Last Updated 8:44 AM, March 11, 2024
Shannon Scovel

Penn State wins 2024 Big Ten wrestling championships

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Aaron Brooks vs. Parker Keckesisen - 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship (184 lbs)
12:50
8:29 pm, March 10, 2024

Penn State wins the 2024 Big Ten championships

Dominant. That’s the only way to describe the Penn State wrestling team’s performance this weekend at the 2024 Big Ten championships. The Nittany Lions put seven of their ten athletes in the conference finals and won five of those bouts. They outscored second place Michigan by over 40 points and likely qualified all ten wrestlers for the NCAA tournament (pending an at-large bid decision for three-time NCAA Carter Starocci who injury defaulted out). This is a program with historic talent, and that talent was on full display in College Park. 

🀼 MORE COLLEGE WRESTLING 🀼
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Davis kicked things for Penn State off with a strong victory in the 125-pound finals match against McKee in which he scored three back points, a takedown, an escape and a riding time point. Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet followed with titles of their own at 157, 165, 197 and 285 pounds. Nittany Lion All-Americans Beau Bartlett and Aaron Nagao picked up a silver and bronze respectively while true freshman Tyler Kasak secured bronze at 149 pounds. 

FINAL RESULTS: |

Rutgers, Ohio State, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota will also leave College Park with conference champions. Dylan Shawver became the first Scarlet Knight Big Ten champ since Nick Suriano and Anthony Ashnault in 2019 when he beat Michigan’s Dylan Ragusin at 133 pounds while Jesse Mendez gave the Bucks a champ at 141 pounds after a 4-1 win over Penn State’s Beau Bartlett.

At 149 pounds, Ridge Lovett survived a wild one against 2022 Big Ten champion Austin Gomez, and, at 174 pounds, Edmond Ruth won by injury default over Michigan’s Shane Griffith. Minnesota’s Isaiah Salazar at 184 pounds was the last non-Penn State Big Ten champ of the night as he topped new Nittany Lion Bernie Truax in sudden victory. 

The best of the Big Ten will now prepare to compete for national titles in Kansas City from March 21-24. 

Full results and place winners below: 

WEIGHT

WINNER 

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT

 ADDITIONAL PLACEWINNERS

125

No. 6 Braeden Davis

Davis over No. 4 Patrick McKee, 8-1

3.) Drake Ayala, Iowa
4.) Matt Ramos, Purdue
5.) Dean Peterson, Rutgers
6.) Michael DeAugustino, Michigan
7.) Eric Barnett, Wisconsin
8.) Caleb Smith, Nebraska

133

No. 2 Dylan Shawver

Shawver over No. 1 Dylan Ragusin 23-8

 3.) Aaron Nagao, Penn State
4.) Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska
5.) Brody Teske, Iowa
6.) Braxton Brown, Maryland
7.) Cayden Rooks, Indiana
8.) Dustin Norris, Purdue

141

No. 2 Jesse Mendez

Mendez over No. 1 Beau Bartlett 4-1

 3.) Real Woods, Iowa
4.) Sergio Lemley, Michigan
5.) Brock Hardy, Nebraska
6.) Mitch Moore, Rutgers
7.) Vance Vombaur, Minnesota
8.) Danny Pucino, Illinois

149

No. 1 Ridge Lovett

Lovett over No. 2 Gomez 5-4

 3.) Tyler Kasak, Penn State
4.) Ethen Miller, Maryland
5.) Caleb Rathjen, Iowa
6.) Dylan D'Emilio, Ohio State
7.) Graham Rooks, Indiana
8.) Joe Zargo, Wisconsin

157

No. 1 Levi Haines

Haines over No. 7 Will Lewan 4-1 (SV)

 3.) Peyton Robb, Nebraska
4.) Jared Franek, Iowa
5.) Brayton Lee, Indiana
6.) Joey Blaze, Purdue
7.) Chase Saldate, Michigan State
8.) Trevor Chumbley, Northwestern

