The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships kicked off with numerous thrilling matchups and unexpected upsets across multiple weight classes. Here’s a breakdown of the first round results highlighting significant victories and standout performances.
285 Pounds Results
- No. 1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) defeated No. 32 Emmanuel Ulrich (American) 22-5.
- No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NC State) beat No. 31 Brenan Morgan (Virginia) 16-3.
- No. 3 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) won against No. 30 Jack Forbes (Virginia) 17-2.
- No. 4 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska) also advanced, defeating No. 29 Luke Rasmuseen (South Dakota State) 17-2.
- No. 5 Nick Feldman (Ohio State) edged out No. 28 Jarrett Stoner (Missouri) 5-4.
- No. 21 Juan Mora (Oklahoma) pulled off a significant upset by beating No. 12 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin) 4-3.
- No. 20 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) won against No. 13 Spencer Lanosga (Navy) 3-2.
- No. 27 Hunter Catka (Rutgers) completed the upset list, defeating No. 6 Nathan Taylor 6-3.
Continuing Matches
Pitzer will face Ferrari in the next round, while Catka matches up against No. 11 Devon Dawson (NIU), who defeated No. 22 Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) 7-4.
197 Pounds Results
- No. 17 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) secured victory over No. 16 Branson John (Maryland) 4-1.
- No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) advanced with a tech fall against No. 32 Blake Schaffer (Kent State) 20-4.
- No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming) pinned No. 28 Kael Wisler (Michigan State) to win.
- No. 29 Colton Hawks (Arizona State) achieved the day’s biggest upset by defeating No. 4 Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech) 12-8.
All-American No. 11 Camden McDanel (Nebraska) and No. 10 Mac Stout (Pitt) also advanced, showcasing strong performances in their respective matches.
184 Pounds Highlights
- No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) advanced with a 19-4 tech fall over No. 32 Caleb Uhlenhopp (Utah Valley).
- No. 3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) won decisively against No. 30 Tyler Bienus (Bucknell) 22-6.
Notable results include upsets and close matches as grapplers from various schools demonstrated their skills.
Overall Highlights
Across all weight classes, numerous athletes performed exceptionally. The competitive nature of the championships was evident as several upsets reshaped anticipated brackets.
Looking Ahead
The NCAA Wrestling Championships continue to promise excitement as contenders gear up for the next rounds. Fans and teams alike are eager to see how the tournament unfolds.
Stay tuned to El-Balad for updated brackets and results from the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
