NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 11 Roundup: Duals Are The Way
The world’s finest collection of noteworthy happenings from the 11th week of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season.
Dual season is in full swing as the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season trudges along! And we’re here to document all the noteworthy happenings from the 11th week of the season!
Box Scores | Rankings | Last Week’s Roundup
The biggest wrestling event this weekend was the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals. This wrestling extravaganza, hosted by Northern Iowa in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, features the unofficial dual meet championship tournaments at multiple divisional levels.
It is the pinnacle of the dual meet season for the NAIA and NCAA D2 and D3 men’s levels. Ditto for the NAIA and NCAA women’s tournaments. The event used to feature a robust NCAA D1 men’s tournament, however, the number of top teams interested in participating began to dwindle, and then not long ago that portion of the program was dropped entirely.
But guess what? It looks like Division 1 is back on the menu!
14 programs from ‘non-power’ conferences participated (not including affiliates, so no programs whose football and basketball teams are in the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, ACC or Pac-12). Some would classify the participating programs as ‘mid-majors’, but I wouldn’t. Especially not within earshot of UNI head coach Dough Schwab. … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13467368-ncaa-d1-wrestling-week-11-roundup-duals-are-the-way
Illinois’ Byrd New No. 1 at 133 in WIN’s Jan. 13 Rankings
NEWTON, Iowa — Lucas Byrd of Illinois has taken over the top spot at 133 pounds in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 13 national rankings presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
Byrd, a senior, moved up from the No. 2 spot after the previous No. 1-ranked wrestler at 133 — Ryan Crookham of Lehigh — suffered an injury last weekend. A school spokesperson said the Mountain Hawk would miss the upcoming dual with Navy and was unsure how long Crookham would be out of action. This new ranking now sets up an upcoming battle between Byrd and Iowa’s No. 2 Drake Ayala when the Big Ten teams meet this Friday in Iowa City, where Iowa — ranked No. 2 in WIN’s Dual-Team rankings and No. 3 in WIN’s Tournament Power Index — will entertain the Illini, which ranks No. 12 in the dual rankings and No. 7 in WIN’s TPI.
Penn State remains the top-ranked team in both team rankings and features three top-ranked wrestlers: Tyler Kasak (157), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Carter Starocci. Oklahoma State, scheduled to wrestle Monday night against NC State, is ranked No. 3 in dual competition and No. 2 in WIN’s TPI.
WIN’s TPI projects where teams are expected to place in this season’s NCAA Championships in March, based on individual rankings at this point in the season. The following is a breakdown of those individual TPI points per ranking: 20 for 1st, … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/01/13/illinois-byrd-new-no-1-at-133-in-wins-jan-13-rankings/
Gardner-Webb Wrestling Defeats Duke, Scores Power Five Road Win
DURHAM, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University wrestling team scored a Power Five victory on the road on Tuesday afternoon, starting strong and riding early results to a 23-19 win at Duke
It would be the lower weight classes making the biggest difference for Gardner-Webb on Tuesday afternoon inside Card Gymnasium, with the Runnin’ Bulldogs picking up individual victories at 125, 133, 141 and 149 pounds. GWU ultimately sealed the deal with additional late wins at 184 and 197
To open the match, junior Jeffrey Jacome continued a fine junior season with a 10-2 major decision, defeating Ethan Grimminger to give GWU a 4-0 lead. Junior Tyson Lane increased that lead to 7-0 moments later in the 133 pound class, beating Raymond Adams by a 5-2 decision. Graduate Todd Carter returned to duals for Gardner-Webb in a big way in the 141 pound division, defeating Christian Coleman of Duke by tech fall, 19-4 and giving GWU a 12-0 lead. Sophomore Joseph Giordano then made it 15-0 to the Runnin’ Bulldogs after a win in the 149 pound class, 5-3 over Sean O’Donnell.