165

No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink

Mesenbrink over No. 1 Dean Hamiti 13-11

 3.) Mikey Caliendo, Iowa
4.) Cameron Amine, Michigan
5.) Antrell Taylor, Nebraska
6.) Chris Moore, Illinois
7.) Stoney Buell, Purdue
8.) Blaine Brenner, Minnesota

174 

No. 3 Edmond Ruth 

Ruth over No. 2 Shane Griffith via medical forfeit 

 3.) Rocco Welsh, Ohio State
4.) Jackson Turley, Rutgers
5.) Patrick Kennedy, Iowa
6.) Andrew Sparks, Minnesota
7.) Max Maylor, Wisconsin
8.) Brody Baumann, Purdue

184

No. 1 Isaiah Salazar

Salazar over No. 3 Bernie Truax 8-1 (SV)

 3.) Lenny Pinto, Nebraska
4.) Jaden Bullock, Michigan
5.) Ryder Rogotzke, Ohio State
6.) Brian Soldano, Rutgers
7.) Layne Malczewski, Michigan State
8.) Shane Liegel, Wisconsin

197

No. 1 Aaron Brooks

Brooks over No. 3 Zach Glazier 19-3

 3.)  Silas Allred, Nebraska
4.) Jaxon Smith, Maryland
5.) Garrett Joles, Minnesota
6.) Luke Geog, Ohio State
7.) John Poznanski, Rutgers
8.) Evan Bates, Northwestern

285

No.1 Greg Kerkvliet

Kerkvliet over No. 2 Nick Feldman

 3.) Lucas Davison, Michigan
4.) Yaraslau Slavikouski, Rutgers
5.) Bradley Hill, Iowa
6.) Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska
7.) Nick Willham, Indiana
8.) Seth Nevills, Maryland
11:02 pm, March 10, 2024

285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet tops No. 2 Nick Feldman 9-3

THIRD PERIOD: Feldman elects to go neutral to start the third period. One minute to go. Five seconds. Greg Kerkvliet is a Big Ten champion with a 9-3 win over Feldman! 

SECOND PERIOD: Kerkvliet chooses down to start the second period, and he's out quick to extend his lead 5-3. Takedown Kerkvliet. He's finding his rhythm. One minute to go in the second period. Kerkvliet leads 8-3 with over two minutes of riding time. Stalemate.

FIRST PERIOD: Feldman is on the attack early against the No. 1 athlete in the country. The Buckeye freshman takes the 3-1 lead after Kerkvliet's escape. Takedown Kerkvliet! That's how you respond if you're the Nittany Lion veteran. 

10:44 pm, March 10, 2024

197 pounds: No. 1 Aaron Brooks techs No. 3 Zach Glazier 19-3

THIRD PERIOD: Glazier starts neutral to begin the third period. Takedown Brooks. He releases Glazier. Brooks leads 13-2 with riding time secured. Takedown Brooks. Escape Glazier. One minute to go. Brooks is one point away from a technical fall, and there it is. Aaron Brooks is a four-time Big Ten champion!

SECOND PERIOD: Brooks starts the second period on the bottom, and escapes within 15 seconds. Takedown Brooks. Brooks leads 10-1. He's now looking for a turn. Glazier warned for stalling. Brooks carries his 10-1 lead into the final two minutes. 

FIRST PERIOD: This is a David vs. Goliath match, but Iowa's Zach Glazier is used to being the underdog. He's waited four years for his chance to compete on this stage, and here he goes. Takedown Aaron Brooks. The Nittany Lion leads 3-1 after an escape from Glazier. Takedown Brooks. Stalemate. Brooks is now going to work on top, and he pushes riding time up over a minute. He ends the period on top with a 6-1 lead and 1:46 of riding time. 

10:21 pm, March 10, 2024

184 pounds: No. 1 Isaiah Salazar outpowers No. 3 Bernie Truax 8-1

SUDDEN VICTORY: Shot from Truax. Salazar is so solid. Salazar nearly slips and gives Truax some room β€” the Nittany Lion dives in, but Salazar holds him off. Salazar hits a shot, picks up back points and now works for the fall. He ends with an 8-1 win. 

