Penn State, with six semifinalists, extends NCAA Championships lead; six past champions reach semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Penn State put six wrestlers into Friday night’s semifinals, and took a commanding 36-point lead over Michigan at the NCAA Div. I Championships after session three at the T-Mobile Center. Penn State is the returning champion, and has won 10 of last 12 national team titles.

Penn State sits at 86.5 points, ahead of Michigan with 50.5 points. Rounding out the top five are Arizona State with 44.5 points, Iowa State with 42 points and Iowa with 41.5 points.

While not mathematically clinched at this point, it is apparent that the battle for the second place, third place and fourth-place NCAA team trophies will provide the most team drama for the rest of the tournament.

Seven past NCAA champions reached Friday’s quarterfinals and six advanced to the semifinals.

The only reason all of the national champions could not all advance was the highly anticipated battle between three-time NCAA champion and No. 9 seed Carter Starocci of Penn State and past NCAA champion and No. 1 seed Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech. Starocci, injured late in the year and unable to compete at the Big Ten Championships, scored the only takedown for a 4-0 victory.

The other three-time NCAA champion in the semifinals is Aaron Brooks of Penn State (197). Two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole of Missouri (174) also advanced.  2023 NCAA champion and 2023 Senior World champion Vito Arujau (133) will compete in the semifinals. Add in past champions David Carr of Iowa State (165) and Shane Griffith of Michigan (165) to Friday night’s semifinals.

In the 165-pound semifinals, O’Toole will battle Big 12 rival Carr again once again. Another semifinals match between past champions is at 174, where Starocci will face Griffith.

The balance in Div. I wrestling is apparent, as 23 different teams have at least one semifinalist. Besides Penn State, the only teams with multiple semifinalists are Arizona State (4), Michigan (4), Iowa (2), Oklahoma State (2), Ohio State (2), Virginia Tech (2) and Missouri (2)

All of the semifinal winners have clinched All-American status, placing at worst in sixth place, but still with their gold-medal dreams intact.  

Below are the summaries of the quarterfinals, by weight.

WEIGHT CLASS SUMMARIES

Th wacky 125-pound weight class continued to be out of control. No. 8 Richie Figueroa of Arizona State scored a clutch reversal in the third period, and added 1:14 in riding time, to beat No. 1 Braeden Davis of Penn State, 3-2. The other three semifinals all went into overtime. Two of the overtime bouts ended at 4-1 in sudden victory, as No 12 Anthony Noto of Lock Haven took down No. 4 Matt Ramos of Purdue and No. 3 Drake Ayala of Iowa took down No. 6 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma. The other was a 4-3 tie-breaker win by No. 10 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin over No. 15 Caleb Smith of Nebraska, when Barnett was able to ride him. The craziness moves on to the semis.

2023 World champion and returning NCAA champion Vito Arujau of Cornell, seeded at No. 6 here, was dominant in his 13-3 major decision over Kai Orine of NC State at 133 pounds. In a rugged overtime battle, No. 1 seed and 2021 World silver medalist Daton Fix of Oklahoma State got a tiebreaker escape in three seconds to edge No. 8 Evan Frost, 2-1. Fix became Avenging a loss from the Big Ten finals, No. 5 Dylan Ragusin of Michigan) took control early and stretched his lead in a 9-3 win over No. 4 Dylan Shawver of Rutgers. No. 2 seed Ryan Crookham of Lehigh was solid in his 4-2 win over No. 7 Nasir Bailey of Little Rock.

At 141 pounds, No. 1 seed Jesse Mendez of Ohio State finished off the match with a spladle to defeat No. 9 Brock Hardy of Nebraska 6-2. No. 2 seed Beau Bartlett took a lead and ended the match with a pin over No. 26 Vance Vombauer of Minnesota in 6:48. No. 6 Lachlan McNeil of North Carolina cruised to a 7-1 decision over No. 3 Real Woods of Iowa. McNeil wrestles internationally for Canada. No. 5 Anthony Echemendia of Iowa State won a close 5-3 battle with over No. 4 Ryan Jack of NC State.

The quarterfinal matches at 149 pounds were not close at all, as all the winners took control of their matches right away. No. 1 seed Ridge Lovett of Nebraska scored a 14-4 major decision over No. 8 Casey Swiderdski of Iowa State. In a Pac-12 battle, No. 2 Kyle Parco of Arizona State stopped No. 10 Chance Lamer of Cal Poly in a 14-4 major decision. No. 4 Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech was in command early on the way to an 8-3 win over No. 5 Ty Watters of West Virginia. The closest match was a 12-9 win by No. 6 Austin Gomez of Michigan over No. 3 Jackson Arrington of NC State, where Gomez scored clutch points when he needed them. Gomez has qualified Mexico to compete at the Olympic Games.

