2026 NCAA Championship Session III Thread

Tom McAndrew

BWI Staff
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
77,396
63,936
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Please use the thread for all pre-session, in-session, and post-session discussion for the Session III of the 2026 NCAA Championships.

When:
March 20, 12:00 pm EDT

Where:
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH

TV:
ESPNU

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:

https://support.espn.com/hc/en-us/articles/40375475974036-ESPN-Select-or-Unlimited-Plans-and-Prices


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:

gopsusports.com

Lion Vision


gopsusports.com
gopsusports.com

Once there, click on the right pointing arrow in the button to the left of "Wrestling: NCAA Championships - Session 3"

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:
@SlipperyPete will be available for PBP. I'll be available for PBP if we have any situations where two PSU wrestlers are competing at the same time. @GregPickel will be in the Rocket Arena, and providing his thoughts, observations, information, interviews, etc. from there. 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.

PSU had a great day on Thursday, in Sessions I and II. Let's cheer them on as they try and continue winnings in Session III, and have some fun following and discussing their wrestling.
 

Tom McAndrew

BWI Staff
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
77,396
63,936
113
Matchups for PSU Wrestlers in Session III

125 Quarters: #1 seed Luke Lilledahl vs. #8 seed Dean Peterson (Iowa)

133 Quarters: #3 seed Marcus Blaze vs. #6 seed Drake Ayala (Iowa)

141 Consolation R2: #14 seed Braeden Davis vs. #29 seed Jordan Titus (WVU)

149 Quarters: #1 seed Shayne Van Ness vs. #8 seed Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma St.)

157 Quarters: #1 seed P.J. Duke vs. #8 seed Brandon Cannon (Ohio St.)

165 Quarters: #1 seed Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. #9 seed Bryce Hepner (North Carolina)

174 Quarters: #1 seed Levi Haines vs. #9 seed Beau Mantanona (Michigan)

184 Quarters: #1 seed Rocco Welsh vs. #8 seed Silas Allred (Nebraska)

197 Quarters: #1 seed Josh Barr vs. #9 seed Angelo Posada (Stanford)

285 Consolation R2: #9 seed Cole Mirasola vs. #23 seed Stephan Monchery (Appalachian St.)
 

Tom McAndrew

BWI Staff
Staff member
Oct 27, 2021
77,396
63,936
113
Team Race Standings After Session II

PlaceTeamScoreIn QuartersIn Consolation R2
1PSU40.582
2Nebraska2773
3Oklahoma St.2673
4Iowa2572
5Ohio St.22.545
6Iowa St.21.536
7Arizona St.1741
8Stanford1535
9Cornell1432
9Michigan1441
11Minnesota12.533
11NC St.12.524
13Mizzou1222
14Illinois11.524
14Lehigh11.523
14Virginia Tech11.525
 
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Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,438
7,419
113
Team Race Standings After Session II

PlaceTeamScoreIn QuartersIn Consolation R2
1PSU40.582
2Nebraska2773
3Oklahoma St.2673
4Iowa2571
5Ohio St.22.545
6Iowa St.21.536
7Arizona St.1741
8Stanford1535
9Cornell1432
9Michigan1441
11Minnesota12.533
11NC St.12.524
13Mizzou1222
14Illinois11.524
14Lehigh11.523
14Virginia Tech11.525
Iowa has 7 in 1/4 and Block and Gabe in WB so it's 7 and 2
 

Cali_Nittany1

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2019
670
2,867
93
Team Race Standings After Session II

PlaceTeamScoreIn QuartersIn Consolation R2
1PSU40.582
2Nebraska2773
3Oklahoma St.2673
4Iowa2572
5Ohio St.22.546
6Iowa St.21.536
7Arizona St.1741
8Stanford1535
9Cornell1432
9Michigan1441
11Minnesota12.533
11NC St.12.524
13Mizzou1222
14Illinois11.524
14Lehigh11.523
14Virginia Tech11.525

anOSU has 6 in consis
 
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pish69

All-Conference
Jan 11, 2016
967
2,377
93
Excited for today. 10 winnable matches this session. Won’t be easy but, but hoping for the best.

Luke and Marcus with tough ones considering this would be third time this year against same opponent (not easy)

Davis..one at a time. Should be good one with Titus

Van Ness. The match I’m looking forward to most this session. Swiderski with big tank like Shayne and always moving forward. I think Shayne picks him a part but let’s see

I feel good about 157-197 this round.

Cole gets his mojo back in this one.