THIRD PERIOD: Salazar starts down to begin the third. He escapes, and we're all tied up 1-1. Truax looking for a go-behind, but Salazar holds him off. One minute to go. Salazar goes in on a leg. We're scrambling! Ten seconds. Let's go to overtime! 

SECOND PERIOD: Truax chooses down to start the second period. Salazar looking tough on top. Truax works out of Salazar's hold. He's free and leading 1-0 after an escape. Salazar is in on an attack β€” he has Truax's leg on the edge, but can't convert. Truax's lead will hold through the third. 

FIRST PERIOD: Scoreless through the first period. 

10:11 pm, March 10, 2024

174 pounds: No. 3 Edmond Ruth wins by medical forfeit

FIRST PERIOD: Edmond Ruth accepts the medical forfeit against Shane Griffith. He's a Big Ten champion! 
9:54 pm, March 10, 2024

165 pounds: No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink upsets No. 1 Dean Hamiti 13-11

THIRD PERIOD: Hamiti chooses down to start the third period, and he earns the reversal. He leads 11-6. Escape Mesenbrink! The Nittany Lion is in on a shot, and he's got Hamiti on his back. Four back points puts the Nittany Lion in control. He leads 13-11. Riding time is no longer a factor for Hamiti. Mesenbrink is looking for a turn. Mitchell Mesenbrink is relentless. He's a Big Ten champion!

SECOND PERIOD: Mesenbrink starts the second period with an escape. Shot from Mesenbrink! Takedown Hamiti! The 2023 champ leads Mesenbrink 9-2. Hamiti is a danger on top, and he's pushed riding time up over a minute. He's in bonus territory now with thirty seconds to go in the second period. Escape Mesenbrink. Shot Mesenbrink β€” takedown! Mesenbrink keeps himself in this match in the final seconds of the period. 

FIRST PERIOD: Shot from Hamiti. Nothing. Shot from Mesenbrink. We're scrambling with the first minute. Stalemate. Wow. What an action-packed 30 seconds. Shot and takedown from Hamiti! Mesenbrink escapes. Let's keep the attacks rolling! Shot from Mesenbrink. Hamiti turns Mesenbrink's momentum into a good position. Stalemate. One minute to go. Nearly a takedown from Mesenbrink, but Hamiti scrambles out. No takedown points for the Nittany Lion yet. Great flexibility from the Badger to ward off Mesenrbrink. Takedown Hamiti! Hamiti will enter the second period with a 6-1 lead. 

9:38 pm, March 10, 2024

157 pounds: No. Levi Haines outscores No. 7 Will Lewan 4-1 (SV)

SUDDEN VICTORY: Shot from Haines, and that's it! The Nittany Lion is a Big Ten champion again! 

THIRD PERIOD: Haines chooses down to begin the third period, and he too escapes almost immediately. This one is tied 1-1. One minute to go. Shot from Lewan. Haines is warned for stalling. A second stall call against either athlete could determine the match. Thirty seconds to go. Shot from Lewan. Haines responds. No points yet. Ten seconds. Lewan has wrestled so tough against the 2023 NCAA finalist. 

SECOND PERIOD: Will Lewan chooses down to start the second period. He's out in ten seconds. Lewan is warned for stalling. One minute to go in the second period. Shot from Haines at the buzzer, but he can't convert in time. Lewan's escape is the only point of the period. 

FIRST PERIOD: Levi Haines won this weight last year at this tournament. We'll see what he's got tonight against the tough and stingy Will Lewan. Scoreless first period. 

9:26 pm, March 10, 2024

149 pounds: No. 1 Ridge Lovett survives No. 2 Austin Gomez 5-4

THIRD PERIOD: Lovett chooses down to start the third period. Gomez goes upper body, but no points. Back to neutral. Lovett leads 5-3.

