Penn State clinches team title at NCAA Championships; Carr beats O’Toole in rivalry battle in semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Led by a school record semifinalists, Penn State has clinched the NCAA Div. I Championships team title after session IV on Friday night. The Nittany Lions have won three straight NCAA titles and 11 titles in the last 13 years.

Penn State left the arena with 148 points, which is a full 83.5 points ahead of second place Michigan with 64.5 points. The race for NCAA trophies remains a dog-fight, with Iowa in third with 60 points, and Arizona State and Iowa State tied in fourth place with 59.5 points.

In addition to the dominant team performance, the evening featured two of the most exciting showcases in college wrestling, the semifinals round, and the consolation “blood round” which determines who will advance to Saturday as All-Americans.

All 20 of the semifinals were action-packed, but two stand out as big stories.

In another classic battle between NCAA champions, No. 4 seed David Carr of Iowa State defeated No. 1 seed Keegan O’Toole of Missouri at 165 pounds. O’Toole had beaten Carr in the Big 12 finals this year, and also in the 2023 NCAA finals.

At 133 pounds, 2023 NCAA champion and 2023 World champion Vito Arujau of Cornell, seeded No. 6, avenged two losses earlier in the year to No. 2 Ryan Crookham of Lehigh in a dominant

Oh, and by the way, three-time NCAA champions Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197), both from Penn State, won their semifinal matches and will go for their fourth NCAA titles on Saturday night.

Semifinal summaries

125 pounds

No. 8 Richard Figueroa of Arizona State scored a second-period takedown and added a third-period escape for a 4-3 win over No. 12 Anthony Noto of Lock Haven.

No. 3 Drake Ayala of Iowa scored a first-period takedown and only allowed an escape and a penalty point in his 3-2 win over No. 10 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin.

133 pounds

Returning champion Vito Arujau of Cornell, seeded No. 6, avenged two previous losses to No. 2 Ryan Crookham of Lehigh with a dominant 13-3 major decision at 133 pounds. Arujau scored the first takedown and scored three more takedowns along the way.

The other semifinal was a controversial battle which went all the way to tiebreakers, with No. 1 Daton Fix of Oklahoma State beating No. 5 Dylan Ragusin of Michigan, 3-2. The match ended 1-1 in regulation, both with escapes. There were no takedowns in sudden victory. Ragusin was down in the first tie-breaker, when Fix rode him for 28 seconds before getting an escape. A stall call against Fix was reversed, keeping it at 1-1. When they changed positions, Ragusin was penalized for locking his hands, and the call was upheld in challenge. Ragusin cut Fix, making it 3-2, hoping for a takedown but time ran out. Fix, a five-time All-American, is now a four-time finalist.

141 pounds

No. 1 seed Jesse Mendez of Ohio State scored a first-period takedown and second-period escape to lead 4-0 after two periods over No. 5 Anthony Echemendia of Iowa State. A third-period Echemendia takedown closed it to 4-3, but Mendez escaped and made it 5-3. Mendez gave up a stalling point, but added riding time for a 6-4 win.

No. 2 seed Beau Bartlett of Penn State, competing against one of his high school teammates, scored a reversal and a two-point near fall, stopped No. 6 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina, 5-1. McNeil, who competes for Canada internationally, went to Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania when Bartlett was there.

149 pounds

No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech scored the only point of the match with an escape in the third period to knock off No. 1 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska, 1-0.

Showing a dominance on his feet, No. 6 Austin Gomez of Michigan scored two second-period takedowns and went on to defeat No. 2 Kyle Parco of Arizona State, 11-7. A third-period takedown gave Gomez a strong cushion, but Parco scored four points in the last period to make it closer. Gomez, who wrestled for Div. I Iowa State and Wisconsin, reached the NCAA final with his third team.

157 pounds

No. 1 Levi Haines of Penn State reached the NCAA finals for the second straight year, scoring a takedown in sudden victory overtime to defeat No. 12 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech, 8-5.

