Penn State Wrestling Is Having a Remarkable Offseason So Far
After winning their fifth straight NCAA title, the Nittany Lions and Cael Sanderson are maintaining their strong roster.
After winning its fifth straight NCAA wrestling title, Penn State is winning the offseason as well. At least so far.
The NCAA Transfer Portal for wrestling opened April 1, and through the first 10 days, no Nittany Lions have entered. Which is remarkable, considering the program returns enough talent that it could be even better next season. Penn State loses just one starter, returns three undefeated national champions and brings back eight wrestlers who have won All-America honors.
Basically, Penn State’s 10-wrestler starting lineup has one opening, yet no Nittany Lions officially have announced decisions to leave yet. That makes Penn State an outlier in the portal, which closes April 30.
Flowrestling has built an exhaustive transfer tracker listing the dozens of college wrestlers who have entered the portal. Yet none are from Penn State. In fact, Penn State is the only team ranked in InterMat Wrestling’s top 15 without a portal entrant.
“We’re a blessed program. We follow the rules,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland. “There’s not a lot of that going on right now. And that’s one of the reasons we can sleep when the wind blows. We train hard and do the right things to the best of our ability and things will work out.”
“We’re a blessed program. We follow the rules. There’s not a lot of that going on right now, and that’s one of the reasons we can sleep when the wind blows.”
Penn State’s Cael Sanderson after winning his 13th NCAA Wrestling title. pic.twitter.com/LRet5BGyYB— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) March 22, 2026
Penn State broke the scoring record at the NCAA Wrestling Championships for the third consecutive season, finishing with 181.5 team points. Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds), … more at … https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/wrestling/penn-state-wrestling-is-having-a-remarkable-offseason-so-far
Iowa State Adds Women’s Wrestling As 18th Varsity Program
AMES, Iowa – Women’s wrestling will debut as Iowa State University’s 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women’s wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country, to compete at the highest level in the sport,” Pollard said. “This is a great day for wrestling in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University, and we look forward to growing a program under Coach Alli St. John that will build off the historic success of our men’s team.
“As we considered future opportunities for female athletes, it became clear that women’s wrestling offered Iowa State University the best combination of strategic fit, start-up efficiency and growth potential,” he added. “Women’s wrestling is recognized as one of the nation’s fastest growing sports at both the high school and collegiate level, and we are excited to help grow the sport for future generations of young women.”
Identified as an emerging sport in 2020 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all three divisions, the NCAA held its first national championship in the sport last month in Coralville, Iowa. Currently, there are 113 NCAA members that sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, including six at the Division I level—Iowa, Lehigh, Delaware State, Lindenwood, Presbyterian and Sacred Heart with Kent State having announced plans to begin a program in 2027-28. Within the state of Iowa, there are 15 universities and colleges that currently sponsor the sport. “Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director upon the announcement that the sport would become the NCAA’s 91st championship in 2026.
At the high school level, 218 Iowa high schools sponsor women’s wrestling and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union held its fourth state championship … more at … https://cyclones.com/news/2026/4/16/athletics-iowa-state-adds-womens-wrestling-as-18th-varsity-program
Penn State sets NCAA scoring record with four champs; Record four freshmen stand atop podium
by Brian Reinhardt
2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships individual champions.
Penn State and Oklahoma State came into the 2026 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships with high expectations, and both the Nittany Lions and Cowboys are leaving Cleveland with the hardware to prove they are the top two programs in college wrestling.
For the third straight year, Penn State set the team scoring record. In 2024, the Nittany Lions surpassed the long-standing mark of 170 points by Iowa in 1997 when they finished with 172.5 points. Last year, it was 177 points. It was even higher this year, as the Nittany Lions finished with 181.5 points. The other team trophies went to Oklahoma State in second with 131 points, followed by Nebraska in third (100.5) and Iowa in fourth (92.5).