After Duke closed to within a point at 15-14, freshman Jackson Potts and junior Josh McCutchen stepped up to complete the victory. In the 184 pound class, Potts defeated David Hussey by a 7-5 decision while McCutchen scored a 17-1 tech fall over Kwasi Bonsu. The pair combined to give Gardner-Webb a 23-14 … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2025/1/14/wrestling-defeats-duke-scores-road-power-five-win.aspx
National Wrestling Media Association announces 2023-24 Award Recipients
New Brighton, Minnesota – The National Wrestling Media Association is proud to announce the recipients of its annual media and journalism awards for the 2023-24 coverage season.
Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Klingman, Sam Janicki, TheMat.com, Baschamania, Leandra Harasta and Madie Brink are this year’s group of awards recipients. “I’m thrilled with our voter turnout, with over 70 percent of the membership taking the time to vote for their peers,” said NWMA President Jason Bryant. “Three categories were incredibly close, reflecting the exceptional quality of all the finalists. This year’s group is well deserving of their recognition, as were all the finalists.”
“The Class of 2024 award recipients have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields of media and have provided invaluable contributions to help shape the narrative of wrestling over the past year. On behalf of the NWMA, I’m proud to recognize these individuals’ achievements and am thankful for their leadership within our sport,” said Richard Immel, NWMA Vice President.
Broadcaster of the Year – Jordan Burroughs, ESPN/NBC Sports
World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs provided color commentary for two of the biggest championships in the world – the NCAA Division I championships and the Olympic Games. Burroughs was alongside ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Mike Couzens and fellow Olympian and analyst Daniel Cormier on ESPN’s broadcast of the NCAA championships. He joined longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Jason Knapp for the Olympic Games. This is Burroughs’ first award from the NWMA.
Journalist of the Year – Kyle Klingman, Flosports
One of the most respected writers in the sport for over two decades, Kyle Klingman created a college wrestling women’s beat at Flowrestling that is unmatched in the sport. Weekly recaps, recruiting information and now a weekly video podcast with longtime women’s wrestling supporter and parent Scott Beck are all part of Klingman’s arsenal. Klingman also routinely features interviews from notable names across all age levels in women’s wrestling. Klingman was previously named WIN Magazine’s Journalist of the Year in 2008. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/22/national-wrestling-coaches-association-national-wrestling-media-association-announces-2023-24-award-recipients.aspx
Heart to Add Three Women’s Wrestling Programs
The Heart of America Athletic Conference proudly announces the addition of three new programs that will compete in women’s wrestling in the conference.
Full member Graceland University announced that it will be adding women’s wrestling in the 2025-26 academic year.
Bismarck State (N.D.) will be joining the NAIA in its first year in 2025-26 and will be competing in the Heart in 2025-26 in women’s wrestling, while Bellevue (Neb.) will be adding the sport of women’s wrestling and will join the Heart in 2026-27.
The inclusion the three new schools enriches the conference’s women’s wrestling membership, bringing the total number of members to ten:
Baker University
Bellevue University (Neb.)
Bismarck State College (N.D.)
Central Methodist University
Dickinson State (N.D.)
Graceland
Grand View
Missouri Valley
William Penn
William Woods
“We are thrilled to welcome Bismarck State College and Bellevue University to the Heart of America Athletic Conference as affiliate members in women’s wrestling,” said Heart Commissioner, Nik Rule. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/22/national-wrestling-coaches-association-heart-to-add-three-womens-wrestling-programs.aspx
Top five unbeatens unscathed; Nittany Lions win 64th in a row
Manheim, Pennsylvania – With every postseason eligible Division I men’s wrestling program having competed in at least one dual meet, the five remaining unbeaten teams are still sitting in the top five spots of the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.
Top-ranked Penn State continues to ride its program-record win streak into the Big Ten season. The Nittany Lions (8-0) defeated No. 7 Nebraska 31-7 in Lincoln over the weekend to win for the 64th straight dual meet. In the loss, Nebraska set a home wrestling attendance record with 6,661 fans at the Devaney Center. Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett knocked off Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness 10-2 at 149 pounds, while Penn State’s Tyler Kasak defeated Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor in a pair of top-five matchups.
Second-ranked Iowa (8-0) kept pace with a 24-9 win over then-No. 9 Illinois. Drake Ayala picked off Illinois’ Lucas Byrd in a top-five matchup at 133 pounds.