Let’s go boys!!
 

FlyingLion

Senior
Oct 31, 2021
77
439
53
Excited for today. 10 winnable matches this session. Won’t be easy but, but hoping for the best.

Luke and Marcus with tough ones considering this would be third time this year against same opponent (not easy)

Davis..one at a time. Should be good one with Titus

Van Ness. The match I’m looking forward to most this session. Swiderski with big tank like Shayne and always moving forward. I think Shayne picks him a part but let’s see

I feel good about 157-197 this round.

Cole gets his mojo back in this one.

Let’s go boys!!
10-0 round definitely possible.

Blaze probably has the most difficult matchup. Ayala has been wrestling well, and like you said, it can be difficult to beat a quality wrestler 3 times in a season.

I like Luke's matchup with Peterson a little better but still not easy.
 

Potterlion

Senior
Jan 25, 2011
182
711
93
Does anyone think that Braeden will redshirt next year with Ono entering the mix?

Of course it's a possibility. I really like Braeden and get a bit miffed at some of the nasty criticism that he gets here (he's one of "our guys" and unless I've missed something, he hasn't done anything egregious to show that he's criminally minded (I'm not talking about one incident where a kid got drunk and showed some bad judgement), of bad character, etc. etc.), but even I admit that he's a great wrestler who really could benefit by a redshirt and the opportunity to work on a few things. It's not just Ono that enters the mix either. This happens every single off-season, but there's also Blaze possibly wanting or needing to move up (I don't think he's a big 133 now, but who knows), Desmond who will and should clearly be in the mix and possibly someone that we're not even considering at this point. It's one of those "nice problems to have" for PSU, but it's got to be hard on some of the guys who aren't on Marcus or PJ's level and who have to fight hard to win or keep their roster spots. Believe me, we'll have MANY months to think about it, worry about it and argue about AFTER the tournament's over.
 

SRATH

All-American
May 29, 2001
2,953
5,849
113
No inside info, but I'd say its likely Braeden will transfer. He doesn't seem to have the skill and dedication necessary to be in the PSU lineup.
If he didn't have the skill and dedication, he wouldn't be around. I believe BD RS's next year.......and ultimately transfers for his final year. He will continue to get better but may not be able to crack the line-up. One could see him at Michigan for his last year....but I hope he stays and fights for a spot.
 

Anon231980

Senior
Dec 9, 2025
192
442
63
If he didn't have the skill and dedication, he wouldn't be around. I believe BD RS's next year.......and ultimately transfers for his final year. He will continue to get better but may not be able to crack the line-up. One could see him at Michigan for his last year....but I hope he stays and fights for a spot.
 

WV lion

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2021
1,394
1,916
113
Excited for today. 10 winnable matches this session. Won’t be easy but, but hoping for the best.

Luke and Marcus with tough ones considering this would be third time this year against same opponent (not easy)

Davis..one at a time. Should be good one with Titus

Van Ness. The match I’m looking forward to most this session. Swiderski with big tank like Shayne and always moving forward. I think Shayne picks him a part but let’s see

I feel good about 157-197 this round.

Cole gets his mojo back in this one.

Let’s go boys!!
Lilledahl is starting to separate himself from Peterson
 

Sandy2176

Freshman
Nov 1, 2025
96
91
18
If he didn't have the skill and dedication, he wouldn't be around. I believe BD RS's next year.......and ultimately transfers for his final year. He will continue to get better but may not be able to crack the line-up. One could see him at Michigan for his last year....but I hope he stays and fights for a spot.
I would stay with RS then compete Sr. Year if not tsf or stay either way we'll have the best 141 whoever that is?
 

El_Jefe

Heisman
Oct 11, 2021
3,286
12,960
113
Some matches to watch between higher seeds in the next round of consis:
133 - 9 Serrano vs 10 Leete
141 - 9 Olivieri vs 10 Consiglio
141 - 11 Composto vs 12 Simcox
157 - 6 Swisher vs 12 Zerban
165 - 5 Lockett vs 6 Arujau
184 - 11 Cartagena-Walsh vs 12 Fishback
197 - 6 Rademacher vs 12 Geog (winner likely gets 4 Sasso)
HWT - 5 Feldman vs 6 Taylor
HWT - 11 Dawson vs 12 Amos
 

mh-larch

Senior
Nov 20, 2019
262
580
93
No inside info, but I'd say its likely Braeden will transfer. He doesn't seem to have the skill and dedication necessary to be in the PSU lineup.
I appreciate Braeden stepping up and wrestling in a year he thought he'd be RS'ing, but more than anything Braeden needs to get a hold of his emotions. I don't care for the way he acts out. It's a bad look, plus I think it hurts his wrestling. I hope he can mature and master the emotional side of things. Really concerned something really ugly could occur if he doesn't. He seems like he is wired too tight and angry.......powder keg?
 