For the fourth time this season, No. 2 Jacori Teemer of Arizona State beat Pac-12 rival No. 6 Daniel Cardenas of Stanford, this time by a 12-2 margin. Teemer scored a takedown followed by four-point back points to jump to a 7-1 lead in the second period and never looked back.

165 pounds

No. 4 David Carr of Iowa State and No. 1 Keegan O`Toole of Missouri had another classic battle in their rivalry. O’Toole took a 6-3 lead early in the third period, but Carr escaped then scored a takedown with just 10 seconds left in the match for the 8-6 victory. O’Toole and Carr will not wrestle again in folkstyle, but don’t be surprised if this series continues in freestyle over the next few years.

No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State gave up the first takedown in the match to No. 6 Mike Caliendo of Iowa, but scored the next five takedowns to secure a 17-9 major decision.

174 pounds

In another battle of NCAA champions, three-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci of Penn State, the No. 9 seed, stopped past NCAA champion Shane Griffith of Michigan, 2-0. Starocci was able to ride Griffith, and won the match with an escape and riding time.

No. 6 Rocco Welsh of Ohio State scored a takedown in sudden victory overtime to defeat No. 7 Lennox Wolak of Columbia, 4-1.

184 pounds

No. 1 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa remained undefeated, scoring one takedown in each of the three periods to secure a 10-2 major decision over No. 4 Trey Munoz of Oregon State.

No. 3 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State scored two first period takedowns and added another late in the third period for an 11-2 major decision over No. 2 Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota.

197 pounds

No. 1 Aaron Brooks of Penn State scored five takedowns overall, piling up points to secure a 17-3 technical fall over No. 12 Rocky Elam of Missouri. Brooks makes his fourth NCAA finals, and seeks his fourth NCAA title.

In a close battle between two talents, No. 2 Trent Hidlay of NC State scored the only takedown in the second period, and added a riding time point to stop last year’s runner-up, No. 3 Tanner Sloan of South Dakota State, 4-1. Both Hidlay and his finals opponent Brooks went up a weight class this season.

285 pounds

No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State scored a quick takedown in the first perios and controlled the rest of the match to secure an 8-1 victory over No. 4 Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State. Kerkvliet scored two takedowns and was able to get riding time.

Although he gave up the opening takedown, No. 10 Lucas Davison of Michigan got on a roll to defeat No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force, 13-7. Davison had three straight takedowns in the match, providing a lead he did not surrender.

The NCAA Championships conclude on Saturday. Session V includes the consolation semifinals, then the third, fifth and seventh place matches, starting at 10:00 a.m. CT. The championship finals are set for 7:00 p.m. live on ESPN.

NCAA DIV. I CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Kansas City, Mo., March 22

Finalist pairings

125 - No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. No. 8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State)

133 - No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell)

141 - No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State)

149 - No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan)

157 - No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State)  vs. No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State)

165 - No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs. No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State)

174 - No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) vs. No. 9 Carter Starocci (Penn State)

184 - No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State)

197 - No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs. No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State)

285 - No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs.No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan)

Semifinal results

125 pounds

No. 8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) dec. No. 12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven), 4-3

No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) dec. No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), 3-2

133 pounds

No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan), 3-2, TB-1

No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell) maj.dec. No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh), 13-3

141 pounds

No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State), 6-4

No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) dec. No. 6 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina), 5-1

149 pounds

No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska), 1-0.

No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan) dec. No. 2 Kyle Parco (Arizona State), 11-7

157 pounds

No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) pin No. 12 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech), 8-5 SV

No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) maj. dec. No. 6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford), 12-2

165 pounds

No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State) dec. No. 1 Keegan O`Toole (Missouri), 8-2

No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) maj. dec. No. 6 Mike Caliendo (Iowa), 17-9

174 pounds

No. 9 Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. No. 4 Shane Griffith (Michigan), 2-0

No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) dec. No. 7 Lennox Wolak (Columbia), 4-1 SV-1

184 pounds

No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) maj. dec.No. 4 Trey Munoz (Oregon State), 10-2