One minute to go. Shot from Gomez. Nothing. Lovett looks for a go-behind, but Gomez works out. Lovett is hit for stalling. Lovett still leads 5-4. Shot from Gomez on the edge. He brings Lovett back on the mat, but Lovett holds on. He's a Big Ten champion for the first time in his career! 

SECOND PERIOD: An escape from Lovett extends his lead to three points. Ninety seconds to go. Lovett's wrist looks like it's taped up, but, if he has any kind of injury, he isn't showing it. This match has been all force from both guys. Thirty seconds. Gomez goes in for a shot in short time, but Lovett holds tough. 

FIRST PERIOD: These are two guys who know how to score. Time to sit back and enjoy the show. Gomez has Lovett's ankle in the air and nearly scores the takedown, but Lovett scrambles out. Impressive defense from the Husker. Takedown Gomez. He leads 3-1 following an escape from Lovett. Throw from Lovett, and that's three points for the Husker. He takes the lead 4-3 and ends the period on top. 

8:49 pm, March 10, 2024

141 pounds: No. 2 Jesse Mendez upsets No. 1 Beau Bartlett 4-1

THIRD PERIOD: Bartlett starts down to begin the third period. Mendez has the 1-0 lead with his escape the lone point of the match. Bartlett escapes in less than 15 seconds. We're tied up 1-1. This feels familiar. Mendez in on a shot, Bartlett defends. Ten seconds. Shot Mendez! He leads 4-1 with seven seconds remaining. Jesse Mendez is a Big Ten Champion! 

SECOND PERIOD: Mendez chooses down to start the second period. It's the Buckeye who has been driving most of the action in this match so far. Bartlett is riding Mendez tough. The Nittany Lion walks back to the center calmly after his mat return sent Mendez out of bounds. These are two athletes unbothered by the spotlight and the pressure. Mendez sneaks out within 35 seconds. Back to neutral. Ten seconds. 

FIRST PERIOD: The last time these two athletes wrestled, Bartlett took the win in sudden victory. Time to run back this great rivalry bout. 

Shot from Mendez! Bartlett pushes him away. Thirty seconds left. Another shot from Mendez on the edge as time runs out. 

8:23 pm, March 10, 2024

133 pounds: No. 2 Dylan Shawver techs No. 1 Dylan Ragusin 28-3

THIRD PERIOD: Shawver chooses down to start the third period. He escapes within 15 seconds. Shot from Shawver. Ragusin is looking to transition into some offense of his own now, but it's Shawver with ANOTHER takedown. He leads the No. 1 seed by 10 points. Shawver pushes his riding time up over a minute, just before Ragusin escapes. Shawver has Ragusin on his back! He's looking for the fall. But he'll settle for the tech fall. Shawver wins 23-8. 

SECOND PERIOD: Ragusin chooses down to start the second period. He escapes quickly. Shawver wants that fireman's carry. He's looked for it at least three times already in this match, but Ragusin defended each time. One minute to go in the period. Shot from Ragusin as the athletes go out of bounds. There's no shortage of action in this match. Ragusin nearly picked up the go-behind on Shawver's shot, but now it's Shawver with the points after a huge throw on the edge. He leads 10-2. Ragusin rolls out for an escape but picks up the reversal instead to add two points to his total. He'll trail 10-4 going into the third. 

FIRST PERIOD: Woah. Fireworks immediately. Shawver picks up a quick takedown and looks for backpoints. Ragusin scrambles his way out of the dangerous position, and he's back to his feet. Shawver with another shot on the edge, but Ragusin shifts himself into a better position before the athletes go out of bounds. Stalemate. Quick shot from Shawver again, but no additional points. He'll lead 3-1 into the second period. 

8:23 pm, March 10, 2024

125 pounds: No. 6 Braeden Davis takes down No. 4 Patrick McKee

THIRD PERIOD: Davis elects to start the third period on bottom. McKee, though, is also strong on top, but Davis is out fast. That quick escape was key for the Nittany Lion as he still holds on to his riding time advantage (1:09) and leads 4-1. Shot from Davis! McKee stays steady, waiting for the stalemate. Forty-five seconds. Thirty seconds. McKee looks for an inside trip, and Davis nearly comes out on top. Takedown Davis! The final shot ices it, and Davis takes the win 8-1. Braeden Davis is a true freshman Big Ten champion! 

