UNC Wrestling Announces 2026-27 Schedule
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Entering year four under the direction of head coach Rob Koll, the North Carolina wrestling program has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
The slate, which features six matchups inside Carmichael Arena, is also highlighted by the 2026 National Duals Invitational on Dec. 12-13 and a neutral-site meeting versus South Dakota State at the Sanford Pentagon on Dec. 18.
Carolina will open the season on Nov. 1 traveling to the Southeast Open, followed by the program’s Blue and White Showcase the following Friday (Nov. 6). To close the opening month of the season, the Tar Heels will compete in the Mountaineer Invitational (Nov. 15) and host Northern Iowa on Nov. 21.
In December, UNC will take part in the two-day National Duals Invitational, a groundbreaking $1 million collegiate wrestling event, sponsored by Paycom. Carolina, one of 16 teams announced for the event, will compete in the two-day event taking place Dec. 12-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Defending National Duals Invitational champion Ohio State will be joined in the field by Arizona State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, NC State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Wyoming. Together, the 16 programs represent some of the most storied traditions in collegiate wrestling, combining for 54 NCAA team titles and over 400 individual titles.
Carolina’s return to the BOK Center will be the first for the program since the 2023 NCAA Championships, when 157-pounder Austin O’Connor claimed his second national championship. With the win, O’Connor joined T.J. Jaworsky as the second Tar Heel to win multiple national championships in their career.
To end 2026, the Tar Heels will face South Dakota State at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 18, followed by a matchup versus App State on Dec. 20, held at Chapel Hill High School.
Opening the new calendar year, UNC will travel to Coralville, Iowa, for Soldier Salute (Jan. 2-3), a tournament where the Tar Heels finished runner-up a season ago. Carolina will begin the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of the slate on Jan. 8 at Pitt, with a non-conference matchup on the road at West Virginia less than 48 hours later (Jan. 10).
The Tar Heels conclude January with two home duals against Virginia (Jan. 15) and NC State (Jan. 29), with a road dual out west at Stanford in between (Jan. 22).
In the final month of the regular season, Carolina will stay within the Tar Heel State, hosting Virginia Tech (Feb. 5), a road dual at Duke (Feb. 12) and the regular-season finale against Campbell (Feb. 20).
The 2027 ACC Championships is slated for March 6-7 at Victory Heights Arena, hosted by Pitt. The 2027 NCAA Wrestling Championships are set for March 18-20 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
The Tar Heels enter the upcoming season with four returning NCAA qualifiers from a season ago, including the program welcoming nine newcomers in the offseason, seven freshmen and two transfers. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2026/9/15/wrestling-announces-2026-27-schedule?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Presbyterian Women Bring A Balanced, Deep Team Into Season
Presbyterian has eight returning All-Americans and 10 national qualifiers on a team capable of winning a trophy at the 2027 NCAA Championships.
Presbyterian will always have the distinction of being the first school to add a Division I Women’s Wrestling program. That’s an important piece of history, but head coach Brian Vutianitis has built a team that is relevant at the highest level.
The Blue Hose finished fifth at the 2026 NCAA Championships, with 10 national qualifiers and six All-Americans.
The team was 27 points behind Grand Valley State for fourth at nationals (the final trophy spot), and 29 points ahead of Lehigh for fifth. They also finished fifth at the NWCA National Duals, including a 26-19 win over Lehigh on January 30.
Translation: Presbyterian was on its own island last season. They were way ahead of the pack, but out of contention for a trophy. The Blue Hose had a consistent top-to-bottom line-up with an All-American caliber wrestler at every weight, but they needed a finalist or two for a trophy run.
Vutianitis should feel optimistic about this season’s team. He has 10 returning NCAA qualifiers and eight returning All-Americans on a deep team that will require tough roster decisions at multiple weights. This team is good, and anyone who overlooks the Blue Hose will do so at their own peril.
The lightest two weights are the most interesting. Chloe Dearwester, a sixth-place finisher at nationals, is the obvious frontrunner for the 110-pound spot, but everything else is wide open. The absence of Sloane Kruger leaves a battle for 103, including newcomer Daylee Watson, who will vie for the spot.
