Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Steveson Makes History with Fourth Big Ten Title

EVANSTON, Ill. – Minnesota’s Gable Steveson made history with his fourth career conference championship as the 2025 Big Ten Championships wrapped up Sunday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.
Steveson became the first heavyweight in Big Ten history to win four titles, and he became just the 19th wrestler to accomplish the feat overall. The only other Gopher to do so was Verne Gagne, who recorded wins in 1944 and 1947-49. 
As a team, Minnesota finished in fourth place with 108.5 points, equaling its best finish under head coach Brandon Eggum, after also reaching fourth in 2019. Penn State won the team title with 181.5 points, followed by Nebraska (137) and Iowa (112).
Steveson’s title win came over the defending national champion and fellow undefeated Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State. Steveson had takedowns in each period on his way to a 10-3 decision, snapping Kerkvliet’s 38-match win streak dating to the 2023 NCAA Championship match. Steveson has yet to be taken down this season and he’s now 6-0 this year against top-10 opponents and 14-0 overall. It was Steveson’s 66th straight victory, passing Dustin Schlatter for the second longest win streak in program history. The record belongs to Cole Konrad at 76 from 2005-07.
Steveson, who was named First Team All-Big Ten and Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships, was one of three Gophers to make the finals Sunday night.
In a battle of undefeated wrestlers at 184 pounds, redshirt freshman Max McEnelly was dealt the first loss of his collegiate career in an overtime battle against top-ranked and four-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci of Penn State. McEnelly, a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree, had won the first 35 matches of his career, including 15 last year in a redshirt season.
It was McEnelly who struck first, scoring the opening takedown for a 3-1 lead … more at … https://gophersports.com/news/2025/3/9/wrestling-steveson-makes-history-with-fourth-big-ten-title

March 11, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Iowa Finishes 3rd at Big Ten Championships

The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team finished in third place at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
EVANSTON, Illinois – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team finished in third place at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Iowa dropped all three finals bouts in Session IV.  “We are heading to Philadelphia,” said head coach Tom Brands. “I think you have to be looking forward. You evaluate, you look forward, you get better. You have to really look forward to the competition, not just because the date is on the calendar, but because you are excited to compete at the National Championships.” 
No. 1 seed Drake Ayala finished as runner-up at 125 pounds losing to second-seeded Lucas Byrd of Illinois via fall, 3:16. 
Second-seeded Michael Caliendo dropped a 4-1 decision at 165 pounds to the No. 1 seed Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink. 
At 197, No. 1 seed Stephen Buchanan lost a 4-2 decision to No. 3 seed Jacob Cardenas of Michigan. 
The Hawkeyes won three placement matches. No. 7 seed Ben Kueter finished in third after defeating No. 3 seed Joshua Heindselman of Michigan, 2-1. 
In fifth place matches, fourth seed Patrick Kennedy pinned No. 12 seed Maryland’s Branson John in 1:59 at 174 and No. 4 Seed Gabe Arnold defeated No. 3 seed Silas Allred of Nebraska, 4-3. 
No. 2 seed Kyle Parco dropped the 149 third place match to No. 1 seed Shayne Van Ness of Penn State, 13-0.  
Fourth seed Jacori Teemer finished in seventh earlier in the day defeating No. 9 Chase Saldate of Michigan, 8-3 … more at …

March 11, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lovett and Hardy B1G Champs, Huskers Take Second

Evanston, Ill. – Ridge Lovett (149) and Brock Hardy (141) claimed Big Ten Championships on Sunday evening, highlighting the Nebraska wrestling campaign for its second-place team finish. The Huskers wrapped the two-day tournament with 137 points, the most ever recorded by Nebraska in a conference tournament.
Lovett secured his second-straight title, the first Husker to do so since Robert Kokesh in 2014 and 2015. Lovett and Hardy’s wins made the duo the first in 11 years to bring home multiple champions for the Big Red (2014 – James Green and Kokesh). 
The runner-up Big Ten finish for the team is the highest since finishing second in 2020.
Four Huskers placed above their designated pre-seeds, No. 7 Camden McDanel in fifth, No. 3 Lenny Pinto in second and No. 3 seeds Hardy and Lovett taking home titles. Nine represented Nebraska on their respective podiums, and punched their tickets for the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., with automatic qualifications. 
No. 7 Caleb Smith opened the championship bouts in Evanston, facing No. 8 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) in the final at 125. The Nittany Lion struck first, putting three on the board with a takedown in the first period. Smith used an escape to notch a point, and earned two more from PSU penalties, but with an extra escape from Lilledahl, the Husker fell after 7:00. Smith took two ranked wins en-route to his runner-up finish and will continue his postseason campaign in Philadelphia.
In the 141 final, No. 6 Hardy took on No. 8 Vance Vombaur (MINN). Hardy did not take long to strike with a takedown, but followed through to pin the Gopher in 1:59. The championship fall was the Husker’s fifth of the season, and his 50th career bonus-point win. Hardy leaves Evanston a Big Ten Champion, and an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships.
Going for back-to-back Big Ten titles, Lovett met Kannon Webster (ILL) on the mat at 149. The pair tussled, but in the end an escape from the Husker made the decision after regulation. Lovett won by 1-0 decision, becoming the first Husker since Kokesh in 2015 to claim consecutive Big Ten titles. The senior’s victory in the final also made it the first time in 11 years that the Big Red had two champions. … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2025/03/9/lovett-and-hardy-b1g-champs-huskers-take-second

