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NCAA Wrestling Championships Live Blog: Keeping Up with Oklahoma State’s Journey at Nationals

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2 months ago

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After months of build up, the Cowboys are in Cleveland ready to wrestle at the NCAA Championships.

Oklahoma State qualified all 10 weights for nationals, making for what will almost certainly be a fun three days.

We’ll keep up with the action here, so keep refreshing.

Helpful Links

Weight-by-weight preview
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Session 1 recap
Takeaways from Day 1
Session 3 recap
Finals recap

Schedule (Times Are Central)

Thursday
Preliminaries — 11 a.m. on ESPN2
Preliminaries and wrestle-backs — 6 p.m. on ESPN

Friday
Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs — 11 a.m. on ESPNU
Semifinals and wrestle-backs — 7 p.m. on ESPN2

Saturday
Consolation finals — 10 a.m. on ESPNU
Championship finals — 5:30 p.m. on ESPN

Team Standings (FINAL)

Place Team Points
1 Penn State 181.5
2 Oklahoma State 131
3 Nebraska 100.5
4 Iowa 92.5
5 Ohio State 84.5
6 Stanford 67.5
7 Michigan 66
8 Iowa State 52
9 Minnesota 48.5
10 Virginia Tech 44.5

Finals (Saturday Night)

141: 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. 2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State)

First Period: Mendez applying pressure early. He forces a stall warning less than a minute in.

Period ends scoreless.

Second Period: Vega picks bottom. He gets out 42 seconds in and takes a 1-0 lead.

That’s all the period provides.

Third Period: Mendez goes under. A scramble ensues that results in a Mendez escape, tying it at 1.

Mendez gets in on a shot, but Vega nearly wins the exchange. They go out of bounds and reset. Headed to OT tied at 1.

Sudden-Victory: VEGA WINS IT! Mendez gets in on a leg, but Vega, as he’s done all season, keeps wrestling and comes out on top.

He’s a true freshman national champ who wasn’t taken down all year.

Result: Vega 4, Mendez 1 (SV)

157: 2 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs. 5 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State)

First Period: Robideau gets in on a leg early. The flexible Taylor fights in a split for nearly two minutes before a stalemate is called.

Robideau’s nose is busted, and we get a stoppage for blood time.

Robideau pressures Taylor out of bounds, and the Cornhusker gets a stall warning.

Period ends scoreless.

Second Period: Taylor picks down.

He nearly rolls out instantly, but Robideau comes out on top with Taylor on his back. Taylor fights off it, but Robideau gets three nearfall points. Nebraska challenges.

After review, Robideau gets two nearfall points and leads 2-0.

Taylor gets out with 51 seconds in riding time for the Cowboy — 2-1.

Robideau’s nose won’t stop bleeding. There’s been multiple stoppages to clean him and the mat up.

Third Period: Robideau gets out to push his lead to 3-1. He has 41 seconds in riding time.

Robideau comes out on the right side of an exchange. He doesn’t get a takedown, but Taylor gets called for a second stall. That’s a point for Robideau, making it 4-1.

Nebraska throws its brick again.

The call stands. Robideau up 4-1.

Robideau gets hit with a warning, as Taylor starts to pressure.

Robideau gets hit with another stall, but it isn’t enough. OSU has a second true freshman national champ!

Result: Robideau 4, Taylor 2

197: 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) vs. 7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)

First Period: Merrill does a good job neutralizing Barr for much of the period, but the Nittany Lion gets in on a double let late in the period and finishes — 3-0.

Merrill gets out shortly before the whistle, which could be big. He trails 3-1 going into the second.

Second Period: Merrill gets out quickly, cutting Barr’s lead to 3-2.

Nothing doing the rest of the frame.

Third Period: Merrill gets called for a locked hands, then gets reversed. He escapes, making it 6-3 in Barr’s favor.

Merrill picks up a stall warning after a Barr shot. The Cowboy has to go.

Barr gets a stall warning, but holds on.

Outstanding tournament from Merrill, making it to the final as the 7 seed. It’s the first time Barr won this season without bonus points.

Result: Barr 6, Merrill 3

133: 1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) vs. 2 Ben Davino (Ohio State)

First Period: Forrest gets in tight on a takedown attempt, but Davino, who hasn’t given up a takedown all year, somehow fights it off.

Scoreless after one.

Second Period: Davino chooses bottom.

Davino gets hit with an early stall warning after a mat return. He gets out after a 36-second ride. Davino leads 1-0.

Davino not letting Forrest in at all.

Third Period: Forrest gets out to tie it and then gets his takedown quickly after. He leads 4-1 all of a sudden.

His riding time goes over a minute. He’s working for his ball-and-chain tilt, but Davino keeps fighting it off.

Davino gets out, but he can’t get to Forrest in time.

From high schooler to national champ!

Result: Forrest 5, Davino 2

Non-OSU Finals Results

149: Aden Valencia (Stanford) dec. Van Ness (Penn State), 8-5 SV

165: Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) TF Mike Caliendo (Iowa), 20-4

174: Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. Christopher Minto (Nebraska), 2-1

184: Max McEnelly (Minnesota) dec. Rocco Welsh (Penn State), 4-3

HWT: Isaac Trumble (NC State) dec. Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), 5-0

125: Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) dec. Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton), 2-1

125: No. 5 Troy Spratley (5th)

Round 1: Spratley opens his tournament against Navy’s Andrew Binni. A freshman, Binni comes in at 17-9 this season, taking second at the EIWA Championships.

Binni got in on a leg early, but Spratley fought the attempt off, and after a reset quickly scored the bout’s first takedown. Binni escapes late in the period, but Spratley takes a 3-1 lead and 1:42 in riding time into the second.