Third-ranked Oklahoma State improved to 9-0 with a 30-12 win over visiting West Virginia. Fourth-ranked Ohio State (11-0) bounced Purdue 34-10, while fifth-ranked Northern Iowa (9-0) handled Arizona State 33-10.
Other ranked matchups this past week: No. 8 Minnesota beat then-No. 15 Michigan 25-10, then-No. 23 West Virginia beat then-No. 20 Oklahoma 22-13 in Norman, while unranked Navy picked off then-No. 21 Lehigh 21-15. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/21/ncaa-division-1-men-top-five-unbeatens-unscathed-nittany-lions-win-64th-in-a-row.aspx
The National Duals Invitational, Sponsored by Paycom, Brings High-Stakes Wrestling to Tulsa
OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Duals Invitational, sponsored by Paycom, will welcome some of the top collegiate wrestling talent to BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the weekend of Nov. 15-16. “Hosting the National Duals Invitational by our fantastic sponsor, Paycom, is a game-changer for D1 wrestling. Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today, it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association.
The premiere 16-team event will feature some of the top NCAA Division I teams, with a total purse of more than $1 million up for grabs. The top 8 teams will all earn payouts, with the winning squad walking away with $200,000. The second- and third-place teams will earn $150,000, while fourth place earns $75,000. Fifth through eighth place will each earn between $50,000 and $20,000, respectively. All participating teams will receive $20,000 for attending.
Ticket details and the full roster of teams competing will be announced on or before July 15. “I am excited for the sport of wrestling to have a competitive field at the inaugural National Duals Invitational,” said Chad Richison, Paycom’s founder and CEO. “Investing in student athletes and non-income-generating sports is important in today’s ever-evolving collegiate landscape.”
Thirty-four-time NCAA champion Oklahoma State will serve as the host school. “Bringing a prestigious wrestling tournament of this magnitude to Oklahoma is exciting for the sport, and the winnings will be significant in helping universities build out their programs at an even higher level. We continue to be grateful for Mr. Richison and Paycom’s support of wrestling in the state of Oklahoma and nationally,” said Chad Weiberg, Oklahoma State Vice President and Athletic Director.
This event will be held at the BOK Center, which was also the site of the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and is the current home of the 2025 Big 12 Championships. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/21/national-wrestling-coaches-association-the-national-duals-invitational-sponsored-by-paycom-brings-high-stakes-wrestling-to-tulsa.aspx
NCAA adds women’s wrestling as 91st championship
Sport becomes sixth in Emerging Sports for Women program to reach championship status
The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, providing another athletics opportunity for female athletes to compete. Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the Association’s annual Convention this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be in 2026. “We are thrilled that women’s wrestling will be an NCAA sport, making it the 91st championship that we host,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We extend a big thank you to everyone who supported this effort and the athletes, coaches and fans for their passion for a fast-growing and exciting sport that brings even more opportunities for women to participate in athletics.”
There were 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, with projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today. The sport is also diverse. At least 45% of the student-athletes competing are of diverse or international backgrounds. “This means so much to women’s wrestling and to women’s sports in general,” said University of Iowa student-athlete wrestler and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades. “It gives women’s wrestling recognition and shows that it is important, not just around the world, but also in our country. College sports are huge in the United States. This shows how much women’s wrestling is growing. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about being an NCAA national wrestling champion. It will fulfill so many little girls’ dreams, including mine.”
USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport, and organizations such as Wrestle Like a Girl have steadily supported efforts for an NCAA championship in the sport “USA Wrestling salutes the NCAA leadership for its historic decision to make women’s wrestling its 91st NCAA championships,” said Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling. “Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation. We thank each of the NCAA institutions which have already added women’s wrestling for their leadership and vision and invite others to consider providing this opportunity. We celebrate today with all of those within wrestling and college athletics who have worked so hard to make this dream a reality,” Bender said.
Sally Roberts, chief executive officer and founder of Wrestle Like a Girl, also shared her excitement. “I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as we celebrate the landmark … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/17/national-wrestling-coaches-association-ncaa-adds-womens-wrestling-as-91st-championship.aspx
Top five undefeated as dual season heats up
Manheim, Pennsylvania – The dual meet season kicked into high gear this past week with the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals highlighting the calendar as well as a top-five dual meet in Stillwater. Five teams remain undefeated among Division I men’s wrestling programs and all five are ranked atop the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.