Penn State (four) and Oklahoma State (three) combined for seven of the 10 individual titles. Minnesota also had a national title for the Big Ten Conference. The ACC had two individual champions to round out the top wrestlers at each weight class. The finals started with fireworks as a trio of freshmen took out higher seeds. At 141 pounds, Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) took out two-time defending national champion Jesse Mendez, and at 149 pounds, Aden Valencia (Stanford) got the extra time takedown against top-seed Shayne Van Ness. Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) used a two-point near fall in the second to take out returning national champion Antrell Taylor. Mitchell Mesenbrink defended his title at 165 pounds with a 20-4 tech fall. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/march/21/penn-state-sets-ncaa-scoring-record-with-four-champs-record-four-freshmen-stand-atop-podium
And …
Penn State Re-Establishes Team Scoring Record During 5th Straight Title; Freshmen Shine
Saturday night marked the end of the 2025-26 NCAA DI wrestling season. The championship finals closed the book on what was another excellent national tournament. The tournament had everything you’d hope for in an event of this magnitude. Stars dominating, some unforeseen upsets, and young stars emerging, among other things.
The evening started with some fireworks and unexpected results as Oklahoma State Sergio Vega completed his remarkable true freshman campaign undefeated. The 141-pounder finished the year without having surrendered a takedown. Vega’s opponent, two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez, had multiple opportunities to score but was typically stymied on each occasion by Vega. In the sudden victory overtime period, Mendez got to Vega’s legs again. This time, Mendez was met with a cradle. After a few seconds, Vega lost the hold, but broke Mendez down to his hips for the winning takedown.
The upset in the first match proved to be a sign of things to come just a match later at 149 lbs. Within the first minute of their clash, #10 Aden Valencia took down top-seeded Shayne Van Ness to take an early 3-1 lead. Van Ness bounced back to tie the bout amidst a handful of stoppages due to bloodtime. Undeterred, the redshirt freshman Valencia was able to get his offense in the sudden victory overtime and took the match (and title), 8-5. Valencia became only the third Stanford wrestler to win a national title. There was a high level of familiarity among the next four weight classes as they featured rematches of recent results.
True freshman Landon Robideau was able to reverse the result from the last time that he and 2025 national champion, Antrell Taylor met. … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/penn-state-re-establishes-team-scoring-record-during-5th-straight-title-freshmen-shine-r100909/
OSU First Team in NCAA History with Three Freshman Champs
CLEVELAND – Oklahoma State wrestlers Sergio Vega, Landon Robideau and Jax Forrest won individual titles at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships Saturday, making OSU the first team in history to record three freshman champions in one year at the national tournament.
All true freshmen, they claimed titles at 141, 157 and 133 pounds, respectively. It was just the third time a team has recorded multiple freshman champions, as Cornell College had two true freshmen win in 1947 and Penn State had a true freshman and redshirt freshman win in 2017.
OSU’s title winners were the biggest contributors to OSU’s team total of 131 points, which marked the third-highest score at the event in program history, the second-highest runner-up score in NCAA tournament history and a higher score than 12 of the 25 team champions since the NCAA began using the current placement point values in 2001.
“We had an awesome tournament,” coach David Taylor said. “It’s not something you’re typically proud of (getting second place), but it’s a stepping stone. You think about the progress we’ve made with a lot of young guys in the lineup, so it’s a pretty awesome season. I’m super proud of the guys, our organization, fans and supporters. All that to say, we’re going to keep getting better.”
No Cowboy contributed more than Forrest’s 26 team points, which broke Pat Smith’s 1990 program freshman record of 25 points (applying the current scoring model).
Vega and Forrest, who finished the season at 24-0 and 18-0, respectively, became the first true freshmen since 1947 to complete undefeated championship seasons.
Only four others in history have accomplished the feat, and all of them occurred in 1947 when many true freshmen who were already into their twenties competed after returning from World War II. None of that group, consisting of then-Oklahoma A&M’s Dick Hutton, Iowa’s Joe Scarpello, and Dick Hauser and Lowell Lange of Cornell College, won more than 15 matches.