Spratley escapes quickly to start the second, pushing his lead to 4-1, which is how the period ends.

Binni selects neutral to start the third, and Spratley scores a quick takedown. A Binni escape makes it 7-2.  Binni gets hit with a stall warning on the edge of the mat, and after a return to center, Spratley scores a third takedown on a go-behind. He wins it 11-2 with riding time.

Result: Spratley 11, Binni 2

Round 2: Well, it’s happening. Troy Spratley and Vincent Robinson will have an NCAA finals rematch in the second round of this year’s NCAAs. Robinson is the reigning national champ but the 12 seed this season. He is 3-0 against Spratley, including a 3-2 win at National Duals in November.

Robinson gets in on a leg and finishes midway through the first period. He rides out the period, taking a 3-0 lead and 1:15 in riding time into the second.

Spratley commits to a ride, taking Robinson’s riding time down to 18 seconds before Robinson gets out and extends his lead to 4-0. Spratley rolls through and pulls off some move that I’m too dumb to name. He gets a takedown and four nearfall points right as the period ended, taking a 7-4 lead into the third.

Spratley gets out to start the third, taking an 8-4 lead. He’s wrestling defensively now, picking up a stall warming. Spratley gets called again for stalling, but he avenges his NCAA finals loss and beat Robinson 8-5.

Result: Spratley 8, Robinson 5

Quarterfinal: Spratley will square off with 4 seed Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) in the quarters in Friday’s first session. Seymour is a perfect 20-0 this season after beating Iowa State’s Stevo Poulin 5-4 in the second round. Spratley and Poulin wrestled in the Big 12 final, where Spratley won 5-2 (for whatever that’s worth). Seymour finished sixth at NCAAs last season. This will be their first meeting.

Spratley strikes first, scoring on a takedown about a minute into the match. Seymour escapes after a 1:05 ride from Spratley. The Cowboy leads 3-1 after one.

Spratley escapes in just 4 seconds, maintaining 1:01 in riding time and extending his lead to 4-1. That’s how the period ends.

Seymour goes under. He gets out with 20 seconds left. Seymour then goes for a big move, and Spratley evades and scores a takedown. The Cowboy beats the previously unbeaten wrestler 8-2.

Result: Spratley 8, Seymour 2

Semifinal: It’ll be Cowboy vs. Nittany Lion in the semis Friday night, as Spratley draws top seed Luke Lilledahl. Lilledahl’s only loss this season was to a teammate at an open tournament and thus doesn’t count on his record. A sophomore, Lilledahl took third at NCAAs as a freshman last season. Spratley and Lilledahl haven’t wrestled in college.

Lilledahl gets in on a counterattack and finishes. Spratley gets out quickly and trails 3-1. Lilledahl comes up on the right side of a scramble, getting a takedown and two nearfall points to increase his lead to 8-1. The officials go to the monitor for something. After the restart, Spratley escapes — 8-2. That’s how the period ends.

Spratley gets another escape to start the second period. He now trails 8-3. Lilledahl has 56 seconds in riding time. That’s how the second period ends.

The third starts in neutral. Spartley is active, but Lilledahl isn’t giving any opening.

Result: Lilledahl 8, Spratley 3

Consolation Semifinal: Spratley vs. Robinson again. After wrestling in the national final last season, Spratley and Robinson will meet for the second time this tournament. Spratley avenged that finals loss with an 8-5 win in the second round thanks to a 7-point move.

Scoreless after one. Spratley held center for most of the period, but no one was too close to scoring.

Robinson gets out quick then gets in on a leg on the edge of the match but Spratley scrambles out of it. Robinson leads 1-0.

Spratley is out quick in the third, tying it at 1. Spratley gets in on a leg but teh official stops the action for potentially dangerous after Robinson’s knee contorts. They go back to center. OT upcoming.

Robinson gets tagged with a stall warning, but that’s all sudden-victory provides. They’ll settle this in tiebreakers.

Robinson hits a reversal with two seconds left in the first tiebreaker. The officials are going to look at it. It gets overturned from a reversal to an escape. Spratley has 29 seconds in riding time. The call gets reviewed again, this time independently, and a reversal is given. Now Spratley has some work to do. Spratley gets out but can’t get in on a takedown. Robison wins it.

Result: Robinson 3, Spratley 2

Fifth-Place Match: Spratley will wrestled 14 seed Jacob Moran (Indiana) in to close his tournament. Like Spratley, Moran made it all the way to the semis on the frontside of the bracket. He’s a senior who earned his first All-American honors this year. Spratley and Moran haven’t wrestled in college.

Spratley gets in on a leg and finishes for an early takedown — 3-0. After a 1:01 ride, Spratley lets Moran up and takes him down again — 6-1. The Cowboy rides out the period and takes a 6-1 lead and 1:46 in riding time into the second.

Spratley gets out early in the second, pushing his lead to 7-1. He gets another takedown, and this one comes with back points. And a fall! Strong close to the tournament for Spratley.

Result: Spratley wins by fall

133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (1st)

Round 1: Forrest’s first opponent has to win a match just to get to him. OU’s Carter Schmidt and Central Michigan’s Andrew Austin will wresting a pigtail, winner gets Forrest. Forrest pinned Schmidt in his OSU debut.

Schmidt prevails in the pigtail and will get Jax in the Round of 32.

Forrest, with blonde hair, scores a quick takedown. After a release, he gets another … and then another. Forrest then catches a cradle and pins Schmidt for the second time this season.

Result: Forrest winner by fall

Forrest will get 17 seed T.K. Davis (Gardner-Webb) in the second round after Davis battled to a 4-1 win against Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin). Davis is 24-1 this year and is the SoCon champ at 133.