SECOND PERIOD: McKee chooses down without hesitation to start the second period. Davis is riding tough, refusing to give an inch. Davis has McKee on his back, and he earns three near fall points in the process. Riding time is now over a minute, and Davis continues to work on top. McKee escapes. Thirty seconds left in the period. Davis will end the period with a 3-1 lead and 1:19 of riding time. 

FIRST PERIOD: This is a fun matchup between a senior in McKee and a freshman in Davis. Davis beat a grad student in his last match though, so he's shown his poise against more experienced college wrestlers already this tournament. McKee is rocking the championship gold singlet of Minnesota (along with a notably thick knee brace), while Davis is in the classic Penn State Blue and White singlet. 

Both athletes have been quick on their feet so far, moving around the mat, but neither McKee nor Davis have taken any notable shots through the first three minutes. 

8:43 pm, March 6, 2024

How to watch the Big Ten Tournament

TIME SESSION DESCRIPTION WATCH
10 a.m. Saturday, March 9 Session I First Round, Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks Big Ten Network
5 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Session II Consolation Matches, Wrestlebacks B1G+
7 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Session II Semifinals Big Ten Network
12 p.m. Sunday, March 10 Session III Consolation Semifinals, 7th-Place Matches B1G+
4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10 Session IV 1st-, 3rd- and 5th-Place Matches Big Ten Network
2:14 am, March 10, 2024

Big Ten Finals are Set

These are the twenty athletes who will compete for a conference championship tomorrow night at 4:30 pm ET on the Big Ten Network: 

  • 125 pounds: No. 4 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) vs. No. 6 Braeden Davis (Penn State) 
  • 133 pounds: No. 1 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) vs. No. 2 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 
  • 141 pounds: No. 1 Beau Barlett (Penn State) vs. No. 2 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
  • 149 pounds: No. 2 Austin Gomez vs. No. 1 Ridge Lovett
  • 157 pounds: No. 7 Will Lewan vs. No. 1 Levi Haines 
  • 165 pounds: No. 1 Dean Hamiti vs. No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink
  • 174 pounds: No. 2 Shane Griffith vs. No. 4 Edmond Ruth 
  • 184 pounds: No. 1 Isaiah Salazar vs. No. 3 Bernie Truax 
  • 197 pounds: No. 1 Aaron Brooks vs. No. 3 Zach Glazier
  • 285 pounds: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet vs. No. 2 Nick Feldman
4:28 pm, March 10, 2024

Consolation semifinals

285 pounds: No. 4 Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) shuts out No. 7 Bradley Hill (Iowa), 5-0

Slavikouski chooses down to start the second period and takes the 1-0 lead after an escape. Takedown Slavikouski! He leads 4-0 over the Hawkeye! With the riding time point, Slavikouski takes the win 5-0. 

285 pounds: No. 3 Lucas Davison (Michigan) pins No. 10 Nash Hutmacher (Nebraska) 

Hutmacher has been improving every match, but this battle against Davison will be tough. Takedown Davison in short time! He'll hold a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.  Davison has Hutmacher on his back, and he's looking for the fall! Pin for Davison! 

197 pounds: No. 2 Jaxon Smith (Maryland) majors No. 5 Garrett Joles (Minnesota), 11-2

Takedown Smith! He's looking for the opportunity to join teammate Ethen Miller in the consolation finals tonight. Joles escapes, but Smith leads 3-1. Takedown Jaxon! He leads 7-1 with 30 seconds to go in the second period. Good offense from the Terp this afternoon. One minute to go. Maryland wants a takedown. Challenge. Maryland picks up the takedown, and Smith leads 10-2 with 30 seconds remaining. Smith takes the win by major, 11-2. 

