‘Bought-In’ Buckeyes Off To Blazing Start
Ohio State swept its first six duals and only dropped 10 matches along the way, but the fast start has been no surprise to those in the Buckeye room.
Ohio State cruised through the first month of the college wrestling season, winning all six of its duals convincingly while dropping just 10 individual matches along the way.
The Buckeyes are ranked second heading into Wednesday night’s home dual against Bellarmine before Ohio State has another home dual on Dec. 12 against NC State and a trip to Nashville for the Dec. 21 Journeymen Collegiate Duals.
The Buckeyes’ undefeated start — and the dominating fashion in which they’ve accomplished it — has turned heads in the college wrestling landscape. It isn’t a shock, however, to those in their practice room each day. “We’re definitely pleased with how the year has gone,” Ohio State associate head coach J Jaggers said. “But we aren’t surprised. This group has bought in. They’re finding their identity in terms of the style we want them to wrestle, the way they’re all capable of wrestling — their high attack rate, the fact that they aren’t protecting (leads), being fearless the entire match.
“It’s what we’ve preached, and the guys have bought in.” Despite convincing wins over #11 Minnesota (29-6), #7 Nebraska (33-3), #3 Iowa (27-12) and most recently, a 44-0 shutout of Kent State, Jaggers insists the team and staff realize much remains.
“Now the challenge is how we respond when we aren’t playing with house money,” he said. “There wasn’t a lot of chatter about our team going into the season. It’s not like we ever left the party. We’ve never left the top 10. But the guys had a chip on their shoulders, and I think that’s helped. It’s good to hunt, to have that chip. “Things have gone well so far this year, but how do we respond when things don’t go according to script? That’s when we’ll really see.”
Buckeye Building Blocks
Jaggers was asked to pinpoint any individual stories or other factors contributing to the Buckeyes’ dominant start beyond their aggressive approach. “It’s what’s fun about this team,” he said. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14861655-bought-in-buckeyes-off-to-blazing-start
NCAA DI Rankings Updated (11/25/2025)
We didn’t have a week filled with duals and results like last week, but there was enough to make an impact on the rankings. It appears we may have another year like 2023-24 at 125 lbs. Chaos every single week. At this point, none of the main contenders are undefeated. The only 125 lbers in the top ten that are completely undefeated are Stevo Poulin at #9 and Nicolar Rivera at #10. With Dean Peterson and the CyHawk dual looming, a win from Poulin might get him into the top tier of contenders. Rivera won’t have any matches with those caliber opponents until the B1G schedule rolls around.
There’s a change at the top at 125 lbs with Luke Lilledahl losing to teammate Nathan Desmond at the Black Knight Invite. At this point, there’s no perfect answer at the weight, as far as the #1 spot goes. We’re going with the returning champion Vince Robinson for now.
At 141 lbs, we removed CJ Composto as he’d expected to sit out the entire fall semester. He will be inserted at a fair spot when he returns.
We’re getting to the point where wrestlers start to drop from the rankings if they don’t compete. The general rule is that I look to do this after they miss three official competition dates. Sometimes less if we have good information about their status, sometimes less if we have solid evidence of a return date. Remember, this is based on their respective team’s dates. For example, Penn State did not compete during the first two weeks of the season. That means that Josh Barr has only missed two dates, despite being out for the month. Should he continue to miss dates, then it could spark a change.
For the rest of the rankings, the big mover was Iowa’s Massoma Endene. He picked up a huge win in Iowa’s shutout win over Pitt. Endene used a last-second takedown to defeat returning All-American Mac Stout. In six matches, Endene has wins over Stout, Cody Merrill, Evan Bates, and Seth Shumate. He isn’t blowing anyone out, but he’s stacking wins. Endene’s rise … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/ncaa-di-rankings-updated-11252025-r100662/
Denny Making Impact For NC State As Pack Wait For Arrival Of Key Veterans
Freshman Will Denny has been a key piece for the NC State wrestling as it waits for the arrival of All-American Isaac Trumble and transfer Patrick Brophy.
Between now and the turn of the calendar to 2026, NC State will have seven non-conference duals. Among the Pack’s upcoming duals will be battles against a pair of Big Ten opponents — at #2 Ohio State and against #14 Rutgers. “We are going to see some really good, high-level guys,” head coach Pat Popolizio said.
That stretch starts this weekend with a road trip to Appalachian State. “We just need to be ready every week and make those adjustments to get your hand raised,” Popolizio said.