Forrest hits a fireman’s carry about 40 seconds in for the match’s first takedown. He locks on his ball-and-chain tilt and gets four nearfall points to go up 7-0. Davis gets out but Forrest quickly takes him back down and gets some more nearfall points. It’s 12-1. After a return to center, Forrest hits the ball-and-chain again to win 16-1. First period tech.

Result: Forrest 16, Davis 1

Quarterfinal: Forrest will match up against 8 seed Markel Baker (Northern Illinois) in Friday morning’s quarters. Baker beat 9 seed Domicick Serrano (Northern Colorado) in sudden-victory to get to Forrest. Baker is 27-3 this season and won the MAC.

Forrest gets a quick takedown. Baker escapes. It’s chaos in all four quarterfinals and the freshmen are opening up. Forrest after some more takedowns and back points is up 10-1 with 57 seconds in riding time. Jax Forrest things happening everywhere. He gets another takedown and back points to go up 15-3 after an escape. He seemed to think the match was over, but he must’ve gotten fewer back points on the last sequence than we thought. He takes Baker down shortly thereafter for another first period tech.

Result: Forrest 18, Baker 3

Semifinal: The rematch is happening. Forrest will wrestle Virginia Tech’s Aaron Seidel in Friday night’s semis. Seidel, also a true freshman, gave Forrest his closest match of his young career when Forrest beat Seidel 10-9 in OSU’s dual in Blacksburg. Seidel took Forrest down three times in that match, but Forrest got a takedown with back points that ended up being the difference. That’s Seidel’s only loss of his career, and he is also a bonus-point machine.

Forrest dives in on a double and instantly finishes. Scramble city ensues. It goes out of bounds. Forrest stays on top and leads 3-0. Seidel fights out after a 46-second ride — 3-1. The two come together near the end of the period, but nothing comes from it. Forrest leads 3-1 heading into the second.

Forrest nearly pulls off a reversal on the edge of the mat, but the officials rule them out of bounds. Seidel commits to the ride. He gets call for a locked hands, giving Forrest a 4-1 lead. Forrest gets out with 52 seconds left, pushing his lead to 5-1. Forrest finishes another takedown — 8-1. That will be his lead heading into the third.

Not wanting to go under Forrest, Seidel chooses neutral. Forrest gets another takedown — 11-1. Seidel escapes to make it 11-2. He gets another takedown late and lets Seidel up. Forrest majors his semifinal.

Result — Forrest 14, Seidel 3

Final: It’s 1 vs. 2 in the national final, as Forrest will square off against Ohio State’s Ben Davino. Davino beat 3 seed Marcus Blaze (Penn State) in tiebreakers to get here — winning their freshman trilogy two matches to one. That loss to Blaze (which came Feb. 13) is Davino’s only loss of the season.

Live updates on finals matches will be at the top of this page Saturday night.

141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (1st)

Round 1: Northwestern’s Billy DeKraker has the task of wrestling Vega in the opening round in a battle of freshmen. DeKraker is 14-11 this season, finishing eighth at Big Tens.

The first period ends scoreless.

Vega scores on a reversal to start the second. He rides out the rest of the period and leads 2-0 with 42 seconds in riding time heading into the third.

Vega’s top game is so scary that DeKraker became the latest wrestler to choose neutral against him while losing a match and knowing Vega hasn’t given up a takedown this year. DeKraker got in on a shot, but Vega wins the scramble (as he tends to do) to get a takedown of his own and push his lead to 5-0. He rides out from there and wins his first NCAA Tournament match 6-0.

Result: Vega 6, DeKraker 0

Round 2: Vega will wrestle Rider’s Elijah Griffin, the 15 seed, in the second round after Griffin beat 18 seed Carter Nogle to start his tournament. A senior, Griffin is 26-7 this season.

Griffin gets in on a shot about as deep as you can, but Vega somehow stuffs it and nearly scores himself. The first period ends scoreless, though.

Griffin locks in a cradle from the top position, but Vega somehow pops his head out before Griffin can flip him over. Vega escapes after 1:06 in riding time for Griffin. Vega gets in on a shot and finishes late in the second period, giving him a 4-0 lead heading into the third.

Griffin escapes but Vega takes him down, hits a cradle of his own and gets the fall. It was a closer match than it looked, but Vega is just so dang good.

Result: Vega wins by fall

Quarterfinal: Vega will take on Iowa’s Nasir Bailey in the quarters. Bailey, the 7 seed, beat 10 seed Jack Consiglio 11-5 to get here. Vega and Bailey wrestled a tight match at National Duals back in November, with Vega winning 3-0 in sudden victory. Bailey’s season has had some ups and downs, but he entered this tournament in good form, finishing third at Big Tens with his only loss coming to two-time national champ Jesse Mendez.

The first period ends scoreless. Vega held center and committed to one shot that Bailey did a good job to fight out of.

Bailey escapes quickly to start the second, taking a 1-0 lead. Vega stays on the gas and gets his takedown, working through some positions on the edge of the mat in the final minute of the period. Vega rides the remainder of the period and takes a 3-1 lead and 42 seconds in riding time to the third.

Vega selects neutral. He earns a stall point because despite being in the lead, he’s the guy on the gas. He leads 4-1 as Bailey shoves him into the scorer’s table. The two exchange words before high-fiving before a neutral restart. Vega evades and makes it to the semis, winning 4-1.

Result: Vega 4, Bailey 1

Semifinal: Vega will wrestle 3 seed Brock Hardy (Nebraska) for a third time this season in Friday night’s semifinal. Vega beat Hardy 13-2 at National Duals and pinned him in OSU’s dual against Nebraska. Hardy is a three-time All-American, finishing second last season.

Vega gets in on the first shot, but it ends in a stalemate after the threat of some scrambling passed. The first period ends scoreless.