Vega was the first Cowboy to claim his title, facing two-time defending NCAA champion, top-seeded and undefeated Jesse Mendez of Ohio State in the opening bout of the night.
Each wrestler scored an escape in regulation, and they took a 1-1 tie into sudden victory. Mendez got to a leg with less than thirty seconds remaining in the extra time, but Vega countered as he’s done all season to score a takedown with 22 seconds left and secure his national title. The win cemented a 24-0 season for the true freshman, who did not allow a single takedown all season. “That was awesome,” Vega said. “It hit me right away. It took them a while to call the takedown. It was awesome. I’ve never had a moment like that in my life.”
Fifth-seeded Robideau was the next Cowboy on the mat, facing defending NCAA champion and three-time All-American Antrell Taylor of Nebraska. Robideau opened the scoring with a two-point nearfall 25 seconds into the second period, then added an escape and stalling point in the third. He then held off several late shots from Taylor to secure a 4-2 decision and became OSU’s second true freshman national champion of the night.
Robideau, who has now avenged both of his season losses in this tournament, wraps up his season with a 21-2 overall record. “I was just super thankful,” Robideau said. “First, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After that, I saw my teammates there supporting me. I saw my mom and my brother, and I thought of all the hard work I’d put in to get to that point. Having them there matside, supporting me, means a lot.”
Forrest, who was still in high school for the first semester of this season, wrestled in the main event to close out the tournament. He faced No. 2 Ben Davino of Ohio State in what many considered the final match of the most challenging weight class in the country.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the final period, Forrest used an escape, takedown and more than two minutes of riding time to secure a 5-2 win and cap his historic run. … more at … https://okstate.com/news/2026/3/21/cowboy-wrestling-osu-first-team-in-ncaa-history-with-three-freshman-champs
Penn State wins Big Ten title with seven champs; Ohio State sweeps postseason awards
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State crowned seven champions and set a school record with 184 team points on its way to earning the Nittany Lions’ 10th Big Ten title in their own Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday evening.
Ohio State, after crowning two champions, finished second with 148.5 team points, while Nebraska earned third place with 116.5. Iowa and Michigan rounded out the top five with 87 and 86.5 team points, respectively. Penn State and Ohio State became two of just four programs nationwide to earn automatic bids for all 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, joining Oklahoma State (Big 12) and Virginia Tech (ACC). Eight of the 10 No. 1 seeds claimed individual titles, while No. 2 seeds Ben Davino (Ohio State) and PJ Duke (Penn State) won titles as 133 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Duke, a true freshman from Slate Hill, N.Y. who was WIN’s Junior Dan Hodge Trophy recipient in 2025, was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler after he earned a major decision over returning NCAA champion Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 12-4. Meanwhile, Ohio State swept all three season-long awards including Coach of the Year, Wrestler of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, with Tom Ryan, Jesse Mendez and Ben Davino claiming each, respectively.
Penn State senior Levi Haines became PSU’s fourth four-time Big Ten champion after the 174-pounder outlasted Nebraska’s Christopher Minto, 2-1, in the title bout. Haines was awarded a point for an illegal figure-four to the head in the opening frame, which proved to be the difference in the match. When the smoke settled, a total of 87 wrestlers from the Big Ten conference earned automatic bids to the 2026 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships, set for March 19-21 in Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.
Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson briefly reflected on his team’s performance after claiming another conference title, saying, “Overall, this is a very tough conference tournament with a lot of great wrestlers. We’re excited to move into the Nationals and are happy with this weekend. … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2026/03/10/penn-state-wins-big-ten-title-with-seven-champs-ohio-state-sweeps-postseason-awards/
Women’s College Notebook: As championship season continues, a look back on the historic NCAA’s, and a preview of NAIA’s to come
Amidst back-to-back championship weekends for women’s college wrestling, it could be easy to get lost in the whirlwind of it all – walking away at its conclusion with nothing but vivid, emotional remnants of the experience that was.