Upper Weight Reinforcements Arriving Soon
NC State has been dealing with the absences of a 2025 All-American and another 2025 NCAA qualifier this first month of the season at the upper weights. At heavyweight, Isaac Trumble finished fourth at the NCAA Championships last year. However, during that run to his first podium finish, he suffered a knee injury but gutted out his final few matches.
After the season he had surgery and spent the entire summer rehabbing the injury. He was just cleared for full participation during the first week of the season but has been held out of action thus far. “Health-wise, he is in a very good spot,” Popolizio said. “We are going to err on the side of caution. To me, I’d rather have a guy like that win a national title than throw him in and compete to win a dual. “We continue to work with our trainer and doctors, and I think we have a really good plan. We are just going to have to be patient.”
The Pack will also have a new addition joining the team soon. Patrick Brophy has already signed a financial aid agreement with NC State and will be joining the team for the second semester at 197 pounds. Due to a late coaching change at The Citadel, Brophy was able to transfer and be eligible this season. At The Citadel, he was a two-year starter and an NCAA qualifier last season. He is currently ranked #27 nationally by FloWrestling. “I feel once he’s in our room full-time, he is going to make some big gains and already has some really good wins under his belt,” Popolizio said … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14831405-denny-making-impact-for-nc-state-as-pack-wait-for-arrival-of-key-veterans
Diego Pavia Is Trying to Kill NCAA JUCO Eligibility Rules for Good
After winning an injunction to play college football this season, the Vanderbilt quarterback is filing an amended complaint to turn his case into a class action for all NCAA athletes.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is a legitimate Heisman candidate, and his team is a serious contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff. That’s thanks to an injunction Pavia won in federal court last year arguing his years playing junior college shouldn’t count toward his NCAA eligibility.
Now Pavia’s lawyers are preparing to file an amended complaint and add multiple players to his original lawsuit to make it a proposed class action, Pavia’s attorney, Ryan Downton, tells Front Office Sports.
The new plaintiffs include football players from multiple schools, including Vanderbilt’s Tre Richardson, Louisiana Tech’s Andrew Burnette, Virginia Tech’s James Djonkam, and Oklahoma State’s Iman Oates. With the imminent amended complaint, Pavia and his attorneys hope to set a completely new precedent nationwide and permanently change the rule that currently requires JUCO seasons to count against a player’s four years of NCAA eligibility.
Pavia plans to declare for the NFL Draft and will not seek another year of NCAA eligibility, Downton says—but wants to remain a part of the lawsuit to ensure future players have the same opportunities he has had. Pavia played two seasons at the New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State, a Division I program, in 2022. He transferred to Vanderbilt for the 2024–25 season.
According to NCAA rules, Pavia’s college career should have been over after that: The NCAA currently allows players to complete four full seasons within five calendar years, and junior college (JUCO) years count toward that time period (though players received waivers to not count their COVID-19 seasons). But his injunction allowed him a second season at Vanderbilt. (The NCAA tried to appeal the ruling, but a federal court refused to review the injunction.)
Downton had never challenged NCAA rules before representing Pavia—in fact, he once represented the NCAA itself in a trademark dispute over the name “March Madness.” … more at … https://frontofficesports.com/diego-pavia-is-trying-to-kill-ncaa-juco-eligibility-rules-for-good/
No. 4 Ohio State Starts Strong, Beats No. 3 Iowa to Win National Duals
Buckeyes claim $200,000 title prize with 4-0 record on the weekend
Order 2025-26 Tickets | Final Bracket
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 4 Ohio State (5-0) dominated No. 2 Nebraska (3-1) and No. 3 Iowa (4-1) at the 2025 National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom Sunday to earn the $200,000 first place prize money.
The Buckeyes cruised in the morning dual against the Huskers, 33-3, before taking on No. 3 Iowa (4-0) in the event championship. The Buckeyes won nine of 10 matches against Nebraska to advance to the finals against the Hawkeyes. Ohio State did not let up in the title bout in downing Iowa, 27-12.
The Buckeyes received $200,000 for winning the championship while the second-place Hawkeyes claimed $150,000. In the final vs. the Hawkeyes, Nic Bouzakis got things started with an early pin over Iowa’s No. 10 Dean Peterson for a quick 6-0 lead for the Buckeyes.