197 pounds: No. 2 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) pushes past No. 4 Ryder Rogotzke (Ohio State), 15-9

Pinto is off to a hot start with a 3-1 in the first period following a takedown and an escape from Ryder Rogotzke. Another takedown and back points from Pinto gives him a 10-1 lead with 11 second to go in the first period. Pinto chooses down to start the second period, and Rogotzke works to run down Pinto's riding time. The Buckeye is tough on top. An escape and a takedown from Pinto combined with an escape from Rogotzke make the score 14-4 in favor of Pinto. Less than one minute to go in the third period, and Pinto leads 14-5. Points for Rogotzke! The Buckeye battled, but it wasn't enough, as Pinto takes the match 15-9.

184 pounds: No. 4 Silas Allred (Nebraska) wins by injury default over No. 6 Luke Geog (Ohio State)

Scoreless first period. Allred chooses down to start the second period. Allred escapes to take the 1-0 lead, giving up just five seconds of riding time in the process. Takedown Allred! The 2023 Big Ten champ is fighting for a chance to wrestle for bronze this yera, and he leads 4-0 after four minutes. Geog is injured in the process and is being treated by his trainers on the mat. Geog injury defaults out. 

184 pounds: No. 5 Jaden Bullock (Michigan) majors No. 8 Brian Soldano (Rutgers), 12-4

Bullock surges ahead to a 3-0 lead with a first period takedown, and then adds three more points to his total to lead 6-0. Soldano with a takedown. He's pulled within two points of his Wolverine foe. Reversal Bullock! He leads 8-4 as the second period ticks down. Bullock finishes this one with a 12-4 major decision over the Scarlet Knight. 

174 pounds: No. 6 Jackson Turley (Rutgers) tops No. 9 Andrew Sparks (Minnesota), 10-9 

Turley is on the board first with a takedown. Sparks escapes, but not before giving up 1:00 of riding time in the process. Turley chooses down to start the second period, and Sparks works to erase that riding time one second at a time. Turley escapes, he leads 4-1 with 39 seconds of riding time. Scramble time! Takedown Sparks! This one is tied at the end of the second period. Challenge. Turley is awarded three after the challenge. The Scarlet Knight leads 7-3. Sparks chooses down to begin the third and picks up a reversal. Minnesota challenges, wanting near fall points. Sparks picks up near fall after the challenge, and he leads 8-7. Takedown Turley. The Scarlet Knight leads 10-8 with 19 seconds left! Turley gets the win 10-9!

174 pounds: No. 5 Rocco Welsh takes down No. 3 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 4-1 (SV)

Kennedy escapes quickly to start the second period and put the first point on the board of the match. Welsh will choose down to start the third period trailing by just one. The Buckeye escapes, and this one is all tied up. Sudden victory! Welsh with a shot, but Kennedy holds him off. Takedown Welsh! The Buckeye advances.

165 pounds: No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) dominates No. 11 Chris Moore (Illinois), 18-5

Takedown Caliendo! He leads 3-0 with nearly two minutes to go in the second period. Moore escapes before Caliendo can get riding time up over a minute, and he now trails the Hawkeye 3-1. This has been the Mikey Caliendo show, as he leads 10-2 with 33 seconds left in the second period. Moore chooses down to start the third period and escapes, but he still trails 11-3. Takedown Caliendo! The Hawkeye extends his lead to 14-4 following another Moore escape. Takedown Caliendo, escape Moore. What a performance from Caliendo. He takes the win 18-5. 

165 pounds: Cam Amine (Michigan) escapes No. 5 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 2-1

Taylor chooses down to start the second period and escapes to earn the first point of the match. Amine escapes to start the third period, and this one is tied 1-1 with less than a minute to go. Sudden victory! Time for rideouts! Taylor chooses down to begin the first tie-breaker. Amine rides out Turley and chooses down for his tie-breaker. Amine escapes in 12 seconds. He's moving on! 