And who’s to say that’s a bad thing?
Perhaps the very purest form of consumption is to simply allow oneself to become swept up in the wave of sensations – never stopping to overanalyze one moment lest the next one pass you by.
I’m certainly not going to argue if that’s your approach.
But as I sit here at my desk during the brief hiatus between last weekend’s inaugural NCAA Championships and this weekend’s forthcoming NAIA national tournament, I find myself wanting to pause – at least briefly – and reflect upon this ongoing moment for the sport.
There’s never been a better, more competitive/appreciated time to be a women’s college wrestler – or women’s wrestler of any age, for that matter. This, after decades spent by trailblazers and advocates to open up the deserved opportunities now being seized by today’s athletes. And just as those pioneers before them offered hope and inspiration to the current generation, so too will this group of young women to those following in their footsteps.
With that in mind, allow me to begin this latest women’s wrestling notebook by highlighting just some of the names to remember from a historic NCAA Championships in Coralville, Iowa. After that, we’ll wrap with some names to look forward to at what will be an equally compelling NAIA Championships this weekend in Park City, Kansas.
Etched in history
180.
That’s how many women – representing 54 different schools – will forever hold the distinction as the first participants at an NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships. Among them, Sloane Kruger (Presbyterian) registered the first-ever win (and pin) at NCAAs just 1:03 into her preliminary bout at 103 pounds.
80.
That’s how many All-Americans – representing 27 different schools – stood on the podium. … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/march/12/women-s-college-notebook-as-championship-season-continues-a-look-back-on-the-historic-ncaa-s-and-a-preview-of-naia-s-to-come
These are the 6 teams that qualified their full lineups for the 2026 DI men’s wrestling tournament
Six teams will bring all ten athletes to NCAAs, with four of those teams punching their tickets via conference finishes and two teams — Nebraska and Iowa State — needing a wild card for the tenth athlete.
Here are the profiles of each of these deep, talented squads:
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Penn State Nittany Lions are the team to beat heading into the 2026 NCAA tournament. Last year, Penn State set the NCAA scoring record and put all ten athletes on the podium.
Braeden Davis’ seventh-place bracket win over Billy DeKraker 8-1 at this year’s Big Ten tournament ensured that all ten Nittany Lions will return to nationals with the hopes of chasing and surpassing their achievements from last year. With a program record of seven Big Ten champions, there’s an argument to make that this is the best team in program history.
PENN STATE HISTORY: Complete history of the program and its records
Five Penn State wrestlers — Luke Lilledahl, Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines and Rocco Welsh — will enter NCAAs undefeated as likely top seeds. Mesenbrink and Haines will chase their second titles, while Welsh will aim to return to the finals and Lilledahl and Van Ness will look to improve on previous All-American finishes and earn the opportunity to compete on Saturday night.