Hardy picks bottom in the second, which hasn’t been a popular choice against the Cowboy this season. He gest out 47 seconds, as the Husker takes a 1-0 lead. Vega gets in on a shot late in the period but doesn’t have the time to finish it.

Vega chooses neutral and gets the takedown he seeks, going up 3-1. But Hardy reverses. Hardy lets Vega up with Vega still having his riding time point. It’s 4-3, Vega. The two scramble to the whistle, and Vega holds on.

Result: Vega 5, Hardy 3

Final: Vega vs. Jesse Mendez is a match the wrestling world wanted, and it’s a match the wrestling world will get. Vega gets the two-time defensive national champion Buckeye in the final.

Live updates on finals matches will be at the top of this page Saturday night.

149: No. 8 Casey Swiderski (8th)

Round 1: Swiderski will open up with Illinois’ Michael Gioffre, the 25 seed. Gioffre, a junior, is in his first season with Illinois after transferring from Virginia. He’s 15-10 this season and placed sixth at Big Tens.

Swiderski scores a quick takedown to go up 3-0. Gioffre escapes, but Swiderski takes him down again and is able to ride out the rest of the period. He leads 6-1 with 37 seconds in riding time.

Swiderski gets his riding time up to 52 seconds before Gioffre escapes. Gioffre got in deep on a leg attack, but Swiderski fights it off. The second period ends 6-2 in Swiderski’s favor.

Swiderski escapes to start the third, pushing his lead to 7-2, which is how the match ends.

Result: Swiderski 7, Gioffre 2

Round 2: Swiderski will match up against Utah Valley’s David Evans, the 9 seed, in the second round. Evans finished third and Big 12s but didn’t wrestle Swiderski at that tournament. He’s 20-5 this season.

Swiderski strikes first, scoring a takedown midway through the first. Evans comes out of the exchange injured. There is a delay (potentially for concussion protocol). The match resumes with Evans on bottom. Swiderski puts on a ride. Utah Valley throws a challenge brick for what I assume is locked hands. After another lengthy delay, the challenge is unsuccessful. Evans escapes to make it 3-1. Swiderski has 1:06 in riding time. Swiderski nearly powers his way to another takedown, but it isn’t called. Now OSU tosses its challenge brick out. Going to come down to a reaction time judgement. It is ruled a takedown. Swiderski leads 6-1 after the longest first period ever. … SIKE. Now the Utah Valley corner is upset. and threw its brick back out. The officials go back to the monitor. Evans gets a point for an escape after that review. Finally going to the second at 6-2.

Evans escapes after Swiderski builds his riding time to 1:44. It’s 6-3. That’s how the period ends.

Evans lets Swiderski up to start the third, giving the Cowboy a 7-3 lead with his riding time still in his pocket. Swiderski scores a takedown on the edge of the mat in the final minute to boost his lead up to 10-3. Evans gets out to make it 10-4 just for Swiderski to power to another takedown. David Taylor is going to love the unrelenting attack.

Result: Swiderski 14, Evans 4

Quarterfinal: This year’s first edition of Oklahoma State vs. Penn State will come at 149 pounds, as Swiderski will start Friday off against top seed Shayne Van Ness, who pinned Iowa State’s Jacob Frost in the second round. Van Ness is undefeated this season and has two third-place finishes at NCAAs.

Swiderski nearly rips an ankle-pick, but Van Ness somehow avoids getting taken down. Swiderski nearly hits another, but Van Ness again gets out of it. The first period ends scoreless, but Swiderski was the closest to scoring.

Swiderski escapes after 46 seconds in riding time for Van Ness, taking a 1-0 lead. Both guys exchange shots but no one gets in on a leg. Swiderski leads 1-0 heading into the third.

Van Ness reverses, taking a 2-1 lead. Swiderski battles out and crucially keeps Van Ness’ riding time under a minute. It’s 2-2. We’re going to OT.

After an absolute flurry of attacks, Van Ness gets behind Swiderski, wraps him up at the shins and scores a takedown. Exhausted, Swiderski fell like a tree. Heck of a battle.

Result: Van Ness 5, Swiderski 2

Blood Round: Swiderski will wrestle 21 seed Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) for a spot on the podium. The two wrestled in the second round of Big 12s, where Swiderski won 7-2.

After a scoreless first, Willochell escapes to take a 1-0 lead. Swiderski forces a stall warning. That’s how the second period ends.

Swiderski is out, tying the match at 1. He gets a takedown late to win it 4-1 and get back on the podium in his first year as a Cowboy.

Consolation Quarterfinal: Swiderski will wrestle 15 seed Ryder Block (Iowa). A win means third is still possible for the Cowboy. A loss, and the best he can do is seventh. Swiderski and Block wrestled at National Duals back in November, where Block won 5-3.

Scoreless first period.

Block escapes after about 25 seconds (riding time clock is down). He leads 1-0. Swiderski nearly finishes a takedown on the edge of the mat, but they go out of bounds. Block gets a takedown as time expires in the second. The officials are going to look at the time. Would be huge for Block, as he’d lead 4-0 going into the third. Call stands. Swiderski has to get going quickly.

He escapes almost instantly to start the third, cutting Block’s lead to 4-1. Swiderski powers to a takedown, tying the match at 4. He lets Block up instead of trying to ride for north of a minute. Block leads 5-4, as Swiderski will chase a takedown. Block gets hit with two stalls. We’re tied at 5 and going to OT.

Block gets in on a leg and finishes. Swiderski will wrestle for seventh Saturday morning.

Result: Block 8, Swiderski 5

Seventh-Place Match: Swiderski will wrestle 3 seed Cross Wasilewski (Penn). Wasilewski got pinned in the quarters before falling to 4 seed Collin Gaj to get to this match.

Swiderski gets taken down 12 seconds in, but Wasilewski’s nose comes up bloody in the exchange. He’s taking some blood time and is headed to the back, perhaps in concussion protocol.

After a lengthy delay, Wasilewski returns with a mask on his headgear. Swiderski escapes after 47 seconds in riding time. Wasilewski, probably not stoked about the nose, gives Swiderski a shove out of the circle after an exchange and the two trade words. The first period ends with Wasilewski leading 3-1.

Wasilewski gets out to start the second, extending his lead to 4-1.

Wasilewski gets his riding time above a minute. Swiderski gets out with less than a minute remaining — 4-2. Riding time point is secured for Wasilewski. It was chippy to the end, but Wasilewski  wins it. Swiderski finishes eighth.

Result: Wasilewski 5, Swiderski 2

157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (1st)

Round 1: Robideau opens with a Big 12 foe in North Dakota State’s Gavin Drexler. Despite sharing a conference, the two haven’t wrestled this season. Drexler finished fifth at Big 12s and enters NCAAs with a 16-10 record.

After applying a ton of pressure, Robideau scores a takedown on the edge of the mat midway through the opening period. Robideau takes a 3-0 lead and 1:25 in riding time into the second.

Robideau is quickly out and up to start the second, pushing his lead to 4-0. That’s how the period ends.

Drexler escapes with about a minute left to wrestle. Robideau wins it 5-1 with a riding time point.

Result: Robideau 5, Drexler 1

Round 2: Minnesota’s Charlie Millard, the 21 seed, upset 12 seed Vinny Zerban and will get Robideau in the second round. Robideau is from Minnesota and was committed to be a Gopher before David Taylor took over in Stillwater.

The first period ends scoreless.

Robideau gets out after 14 seconds and takes a 1-0 lead. Robideau works his way to a takedown, taking a 4-0 lead. Millard gets out to make it 4-1. Robideau gets another takedown late in the period and takes a 7-1 lead into the third.

Robideau lets Millard up in search of some bonus points. Millard get hit with a stall, Robideau gets hit with two. It’s 7-3. That’s how it ends.

Result: Robideau 7, Millard 3

Quarterfinal: Robideau will get a rematch of the Big 12 final in the national quarterfinal. He’ll wrestle Arizona State’s Kaleb Larkin, the 4 seed. Larkin pinned 20 seed Jimmy Harrington in his Round 2 match. Larkin beat Robideau 4-3 in the Big 12 final, just Robideau’s second career defeat. Robideau was the aggressor in the match but struggled on some finishes against the longer Larkin.

Robideau instantly gets in on a leg. It isn’t easy, but he powers to a finish to take a 3-0 lead. Arizona State’s corner is challenging for locked hands as part of Robideau’s ride. Unsuccessful challenge. Larkin escapes after 43 seconds, and Robideau goes right back to a leg. After a lengthy time in the splits on the edge of the mat, Larkin fights it off. Robideau leads 3-1 with 43 seconds in riding time after one.

Larkin escapes with 53 seconds in riding time for Robideau. Robideau is constantly on a leg, but Larkin has looked dangerous in some scrambles. The second period ends with Robideau leading 3-2.

Robideau gets out and leads 4-2. The two scramble, and Larkin comes out on top, taking a 5-4 lead. Robideau hits a slick reversal to go up 6-5. Larkin escapes, tying the match at 6. Robideau nearly scores a last-second takedown, but Larkin somehow evades. OT upcoming.

Robideau gets it done! He gets Larkin in another split, but fights to a finish, winning 9-6.

Result: Robideau 9, Larkin 6

Semifinal: It’s freshman vs. freshman in the semis, as Robideau will wrestle top seed PJ Duke (Penn State). Duke has dominated this tournament, going pin-pin-tech to get to the semis. Duke is 21-1 this season with his only loss coming to defending national champ Antrell Taylor in tiebreakers. He avenged that loss in the Big Ten final, where he beat Taylor 12-4.

Scoreless first, as Robideau holds his own in the hand fight.

Robideau gets out after 8 seconds and takes a 1-0 lead. Duke picks an ankle, but Robideau somehow fights off the takedown attempt. Robideau leads 1-0 going into the third.

Robideau rides a little longer than Duke, but Duke ties it with an escape. Both guys are usually very offensive, but they’re having a hard time getting to each other’s legs. We go to OT.

Robideau gets in on a leg, Duke defends and nearly catches Robideau in a cradle. The official calls a takedown, but OSU’s corner throws the brick. As things stand, Duke wins.

Call is overturned. We’re back to neutral.

Robideau almost finishes after a crazy flurry, but they go out of bounds. Tiebreakers coming up.

Robideau gets a reversal! He takes a 3-1 lead. Duke chooses neutral. He’ll chase a takedown. Robideau gets hit with a stall warning. HE WINS IT!

Result: Robideau 3, Duke 1

Final: Robideau will get a rematch with reigning national champ Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) in the final. The two met in a December dual where Taylor won in tiebreakers. It’s one of two losses for Robideau. He already avenged the other in this tournament.

Live updates on finals matches will be at the top of this page Saturday night.

165: No. 5 Dee Lockett (DNP)

Round 1: Lockett opens with Wisconsin’s Cody Goebel, the 28 seed who didn’t place at Big Tens. He’s 12-11 this season.

Lockett scores on a double leg about 30 seconds into the bout. Goebel escapes after Lockett amasses 30 seconds in riding time just for Lockett to score a second takedown. Goebel then escapes and gets in on a leg, but Lockett fights him off. Lockett takes a 6-2 lead and 36 seconds in riding time into the second period.

Lockett reverses to start the second, increasing his lead to 8-2. He rides out the period from there and takes 1:45 in riding time into the third.

Goebel chooses neutral. Lockett got in on a leg twice in the period but can’t quite finish either attempt. He wins it 9-2.

Result: Lockett 9, Goebel 2

Round 2: Lockett will get 12 seed Cesar Alvan in Round 2. Alvan is in his third NCAA bracket and is coming off an Ivy title. He’s 27-8 this season.

The first period ends scoreless with little action.

Lockett escapes in 5 seconds to go up 1-0. That’s how the period ends.

Alvan escapes to tie it at 1. Lockett gets in deep on a shot late but can’t quite finish. We’re going to OT.

Lockett gets in deep on essentially the same shot at the end of the third period, but this time he powers Alvan to his back, but Alvan rolls through and pins Lockett. OSU challenges. It’s going to review. Call stands, Lockett loses by fall in sudden victory.

Result: Alvan wins by fall

Consolation Round 2: Lockett gets tossed into a bit of a meat grinder on the backside, as 6 seed LJ Araujo got upset in the first round. He’ll wrestle 22 seed Matthew Olguin with the winner getting Lockett. Lockett beat Araujo in sudden victory back in December.

Araujo beats Olguin via a 16-0 tech and will wrestle Lockett on Friday morning.

First period ends scoreless. There were a few fun exchanges on the edge of the mat, but no points.

Lockett escapes 54 seconds into the second, taking a 1-0 lead. Lockett gets in on a leg late in the period, Araujo nearly comes out on top of a scramble, but the period ends 1-0 in Lockett’s favor.

Araujo escapes and ties it at 1 to start the third. Going back to sudden victory.

Lockett gets in on a leg at the whistle. A scramble ensues that at different points favors each guy, but nothing comes from it. Tiebreakers will decide it.

Araujo escapes after 17 seconds. Lockett reverses and gets nearfall points, taking a 7-2 lead. He wins it 7-3 after an escape.

Result: Lockett 7, Araujo 3

Round of 16: Lockett will get Minnesota’s Andrew Sparks, the 13 seed, later in this session. Sparks is a senior who fell to 4 seed Nicco Ruiz in tiebreakers on the front six. Ruiz beat Lockett in the Big 12 final.

Lockett gets taken down midway through the first. He gets ridden out from there as Sparks takes a 3-0 lead and 1:28 in riding time into the second.

Lockett gets revered and put on his back. He trails 9-0. He reverses but trails 9-2 going into the third. Lockett loses 10-3, putting an end to his tournament.

Result: Sparks 10, Lockett 3

174: No. 8 Alex Facundo (DNP)

Round 1: Facundo gets a rematch against Virginia Tech’s Sergio Desiante to open his tournament. The two wrestled on Feb. 15, where Facundo scrapped out a 4-1 win. Desiante is 18-13 this season.

Facundo nearly scores on an ankle pick off the whistle, but Desiante is able to stuff it and get a stalemate. Desiante then scores the first takedown of the bout. Desiante got hit with some sort of penalty point, and Facundo escapes to make it 3-2, which is how the period ends. Desiante has 20 seconds in riding time.

Facundo escapes quickly to start the second, tying the bout at 3. Desiante got in on a leg and went for a throw, but Facundo defended it well. A scramble ensued and ended in a stalemate. Facundo gets in on a leg and finishes quickly, taking a 6-3 lead. Desiante escapes, making it 6-4 to the Cowboy.

Desiante escapes midway through the third, cutting Facundo’s lead to 6-5. But Facundo gets back in on a leg and scores again, taking a 9-5 lead. Desiante escapes, 9-6. Facundo scores on a desperation move from Desiante and wins it 12-6.

Result: Facundo 12, Desiante 6

Round 2: Facundo will wrestle Beau Mantanona, the 9 seed from Michigan, in the next round. Mantanona was a match short of All-American status last season. He entered this year’s tournament at 21-7.

The first period ends scoreless, but Facundo was definitely the aggressor in the frame.

Matanona escapes and gets a takedown. Facundo gets up quickly but trails 4-1. Facundo gets in on a shot late but is unable to finish before time expires.

Facundo escapes to cut Mantanona’s lead to 4-2, but the Wolverine gets another takedown to increase his lead to 7-2. Mantanona gives up a stall point, but that’s how the bout ends.

Result: Mantanona 7, Facundo 3

Consolation Round 2: Facundo will wrestle 23 seed Luca Augustine (Pitt) Friday morning. He’s 13-6 this season. He went 1-1 at the ACCs to finish fourth.

Facundo gets in and finishes midway through the first period, taking a 3-0 lead. He rides for 38 seconds before Augustine gets out — 3-1. That’s how the period ends.

Facundo gets out pushing his lead to 4-1. Facundo fights off a takedown attempt as the second period ends.

The Cowboy gives up an escape and a stall point in the third, but wins it 4-3.

Result: Facundo 4, Augustine 3

Round of 16: Facundo matches up against 18 seed Colin Kelly (Illinois). Kelly is a redshirt freshman who is 20-9 season season. Facundo and Kelly both wrestled at the Cougar Clash in December, but didn’t hit each other. Facundo won the bracket. Kelly took seventh at Big Tens.

Scoreless after one.

Fauncndo escapes and somehow fights off a takedown late in the period. He leads 1-0.

Kelly escapes, tying it at 1 and sending it to OT.

They got to tiebreakers after Facundo fights off a takedown attempt late in sudden-victory.

Kelly locks his hands on top, giving Facundo a 2-1 lead. Kelly finished on top but with 27 seconds in riding time because of the locked hands. Facundo going for the ride. Kelly escapes with a 1-second riding time advantage to win it. Facundo’s tournament is done.

Result: Kelly 3, Facundo 2

184: No. 22 Zack Ryder (8th)

Round 1: After toughing through a constantly dislocating shoulder to finish eighth at Big 12s and earn qualification, Ryder opens against 11 seed Shane Cartagena-Walsh from Rutgers. Cartagena-Walsh took fifth at Big Tens and enters the weekend at 23-8 this season.

That shoulder has a big brace on it. The first period ends scoreless with little action.

Ryder escapes 8s seconds into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. That’s how the period ends.

Cartagena-Walsh escapes, tying the match at 1. We’re going to OT.

Ryder gets the takedown, and the one-armed Cowboy picks up a nice upset in the opening round.

Round 2: Ryder will wrestle Wyoming’s Eddie Neitenbach, the 6 seed, in the second round. Neitenbach took second at Big 12s. Neitenbach is 19-6 this season.

Ryder gets in on an early shot, but Neitenbach fights it off. Neitenbach scores the first takedown, finishing efficiently. Ruder gets up after 18 seconds, and the first period ends with Neitenbach up 3-1.

Neitenbach escapes to push his lead to 4-1. That’s how the seconds period ends.

Ryder escapes quickly to make it 4-2. He’ll chase a takedown. Ryder takes a nice shot, but Neitenbach gets him on a re-attack and takes him down.

Ryder gets out quick in the second, taking a 1-0 lead.

Result: Neitenbach 7, Ryder 2

Consolation Round 2: Ryder will take on 28 seed Abraham Wojcikiewicz (Stanford) Friday morning. The two wrestle back on Nov. 7 in OSU’s season-opening dual, where Ryder won 4-2.

Scoreless after one. Ryder then gets in on a leg and finishes, pushing that lead to 4-0. Wojcikiewicz escapes, but Ryder takes him down again. He rides out the period and leads 7-1 heading into the third.

He gets another takedown in the third, taking his lead to 10-1. Wojcikiewicz escapes to make it 10-2. Ryder wins it with bonus points.

Result: Ryder 10, Wojcikiewicz 2

Round of 16: Ryder draws 14 seed Jaden Bullock (Virginia Tech). The two didn’t wrestle when their teams met in dual action, as instead Bullock beat OSU backup Trevor Dopps 2-0. Bullock is 21-11 this season and an ACC champ.

Scoreless after one.

Someone at the scorer’s table appeared to have some sort of medical emergency, delaying the match. Hopefully everything is OK there. It’s been an odd match with penalty points going both ways. Bullock leads 6-3 at the time of the stoppage. It’s actually 1-0 Bullock. It’s getting back underway now. I’m guessing that the medical emergency and the scoring issue perhaps had some correlation. That’s how the second period ends.

Ryder gets out, tying the match. Riding time not a factor. A Bullock-on-Ryder takedown-no takedown call is reviewed. I didn’t get the initial call, but the review results in no takedown. Going to OT.

Ryder gets a big takedown on a reattack to make it to the blood round. He’s a win away from All-American status with one arm.

Result: Ryder 4, Bullock 1

Blood Round: Ryder will be an underdog in his blood round bout against 8 seed Silas Allred (Nebraska), but this match will be big for individual glory and the team race. Allred has beaten Ryder twice this season — in sudden-victory at National Duals and 4-2 in Lincoln.

Update: In trying to keep up with 10 Cowboys across 10 mats, I missed that Allred suffered an injury in his quarterfinal. If he can’t go Friday night, Ryder will make the podium as a 22 seed.

Allred medically forfeits. After dislocating his shoulder multiple times at Big 12s, Ryder is an All-American as the 22 seed in the national tournament.

Consolation Quarterfinal: Ryder draws 10 seed Caleb Capos (American) in the next round. A junior, Capos is 25-7 after beating OU’s Brian Soldano in sudden-victory.

Ryder gets hit with a stall warning and shortly thereafter gets taken down. Campos leads 3-0. Ryder gets out after 9 seconds — 3-1 going to the second.

Ryder gets out quickly again in the second — 3-2. That’s how the second ends.

Campos escapes, pushing his lead to 4-2. Ryder needs a takedown. But Campos scores a second takedown and goes up 7-2. Ryder escapes and gets applies some pressure but can’t find an opening. Ryder will wrestle for seventh on Saturday morning.

Result: Campos 7, Ryder 4

Seventh-Place Match: Ryder will wrestle Neitenbach for a second time this tournament after Neitenbach beat Ryder 7-2 in the second round.

Ryder medically forfeits. Still a super successful weekend for the battling-through-injury redshirt freshman.

197: No. 7 Cody Merrill (2nd)

Round 1: Merrill opens against Purdue’s Ben Vanadia, the 26 seed. A senior, Vanadia is 15-9 this season and finished eighth at Big Tens.

Merrill scores a late takedown in the first period to take a 3-0 lead. He forced a stall warning earlier in the frame. He takes a 3-0 lead and 21 seconds in riding time into the second.

Merrill escapes quickly and scores his second takedown of the match. Merrill releases Vanadia and starts applying pressure again. He forces a second stall late in the period and then gets takedown No. 3. He leads 11-1 with 47 seconds in riding time going into the third.

After getting his riding time above a minute, Merrill cuts Vanadia loose. He gets hit with another stall before playing some more catch and release. He wins via an 18-3 tech.

Results: Merrill 18, Vanadia 3

Elsewhere in the Bracket: Sonny Sasso, the 4 seed, goes down in what has been the biggest upset of the opening session thus far. He lost to 29 seed Colton Hawks (Arizona State). Sasso beat Merrill in OSU’s dual against Virginia Tech.

Round 2: Merrill will get Pitt’s Mac Stout, the 10 seed, in the next round. Stout finished third at ACCs and finished seventh at NCAAs last season. He’s 19-4 this season.