157 pounds: No. 4 Jared Franek (Iowa) holds off No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 5-2

Franek picks up a takedown with two minutes of action in the first period, and he leads 3-1 after an escape from Blaze. Franek chooses down to start the third period, and he leads 3-2 with 1:21 of riding time. Franek escapes, and he's up 4-2 with riding time, but a takedown from Blaze could tie it. Franek takes the win 5-2 with riding time. 

157 pounds: No. 5 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) rides out No. 3 Brayton Lee (Indiana), 2-1

It's a battle between All-Americans on Mat 1! Scoreless first period, and Robb is on the board first with his second period escape. Lee picked up just five seconds of riding time. Lee chooses bottom to start the third period, and he escapes. Robb picks up the 2-1 win on riding time. 

149 pounds: No. 6 Ethen Miller (Maryland) outlasts Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State), 4-3

Miller on the board first! The Terp is wrestling fearlessly and with momentum. He's already punched his ticket to Kansas City β€” now he's just looking for seeding improvements. Miller chooses down to start the second period, and he escapes. He leads 4-1. An escape from D'Emilio to start the third cuts Miller's lead to two points. Challenge. Miller takes the win 4-3! He's wrestling for bronze tonight! 

141 pounds: No. 3 Real Woods (Iowa) beats No. 4 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 8-4

Woods with an early reversal, and he's up 2-0 with 1:30 of riding time as time ticks down in the second period. Reversal and near fall points for Hardy put him ahead 4-2 heading into the third period. Challenge. After the challenge, Woods is given a point for an escape, and he trails 4-3 heading into the third period. Woods chooses down to start the third period and escapes. This one is tied 4-4 with Woods holding  1:48 of riding time. Takedown Woods! He wins this one 8-4 over his competitive rival. 

149 pounds: No. 4 Tyler Kasak (Penn State) beats No. 3 Caleb Rathjen (Iowa), 8-1

Takedown Kasak! He surges to an early lead over the Hawkeye who beat him earlier this year. That takedown served as the lone points of the period. Rathjen chooses down to start the second period. He's out and on the board! Kasak takes the win 8-1.

141 pounds: No. 5 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) holds off No. 7 Mitch Moore (Rutgers), 11-6 

Lemley surges ahead 4-3 in the first period against a tough and funky Moore. They'll end the period tied 4-4. Lemley escapes to start the second period. With one minute to go in the third period, Lemley holds the 8-4 lead over Moore with riding time ticking up. Good effort from Moore, as he keeps himself in the match with a last-second score, but it's Lemley with the win 11-6.

133 pounds: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) survives No. 14 Brody Teske (Iowa), 9-6 (SV)

No points through the first period. Teske elects to go down to start the second period. Van Dee pushes riding time up over a minute, and he nearly had Teske in trouble there, but the Hawkeyes gets off his back and to his feet to score the first escape point of the match. Van Dee chooses down to start thet hird, and he picks up a reversal. Teske escapes, and we're all tied up 2-2. Van Dee has 1:09 of riding time. Challenge.  Takedown Van Dee! The Husker pulls ahead in short time. Ecsape Teske. It's 5-3 Van Dee with 15 seconds remaining. Teske has Van Dee on his back. He picks up the three takedown. Brody Teske is moving on to the bronze-medal match! Nebraska challenge. After review, the score settles to 6-6, pushing the match to sudden victory. Van Dee is in good position, but he has to finish. Teske scambles AGAIN, and he finishes on top. The Hawkeye is a consolation semifinal champion. Challenge. Call reversed. Van Dee is moving on! 

133 pounds: No. 5 Aaron Nagao (Penn State) takes down No. 7 Braxton Brown (Maryland), 9-5

We're scrambling early off a shot from Braxton Brown, as the Terp looks for early points against All-American and 2023 Big Ten finalist Nagao. Nothing. Nagao works out the hold. Nagao picks up a takedown in the second period to take the 3-0 lead. Escape Brown. Takedown Nagao. With 75 seconds to go in the second period, the Nittany Lions lead 7-1 with 1:20 of riding time. Escape Brown. Thirty seconds to go in the second period. Both athletes are neutral to start the third period. Takedown Brown, escape Nagao. The Nittany Lion leads 8-5 with thirty seconds to go. Nagao does have riding time, so Brown needs a takedown and more. Nagao takes the win 9-5. 

