2026 NCAA Championship Session I Thread

Tom McAndrew

BWI Staff
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
77,340
63,900
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I'm posting this the day before the start of NCAAs, so that everyone has the info, knows what will be provided, etc.

Please use the thread for all pre-session, in-session, and post-session discussion for the Session I of the 2026 NCAA Championships.

When:
March 19, 12:00 pm EDT

Where:
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH

TV:
ESPN2

Video Streaming:
ESPN+. Please note that this is the only way to get access to multiple mats (They call it MatCast). As a heads up, MatCast will be available for each session (not all that necessary for Session VI on Saturday evening, as there is only one mat being used in that session. However, the Trophy Presentation at the end of Session VI will be on ESPN+, and not ESPN. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $12.99 a month, and cancel your subscription in a week, and only pay for 1 month. To do so, go to:


Audio Streaming:
The radio PBP, with Jeff Byers at the mic, will be streamed for free. The pre-Session portion of the broadcast will begin at 11:40 am EDT, with the actual PBP of the matches taking place at 12:00 pm EDT. You can access the audio stream at:


Once there, find "Wrestling: NCAA Championships - Session 1," and click on the right pointing arrow to the left of those words.

Team Scoring:
The best place to track the team scoring is the Penn State Wrestling Club web site. It appears that they have reverted back to prior practice, and are making the team race info available to all during the NCAAs. You can find their site at:


PBP:
I've not communicated with @SlipperyPete or @GregPickel, but I believe they plan to be available for PBP, and I'll also be available. We'll work it out amongst ourselves so that all of the competitions involving PSU wrestlers are covered with PBP. (GregPickel, will you be @ Rocket Area?) We always encourage others to provide their insight, analysis, reactions, and PBP if they so desire. As always, I remind you to please include the score for the match, or provide some context (wrestler, school, and weight class) beyond just "that's not a takedown."

Mat Assignments:
It also helps to give folks a heads up as to what mat a PSU wrestler will be wrestling on. You can usually get that info from Ironhead's audio PBP, from Penn State Wrestling's twitter account, or from TrackWrestling/FloArena. Anybody is welcome to post such info as it becomes available, as it will benefit all of us that are trying to watch the action on TV or via a video stream.

Let's have some fun in Session I, and also over the coming days.
 
Last edited:

ccdiver

Senior
Jan 29, 2008
137
476
63
Like everybody, I really look forward to the wrestling this weekend. I also know I’m going to miss a bunch of it trying to keep up with the posts on this board. Can’t help myself. I appreciate the information, education, and laughs this group provides all year long, but especially during the tournaments. Thanks in advance to you all.
 

Misalorales

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2025
1,118
3,451
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Being as I spent many years lurking but never having an account I'm trying to remember something: wasn't there a poster that would do an intricate twas the night before Christmas style poem about nationals?
 
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mcpat

All-American
Mar 12, 2021
1,764
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Being as I spent many years lurking but never having an account I'm trying to remember something: wasn't there a poster that would do an intricate twas the night before Christmas style poem about nationals?
Honored you remember that. I posted a “Twas the Night Before Nationals” poem a couple years ago on the rivals site but I’m afraid it was lost in the merger.
 

RBOld

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2022
338
1,443
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I hope Mesenbrink treats being on top like freestyle and cuts guys if he doesn't turn them in 10-15 seconds. He's been piling up too much RT instead of teching guys. He has to take the doubt out of the Hodge voting and teching his way through nationals would do it imo.
 

Sunshine88!

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2025
1,757
2,583
113
I hope Mesenbrink treats being on top like freestyle and cuts guys if he doesn't turn them in 10-15 seconds. He's been piling up too much RT instead of teching guys. He has to take the doubt out of the Hodge voting and teching his way through nationals would do it imo.
Agree. Don’t ride very long. I’m sure fans will help out. Let um up. Goes for a lot of our guys to get Bonus. 👍
 
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Reslo1

Senior
Oct 26, 2025
125
983
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I’m in Cleveland! This is my 9th national championship attended, all with my brother and father. The old man is getting up there in years and is battling cancer, so I’m not sure how many of these he has left.

But we always enjoy these weekends as a distraction from the realities of life, and we have so much fun together. Hope you all do the same!
 

Fan16801

Senior
Jun 3, 2025
260
974
93
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With pins we are felling
And everyone telling you give a "We Are" cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest valley of all
With great ankle catches and interesting matches
Refs make the right call
It's the hap-happiest valley of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Beverages for toasting
Assignments posted on Flo
There'll be tech falling stories
And tales of the glories
Of championships long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much respect owing
And hearts will be glowing
When records are near
It's the most wonderful time
Yes, the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year
 

paleryder

Junior
Apr 28, 2017
74
220
33
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With pins we are felling
And everyone telling you give a "We Are" cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest valley of all
With great ankle catches and interesting matches
Refs make the right call
It's the hap-happiest valley of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Beverages for toasting
Assignments posted on Flo
There'll be tech falling stories
And tales of the glories
Of championships long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much respect owing
And hearts will be glowing
When records are near
It's the most wonderful time
Yes, the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year
Well Done!
 

Kingslayer

Junior
Nov 3, 2016
176
363
63
I hope Mesenbrink treats being on top like freestyle and cuts guys if he doesn't turn them in 10-15 seconds. He's been piling up too much RT instead of teching guys. He has to take the doubt out of the Hodge voting and teching his way through nationals would do it imo.
Josh is too far ahead for Mitch to catch him
 
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SlipperyPete

All-American
May 11, 2021
567
9,379
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Being as I spent many years lurking but never having an account I'm trying to remember something: wasn't there a poster that would do an intricate twas the night before Christmas style poem about nationals?
'Twas the morning of Christmas & all through the house, not a creature was stirring, neither cat, nor mouse. Down through the chimney with glitter & glee came Cael, Casey & little Cody. With a sack full of presents to fill up the house, they reached inside & began pulling them out. Big ones, little ones, all strewn about.

Leading the pack, Luke lights the way. Now Marcus, now Barr, now Rocco & PJ. On Mitchell, on Cole, on Shayne & Levi. Oh, but wait, there's one more coming, a prepubescent young Scooter, just don't touch his tummy.
 

Misalorales

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2025
1,118
3,451
113
'Twas the morning of Christmas & all through the house, not a creature was stirring, neither cat, nor mouse. Down through the chimney with glitter & glee came Cael, Casey & little Cody. With a sack full of presents to fill up the house, they reached inside & began pulling them out. Big ones, little ones, all strewn about.

Leading the pack, Luke lights the way. Now Marcus, now Barr, now Rocco & PJ. On Mitchell, on Cole, on Shayne & Levi. Oh, but wait, there's one more coming, a prepubescent young Scooter, just don't touch his tummy.
Awesome.😂 Where you when I was unable to sleep last night?!lol