At 157 pounds, No. 1 seed and 2023 NCAA runner-up Levi Haines of Penn State was in control in an 8-0 major decision shut out of No. 8 Peyton Robb of Nebraska. No. 2 seed Jacori Teemer of Arizona State scored a third-period takedown to beat No. 10 Jared Franek of Iowa. No. 6 Daniel Cardenas of Stanford scored a late takedown and needed riding time to beat No. 3 Meyer Shapiro of Cornell, 5-4. Avenging two earlier season losses to an ACC rival, No. 12 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech got his offense going in a 13-7 win over NC State’s No. 4 Ed Scott.

Two-time NCAA champion and No. 1 seed Keegan O’Toole of Missouri ran up the score then got a cradle to pin No. 8 Antrell Taylor of Nebraska in 4:06 at 165 pounds. No. 2 seed Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State broke up a close match with a second-period takedown then beat No. 10 Cameron Amine of Michigan, 6-1. Past NCAA champion and No. 4 seed David Carr of Iowa State shut out No. 5 Dean Hamiti of Wisconsin, 5-0. No. 6 Michael Caliendo of Iowa jumped to a lead and stopped No. 3 Julian Ramirez of Cornell, 9-4.

In the battle of NCAA champions at 174 pounds, No. 9 Carter Starocci of Penn State got the only takedown and beat No.. 1 Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech. The other NCAA champion in the weight, Shane Griffith of Michigan, fell behind 5-0, but rallied late to defeat No. 28 Jared Simma of UNI, 8-7. With a sudden victory takedown, No. 6 Rocco Welsh of Ohio State beat Big Ten rival Edmond Ruth of Illinois, 4-1. Scoring the only takedown of the bout, No. 7 Lennox Wolak of Columbia beat No. 2 Cade DeVos of South Dakota State.

Continuing his unbeaten season at 184 pounds, No. 1 Parker Keckeisen was poured on the offense in a 22-6 technical fall over No. 25 David Key of Navy. This was the only weight class where all four top seeds made the semifinals. No. 2 Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota needed a late third-period takedown to stop No. 7 Thomas Stewart, Jr. of Virginia Tech. No. 3 Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State took an early lead and secured a 16-6 major decision over No. 6 Bernie Truax of Penn State. Truax had an extended injury time in the bout. With a clutch third-period takedown, No. 4 Trey Munoz of Oregon State beat No. 5 Lenny Pinto of Nebraska, 5-3.

At 197 pounds, three-time NCAA champion and No. 1 Aaron Brooks of Penn State powered over No. 8 Stephen Buchanan of Oklahoma for a pin in 2:45. No. 2 Trent Hidlay of NC State was in command in his 11-3 win over No. 10 Silas Allred of Nebraska. Scoring from multiple positions, No. 3 Tanner Sloan of South Dakota State scored a 16-1 technical fall over No. 6 Lou Deprez of Binghamton. Firing up the local crowd Rocky Elam of Missouri scored two clutch takedowns and defeated No. 4 Michael Beard of Lehigh, 8-2.

Scoring the only point with an escape, No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State edged No. 9 Nick Feldman of Ohio State, 1-0 at 285 pounds. Scoring the opening takedown and keeping on the pressure, No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force stopped No. 6 Zach Elam of Missouri, 6-4. No. 4 Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State scored a sudden victory go-behind to beat No. 5 Nathan Taylor of Lehigh in overtime, 4-1. Scoring a takedown in the closing moments, No. 10 Lucas Davison of Michigan came-from-behind to beat No. 2 Yonger Bastida of Iowa State, 6-4.

Two consolation rounds were held in Session III, setting up tonight’s big night. The 7:00 p.m. CT session will feature the semifinals and more consolation rounds, including the All-American “blood round.” See it live on ESPN and ESPN+.

NCAA DIV. I CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Kansas City, Mo., March 22

Semifinal pairings (with seeds)

125 pounds

No. 8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) vs. No. 12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven)

No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin)

133 pounds

No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan)

No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell)

141 pounds

No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)

No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) vs. No. 6 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina)

149 pounds

No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) vs. No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech)

No. 2 Kyle Parco (Arizona State) vs. No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan)

157 pounds

No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. No. 12 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech)

No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) vs. No. 6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford)

165 pounds

No. 1 Keegan O`Toole (Missouri) vs. No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State)

No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs. No. 6 Mike Caliendo (Iowa)

174 pounds

No. 4 Shane Griffith (Michigan) vs. No. 9 Carter Starocci (Penn State)

No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) vs. No. 7 Lennox Wolak (Columbia)

184 pounds

No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 4 Trey Munoz (Oregon State)

No. 2 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) vs. No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State)

197 pounds

No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs. No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri)

No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State) vs. No. 3 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State)

285 pounds

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

No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) vs. No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan)

Quarterfinal results

125 pounds

No. 8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) dec. No. 1 Braeden Davis (Penn State), 3-2

No. 12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) dec. No. 4 Matt Ramos (Purdue), 4-1 SV-1

No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) dec. No. 6 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 4-1, SV-1

No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) vs. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska), 4-3, TB-1

133 pounds

No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State) , 2-1, TB-1

No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) dec. No. 4 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers), 9-3

No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell) maj. dec. No. 3 Kai Orine (NC State), 13-3

No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) dec. No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock), 4-2

141 pounds

No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. No. 9 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 6-2

No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) dec. No. 4 Ryan Jack (NC State), 5-3

No. 6 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina) dec. No. 3 Real Woods (Iowa), 7-1

No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) pin No. 26 Vance Vombaur (Minnesota), 6:48

149 pounds

No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) maj. dec. No. 8 Casey Swiderski (Iowa State), 14-4

No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 5 Ty Watters (West Virginia), 8-3

No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan) dec. No. 3 Jackson Arrington (NC State), 12-9

No. 2 Kyle Parco (Arizona State) maj. dec. No. 10 Chance Lamer (Cal Poly), 14-4

157 pounds

No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) maj.dec. No. 8 Peyton Robb (Nebraska), 8-0

No. 12 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 4 Ed Scott (NC State), 13-7

No. 6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford) dec. No. 3 Meyer Shapiro (Cornell), 5-4

No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) dec. No. 10 Jared Franek (Iowa), 5-2

165 pounds

No. 1 Keegan O`Toole (Missouri) pin No. 8 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 4:06

No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State) dec. No. 5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin), 5-0

No. 6 Mike Caliendo (Iowa) dec. No. 3 Julian Ramirez (Cornell), 9-4

No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. No. 10 Cameron Amine (Michigan), 6-1

174 pounds

No. 9 Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech), 4-0

No. 4 Shane Griffith (Michigan) dec. No. 28 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa), 8-7

No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) dec. No. 3 Edmond Ruth (Illinois), 4-1, SV-1

No. 7 Lennox Wolak (Columbia) dec. No. 2 Cade DeVos (South Dakota State), 4-2

184 pounds

No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) tech fall No. 25 David Key (Navy), 2-6

No. 4 Trey Munoz (Oregon State) dec. No. 5 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska), 5-3

No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) maj dec. No. 6 Bernie Truax (Penn State), 16-6

No. 2 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) dec. No. 7 Thomas Stewart Jr (Virginia Tech), 6-4

197 pounds

No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) pin No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma), 2:45

No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri) vs. No. 4 Michael Beard (Lehigh), 8-2

No. 3 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State) tech fall No. 6 Lou Deprez (Binghamton), 16-1

No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State) maj. dec. No. 10 Silas Allred (Nebraska), 11-3

285 pounds

No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) dec. No. 9 Nick Feldman (Ohio State), 1-0

No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) dec. No. 5 Nathan Taylor (Lehigh), 4-1, SV-1

No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) dec. No. 6 Zach Elam (Missouri), 6-4

No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan) dec. No. 2 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), 6-4

Semifinalists by team

6 – Penn State

4 – Arizona State, Michigan

2 – Iowa, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech

1 – Air Force, Columbia, Cornell, Lehigh, Lock Haven, Minnesota, Nebraska, NC State, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Oregon State, South Dakota State, Stanford, Wisconsin,

Team Standings after Session III

1             Penn State            86.5

2             Michigan              50.5

3             Arizona State       44.5

4             Iowa State            42.0

5             Iowa       41.5

6             Ohio State            36.0

7             Virginia Tech       35.5

8             NC State               33.5

9             Missouri               33.0

9             Oklahoma State   33.0

11           Cornell 32.5

12           Nebraska              29.0

13           Northern Iowa     26.5

14           South Dakota State            24.0

15           Stanford               20.5

16           Wisconsin            20.0

17           Lehigh   18.5

18           Minnesota            17.5

19           Air Force              15.0

20           Oregon State        13.5

20           Rutgers 13.5