Penn State (7-0) remained the unanimous No. 1 in the poll after a 55-0 win over Michigan State, extending the school’s win streak to 63 straight dual victories. Second-ranked Iowa also improved to 7-0 with a conferences shutout. The Hawkeyes blanked Wisconsin 45-0 in Madison over the weekend. Oklahoma State improved to 8-0 after topping then-No. 5 NC State its first loss of the season 34-3. The dual was slated for Sunday, but travel issues related to the winter storm on the East Coast delayed the Wolfpack’s departure, pushing the dual back to Monday night. The Wolfpack shut out Duke 47-0 to open the weekend.
Ohio State (10-0) remained fourth after a pair of ranked wins. The Buckeyes first beat No. 11 Illinois 24-9 before needing All-American heavyweight Nick Feldman’s win to pull out a 17-15 win at home against No. 16 Rutgers.
Northern Iowa improved to 8-0, sweeping the field at the NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals at the UNI-Dome. The Panthers dropped just five individual matches on the weekend, earning wins over Sacred Heart, Ohio, Northern Colorado and South Dakota State. The Panthers moved up to No. 5 this week, the highest ranking since February of 2014, when they finished the season ranked fifth.
Nebraska rebounded from last week’s loss to Northern Iowa to upended Minnesota 21-13. The Huskers (6-1) moved up two spots to No. 7, while Minnesota (4-1) slid three spots to No. 8.
Virginia Tech dropped out of the top 10 as the Hokies fell over the weekend to then-No. 25 North Carolina 20-17 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina jumped six spots to No. 19, while the Hokies slid out of the Top 10, falling to No. 11. The upset bug also bit then-No. 9 Michigan, as unranked Maryland beat the Wolverines 19-18 on the second criteria in Ann Arbor. It’s the first time Maryland has beaten a top 10 team since the 2007-08 season That win was also against Michigan.
Despite losing to Ohio State, Illinois moved into the Top 10, partially due to the losses by Michigan and Virginia Tech. The Fighting Illini (7-1) did beat Northwestern 33-7 following the loss to Ohio State and are in the Top 10 for the first time since February 9, 2021.
Cornell also moved into the Top 10 following a 23-19 win over then-No. 19 Lehigh.
The rest of the poll saw considerable shuffling. Ranked head-to-head matchups that impacted this week’s poll included: No. 13 Iowa State beating No. 22 West Virginia 24-18, then-No. 14 South Dakota State defeating then-No. 17 Little Rock 23-13, then-No. 18 Pittsburgh beating then-No. 15 Stanford and West Virginia and Stanford beating then-No. 21 Missouri. … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/1/14/ncaa-division-1-men-top-five-undefeated-as-dual-season-heats-up.aspx
Huskers Battle No. 1 Penn State in Front of Record Crowd, Fall 31-7
In front of a record crowd of 6,736, the No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team took on No. 1 Penn State on Friday night. Despite two top-five wins, the Huskers fell 31-7 to the Nittany Lions, and to 6-2 (1-1 Big Ten) on the season. PSU improved to 8-0 (2-0 Big Ten) to continue its five-year dual win streak.
No. 4 Ridge Lovett scored bonus points in his first ever matchup against No. 2 Shayne Van Ness, and No. 16 Van Dee took down No. 5 Braeden Davis. The 24-point Husker loss was the smallest margin yet for Penn State’s 2024-25 season, but with three tech. falls and a major decision, PSU notched another Big Ten victory and pushed the series lead to 13-8-1 PSU.
Kicking the dual off at 174 was No. 15 Lenny Pinto, taking on No. 2 Levi Haines. Haines got an early takedown to take a 3-0 lead into the second period. The Nittany Lion got an early escape, and Pinto fired back with a reversal. Late in the third period Haines took back control, scoring with another … more at … https://huskers.com/news/2025/01/18/huskers-battle-no-1-penn-state-in-front-of-record-crowd-fall-31-7
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
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