Jenna Anderson (117) has a unique skill set and can give anyone she wrestles problems. Her memorable match against U23 World champion Sage Mortimer at the National Duals showed what she can do before a second-period injury default. She took time off, regrouped, and rebounded for a sixth-place finish at nationals, including tight consolation matches against Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) and Carleigh Czerneski (Adrian).
The next three weights are where Presbyterian can gain ground. Alyssa Mahan finished eighth at 124, and Kassey Daugherty (131) and … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16151483-presbyterian-women-bring-a-balanced-deep-team-into-season?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
The Crucible on the Mat: How the Marine Corps and USA Wrestling Forge Tomorrow’s Leaders
Aug 28, 2026, 1:12 PM EDT
by U.S. Marine Corps and USA Wrestling
Spend enough time around wrestling and certain expectations become familiar: show up prepared, embrace difficult work, and keep going when things don’t go your way. Those expectations shape success on the mat, but they can also influence how wrestlers approach challenges long after competition ends.
That mindset is closely aligned with the United States Marine Corps, making its longstanding partnership with USA Wrestling a natural fit between two organizations committed to preparing people for difficult challenges.
Anchoring a Legacy in Fargo
Since the partnership began in 2017, Marines have become a familiar presence at some of USA Wrestling’s most prominent events. Over time, the relationship has grown beyond visibility at tournaments to include opportunities for Marines to interact directly with wrestlers, coaches, families, and wrestling leaders.
That connection was on display again this summer at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota. Now in its eighth year, the Marine Corps’ title sponsorship of Junior Nationals continues to anchor the partnership at one of the largest and most recognizable annual gatherings in American wrestling.
Throughout the week, Marines could be seen around the FargoDome talking with athletes and coaches, participating in championship ceremonies, and interacting with families and fans.
“This year’s U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals were a tremendous success and another example of the outstanding partnership between USA Wrestling and the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Bruce Baumgartner, USA Wrestling President. “Our two organizations are committed to providing opportunities for young men and women across the country to showcase strength and courage in the pursuit of excellence.” … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2026/august/28/the-crucible-on-the-mat-how-the-marine-corps-and-usa-wrestling-forge-tomorrow-s-leaders?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Iowa extends attendance streak to 23 of 24 seasons; Penn State-Ohio State most attended indoor dual in college wrestling history
A look at the 2025-26 Division I men’s wrestling dual meet home attendance numbers.
Home attendance for NCAA Division I wrestling continued its climb in 2025-26, with 25 programs averaging over 1,000 fans per home dual. That’s nearly double the 13 programs that reached that mark a decade earlier in 2015-16, and part of a longer-term rise that saw the 1,000+ group grow from 13 to a high of 27 programs in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Iowa led the nation in home average attendance for the 23rd time in the last 24 seasons, drawing 11,811 fans per dual across five home dates at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It’s Iowa’s fifth consecutive year leading the nation in average attendance, and an extension of a run that includes an earlier 14-year streak from 2006-07 through 2019-20.
Oklahoma State finished second nationally in 2025-26 at 9,259 per dual, its best national placement in 19 years, matching the level it last reached in 2006-07. The average attendance of 9,259 was the program’s highest since the late Denny Diehl began tracking home attendance in the 2001-02 season.
Penn State placed third at 8,943 across seven home dates across Rec Hall and the Bryce Jordan Center.
Program Bests Across the Country
A number of programs posted the best national attendance placements in their history this season:
- Nebraska climbed to No. 5 nationally (4,457 average, 7,891 best single-dual draw), the highest national attendance ranking in program history.
- Michigan rose to No. 6 nationally (4,436 average, 11,483 best single-dual draw), also a best-ever placement for the Wolverines.
- Wyoming reached No. 18 nationally, its best national placement in 11 years.
- Maryland (11 years) and Chattanooga (18 years) each reached their best national placement in over a decade.
Nebraska (4,457) and Michigan (4,436) also set new program records for average home attendance in 2025-26.