125 pounds: No. 1 Matt Ramos (Purdue) pins No. 7 Michael DeAugustino 

These are two fun All-Americans to watch, and the winner earns the opportunity compete for bronze against Iowa's Drake Ayala. DeAugustino chooses down to start the second period. Ramos holds own DeAugustino for 44 seconds, but DeAugustino gets out, and he now leads 1-0. Ramos chooses down to start the third and escapes, so this match is tied 1-1. Sudden victory! Takedown Ramos, and he's looking for the fall, and he gets it. Matt Ramos with a killer pin in the final seconds of sudden victory. 

125 pounds: No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) takes down No. 9 Dean Peterson, 4-1

We're scoreless through the first minute here on Mat 3 as these two hammers battle for the opportunity to advance to the consolation finals. Peterson earns an escape to start the second period, and he takes the lead 1-0. Takedown Ayala! He leads 3-1 heading into the third period. Ayala chooses down to start the third period, and he's out immediately. The Hawkeye now holds a 4-1 lead over Peterson, the Rutgers lightweight who upset No. 1 Matt Ramos earlier this weekend. Thirty seconds to go. Drake Ayala holds on, and he's moving on to the third place match! 

3:51 pm, March 10, 2024

Consolation Round Updates (Session III)

These first round of consolation matches will determine who earns NCAA bids for weights with more than eight conference allocation spots.

RESULTS:  

  • At 125 pounds, Tristan Lujan of Michigan State and Brendan McCrone won their consolation brackets. They'll now wrestle each other in the next round with a chance for the ninth-place bid on the line. 
  • Danny Fongaro of Indiana beats Kal Miller in sudden victory in the semifinals of the 11th-place bracket at 141 pounds. He'll have Greyson Clark of Purdue next after a barnburner of a 10-9 win for Clark in his bout against Jordan Hamdan. 
  • At 149 pounds, Drew Roberts advanced after a win over Jake Harrier of Illinois and will take on Michael Cetta of Rutgers who won by forfeit over  Aiden Vandenbush of Northwestern
  • Al DeSantis advances for Rutgers at 157 pounds and leaves another Terps, Michael North, on the outside looking in. He'll have Ohio State's Isaac Wilcox next after a hard-fought win from the Buckeye this morning. 
  • While Wilcox advanced, a different Buckeye, Bryce Hepner, drops his match to Tyler Lillard of Indiana. He'll get Maxs Mayfield next after Mayfield's upset over No. 4 Caleb Fish of Michigan State at 165 pounds. 
  • At 174 pounds, Nebraska's Bubba Wilson advances over Maryland's Dom Solis, while Michigan State's DJ Shannon also moves on after a forfeit over DJ Washington of Indiana. Shannon and Wilson will wrestle for ninth. 
  • Chase Mielnik of Maryland picks up a big consolation win for the Terps over No. 9 Troy Fisher to advance in the consolation bracket. He'll have Aiden Riggins next after a dominant 14-point win for the Hawkeye over Roman Rogotzke of Indiana. 

As a reminder, the allocation spots are listed below: 

CONFERENCE 125 133 141 149 157 165 174 184 197 285 TOTAL
Atlantic Coast Conference 2 3 3 2 2 2 4 4 4 2 28
Big 12 Conference 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 57
Big Ten Conference 9 7 11 9 9 10 8 8 7 7 85
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association 5 5 4 4 3 5 6 7 6 8 53
Mid-American Conference 2 1 1 3 5 1 2 2 2 3 22
Pacific-12 Conference 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 3 3 24
Southern Conference 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 14
Pre-Allocations 27 28 27 29 29 28 29 28 29 29 283
At-Large 6 5 6 4 4 5 4 5 4 4 47