2026 NCAA Championship Session I Thread

[Dogwelder]

That double and a few other shots where he got stuck underneath wore him out.

He shoulda used the duck under instead!

 

[Pocono Lion]

He looked gassed from the end of the second period when he couldn’t convert that takedown. He looked really really tired.

Not too encouraging if you're gassed midway through your first match.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Give credit to the Duke wrestler. He had the better gas tank.

I think Cole assumed his opponent would just let the clock run out; bad assumption!

 

[Goggles Paisano]

Easiest way to duck Barr!

 

[johnstownsteel]

That seemed like a lazy last 10 seconds on Mirasola’s part.

Ok I can see being gassed. But I can't see being so gassed that you can't even think to just back up and give up a stall instead of a takedown. Undersized heavyweights need to compensate by using their smarts.

 

[Efejle]

So, both Carroll and Taylor drop down to the consi. Cole needs to beat Keuter

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Efejle]

For all the blabbering coming from Stillwater I don't think I've seen them stall like this in like, two years lol

 

[An Old Pair of Asics]

OkSt went 10-0 in the first round......is down by 9 points in 5th place in the team score. Can't imagine that happens often.

 

[cb1994]

My guess is he’s struggling with the cut.

 

[ccdiver]

Bonus Points:
Penn State 12.5
Ohio State 7.5
Iowa State 9.0
Iowa 7.0
Oklahoma State 4.5

 

[seeyajohn]

Cole had no energy in his last match at the B1G tournament and got fifth because Amos medically forfeited. This gas out today leads me to believe that something is going on. I'm going to be surprised if he AAs. But I hope to be surprised.

 

[Dogwelder]

Team score after Rnd 1?

Penn State Wrestling Club – wrestling lives here

pennstatewrestlingclub.org

 

[Scam likely]

Taken down with like 3 secs left. He looked spent.

He was looking spent after his failed double leg.

 

[johnstownsteel]

Cole had no energy in his last match at the B1G tournament and got fifth because Amos medically forfeited. This gas out today leads me to believe that something is going on. I'm going to be surprised if he AAs. But I hope to be surprised.

He has gassed from day one..

 

[WEAREPSU_LI]

Hi all, this link is awesome. I put it in the links only thread, but figured I would share here, too.

NCAA Wrestling Championships Live Team Scores & Projections | MatSavant

Live NCAA Division I wrestling championships tracker: projected and actual team scores, All-American odds and the biggest movers by weight.

www.matsavant.com

 

[GregPickel]

Full Penn State wrestling results, team score update, bout recaps after session one of the 2026 NCAA Championships

Penn State wrestling put together a perfect opening session at the 2026 NCAA Championships and leads the team race after round one.

www.on3.com

 

[Shepdogg]

Easiest way to duck Barr!

Lincoln Hawk’s son.

 

[Sunshine88!]

Keep Cole off bottom next match

 

[McScoreley]

Cole had no energy in his last match at the B1G tournament and got fifth because Amos medically forfeited. This gas out today leads me to believe that something is going on. I'm going to be surprised if he AAs. But I hope to be surprised.

Honestly heavyweight as a 225 pounder (and not a freakishly strong one like Cassar or Snyder) is going to wear on someone. He has to pace himself better, the path is there for him whether he beats Kueter or not tonight but it won't be easy.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

PSU matchups for Session II:

125: #1 Luke Lilledahl vs. #17 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia)

133: #3 Marcus Blaze vs. #19 Gage Walker (Mizzou)

141: #14 Braeden Davis vs. #3 Brock Hardy (Nebraska)

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness vs. #16 Jacob Frost (Iowa St.)

157: #1 P.J. Duke vs. #17 Luke Mechler (Wisconsin)

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. #16 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio St.)