A Milestone Night in Happy Valley
Penn State’s 36-5 win over Ohio State on Feb. 13 at Bryce Jordan Center drew 16,006 fans, the third-largest crowd on record for a Division I dual meet, and the largest ever for a dual held indoors. It also stands as a new Penn State program record for single-dual attendance. Only two outdoor stadium … more at … https://mattalkonline.substack.com/
The Top 50 Newcomers For The 2026-27 NCAA Wrestling Season
Ranking the best 50 college wrestlers new to the 2026-27 NCAA D1 season.
The 2026-27 college wrestling season is still over two months away, but it’s never too early to start getting excited for next year! To help you better prepare for the season, I’ve compiled a list of 50 wrestlers who didn’t wrestle last year and are either making their college debuts or returning back to college wrestling after an injury or redshirt.
The Top 10
I’m going to give my breakdown for each wrestler in the top 10 below, but if you want to see the entire list, just keep scrolling! It’s also probably important for me to explain my criteria before you start reading. The best way I can explain my criteria is in one word: VIBES. There’s not much of a science to this list. I put the wrestlers in the order of who I’m most excited to see wrestle and who I think could have the biggest impact on college wrestling next year. That means that your list will probably look a lot different than mine. That’s what makes these things fun!
1. Masanosuke Ono, Penn State – 133/141
How can a world champion who’s never wrestled a competitive folkstyle match not be #1? Yes, there’s still a ton of questions surrounding whether Ono will even wrestle and, if he does, what weight he will be at! However, Ono’s run at the 2024 World Championships, where he teched Vito Arujau and defeated world and Olympic champion Zavur Uguev, was historic. Combine that with Ono’s electric personality, and he has the potential to take the college wrestling world by storm this year.
2. Bo Bassett, Virginia Tech – 141
Bo Bassett is the most popular high school wrestler of all time, and for good reason. He’s a U17 World Champion, 3-time PA state champion, 4-time Super 32 champion, U20 World bronze medalist, and is currently in Final X, waiting to wrestle off Real Woods for the senior world team spot at 65 kg (oh, and he’s also on the U20 and U23 world teams this year). Bo has more hype than anyone who has ever entered college wrestling, and I can’t wait to see how he lives up to it next year at Virginia Tech.
3. Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech – 149
Staying in Blacksburg with Caleb Henson, who is returning to college wrestling after redshirting last year. Henson is a 3-time All-American who has placed 5th, 1st, and 2nd in his three years as a Hokie. As an NCAA champion, he has to be high on this list, but what makes it even better is the depth at 149 pounds this year. Henson will be battling for another NCAA title alongside Sergio Vega, Aden Valencia, Shayne Van Ness, and potentially Jesse Mendez. That’s 4 NCAA champions in one weight class – could this be the best weight of all time!?
4. Dreshaun Ross, Oklahoma State – 285
Now this is where my opinion really starts to affect the order of wrestlers on this list. I think Dreshaun Ross has the potential to be an NCAA Champion at heavyweight this year. When was the last time that was done by a true freshman at heavyweight? Now, I did make this list before David Taylor announced that All-American Konner Doucet has another year of eligibility. I’m going to stick to my guns though here and keep Ross at #4. I think he’s that good, and if he’s in the lineup over Doucet, he has the potential to win a wide-open heavyweight field that won’t have 6 of last year’s 8 All-Americans (only Ben Kueter and Christian Carroll return). … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/16122994-top-50-college-newcomers-for-the-2026-27-ncaa-wrestling-season?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
High School On SI Releases First Look at 2026-27 Boys National High School Wrestling Rankings
With the Class of 2026 graduated, Version 1 of our boys national preseason rankings welcome a new wave of contenders, including standout incoming freshmen, as the road to the 2026-27 season begins.
With Bo Bassett, one of the best high school wrestlers of a generation now officially off to the next level, Florida wrestler Lincoln Sledzianowski of St. John Neumann has taken over the nation’s No. 1 ranking at 144. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The road to the 2026-27 high school wrestling season begins with Version 1 of the High School On SI National Rankings. With the Class of 2026 now graduated, this preseason update resets every weight class, welcomes the nation’s top incoming freshmen and provides the first snapshot of where the country’s best wrestlers stand heading into the new season.