Ben Davino followed with decision victory over No. 3 Drake Ayala, 10-4 … more at … https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2025/11/16/wrestling-no-4-ohio-state-starts-strong-beats-no-3-iowa-to-win-national-duals
And …
Ohio State leaves no doubt, claims National Duals Invitational title with 27-12 win over Iowa
TULSA, Oklahoma – Statement made by fourth ranked Ohio State; The Buckeyes dominated all comers on its way to first place and the $200k grand prize at the 2025 National Duals Invitational held this weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ohio State cemented its place atop the standings with a decisive 27-12 win over No. 3 Iowa on Sunday evening at the BOK Center, which aired nationally on ESPN2. The Buckeyes won the first five bouts of the dual, sparked by a pin at 125 pounds from Nick Bouzakis. Freshman Ben Davino took it to two-time NCAA finalist Drake Ayala at 133 pounds, 10-4. Two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez earned a punishing 17-1 technical fall over Nasir Bailey at 141 pounds. Wins by Ethan Stiles at 149 pounds and Brandon Cannon at 157 practically put the dual out of reach. Nick Feldman was given a forfeit at heavyweight to add to the Buckeyes total at night’s end.
Iowa had a nice, four-match strech with decision wins from Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds, Patrick Kennedy at 174 pounds, Angelo Ferrari at 184 pounds and Massoma Endene at 197 pounds. Caliendo, Kennedy and Ferrari all won in sudden victory. The Hawkeyes bagged $150k in prize money for the runner-up finish. No. 5 Oklahoma State rebounded from a two-point loss to Iowa to finish in third place, and also earn $150k in prize money. The Cowboys …more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/november/15/2025-national-duals-invitational-results
And …
Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling is a championship contender once again
It’s been a relatively rough few years for the Ohio State wrestling program. For a team that won a National Championship in 2015 and came one match away from another in 2017, the years since 2020 have not been fun. Sure, the Buckeyes have had great wrestlers, and the tragic career-ending shooting of Sammy Sasso set the program back, but this team went from being a perennial contender to being barely a top ten tournament team.
If the start of the 2025 season is any indication, though, that won’t be a problem this year.
Ohio State took home the inaugural National Duals Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma this year––complete with a $200,000 winner’s prize for the wrestling program (plus another $20,000 for takedown incentives). Penn State wasn’t one of the teams invited, so don’t declare the Buckeyes the best in the country just yet, but the manner in which Ohio State blew threw this competition … more at … https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/buckeyes/2025/11/17/ohio-state-buckeyes-wrestling-is-a-championship-contender-once-again/87313059007/
NC State wrestling is ready to rumble ahead of 2025-26 season
Noah Teague, Staff Writer • Nov 6, 2025
There’s never been a better time to be a fan of NC State wrestling.
Led by head coach Pat Popolizio, the Wolfpack returns an impressive squad, featuring multiple ACC champions and a defending national champion in redshirt sophomore Vince Robinson. The 2025-26 season is one that will be marked by the Pack’s pursuit of championships and continuing the standard of excellence established by Popolizio.
After winning the 2025 125-pound national championship, Robinson returns to NC State with sky-high expectations for his encore. Ranked No. 1 per InterMat, Robinson will face multiple title contenders this season, highlighted by No. 4 Eddie Ventresca at Virginia Tech. The path to repeat as national champion looks daunting, but Robinson is no stranger to winning when it matters most.
Last season’s national championship marked the first for an NC State freshman since 1980 and the first-ever national champ in the 125-pound class. With a 24-3 record last season, Robinson showcased consistency all year long. His quickness and fiery approach make him nearly impossible to pin, while giving him the ability to seize the momentum with a takedown at any moment.
Robinson isn’t the only national championship contender in Raleigh; sixth-year Isaac Trumble is back for one last ride with the Wolfpack. Entering the season ranked No. 3 in the heavyweight class, Trumble is a tough competitor with loads of experience that gives him a mental edge over opponents. Making three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an All-American fourth-place finish last year in his first year competing in the heavyweight division, Trumble’s resume speaks for itself.
Last season, Trumble made waves as one of the nation’s elite wrestlers. However, his campaign turned south in the ACC Tournament when he medically forfeited, losing the opportunity to win a conference crown. Trumble was just a week removed from meniscus surgery at the ACC Tournament, … more at … https://technicianonline.com/151316/sports/nc-state-wrestling-is-ready-to-rumble-ahead-of-2025-26-season/
Slippery Rock University announces return of men’s wrestling
Honoring a storied past and celebrating a tradition that never faded, Slippery Rock University has announced men’s wrestling will return as a varsity sport in 2027-28.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University today announced the return of men’s varsity wrestling with the goal to begin NCAA Division II competition during the 2027-28 academic year.