Complete Penn State roster:
125 pounds: Luke Lilledahl (1st at Big Tens)
133 pounds: Marcus Blaze (2nd at Big Tens)
141 pounds: Braeden Davis (7th at Big Tens)
149 pounds: Shayne Van Ness (1st at Big Tens)
157 pounds: PJ Duke (1st at Big Tens)
165 pounds: Mitchell Mesenbrink (1st at Big Tens)
174 pounds: Levi Haines (1st at Big Tens)
184 pounds: Rocco Welsh (1st at Big Tens)
197 pounds: Josh Barr (1st at Big Tens)
285 pounds: Cole Mirasola (5th at Big Tens)
Ohio State Buckeyes
After picking up Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, Ohio State has exactly the kind of momentum the Buckeyes need heading into NCAAs. Taking down Penn State is a tall task, but the Bucks make a strong case to be the nation’s second-best team and could put up some serious team points in Cleveland. Ohio State’s strength at Big Tens came from its depth and grittiness, particularly on the backside of the bracket. Nic Bouzakis, Carson Kharchla, Luke Geog and Nick Feldman all rallied from losses to finish third, and similar kinds of performances from these four could help all of them fight for podium spots at nationals. Bouzakis and Geog have yet to earn All-American honors in their careers, but put themselves in prime position to do so with their conference results. Returning Ohio State All-American Ethan Stiles also stepped up at Big Tens and finished second — Ohio State fans likely expect a similar finish from him at nationals. … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-men/article/2026-03-10/these-are-6-teams-qualified-their-full-lineups-2026-di-mens-wrestling-tournament
NCAA D-III Regional results & News
Six qualify for nationals, helps Wrestling to third place finish at NCAA III Regional IV Championships
ADA — The Ohio Northern wrestling team had six individuals qualify for the national championships with top three finishes, leading ONU to a third place team finish at the 2026 NCAA III Region IV Championships on Friday and Saturday.
| NCAA Regionals Site |
The Basics
- Records: Ohio Northern (14-4 Overall)
- The Polar Bears finished 3rd of 20 teams with 177.5 points.
- #2 Roanoke (Va.) won the team title with 217.5 points, #18 Baldwin Wallace was second with 188.5 points, and Washington & Lee (Va.) was 4th with 153.5 points.
- Venue: ONU Sports Center – Ada, Ohio.
ONU Individuals
Freshman Londen Murphy
No. 13-ranked sophomore Myles Johnson (Springboro) went 4-0 with two pins to win the at 197-pound title.
Sophomore Jovanni Greco (Ross) went 3-1 with a tech fall and finished second at 149. Freshman Kurt Mokros (Lewis Center/Olentangy) went 4-1 with two pins to finish third at 125. … more at … https://www.onusports.com/sports/wrest/2025-26/releases/20260228s7hbfb
AND …
Champs Again! Wrestling Seals Sixth Straight Regional Title Behind Six NCAA Qualifiers
EWING, N.J. – TCNJ Wrestling racked up four regional champions and a six-pack of NCAA qualifiers in running their streak of Region III titles to six with a dominant performance in front of its home fans on Saturday.
Garrett Totten (133), Vinnie Santaniello (141), Hunter Mays (174), and D.J. Henry (197) all won their respective brackets and will be joined at the NCAA Championships by Matthew Griffin (125) and J.J. Giordano (149), who secured third place to make it to the national tournament.
Henry was named the region’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, while head coach Joe Galante and his staff claimed Regional Coach of the Year and Staff of the Year recognition.
TCNJ racked up 174 team points to outdistance runner-up NYU by 34, extending its run of regional dominance for another year. The Lions piled up nine place-winners over the two-day tournament, with … https://tcnjathletics.com/news/2026/2/28/champs-again-wrestling-seals-sixth-straight-regional-title-behind-six-ncaa-qualifiers.aspx
AND …
No. 22 Men’s Wrestling Sends Seven to Nationals, Finishes Runner-Up at Region 4 Championships
ADA, Ohio – The No. 22 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University men’s wrestling team qualified seven wrestlers to the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championships as BW finished in second place at the 2026 NCAA Division III Region 4 Championships hosted by Ohio Northern University in the ONU Sports Center.
BW was second of 20 teams with188.5 points. No. 1 nationally ranked Roanoke (Va.) College was the champion with 217.5 points. The top three wrestlers in each weight class earn All-Region 4 honors and qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships. The Yellow Jackets’ seven qualifiers included two champions, two second place finishers and three third place grapplers while all 10 wrestlers placed in the top six.