March 11, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment

Penn State w/ five champs, wins team title at the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championship

EVANSTON, Ill. — Back in 2011, at the old Welsh Ryan Arena, Penn State crowned five individual champs and held off Iowa to win the Big Ten tournament. It was the first conference tournament team title ever for the Nittany Lions, who crowned five champs that weekend and beat the Hawkeyes by a single point, 139-138.
Fourteen years later, Penn State returned to Evanston, this time at the new Welsh Ryan Arena. The script was similar, as the Nittany Lions finished with five individual Big Ten champs again — only this time, the team race wasn’t nearly as close as it was all those years ago.
When Sunday’s action finished, top-ranked Penn State piled up 181.5 team points to win the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. It is the school’s third-straight Big Ten tournament team title, and ninth all-time, under head coach Cael Sanderson. “It feels great,” Sanderson, the 2024-25 Big Ten Coach of the Year, said afterward. “It’s obviously a very exciting tournament with a lot of great competition. Nationals are in two weeks, so we’ll sharpen our sticks a little bit and get ready for the nationals. “We’re very happy right now.”
Penn State finished with five individual champs — Luke Lilledahl (125), Tyler Kasak (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Levi Haines (174), Carter Starocci (184) — and had all 10 wrestlers finish sixth or better at their respective weights. The 181.5 team points is the most by a Big Ten team champion since Iowa put up 185 in both 1995 and 1992.
The Nittany Lions finished 44.5 points clear of second-place Nebraska, which finished with two champs, Brock Hardy (141) and Ridge Lovett (149). The Huskers had two more finalists and five wrestlers total finish fourth or better at their respective weights. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/march/09/penn-state-finishes-with-five-champs-wins-team-title-at-the-2025-big-ten-wrestling-championship
And …

Nittany Lions Storm to 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championship
Penn State wins ninth team title as five Lions claim individual crowns.
EVANSTON, Ill.  – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team (15-0, 8-0 B1G) stormed the field at the 2025 Big Ten Championship to claim its ninth Big Ten Championship, all under head coach Cael Sanderson. The Nittany Lions ran away from the field, winning the title with 181.5 points, a new school record (breaking the mark of 170.5 set last year). Five Nittany Lions won individual titles, also tying a school record.
Penn State has qualified all ten of its wrestlers for the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia in two weeks on March 20-22, 2025. All rankings listed are InterMat as of March 4, 2025. Penn State’s 181.5 points were 44.5 points in front of second place Nebraska’s 137.0. Iowa took third with 112.0.
This is Penn State’s ninth conference championship, having also won in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Penn State now has 69 Big Ten Champions spread among 37 individuals. Penn State’s five champions ties the school record, set in 2024 and 2011. Carter Starocci was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. He is Penn State’s 13th Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. Cael Sanderson was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the ninth time. … more at … https://gopsusports.com/news/2025/03/10/nittany-lions-storm-to-2025-big-ten-wrestling-championship