Slippery Rock’s wrestling program built its reputation from 1958 to 2006 as a program that emphasized a strong balance between athletics, academics and personal development. The program went 362-294-7 over that stretch with many of those wins coming at the NCAA Division I level.
Eight different men oversaw the team as head coach with the most impactful being Fred Powell, who coached the program from 1967-91 with a winning percentage of 66 percent. He coached some of the best collegiate wrestlers in NCAA history, including world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Stan Dziedzic ’72. Powell earned the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” award and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.
Slippery Rock expects to launch a national search for a head coach during the 2026 spring semester to allow an academic year for recruiting before the program begins competing in the 2027-28 academic year. “Athletics, in many ways, serves as the front door to our university, and the return of wrestling at The Rock is so exciting,” said SRU President Karen Riley. “We have a long history of excellence in the sport and look forward to adding it back to our compliment of exceedingly successful athletic programs. We are so grateful to members of the SRU community for their advocacy and continued support.”
The Rock will compete at the NCAA Division II level as NCAA rules have changed since the last time SRU fielded a wrestling team and a return to the Division I level is no longer possible. There are currently 70 NCAA Division II wrestling programs competing across the nation in 2025-26. … more at … https://rockathletics.com/news/2025/11/10/general-sru-announces-return-of-mens-wrestling.aspx?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Tom Ryan: Ohio State Wrestling Has ‘Potential To Do Big Things’ In 2025-26
Tom Ryan likes the depth and competitiveness of the Ohio State wrestling roster and thinks the Buckeyes have big potential this season
Tom Ryan’s predictions for his Ohio State wrestling team this year are a mix of optimism, realism and an ever-present philosophical slant to what might await the Buckeyes. “Nothing can ever be really known or predicted ahead of time,” he said. “I’ll say this: We have the potential to do big things. There’s extra excitement because (the NCAA Championships) will be in Cleveland, in our home state, but what happens up there in March…”
He paused. “Let’s just say that right now, all 10 guys have the chance to place, to score points.”
Ryan cited his team’s depth and balance as the Buckeyes’ primary strength. “Up and down the lineup there’s competition,” he said. “That brings out the best in your wrestlers. With (the proliferation of) NIL, a lot of teams this year are loaded, a lot of teams have made themselves more powerful, but I expect us to be competing for a team trophy.”
Ryan didn’t say which trophy — the NCAA awards one to each of the top four team finishers — his team could take back to Columbus, a nod to his aforementioned belief of nothing being lock-predictable. “We’ll see,” he said. “But we expect to be in the hunt for a team trophy.”
In addition to top-ranked Penn State, would he venture to predict who the primary frontrunners will be this year? “I don’t assess everyone else,” Ryan said. “My main job is developing our own team. If we do our job, we’ll be competing for a team trophy.”
Zero predictions? “It’s not hard to see that Nebraska should be tough,” he said. “Oklahoma State, Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell, That Team Up North (Michigan) — I think each of those teams will score some points. “There are a few teams this year that can fight for a trophy.”
Who’s Where?
Asked about his team’s starting lineup outlook, Ryan spoke of classes still up in the air and those that, for now, appear etched in granite. “We’re unsettled at 125, 165 and 197,” he said. “(Nic) Bouzakis, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14715643-tom-ryan-ohio-state-wrestling-has-potential-to-do-big-things-in-2025-26
Men’s College Notebook: Five Teams Looking To Rise Up This Season
Not only are these teams looking to make a push into the top 10 this upcoming year, but they could also vie for a team trophy by placing in the top four.
Here are five programs that finished outside the top 10 at the 2025 NCAA Championships but will now look to leap in the team standings come March in Cleveland.
Iowa State
2025 NCAA finish: 27th place
Last top 10 NCAA finish: 2024 (4th place)
FloWrestling 2026 projected NCAA finish: 4th place
Two years ago, the Cyclones nabbed a team trophy by placing fourth at the 2024 NCAA Championships, but last year Iowa State suffered from lineup woes and underperformance at the NCAAs, dropping all the way down to 27th. If preseason indications hold, it will be a very different story in 2026.
At the lower weights all five of the projected starters in the first half of the lineup are all former All-Americans and start the season in the preseason top 10 in their respective weight classes: 2025 All-American, and a transfer from Northern Colorado, Stevo Poulin (#7 at 125 pounds), 2024 All-American Evan Frost (#9 at 133 pounds), 2024 All-American Anthony Echemendia (#7 at 141 pounds), 2025 All-American Jacob Frost (#6 at 149 pounds), and 2025 All-American, and another Northern Colorado transfer, Vinny Zerban (#6 at 157 pounds).