BW Qualifiers
Won by pinfall in 2:43 over Quintez Pratt of Wilmington
Junior All-American and No. 4 nationally ranked 165-pounder Andrew Supers (Medina) – Champion
Bye in first round … more at … https://bwyellowjackets.com/news/2026/2/28/mens-wrestling-no-22-mens-wrestling-sends-seven-to-nationals-finishes-runner-up-at-region-4-championships.aspx
AND …
2026 NCAA Division III men’s wrestling championships qualifiers announced
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Committee announced today the participants in the 2026 NCAA Division III Men’s Wrestling Championships.
Click or tap to see the full list of qualifiers
The championships will be held March 13-14 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The American Rivers Conference will serve as the host.
A total of 210 participants will compete in the championship. Student-athletes qualified for the championship by placing in the top three of their respective weight classes at one of the seven NCAA regional tournaments held Feb. 27, 28, and March 1. The complete list of all wrestlers competing in the championship is available at NCAA.com and the complete seeded bracket will be available on NCAA.com Tuesday, March 10. NCAA.com will stream all sessions.
In the 2025 championships, Johnson & Wales University (Providence) and Wartburg were crowned co-champions, earning their first and 16th national title, respectively. … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling-men/article/2026-03-02/2026-ncaa-division-iii-mens-wrestling-championships-qualifiers-announced
NCAA Division III Regionals
Six Bears heading to 2026 NCAA Championships
NEW LONDON, Conn. –
After sending four last year, Coast Guard exceeded that number by two in 2026, sending six men to the national championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a team, the Bears placed 3rd of 19 teams in the school’s first time hosting the NCAA Regionals.
Leading the charge for the Bears were three champions. 149 Nathan Fitt(Branchville, NJ) cruised in the semifinal, holding commanding leads of 3-0 and 7-1 before winning by a score of 8-2. In the finals, Fitt’s opponent forfeited giving the senior the title and his third trip to nationals. … more at … https://coastguardathletics.com/news/2026/3/1/wrestling-six-bears-heading-to-2026-ncaa-championships.aspx
AND …
Program-record six Ephs head to National Championship as wrestlers earn 2nd at Regionals
NEW LONDON, Conn. – After a great first day of competition that saw nine Williams College wrestlers still in contention entering Sunday, the team continued the strong performance and will be sending six Ephs to the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in two weeks.
The six wrestlers heading to Nationals – Caleb Seyfried at 149, Peter Kane at 157, Henry Forte at 165, Gage Wiggins at 174, Jamie Evarts at 184, and Zach Borzio at 197 – is the most the team has ever sent in a single season, and the performance at Regionals is the team’s best since this qualifying format was introduced. Kane and Evarts were the Ephs’ two Regional winners, both repeating their wins from a year ago.
The team finished second overall with 155 points, behind Springfield College (170.5) and ahead of Coast Guard (152.5), Castleton (144.5) and Johnson & Wales (144).
Entering Sunday, the Ephs had six wrestlers unbeaten into the semifinals, where a win would earn a ticket to Iowa, and five were able to get those wins: Seyfried, Kane, Wiggins, Evarts, and Borzio. Forte was the only Eph to lose his semifinal, but he then battled through the consolation bracket and ultimately won his third-place match to punch his ticket as well.
Seyfried was first on the mat on Sunday for the Ephs, and he got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 7-0 lead over Wesleyan’s Ike Guttentag in the first period. Guttentag kept chipping away at the lead for the rest of the match, including scoring four points with under a minute left, but an escape point to start the third ended up being the difference as Seyfried earned an 8-7 decision win. After the victory, … more at … https://ephsports.williams.edu/news/2026/3/1/wrestling-program-record-six-ephs-head-to-national-championship-as-wrestlers-earn-2nd-at-regionals.aspx
AND …
Trio of Spartans Qualify for National Championship; Wrestling Places Fourth at NCAA Regionals
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Vermont State University Castleton wrestling team placed fourth as a team on Sunday at the 2026 NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship. The Spartans have three individuals who qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship.