A Fresh Start for a New Season
We will drop a new version in August and another later in the month as we being the process of moving wrestlers into their expected weight classes. For this initial release, wrestlers remain at the weight classes they competed in at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo. Weight-class adjustments will come later this month as wrestlers settle into their expected weights for the high school season. The other neat thing is that it allows you to see how the weights ended up with the seniors removed. Removing the graduating seniors created opportunities for wrestlers who emerged during the spring and summer to enter the rankings.
Building the Rankings
This was step one of building the new rankings. I need to do it in stages since The remaining preseason releases will also coincide with the release of High School On SI’s preseason girls national rankings. Each weight class includes 30 ranked wrestlers. Honorable mention lists will continue to expand as additional preseason evaluations are completed, particularly in the upper weights.
Our intent with the higher weights was to get to 30, but doing that research revealed other paths that needed to be traveled. The other factor with not filling up the honorable mention slots right away is that it allows the list to grow more naturally instead of hunting people down to fill it out. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/high-school-on-si-releases-first-look-at-2026-27-boys-national-high-school-wrestling-rankings-01kzd0f8yffv?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
2026-27 Girls Preseason National High School Wrestling Rankings: Version 1
Graduating seniors exit the rankings and incoming freshmen join the national Top 30 in our first look at the 2026-27 girls high school wrestling season.
Consider this the first draft of the High School On SI 2026-27 Girls National High School Wrestling Rankings.
The primary purpose of this update is to remove graduating seniors and add incoming freshmen and other wrestlers who have earned their way into the rankings. We’re also expanding every weight class to a Top 30 ahead of the Super 32 early-entry process.
Super 32 is using our Top 30 as part of its early-entry criteria, but that did not influence where wrestlers are ranked. We did not manipulate the rankings for that purpose. The only changes from our final 2025-26 rankings were removing graduating seniors and adding new wrestlers.
Why Wrestlers Remain at Their Fargo Weights
For this update, wrestlers remain at the weights where they competed at Fargo, including those who may ultimately compete at different weights during the high school season. This allowed us to produce an initial update without projecting where every wrestler will compete in 2026-27.
Our next update, scheduled for later in August, will begin moving wrestlers into their expected high school weight classes.
Next Woman Up
Removing the graduating seniors also provides an early look at how each weight class is shaping up for 2026-27. It opened spots for wrestlers who had been on the edge of the rankings, as well as those who emerged during the spring and summer.
Some weight classes already had enough ranked and honorable mention wrestlers to fill the Top 30 once the seniors were removed, particularly at the lighter weights. As with the boys rankings, the heavier weight classes required additional research to fill out. Current No. 1 Ranked Wrestlers … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/2026-27-girls-preseason-national-high-school-wrestling-rankings-version-1-01kzy76chekf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
From Gori, Georgia to Durham: Ross Returns Ready for the Next Step
By: Emily Carter, Duke Creative Services Summer Intern
DURHAM, N.C.– After hours of travel, Dylan Ross had barely any time to recover before stepping onto the wrestling mat.
Ross landed in Georgia at 4 a.m., after a long international journey and was back in wrestling gear by 7 a.m. “We had no sleep,” Ross said.
He would begin the first of three daily sessions that would define his next 10 days. After earning the starting spot at 149 pounds as a Duke redshirt freshman, Ross finished last season with a 16-12 overall record and went 5-4 in ACC competition. The season gave him his first real opportunity to test himself at the collegiate level.
But Ross knew he could improve, and he spent part of his summer in Gori, Georgia, training under his longtime coach Valentin Kalika at a camp in one of the world’s most legendary wrestling cultures.
The schedule was demanding. Every morning began at 7 a.m., with conditioning at a local park before mat practices at 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. Between sessions, there was just enough time to eat, recover and prepare to do it all again, leaving very little room for anything besides wrestling.
For Ross, that was exactly what made the experience so valuable. He was exposed to a place where wrestling is deeply integrated into the culture. “[We were] outside the city, so it’s an underdeveloped area,” Ross said. “I feel like all the kids there, all they know and live is wrestling. They wrestle two or three times a day every single day their whole lives.”
This trip was not just about training abroad — it was a chance to reunite with the coach who played a major role in shaping Ross’s wrestling career. “My coach has been inviting me for a while, but it never worked out because it was kind of a big commitment,” Ross said. “This summer I found the time and one of my training partners back home wanted to go with me. It was hard to say no to an opportunity like that.”
