon Wrestler of The Week Award
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Per release from the league office and after a 2-0 individual weekend, redshirt sophomore T.K. Davis of the Gardner-Webb wrestling team has been named SoCon Wreslter of The Week once again.
The Rockmart, Ga. native continued an excellent season for GWU at the Buffalo Tri-Meet to take his second Wrestler of the Week award of the season. Davis won each of his matches last week, both 19-1 tech falls, beating Buffalo’s Max Elton in 3:28 and was victorious against Kent State’s Nick Molchak in 5:42. Davis is ranked as high as No. 16 nationally in his weight class this week … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2025/12/17/wrestling-davis-takes-home-another-socon-wrestler-of-the-week-award.aspx
Will Denny Named ACC Wrestler of the Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NC State wrestling’s 165 pounder, Will Denny, has been named the ACC Wrestler of the Week, as announced by the conference Tuesday, December 16.
The freshman standout for the Pack added another ranked win under his belt in his first collegiate campaign on Friday after defeating Ohio State’s No. 11 Paddy Gallagher in sudden victory, 6-5.
This marks the second top-15 victory for Denny this season, … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2025/12/17/wrestling-will-denny-named-acc-wrestler-of-the-week
Appalachian State Earns Decisive Victory at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — App State Wrestling won the first seven matches, highlighted by a top-20 victory from Stephan Monchery, and finished with wins at eight of 10 weights in a 31-8 win at Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night.
Monchery gave up the first takedown against No. 19 Connor Barket but won a 6-4 decision, moving ahead 5-3 on a second-period takedown. He finished the period on top and nearly rode out the third period, delivering several powerful mat returns that pleased the large gathering of App State fans.
Eleven months ago, as an inexperienced true freshman, Monchery’s record stood at 11-8 after he was shut out 15-0 in a tech fall loss against Barket. Since that defeat, the reigning SoCon champion has a 20-6 record.
With wrestling starting at 184 pounds on Wednesday, App State (3-4) established a 28-0 lead via victories from Tomas Brooker (18-3 tech fall), Logan Eller (13-8 decision at 197), Monchery, Cooper Foster (17-2 tech fall at 125), Jarvis Little (third-period pin at 133), Aldo Hernandez (2-0 decision at 141) and Brayden Fahrbach (10-4 decision at 149).
A last-second takedown produced a 4-1 decision for Duke (5-4) at 157 pounds, but App State’s Anthony Conetta followed that by building a 6-1 lead in an 8-5 decision at 165. Duke’s other top-25 wrestler, No. 23 Aidan Wallace, … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/12/17/wrestling-earns-decisive-victory-at-duke.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 