March 11, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Rankings

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Once the final TDR TOP 12 Rankings for the boys are posted we will correct the layout of columns and ranks with the Girl’s TDR Top 12 Rankings that have been posted below.
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March 10, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Final Girls Rankings 100-114 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of After Regionals/Before State. 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts for just $10! Columns L-R Prev., Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, grad. year, wins, losses, percent.
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RnkWght.NameTeamGr.W.L.Pct.
1100Ockerman, AnnaCorinth-Holders25221####
2100Johnson, IzabellaCroatan28305####
3100Ayala-Garcia, AngelicaManteo263790.804
4100Cook, AspenNorth Brunswick251630.842
5100Rivers, KayleeEastern Wayne272150.808
6100Van Pelt, CharlotteJacksonville283450.872
7100Vee, AlainaSwansboro2827120.692
8100Davis, BryleeRosewood281990.679
12100Fuller, RowanHeritage281030.769
1107Reese, KhiryRosewood273920.951
2107Hijawi, ZainabSouth Central262330.885
3107Simmons, KatieLaney253150.861
4107Cline, RyleighSwansboro2727150.643
5107Austin, AlissaFirst Flight282150.808
6107Morrow, BrookeBunn2526100.722
7107Wallace, MakaylaAyden-Grifton272060.769
7107Moore, MadelineWake Forest2624110.686
12107McKethan, ColbyPasquotank County262270.759
1114Scales, AhriannaPasquotank County25405####
2114Miller, AdriannaSouthwest Onslow272040.833
3114Garcia, AbbyHavelock2829110.725
4114Shipley, HaydenJacksonville2826100.722
5114Vindigni, JulianneCleveland2739120.765
6114Smith, PeytonJacksonville2730120.714
7114Durham, HelenWakefield2828120.700
8114Sanders, MajestyWake Forest2622110.667
9114Smith, Kris’anaAyden-Gifton251690.640
12114Lee, AngelNorth Lenoir272560.806
12114Lebui, CatherineWest Brunswick281440.778

March 10, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Final Girls Rankings 120-132 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of After Regionals/Before State. 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts for just $10! Columns L-R Prev., Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, grad. year, wins, losses, percent.
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1120Simpson, SkylaFirst Flight27232####
2120Vindigni, AddisonCleveland255710.983
3120Ready, OliviaHavelock253420.944
4120Hirkala, MariellaSwansboro253680.818
5120Barrett, JordynTopsail271030.769
6120Mercer, JoBunn2519120.613
7120Aguirre-Gomez, GabriellaManteo2735110.761
8120Odom, TriniteeHeidi Trask252450.828
9120Ipanaque, JulianaWake Forest281380.619
10120Belangia, KoriCurrituck Co.272390.719
12120Ballard, ClaireNew Bern2730100.750
1126Snow, KennedleHavelock254540.918
2126Hall, LaurenHeidi Trask262230.880
3126Johnson, LaNauticaVance County2627100.730
4126Harper, DianeaPasquotank County252460.800
5126Brewer, AbigailCleveland2734150.694
6126Holton, MyrezzaManteo263490.791
7126Whitley, MacynDixon262170.750
8126Wiley, TrinitySouth Brunswick271890.667
9126Chavez, FernandaWest Craven2722100.688
1132Rodriquez, AnabelDixon25395####
2132Murillo, BellaFike253370.825
3132Kiser, MiaLaney2633100.767
4132Lavigne, MiaWhite Oak2735150.700
5132Almedia-Torres, KeyaraCleveland2536110.766
6132Collinis, AydelynSwansboro2829140.674
7132Potter, MikaylahCorinth-Holders2819110.633
8132Beaver, MirellHeritage262490.727
9132Vita, KrisaSouth Brunswick251060.625
12132Sommer, CharliWest Carteret271420.875

March 10, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Final Girls Rankings 138-152 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of After Regionals/Before State. 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts for just $10! Columns L-R Prev., Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, grad. year, wins, losses, percent.
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1138Ross, Ay’SeanteLaney25362####
2138Campbell, IsabellaHavelock253390.786
3138Ross, CeliaDixon254090.816
4138Mitchell, ZedyaSouth Central261880.692
5138Vargus, GabrielaLejeune252670.788
6138Hernandez, LincyVance County251260.667
7138Padilla, LexiWest Craven281870.720
8138McCoy, JamesonRosewood2823110.676
1145Bane, FaithNew Bern26380####
2145Milbery, MaggieSwansboro252840.875
3145Disbennett, GiovannaDixon2530100.750
4145Hankins, Ma’LayshaNorth Pitt2621110.656
5145Simmons,  SydneyLaney2629130.690
6145Outlaw, ImariAyden-Grifton252050.800
7145Jefferson, KimoraFranklinton251770.708
8145Guzman, LeahCleveland2522140.611
9145Fuentes, CindyWest Brunswick271260.667
12145Vann, JaelahEast Carteret272550.833
1152Pollock,  ElainaLaney25316####
2152Noblees, JymeiaGoldsboro251030.769
3152Tellez, LailaHavelock2839100.796
4152Barrera, TalianaDixon273180.795
5152Fraser, ToriNorth Pitt262430.889
6152Boychuck, EmmaSwansboro2728110.718
7152O’Neal, Jah-QuierrahFike252070.741
8152Cruz, AdiannaManteo271960.760
9152Dellinger, HaleighFairmont262350.821
12152Reyes, AshleyBunn261960.760

March 10, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TDR Top 12 – Final Girls Rankings 165-235 lbs.