Ross, who grew up in Edgewater, N.J., first began training with Kalika in the seventh grade and continued to train under him privately throughout high school before Kalika moved to California. Looking back, he admits that Kalika’s training style is unlike anything he had ever experienced. “He brought a style of wrestling that I had never seen before,” Ross said. … more at … https://goduke.com/news/2026/8/11/wrestling-from-gori-georgia-to-durham-ross-returns-ready-for-the-next-step?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
North Carolina Extends Wrestling Coach Rob Koll’s Contract
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina wrestling coach Rob Koll, who enters his fourth season leading the Tar Heels in 2026-27, has agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension. Koll’s new contract will run through June 30, 2029; the terms were approved by UNC’s Board of Trustees in late July.
“Coach Koll has a proven track record of building success on the wrestling mat while developing leaders in the community and connecting with fans and alumni,” said Director of Athletics Steve Newmark. “Since returning to Chapel Hill three years ago, Rob has brought championship-level leadership and commitment for his alma mater and program, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead the Carolina wrestling program.”
Coach Koll has a proven track record of building success on the wrestling mat while developing leaders in the community and connecting with fans and alumni. Since returning to Chapel Hill three years ago, Rob has brought championship-level leadership and commitment for his alma mater and program, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead the Carolina wrestling program.
Director of Athletics Steve Newmark
Koll, a 1988 national champion wrestler for the Tar Heels, became Carolina’s seventh head coach in program history on Aug. 31, 2023. He returned to his alma mater after spending two seasons at Stanford (2021-23) and the previous 28 as the head coach at Cornell (1993-2021). “Returning to Chapel Hill three years ago to lead the wrestling program means everything to me,’’ Koll said. “I’m truly thankful for the trust and support shown by Chancellor Lee Roberts, current and former Directors of Athletics Steve Newmark and Bubba Cunningham and the Board of Trustees.
“Our standard will be continuing to recruit the nation’s top talent and competing for championships while staying rooted in the University and community. The future of Tar Heel wrestling is bright, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.”
Returning to Chapel Hill three years ago to lead the wrestling program means everything to me. … more at … https://goheels.com/news/2026/8/13/unc-extends-wrestling-coach-rob-kolls-contract
Idaho Has Earned a Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Program: The Data No Longer Supports Waiting…
A Data-Driven Case for Expanding Athletic Opportunity in the Gem State
For years, the conversation surrounding women’s collegiate wrestling in Idaho centered on one question:
Is there enough talent to support a program?
The answer is now clear.
Idaho has developed into one of the nation’s fastest-growing producers of elite female wrestlers. Participation has surged, nationally ranked athletes are emerging from communities throughout the state, Fargo National All-Americans are becoming increasingly common, college commitments are growing, and Idaho-born wrestlers are earning All-American honors across multiple levels of collegiate competition.
Yet despite this success, Idaho remains one of the few wrestling-rich states without an in-state women’s collegiate wrestling opportunity. The issue is no longer whether Idaho has enough athletes to support a program.
The evidence demonstrates that Idaho has reached the point where establishing women’s collegiate wrestling represents a logical and strategic expansion of athletic opportunity.
Breaking the Barrier: Idaho’s Last Untapped Varsity Opportunity
Among Idaho’s eight colleges sponsoring intercollegiate athletics, nearly every traditional men’s sport has developed a corresponding women’s varsity opportunity. Across NCAA, NAIA, and junior college athletics, women compete in basketball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving, skiing, rodeo, volleyball, softball, and numerous other sports.
Wrestling remains the notable exception.
It is the only traditional collegiate sport currently offered in Idaho where a men’s varsity program exists without an equivalent women’s opportunity.
This disparity is particularly significant at North Idaho College (NIC), which has established one of the most successful men’s wrestling programs in junior college history. While NIC wrestling has built a national reputation through decades of championship success, Idaho’s female wrestlers continue to leave the state to pursue collegiate opportunities elsewhere. … more at … https://simplemanwrestling.com/2026/07/14/idaho-has-earned-a-womens-collegiate-wrestling-program-the-data-no-longer-supports-waiting/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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 