Wrestling 2026-2027

[81Heel/M1]

The Instagram post linked below announces the Captains for the year as Ogunsanya, Showalter, and Simcox. Hopefully this means Ogunsanya and Simcox are healthy and looking to have an impact. Showalter is likely being recognized as a steady backup who may be called on to fill Hepner’s spot until he returns in December.

Another recent post listed that Sibomana heads out for the U23 world tournament. After that Guanajuato, Hannah, Foca, and Ramos head to the senior worlds.

 

[81Heel/M1]

New hwt commitment for 2027.

https://intermatwrestle.com/collegecommitments.html/mencommitments/camden-williams-r14277/

 

[3397char]

New hwt commitment for 2027.

https://intermatwrestle.com/collegecommitments.html/mencommitments/camden-williams-r14277/

 

[81Heel/M1]

Dania Sibomana wrestling in the U23 championships this weekend.

 

[81Heel/M1]

Report out of California that Kari Garvey has committed to UNC.

https://www.calgrappler.com/kavi-garvey-commits-to-north-carolina/

 

[Jriv23]

Report out of California that Kari Garvey has committed to UNC.

https://www.calgrappler.com/kavi-garvey-commits-to-north-carolina/

Thanks for sharing. What I huge pick up. Welcome to the family, Kari. Go Heels!

 

[81Heel/M1]

I think spell check got me, as his name is Kavi Garvey (with a ”v” and not an “r”). For those counting he makes 10 committed recruits, or a third of our available roster slots. Whether we lose a few commitments, or eventually lose 10 to graduation/transfer, that is a good size recruiting class. The other possibility is that we start the year with more than the allowed roster slots and the wrestlers are competing to make the roster. If so, those not listed on the roster cannot wrestle for the team during the season. I believe the baseball team does this, using injuries and developmental players as not eligible to compete.

Given that I believe we have 33 currently on the roster, my assumption is that we have 3 designated student athletes. Because that was a 1 time option to help transition to the then new roster limits, we don’t get to keep these slots when the wrestlers leave the team. My guess is going forward there will routinely be some over recruiting, and working out the numbers when you have to list the official roster. Just my thoughts, but this is a new issue now that the roster limits of 30 wrestlers is becoming a hard and fast rule.

 

[81Heel/M1]

Looks like Sibomana won his first match 15-4.

 

[heelwrestler07]

Looks like Sibomana won his first match 15-4.

not sure what type of competition he was up against in the first round, but hopefully he can make it a long way in this one and get some good experience

 

[81Heel/M1]

Looks like Sibomana lost to Japan. Interesting that he made it 1 round farther than Lilledahl. We’ll see if he gets to wrestle back based on how Katsume does.

 

[81Heel/M1]

video clips from Dunia’s win today.

 

[81Heel/M1]

Sibomana did finish 1-1, as he lost to Katsume in the quarters and Katsume lost in the semis. Lilledahl lost to Bazarbayev, who beat Katsume to reach the finals. So Lilledahl is in repechage competing to possibly get the bronze medal.

Soon, Guanajuato will join Foca, Hannah, and Ethan Ramos from the THWC to travel and compete for the senior worlds.

In 2 weeks from today, most of the team will likely be competing in the Southeastern Open in Salem, Va.

 

[81Heel/M1]

Without Hepner currently on the roster and health questions at heavyweight that need to be answered, we have 8 wrestlers ranked to make the ncaat in the preseason.



Note that Lilledahl lost to Katsume, who was the wrestler that eliminated Sibomana. While I am hoping the Stinson has stepped up from last year, if he hasn’t this could be the second year in a row that a true freshman wins the backup job for 125. Knowing the we don’t normally get the true wrestle offs in the blue/white match, I am guessing the Stinson wrestles Littleton-Mascaro and Sibomana wrestles Tocci. Purely a guess on my part, and the SE Open should give us a sneak peak at the lineup and pecking order before the intrasquad match.

Key outcomes that I want to watch in the SE Open include who looks best at 149, what our heavyweights look like, who looks good for 165 until Hepner is back, how the key freshmen finish (Sibomana, Nafshi, Kelly, and Jipp), how Platt/Calcagno compare in competition, and any happy surprise finishes. Just 12 more days.