Editor’s Notes; The TakeDown Report’s Top 120 female wrestlers in eastern North Carolina rankings as of After Regionals/Before State. 3rd season of TDR Top 12 rankings and awards for girl wrestlers and the 28th season for boys. We welcome input from coaches, fans and wrestlers. We will recognize the top wrestlers with engraved wooden plaques for the 21st year with the ‘duck under’ logo. We also have TDR T-Shirts for just $10! Columns L-R Prev., Rank, Weight, wrestler, school, grad. year, wins, losses, percent.
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1165Alasin, Evangline (Evie)Northeastern262960.829East
2165Harris, KyndalHavelock2630200.600East
3165Gebremichael, RohamaWakefield253950.886East
4165Yopp, EmmaSouth Brunswick262360.793East
5165Gillihan, EdelleAshley252250.815East
6165McCarthy, KellySwansboro2629120.707East
7165Ward, LilyWake Forest282790.750East
8165Wilson, JailahRichlands252050.800East
9165Daniels, NikiaAyden-Gifton252250.815East
10165Valerin, LaynieCleveland2733110.750East
12165Seal, MadisonCurrituck Co.272380.742East
12165Lilley, BaileyBunn262290.710East
1185Gause, LaNeshaLaney273240.889East
2185Abba, BellaWakefield283390.786East
3185Brake, CaraNorthern Nash262090.690East
4185Ferlin, EmmaHavelock2531100.756East
5185Clark, AziahRichlands262380.742East
6185Soto-Ramos, IngridBunn262160.778East
7185Livesay, ZoeCurrituck Co.261890.667East
8185Bowman, BrilelleDixon272940.879East
9185Guzman, SamanthaAyden-Grifton251240.750East
10185Hernandez-Mares, LincyManteo261690.640East
12185Munoz, LisetteNorth Pitt2625180.581East
1235Marshall, SophiaRosewood253410.971East
2235Barden, LeslieLaney26305####East
3235Christiansen, AlijahAshley261650.762East
4235Reil, GabriellaSwansboro2728100.737East
5235Daley, AveryNew Bern2827110.711East
6235Outlaw, AuriyannaAyden-Grifton272230.880East
7235Lee, Le’NessaLouisburg281340.765East
8235Hurlburt, KylaSouth Brunswick271570.682East
9235Vinson, MaleaWhite Oak253020.938East


March 9, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | | Leave a comment

Pre-Seeds and Brackets Announced for the 2025 ACC Wrestling Championship

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced the pre-seeds and brackets for the upcoming 2025 ACC Wrestling Championship, which will be held this Sunday, March 9, at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  
Five teams had at least one wrestler earn a No. 1 seed, led by Virginia Tech with four top seeds, including 2024 NCAA National Champion and 2023 ACC Champion Caleb Henson at 149 pounds. The other three Hokies to earn a top seed were Eddie Ventresca at 125 pounds, Sam Latona at 141 pounds and Rafael Hipolito at 157 pounds. Latona was the 2021 ACC Champion at 125 pounds.  
North Carolina, which shared the 2024 ACC Regular Season Dual Meet Championship with both Virginia Tech and NC State, had two wrestlers seeded No. 1 in Ethan Oakley at 133 pounds and Joshua Ogunsanya at 174 pounds. NC State, the six-time defending ACC Champions, had one No. 1 seed in Isaac Trumble at 285 pounds.  
The other three No. 1 seeds came by way of Stanford’s Hunter Garvin at 165 pounds and Pitt’s Reece Heller and Mac Stout at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively.  
The two-time defending 133-pound champion Kai Orine of NC State is the No. 4 seed in the weight class this year, while fellow two-time champion (2022 and 2025) Ed Scott of the Wolfpack is the No. 2 seed at 157 pounds for this year’s championship. The 165-pound defending champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler at last year’s championship in Virginia’s Nick Hamilton is the No. 2 seed at that weight this year, while the 184-pound defending champion in Virginia Tech’s Thomas Stewart, Jr. came in at the No. 4 seed in the weight class this year.  
ACC pre-seeds for this year’s tournament were generated by WrestleStat.com and a vote of the league’s seven head coaches.  With seven competing teams in the ACC this year with the addition of Stanford, the No. 1 seeds will get a bye into the quarterfinals at all 10 weight classes.  
The complete 2025 ACC Wrestling Championship Brackets … more at … https://theacc.com/news/2025/3/4/pre-seeds-and-brackets-announced-for-the-2025-acc-wrestling-championship.aspx

March 7, 2025 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment