LIVE FROM NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: That's a wrap from Cleveland

8:51 p.m.

Luke Lilledahl at Penn State and Jax Forrest of Oklahoma State are your champions at 125 and 133 respectively. 

Results

125

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

THIRD PLACE – Nico Provo (Stanford) dec. Vincent Robinson (NC State), 10-2.

FIFTH PLACE – Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) pinned Jacob Moran (Indiana), 4:11.

SEVENTH PLACE – Jore Volk (Minnesota) dec. Tyler Klinsky (Rider), 14-1.

133

CHAMPIONSHIP – Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) dec. Ben Davino (Ohio State), 5-2.

THIRD PLACE – Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) dec. Marcus Blaze (Penn State), 5-0.

FIFTH PLACE – Drake Ayala (Iowa) dec. Tyler Knox (Stanford), 16-5.

SEVENTH PLACE – Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) dec. Lucas Byrd (Illinois), 6-5 TB.

141

CHAMPIONSHIP – Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) dec. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State), 4-1 SV.

THIRD PLACE – Luke Stanich (Lehigh) dec. Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 7-2.

FIFTH PLACE – Carter Nogel (Air Force) mff over Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State).

SEVENTH PLACE – CJ Composto (Penn) pinned Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven), 4;05.

149

CHAMPIONSHIP – Aden Valencia (Stanford) dec. Shayne Van Ness, 8-5, SV.

THIRD PLACE – Lachlan McNeil (Michigan) dec. Chance Lamer (Nebraska), 10-5.

FIFTH PLACE – Collin Gaj (Virginia Tech) dec. Ryder Block (Iowa), 4-0.

SEVENTH PLACE – Cross Wasilewski (Penn) dec. Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State), 4-2.

157

CHAMPIONSHIP – Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) dec. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 4-2.

THIRD PLACE – PJ Duke (Penn State) technical fall over Brandon Cannon (Ohio State), 20-4, 6:38.

FIFTH PLACE – Kannon Webster (Illinois) mff over Ty Watters (West Virginia).

SEVENTH PLACE – Cameron Catrabone (Michigan) mff over Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

165

CHAMPIONSHIP – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) technical fall over Mikey Caliendo (Iowa), 20-4, 5:12.

THIRD PLACE – Cesar Alvan (Columbia) dec. Nicco Ruiz (Arizona State), 7-2.

FIFTH PLACE – Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) mff over Joey Blaze (Purdue).

SEVENTH PLACE – Bryce Hepner (North Carolina) dec. Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State), 9-1.

174

CHAMPIONSHIP – Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. Christopher Minto (Nebraska), 2-1.

THIRD PLACE – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) dec. Carson Kharchla (Ohio State), 9-6.

FIFTH PLACE – Cam Steed (Missouri) dec. Danny Wask (Navy), 5-3.

SEVENTH PLACE – Beau Mantanona (Michigan) pinned MJ Gaitan (Iowa State), 3:00.

184

CHAMPIONSHIP – Max McEnelly (Minnesota) dec. Rocco Welsh, 4-3.

THIRD PLACE – Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri) dec. Caleb Campos (American), 17-4.

FIFTH PLACE – Brock Mantanona (Michigan) mff over Angelo Ferrari (Iowa). Minn

SEVENTH PLACE – Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) mff over Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State).

197

CHAMPIONSHIP – Josh Barr (Penn State) dec. Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State), 6-3.

THIRD PLACE – Stephen Little (Little Rock) dec. Joey Novak (Wyoming), 7-4.

FIFTH PLACE – Camden McDanel (Nebraska) dec. Angelo Posada (Stanford), 13-6.

SEVENTH PLACE – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) dec. Brandson John (Maryland), 6-2.

285

CHAMPIONSHIP – Isaac Trumble (North Carolina State) dec. Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), 4-0.

THIRD PLACE – Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) dec. Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State), 5-1.

FIFTH PLACE – Ben Kueter (Iowa) mff over AJ Ferrari (Nebraska).

SEVENTH PLACE – David Szuba (Arizona State) dq over Christian Carroll (Wyoming).

7:55 p.m.

Yonger Bastida of Iowa State now up against Isaac Trumble of North Carolina State for the 285-pound title 

Bastida nearly scores at the end of 1P but runs out of time. 

2P | Trumble to the bottom position to start second. He is up and out quickly. 1-0. In one of the most incredible heavyweight scrambles I've ever seen, Trumble then Bastida and finally Trumble comes out for three with 30 seconds left in period. Iowa State is challenging Bastida had a takedown first. Call on the mat is upheld. 4-0 Trumble. 

3P | Bastida goes down to start third. | Bastida loses, 4-0.  

7:54 p.m.

Penn State scored its third champion as Josh Barr topped Oklahoma State's Cody Merrill, 6-3, in the 197 final. The Nittany Lions also saw Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Levin Haines (174) win. 

7:31 p.m.

Minnesota's Max McEnelly tops Penn State's Rocco Welsh, 4-3, to win the 184-pound national title. 

7:25 p.m.

Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. Christopher Minto (Nebraska), 2-1 to win 174-pound title. 

6:54 p.m.

Three freshman champs mark the first time since 1947 when Cornell College won the title that their have been more than two freshman champs. Those two champs -- Waterloo West standouts -- Dick Hauser and Lowell Lange. 

6:44 p.m.

165 -- Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) vs. Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)

1P | Mesenbrink scores 14 seconds in. 3-0. | Escape Caliendo. 3-1. | Mesenbrink scores again 2:14 6-1. | Caliendo cut. 6-2. 

6:14 p.m.| Takedown Mesenbrink 9-2. 1:24. Mesenbrink leads 12-3 | Mesenbrink leads 12-4 | 

2P | Mesenbrink wins it 20-4 by technical fall in 5:12. 

157 -- Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) vs. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)

1P | Robideau has Taylor's leg in the air for more than a minute of first period. Got him to the mat twice, but Taylor was able to split out of it both times. Now blood time for Robideau. Taylor hit for stalling with 35 seconds left in 1P. 

2P | No Score | More Blood Time LB. | Taylor starts bottom position. | Robideau catches Taylor on his back for three near fall. Nebraska challenging. | After challenge call is changed to two near fall. 2-0 Robideau. Taylor escape with 1:09 left and he trails 2-1. 

3P | Robideau to down position leading 2-1 | Taylor cuts Robideau. 3-1 Robideau. | Second stall on Taylor. 4-1 Robideau. Robideau wins it 4-2. That is three freshmen champions back-to-back-to-back, first time more than two freshmen champions since 1947. 

Family celebrations with the national champ 🥹📺 ESPN#NCAAWrestling x @CowboyWrestling pic.twitter.com/Ywdhd556TN

— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026

THE 10-SEED FROM STANFORD IS A NATIONAL CHAMPION 😱😱😱(10) Aden Valencia (149) of @CardWrestling defeats (1) Shayne Van Ness of Penn State, 8-5 in sudden victory, to become the National Champion at 149. #NCAAWrestling x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/iu7T4i9G4J

— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026

5:50 p.m.

149 -- Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) vs. Aden Valencia (Stanford)

1P -- Valencia scores first at 2:23. Leads Van Ness, 3-0. And we have a challenge from Stanford and blood time. Escape Van Ness, 3-1. 1:57 | 

2P -- Valencia to bottom position to start up 3-1. | Valencia up and out quickly and leads 4-1. Van Ness scores on a counter/re-attack by Valencia. Scored tied with 53 left in 2P. Valencia out with :42 seconds left and lead 5-4. Blood time for Van Ness. 

3P | Van Ness to bottom position trailing 5-4 | Valencia cuts him and it is knotted at 5. | 

Sudden victory | More blood time for Van Ness first. Valencia, the 10 seed shocks the world and knocks off top-seeded Van Ness ... missed the time | Penn State is challenging | Call is upheld, 8-5 victory. 

VIVA LAS VEGA 🤯(2) Sergio Vega (141) of @CowboyWrestling defeats (1) Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, 4-1 in overtime, to become the National Champion at 141. #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/ONW13T7spt

— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026

5:38 p.m.

Mendez and Vega are up

141-championship has started. 

Vega hit for stalling at 2:18. 

No score after 1P

2P - Vega takes bottom to start. Vega up and out at 1:18 and leads Mendez, 1-0. 

3P -- Mendez to the down position. Escape Mendez at 1:32. He nearly had a reversal and then he nearly got flipped to a bad position. 1-1. Headed to sudden victory. 

SV -- Sergio Vega knocks off two-time champion Jesse Mendez, 4-1. Scores with 23 seconds left. Scores off shot from Mendez. Some funkiness put Mendez in tough spot and Vega eventually finishes. 

It’s go time #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/mXpv8edqnt

— Jim Nelson (@Nelley13) March 21, 2026

5:31 p.m.

It's go time in Cleveland

Who is ready for the NCAA Finals! Let's get it on!

Wrestling is hard. But it doesn’t have to be. #ncaawrestling pic.twitter.com/84qOimUS4V

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) March 21, 2026

10 matches left. Everything on the line. The action begins at 6:30 p.m. (ET), live on ESPN. We've got you covered with the live updates. #NCAAWrestling https://t.co/aHPhyyObX0

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) March 21, 2026

Championship night. #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/GC3Mn95WJH

— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026

70 minutes until the finals #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/bXD2z1OXe4

— Jim Nelson (@Nelley13) March 21, 2026

4:45 p.m. 

45 minutes from the finals

Championship matches in order

141 -- Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State)

149 -- Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) vs. Aden Valencia (Stanford)

157 -- Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) vs. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)

165 -- Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) vs. Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)

174 -- Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. Christopher Minto (Nebraska)

184 -- Rocco Welsh (Penn State) vs. Max McEnelly (Minnesota)

197 -- Josh Barr (Penn State) vs. Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)

285 -- Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) vs. Isaac Trumble (North Carolina State)

125 -- Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) vs. Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton)

133 -- Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs. Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State)

12:47 p.m.

12:18 p.m.

Wrestling has completed for Session 5

All the medal matches are done. Championships will start at 6:30 p.m. tonight. 

Iowa with seven All-Americans sits in fourth place with 92.5 points, eight better than Ohio State. The Hawkeyes had Drake Ayala take fifth at 133, Ryder Block sixth at 149, Patrick Kennedy third at 174, Angelo Ferrari sixth at 184, Gabe Arnold seventh at 197, and Ben Keuter fifth at 285.

Iowa State's Anthony Echemendia suffered an elbow injury last night in the Blood Round and medically forfeited today. He finished sixth at 141. MJ Gaitan took eighth at 174.

Iowa's Mikey Caliendo will face Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink tonight in the 165-pound title match, and Iowa State's Yonger Bastida will battle North Carolina State's Isaac Trumble for the 285 title. 

Check back tonight before the finals, which will start at 141 pounds. 

11:34 a.m.

Block finishes sixth at 149

Iowa's Ryder Block lost a 4-0 decision Collin Gaj of Virginia Tech in fifth-place match at 149. Ben Kueter received a medical forfeit in fifth-place match from AJ Ferrari of Nebraska. 

11:29 a.m.

Ayala 5th

Iowa senior Drake Ayala scores 16-5 major decision in 133 fifth-place match over Tyler Knox of Stanford. He finishes his career as a three-time All-American.

11:16 a.m.

Iowa's Gabe Arnold finishes seventh

Arnold, the 27 seed, wins seventh-place match over Maryland's Branson John, 6-2. He used a reversal and four near fall in the second period to build his advantage.

11:07 a.m.

ISU's Gaitan finishes 8th

Michigan's Beau Montanona catches Iowa State's MJ Gaitan in a scramble and pins him in seventh-place match. 

10:43 a.m.

Iowa's Ferrari medically forfeits

Hawkeye freshman Angelo Ferrari medically forfeited his 184-pound consolation final to American's Carlos Campos. He will finish sixth.

Patrick Kennedy wins a 184-pound consolation final and will wrestle for third. 

10:25 a.m.

Block to wrestle for fifth

Iowa's Ryder Block drops a 6-3 decision to Laclan McNeil of Michigan in 149-pound consolation finals 

10:23 a.m.

ISU's Anthony Echemendia medically forfeits

The Cyclone forfeited to Nebraska's Brock Hardy in consolation semifinal. I'm assuming he will do that in fifth-place match and will finish sixth with a season of eligibility left. 

10:17 a.m.

Ayala loses in consolation finals

Iowa's Drake Ayala dropped a 11-0 decision to Virginia Tech's Aaron Seidel and will wrestle for fifth later this morning. 

10:15 a.m.

More Friday review: Iowa's Mikey Caliendo back to the finals

Iowa's Caliendo returned to the national finals for the second consecutive season with an 8-5 sudden victory over Joey Blaze of Purdue in a 165-pound semifinal

Caliendo talked about his teammates, six others who made All-American status, "I'm so proud of those guys, especially Arnold getting on the podium, maybe not his best weight class, but fighting to get on the podium is awesome. I'm so proud of those guys. We're a family at the end of the day. We rub off on one another. Yeah, I mean, that mentality, that drive to want to win. When we're all together, I think we lift each other up and get each other ready to compete. When you're with a bunch of your brothers at a tournament like this, you're all going through grinders and matches, and I mean it kind of pumps you up seeing your brothers win. That sometimes can help you wrestle a lot better."

Caliendo on his overtime score and win over Blaze: "I was feeling great in that third period, in that overtime go. I'm not going to say I wasn't tired, but I was still feeling pretty fresh. I was ready to get after it. Yeah, that's all there is to it. I wanted it more, and I wrestled the match -- I wrestled a lot better of a match. It was more on my terms. I'm happy with how it turned out. I gave up an early takedown but just continued to get after it and never counted myself out. I know deep down in my heart that I'm one of the best wrestlers in the world. So, I'm never out of a match."

10:10 a.m.

More from Friday night

Iowa's Ryder Block on becoming an All-American

On Drake Ayala greeting him as he ran off the mat an All-American, "A lot of people would think he and I aren’t close because he beat me back in the day, but he is one of my best friends. I see him every day, go to his house every day. The last year it has been me and him. Every day, when I see him, he is like you are going to be there if you keep doing the right thing you are going to get there. Having him there, it was fun."

On his message from his dad, Jurgen, "My dad has always been a super stoic guy. Nobody knows what he is thinking. Obviously, I’ve known him for my whole life and kind of know what he is thinking. He is always the guy if I lose, he’s like, 'hey, you can tuck your tail and run'…it would’ve been easy to tuck my tail, but he is always keep telling me to keep going.

"Last night, I was running on the treadmill to keep my weight off and he’s like he was there and saying tomorrow at this time, you are going to be an All-American. I was thinking all day this is a perfect quote for my life...from tearing my knee, my dad and all that stuff, 'If wait for the perfect shot you are going to die with a full magazine.' But it's you have to make it work and keep going and make it go your way."

10:01 a.m.

Consolation Semifinals are starting

Iowa's Drake Ayala is up first against Virginia Tech's Aaron Seidel in 133 match. Winner goes to third-place match

9:45 a.m.

Sound bites from Friday

Iowa's Gabe Arnold on becoming an All-American:

"Man, it has been tough. It has been really tough. There were times where my tomorrows didn’t seem very promising, didn’t seem possible. God did it. Without him I’d be nowhere. It took a lot of fight with me, took a lot of heart. Took a lot of everything … it took everything to lead to this moment. Obviously, we didn’t get that last one like we wanted but just keep the mindset of get the next big thing.

That's Kind of been the theme of me this year. Maybe I didn’t get the spot I wanted or didn’t get this or that, whatever the case maybe, sometimes you have to roll with the punches and like Tom calls it, you can’t sit there and ‘Suck your thumb. You make the best of your opportunities,' and I think I’ve done a pretty damn good job of making the best of my opportunities. I’m grateful. I’m blessed. I’m happy to get my name on that wall and man it is surreal. 

Iowa State's Yonger Bastida on making NCAA final:

Bastida scored 11 seconds into his semifinal Friday against Nebraska's AJ Ferrari, and later in the period took Ferrari feet to back for seven points and led 10-2 after one period on his way to a 15-7 win. He will face North Carolina State's Isaac Trumble in the finals. 

"It such a fun tournament for me, especially I made the final for the first time in my career. Yeah, it's been incredible these past two days."

9:35 a.m.