174: #1 Levi Haines vs. #16 Nick Fine (Columbia)

184: #1 Rocco Welsh vs. #16 Rylan Rogers (Lehigh)

197: #1 Josh Barr vs. #17 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell)

285: #9 Cole Mirasola vs. #8 Ben Keuter (Iowa)

 

[GregPickel]

 

[AndEEss]

Stoner from Mizzou should have been on his horse and riding for his life against Feldman in the last ten seconds. Instead, gives up a TD with seven seconds to go. Terrible.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I missed this upset:

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Scam likely]

PSU matchups for Session II:

125: #1 Luke Lilledahl vs. #17 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia)

133: #3 Marcus Blaze vs. #19 Gage Walker (Mizzou)

141: #14 Braeden Davis vs. #3 Brock Hardy (Nebraska)

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness vs. #16 Jacob Frost (Iowa St.)

157: #1 P.J. Duke vs. #17 Luke Mechler (Wisconsin)

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. #16 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio St.)

174: #1 Levi Haines vs. #16 Nick Fine (Columbia)

184: #1 Rocco Welsh vs. #16 Rylan Rogers (Lehigh)

197: #1 Josh Barr vs. #17 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell)

285: #9 Cole Mirasola vs. #8 Ben Keuter (Iowa)

Wow their are 16 better 125lb than strickenberger come on man. Tough draw for LL.

 

[backdrft76-1]

OkSt went 10-0 in the first round......

It's the first time since 1968 they advance 10 to the 2nd Round.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Team Score At The End of Session I:

1	Penn State	22.5
2	Iowa	15
3	Oklahoma St.	14.5
4	Iowa St.	14
5	Ohio St.	13.5
6	Nebraska	13
7	Cornell	10
7	Stanford	10
9	Minnesota	9.5
10	Arizona St.	9

 

[wrestlingfan22]

Wow their are 16 better 125lb than strickenberger come on man. Tough draw for LL.

Strickenberger is a huge 125. I seriously would expect him to weigh 140-145 tonight when he faces Luke. Luke will have to wrestle his best and look to gas out Jett

 

[ccdiver]

delete

 

[wrestlingfan22]

Strickenberger is a huge 125. I seriously would expect him to weigh 140-145 tonight when he faces Luke. Luke will have to wrestle his best and look to gas out Jett

(may be a slight hyperbole on weight but you get the idea)

 

[Potterlion]

(may be a slight hyperbole on weight but you get the idea)

Yeah, assuming he's hoping to make weight again tomorrow morning..........

 

[Misalorales]

I gotta give a shout out to Starlink internet. Where I live it's satellite or nothing and hughesnet was so absolutely garbage last year it made watching anything tough, let alone switching between mats and having multiple devices streaming simulator. Starlink is legit.

 

[Misalorales]

Strickenberger is a huge 125. I seriously would expect him to weigh 140-145 tonight when he faces Luke. Luke will have to wrestle his best and look to gas out Jett

He is a big 125 but I don't see luke as a small 125. He handled bouzakis's size and strength well. Jore Volk as well. I don't think Strickenberger is any larger than either of those two, and I know he's not as good as them. He is dangerous is his own way, and this is March. But Luke's gonna major his ***

 

[Misalorales]

Team Score At The End of Session I:

1	Penn State	22.5
2	Iowa	15
3	Oklahoma St.	14.5
4	Iowa St.	14
5	Ohio St.	13.5
6	Nebraska	13
7	Cornell	10
7	Stanford	10
9	Minnesota	9.5
10	Arizona St.	9

Penn State bonus, 12.5, is in 7th place.

 

[Matter7172]

Team Score At The End of Session I:

1	Penn State	22.5
2	Iowa	15
3	Oklahoma St.	14.5
4	Iowa St.	14
5	Ohio St.	13.5
6	Nebraska	13
7	Cornell	10
7	Stanford	10
9	Minnesota	9.5
10	Arizona St.	9

Already behind last year's first session pace (24 points). Otoh, last year's team only got 15.5 points in session 2, so I expect to be ahead of last year's pace after tonight's session.

 

[Dogwelder]

Team Score At The End of Session I:

1	Penn State	22.5
2	Iowa	15
3	Oklahoma St.	14.5
4	Iowa St.	14
5	Ohio St.	13.5
6	Nebraska	13
7	Cornell	10
7	Stanford	10
9	Minnesota	9.5
10	Arizona St.	9

Wait. So we are not doomed?

 

[Dogwelder]

I gotta give a shout out to Starlink internet.

Heil Starlink!