The upper weights will look very different this season and should be one of the best one-two-three punches in the nation. After being sidelined last year, Yonger Bastida returns at heavyweight and is an immediate national title contender. Four-time All-American Rocky Elam was brought in from Missouri to man 197 pounds, and 2025 MAC champion Isaac Dean comes from Rider and will go at 184 pounds. All three are in their final seasons.
Lehigh
2025 NCAA finish: 15th place
Last top 10 NCAA finish: 2012 (8th place)
FloWrestling 2026 projected NCAA finish: 7th place
Lehigh has finished 15th in back-to-back trips to the NCAA Championships and has nine top 20 finishes overall dating back to 2014. This season, expectations are high for the Mountain Hawks, as their lineup features multiple national title contenders and four wrestlers who were not in the lineup last year, all ranked in the top 10 in the preseason rankings.
Lehigh will look to dominate duals with three ranked wrestlers who all start the season in the top 5 in the lower weights. As the eighth seed last year at NCAAs at 125 pounds, Sheldon Seymour knocked off top-seeded Luke Lilledahl of Penn State and advanced to the semifinals before placing sixth. Ryan Crookham returns from injury and will look to improve upon his third-place finish in 2024. Last year, he was undefeated and ranked #1 at 133 pounds before suffering a season-ending injury after the fall semester. Luke Stanich deferred eligibility last year to move up from 125 to 141 for this year. He placed fifth in 2024 in his first trip to NCAAs.
There are also a pair of top-10 wrestlers in the back half of the lineup. Max Brignola (#7 at 165 pounds) also deferred eligibility last year. He is a two-time NCAA qualifier and went 15-0 last year, winning six tournament titles. Nathan Taylor (#8 at heavyweight) also lost during the season due to an injury last year. Also a two-time NCAA Qualifier, he won the 2024 EIWA title at heavyweight before falling one win shy of All-American honors.
Oklahoma
2025 NCAA finish: 38th place
Last top 10 NCAA finish: 2014 (10th place) … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/october/27/men-s-college-notebook-five-teams-looking-to-rise-up-this-season
Isaac Trumble Ready For Last Run At NC State After Life-Changing Year
After knee surgery and marriage, expecting father and All-American heavyweight Isaac Trumble is ready for a big year with the NC State wrestling program.
The past year for NC State’s Isaac Trumble has been life-changing, to say the least.
He started his first two seasons for the Wolfpack at 197 pounds before taking a redshirt as he made the move up to heavyweight.
The end result was good for Trumble in his first season at 285 pounds — a fourth-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Championships, netting him All-American honors for the first time in his career. But a late-season setback pushed Trumble to the limit during his postseason run. “I was feeling good all season long — really good,” Trumble said. “Then, against Virginia Tech in that final dual, I tore (my knee). I tore my meniscus and MCL and I had no option but to get surgery before the ACC Championship.”
Despite the injury he suffered during the match, Trumble finished it out for a 5-3 win over #13 Jimmy Mullin. He went into the ACCs as the top seed at heavyweight, one of only six ACC wrestlers to go a perfect 6-0 in conference duals during the season.
But fans were quick to notice the huge brace Trumble had on his knee when he came out for his first bout of the day. His mobility was severely limited, and he dropped that quarterfinal bout. “I had my first surgery and tried wrestling seven days after (at ACCs) and it didn’t go anywhere as planned,” Trumble said. “So, I forfeited out (after the loss), which was hard. My first year being here and us not winning the ACC team title.”
There was a longer break before the NCAA Championships, but how good would the knee be going into the hardest tournament of the year? Trumble drew the seventh seed at the national tournament. He soon found out the answer of how long his knee would hold up.
His first two bouts went fine, seeing ACC foes for the second time this year. It was an opening 18-2 tech fall over Stanford’s Peter Ming before a 5-2 revenge win over Pitt’s Dayton Pitzer, who scored a win over Trumble at the ACCs en route to winning the ACC title. The quarterfinals were a different story on Day 2 of the NCAAs. Not only was it his third bout, but he was also facing the eventual national champion, Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State. “I tore a bunch of things again against Hendrickson,” … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14715602-isaac-trumble-ready-for-last-run-at-nc-state-after-life-changing-year
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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
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