The three qualifiers will head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 13-14 as both teams and individuals battle for the 2026 NCAA National Championship. Castleton finished fourth with 144.5 team points. Springfield took first with 170.5 points, Williams College claimed second with 155 points, Coast Guard finished third with 152.5 points, and Johnson & Wales rounded out the top five right behind the Spartans with 144 points.
Drew Marchese, Jashon Holmes, and Desmond McLaughlin were the top finishers as individuals, with all three placing second in their respective weight classes, and all three are set to make their first career trips to the NCAA National Championship. Josh Negron and Joseph Baker finished fourth, Nicolas Balella and Nathaniel Camiscioli notched fifth, and Stone Farnsworth and Logan Frank claimed seventh as all nine participants on day two became place-winners.
14th-ranked Marchese was the first Spartan to punch his ticket to the NCAA National Championship at 125 pounds after taking down Charlie Pavis of WPI 8-0 via major decision to claim a spot in the championship bout. There, he met with 15th-ranked Nico Rivera of Johnson & Wales and narrowly lost in a 3-2 decision.
Holmes also took second at 165 pounds for his first career … more at … https://castletonsports.com/news/2026/3/1/trio-of-spartans-qualify-for-national-championship-wrestling-places-fourth-at-ncaa-regionals.aspx
AND …
SIX-cess! Wrestling Wins Sixth Straight Regional Title; Smith Fourpeats at 157
Ithaca, N.Y. – The Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team’s regional dynasty continued with an unprecedented sixth straight title at the Region II Championships on Saturday, with four Ducks earning automatic berths into the NCAA Championships.
Trailing host Ithaca by 7.5 points after Friday, the Ducks had seven Top-5 finishers and nine Top-7 finishers – no other school had more than six in the Top 5 or seven in the Top 7 – finishing with 147.5 points, 3.5 clear of Ithaca. Lycoming was a distant third with 108, RIT was fourth with 98, and Oneonta was fifth with 96.
Ryan Smith won his fourth regional title and Nico Diaz continued his remarkable return to the mats, winning his second regional title in three years after missing last season to injury.
THE RUNDOWN
After a 7-3 decision win the 141-lb semifinal, Diaz, the draw’s No. 1 seed, collected two third period takedowns in the final, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-7 win. Smith was as dominant Saturday as he was Friday at 165, winning both his semifinal and final bouts by major decision, outpointing his opponents 22-2. One of the few wrestlers seeded … more at … https://stevensducks.com/news/2026/2/28/six-cess-wrestling-wins-sixth-straight-regional-title.aspx
WIN’s Feb. 24 rankings update includes final Top 20 dual teams; OK State strengthens hold on No. 2 spot in TPI
Photo: Oklahoma State’s Zack Ryder (pictured at the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic), returned to the Cowboy lineup last weekend and earned a 2-1 SV decision over Iowa’s Gabe Arnold at 184 lbs. Photo by Sam Janicki.
NEWTON, Iowa — The 2025-26 regular season is in the rearview, as WIN’s Feb. 24 rankings update reflects the updated Tournament Power Index (TPI) and individual rankings heading into the conference tournaments while also providing the final set of Top 20 dual-meet teams.
In this week’s TPI, Oklahoma State (93) pulled away from the field slightly as the clear No. 2, while the logjam of programs ranked No. 2 through No. 5 remains. Ohio State (86.5), Nebraska (85.5) and Iowa State (84), all separated by just a total of 2.5 points, will all be vying for a team trophy in Cleveland. Penn State remains No. 1 with 152 total TPI points.
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 Luke Lilledahl (125), Shayne Van Ness (149), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165), Levi Haines (174) and Josh Barr (197) headlining their respective weight classes. Also ranked No. 1 are three defending national champions in Lucas Byrd of Illinois (133), Jesse Mendez of Ohio State (141) and Antrell Taylor of Nebraska (157). … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2026/02/24/wins-feb-24-rankings-update-includes-final-top-20-dual-teams-ok-state-solidifies-no-2-spot-in-tpi/
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 