No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. No. 2 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota), 11-2

197 pounds

No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) tech. fall No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri), 17-2

No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State) dec. No. 3 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State), 4-1

285 pounds

No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs. No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State), 8-1

No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan) dec. No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force), 13-7

Team Standings after Session IV

1             Penn State            148.0

2             Michigan              64.5

3             Iowa       60.0

4             Arizona State       59.5

4             Iowa State            59.5

6             Cornell 58.5

7             Ohio State            57.0

8             Oklahoma State   55.0

9             Virginia Tech       53.0

10           Nebraska              52.0

11           NC State               48.5

12           South Dakota State            43.0

13           Missouri               40.0

14           Northern Iowa     34.5

15           Lehigh   31.0

16           Stanford               28.5

17           West Virginia       25.0

18           Minnesota            21.0

19           Rutgers 20.5

20           Wisconsin 20.0

“Blood Round” results – Who won to become All-American?

125 pounds

Luke Stanich (Lehigh) dec/ Matt Ramos (Purdue), 4-0

Jore Volk (Wyoming) dec. Braeden Davis (Penn State) 4-1, SV-1

Caleb Smith (Nebraska)dec. Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado), 5-0

Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State) dec. Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 9-3

133

Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) dec. Brody Teske (Iowa), 6-3

Evan Frost (Iowa State) dec. Tyler Wells (Minnesota), 2-1

Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) dec. Kurt Phipps (Bucknell), 3-0, SV-1

Kai Orine (NC State) dec. Aaron Nagao (Penn State), 11-4

141

Ryan Jack (NC State) maj dec. Cleveland Belton (Oregon State), 9-0

Brock Hardy (Nebraska) dec. Josh Koderhandt (Navy), 7-3

Vance Vombaur (Minnesota) dec. Josh Edmond (Missouri) 8-5, SV-1

Real Woods (Iowa) dec. Cael Happel (Northern Iowa) 5-2

149

Ty Watters (West Virginia) pin Jaden Abas (Stanford), 3:29

Casey Swiderski (Iowa State) dec. Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State) 2-1, TB-1

Quinn Kinner (Rider) dec. Chance Lamer (Cal Poly), 10-5

Tyler Kasak (Penn State) dec. Jackson Arrington (NC State) 20-5 (Dec 5-4)

157

Peyten Kellar (Ohio) pin Ed Scott (NC State) 1:03

Peyton Robb (Nebraska) dec. Tommy Askey (Appalachian State) 9-4

Jared Franek (Iowa) dec. Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa), 4-2

Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) maj dec. Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) 13-5

165

Izzak Olejnik (Oklahoma State) dec over Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) SV-1 9-6

Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec Giano Petrucelli (Air Force) 11-6

Hunter Garvin (Stanford) dec Cameron Amine (Michigan) 4-2

Peyton Hall (West Virginia) dec over Julian Ramirez (Cornell) 8-2

174

Benjamin Pasiuk (Army West Point) dec Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) 9-8

Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) dec Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 8-4

Cade DeVos (South Dakota State) dec Gaven Sax (North Dakota State) 6-3

Edmond Ruth (Illinois) dec MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) 8-6

184

Bennett Berge (South Dakota State) dec Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) 13-8

David Key (Navy) dec Colton Hawks (Missouri) 2-1

Thomas Stewart Jr (Virginia Tech) dec Chris Foca (Cornell) 3-2

Bernie Truax (Penn State) dec Dylan Fishback (NC State) 5-0

197

Michael Beard (Lehigh) maj dec Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) 8-0

Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) dec John Poznanski (Rutgers) TB-1 2-1

Jacob Cardenas (Cornell) dec Silas Allred (Nebraska) 5-2

Stephen Little (Little Rock) dec Lou Deprez (Binghamton) SV-1 5-2

285

Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) dec Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) SV-1 8-5

Nick Feldman (Ohio State) dec Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma)  SV-1 8-5

Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) dec Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) 8-3Zach Elam (Missouri) dec Hunter Catka (Virginia Tech) 1-0