Merrill forces an early stall warning on Stout. He forces a second in the final minute and takes a 1-0 lead. That’s how the period ends.

Merrill escapes to make it 2-0, and that’s how the second period ends.

Stout fights to an escape, cutting Merrill’s lead to 2-1 early in the third. But that’s how it finishes.

Result: Merrill 2, Stout 1

Quarterfinal: UPSET ALERT! Remy Cotton, the 15 seed, upset 2 see Rocky Elam via a 12-4 major. Elam was undefeated to that point, which included a tight win against Merrill. This means Merrill will get the 15 seed for a shot at the semis. Cotton is 17-7 this year and finished sixth at Big Tens.

Merrill gets in on a shot late in the period, and after some work, he finishes it. He’ll take a 3-0 lead into the second.

Merrill escapes to start the second, pushing his lead to 4-0. Cotton gets a takedown on the edge of the mat, cutting Merrill’s lead to 4-3. Merrill escape — 5-3. That’s how the period ends.

Cotton chooses neutral in the third, not wanting to go under the tough-riding Merrill. With Cotton going for broke, Merrill scores another takedown and wins it 8-3.

Result: Merrill 8, Cotton 3

Semifinal: Merrill will get 3 seed Stephen Little (Little Rock) on Friday evening. Little is now a three-time All-American after finishing sixth last season. He’s 18-2 this year.

First period ends scoreless.

Merrill is out in 12 seconds, taking a 1-0 lead. That’s all the period provides. We’ll see if Merrill has a ride in him.

Little roles free, tying the match at 1. Going to OT.

Little nearly gets a takedown at the whistle. It’s waved off, but the officials will look at it. Think tiebreakers will be upcoming. After review, that is the case.

After a mad scramble, Little escapes after 24 seconds. Little gives the escape and will chase a takedown. Little nearly gets it, but Merrill fights free and wins.

Result: Merrill 3, Little 2

Final: Merrill gets unbeaten top seed Josh Barr (Penn State) in the final. Barr has scored bonus points on everyone he has wrestled this season.

Live updates on finals matches will be at the top of this page Saturday night.

HWT: No. 7 Konner Doucet (4th)

Round 1: Cowboy senior Doucet opens his final NCAA Championships against Illinois’ Luke Luffman, the 26 seed. This is Luffman’s seventh year of college wrestling, having qualified for nationals in 2021, 2022, 2025 and this year. He’s 14-7 entering the tournament after taking eighth at Big Tens.

First period ends scoreless.

Doucet rides the entire second.

Doucet gets up quickly, taking a 1-0 lead with 1:56 in riding time. Luffman’s first true shot comes with about 45 seconds left. It goes no where. Dcouet gets hit with two stalls and gives up a point but wins it 2-1 with his ride in the second.

Result: Doucet 2, Luffman 1

Elsewhere in the Bracket: Down goes the 6 seed, as Lehigh’s Nathan Taylor drops his opener to 27 seed Hunter Catka (Rutgers).

Round 2: Doucet will wrestle Arizona State’s David Szuba, the 10 seed, in the second round. The two met back in November, where Doucet won 5-2. They also wrestled in the 2023 Southern Scuffle, where Doucet won 4-0.

Doucet gets a takedown on the edge of the mat midway through the first. Szuba escapes after Doucet gets 43 seconds in riding time, cutting the Cowboys’ lead to 3-1. That’s how the first ends.

Doucet gets out quickly in the second to make it 4-1. There are some exchanges in the period but no more scoring.

Szuba selects neutral and will chase a takedown. Doucet gives up a stall warning but wins it 4-1.

Result: Doucet 4, Szuba 1

Quarterfinal: Doucet gets NC State’s Isaac Trumble in Friday morning’s quarters. Trumble, the 2 seed, hasn’t been beaten this season.

Trumble scores an early takedown. He rides out the period and will lead 3-0 with 2:14 in riding time going into the second.

Doucet goes under in the second and doesn’t get out. He trails 3-0, and Trumble has 4:14 in riding time.

Doucet commits to a ride, looking for a tilt but can’t get it. Trumble wins 4-0.

Result: Trumble 4, Doucet 0

Blood Round: Doucet draws 20 seed Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) in the blood round after Pitzer beat 5 seed Nick Feldman (Ohio State). Doucet and Pitzer wrestled twice in the 2024 season. Doucet won 5-0 at the national tournament and 3-0 in a dual.

Scoreless after one.

Doucet gets out after just 7 seconds to start the second period — 1-0. That’s how the second ends.

In the midst of his ride, Doucet slaps a cradle on and pins Pitzer! It’s his first time as an All-American!

Result: Doucet wins by fall

Consolation Quarterfinal: Doucet wrestles a former (and current) Cowboy next in Christian Carroll. Carroll redshirted in Stillwater during the 2023-24 season and has re-emerged at Wyoming. He’s 18-7 this year.

Scoreless after one.

Doucet escapes 3 seconds into the second period — 1-0. That’s how the period ends.

Carroll chooses neutral and will chase a takedown. He doesn’t get it.

Result: Doucet 1, Carroll 0

Consolation Semifinal: Doucet advances to the third-place bout after AJ Ferrari medically forfeits following his loss in the semifinals Friday night.

Third-Place Match: Doucet will wrestle 3 seed Tay Ghadiali (Michigan) for third.

Doucet gets taken down in the final minute of the period, and Ghadiali rides out from there — 3-0.

Ghadiali escapes, taking a 4-1 lead.

Doucet escapes late in the third but drops the bout 5-1. The Cowboy senior finishes fourth.

Result: Ghadiali 5, Doucet 1

 

 

 

 

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