RBOld

All-Conference
Jul 13, 2022
339
1,447
93
Some matches to watch between higher seeds in the next round of consis:
133 - 9 Serrano vs 10 Leete
141 - 9 Olivieri vs 10 Consiglio
141 - 11 Composto vs 12 Simcox
157 - 6 Swisher vs 12 Zerban
165 - 5 Lockett vs 6 Arujau
184 - 11 Cartagena-Walsh vs 12 Fishback
197 - 6 Rademacher vs 12 Geog (winner likely gets 4 Sasso)
HWT - 5 Feldman vs 6 Taylor
HWT - 11 Dawson vs 12 Amos
It’s so hard to keep up with these guys but wasn’t Rademacher the guy who was going to beat Barr?
 
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Brian LB-U

Junior
Oct 11, 2021
69
305
53
No inside info, but I'd say its likely Braeden will transfer. He doesn't seem to have the skill and dedication necessary to be in the PSU lineup.
Respectfully, I don’t think you’re being fair. A college athlete gets busted for drinking one time and he lacks dedication? We have all watched Braeden wrestle for three years now and what is obvious (to me at least) is he’s no athletic dynamo. I think he’s reached his peak.
 
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mcpat

All-American
Mar 12, 2021
1,766
7,110
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Observations from the Brackets Thus Far


Three wrestlers from the 32/33 pigtail survived to day two:

McBurney (149), Walsh (165) and Uhlenhopp (184)

Two interesting elimination bouts happening early today:

165: 5 Lockett vs 6 Araujo
285: 5 Feldman vs 6 Taylor

Best seeds in the consolation bracket:

2 Ruiz (174)
2 Elam (197)
3 Bouzakis (125)
4 Sasso (197)
4 Gaj (149)
5 Buesgens (149)
5 Lockett (165)

Ultimate Bracket Bust: 149 and 197

149: 4 Gaj, 5 Buesgens, 6 Tyus and 7 Stiles all in the consolation bracket after day one

197: 2 Ruiz, 4 Sasso and 6 Rudemacher all in the consolation bracket after day one

Worst seeds in the Quarterfinals:

29 Hawks (197)
27 Catka (285)
27 Parco (165)
21 Mora (285)
20 Soldano (184)

How did Former PSUers Fare?

25 Betancourt went 1-1 and faces 23 Brown next at 133

9 Evans went 1-1 and faces 23 Petersen next at 149

8 Facundo went 1-1 and faces 23 Augustine next at 174

22 Ryder went 1-1 and faces 29 Fox next at 184
 
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Aardvark86

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
1,213
2,116
113
A guy that was a B1G champ and a 1 seed at NCAAs as a true freshman and 5th in the country as a true sophomore doesn’t have the “skill” needed to be in the lineup wasn’t on my bingo card.
Agreed; I actually think the issue is his mental game.

tbc, I really admire his passion and that he is a team player, but he just needs a little more zen
 
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Coastal2

Senior
Dec 19, 2025
124
467
63
It’s so hard to keep up with these guys but wasn’t Rademacher the guy who was going to beat Barr?
Rademacher is a really good freestyler who is too big for 197 and too small for 285. He's a shell of himself at 197.

I argued with some of the rankers who claimed they don't use freestyle at all in their rankings yet had Rademacher way too high.
 

ClarkstonMark

All-Conference
May 23, 2002
1,612
2,607
113
Respectfully, I don’t think you’re being fair. A college athlete gets busted for drinking one time and he lacks dedication? We have all watched Braeden wrestle for three years now and what is obvious (to me at least) is he’s no athletic dynamo. I think he’s reached his peak.
definitely ... wow a college wrestler was drinking.
story from last night... Was sitting next to an ex-Cornell wrestler (ave wrestler, great student, from PA). This guy was pretty drunk last night. He talked of how Vito used to get "f'g hammered" 6 of 7 days a week in the off season. Yanni never drank though.

Just finished hotel breakfast with 11 of the Blaze clan (ran into them in Nashville, yesterday at Rocket, and this morning ... they must think I am a stalker by now), and getting ready to head to Rocket for S3.