2023 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Notebook • 133 pounds

WIN Magazine will provide notes and quotes about the 133-pound wrestlers at the 2023 NCAA Division I Championships in Tulsa, Okla.

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Semifinals (March 17 – 7 p.m.)

#1 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) dec. #4 Michael McGee (Arizona State), 6-4 SV – A second-period reversal and a strong ride by McGee had the Sun Devil in the driver’s seat early, but Bravo-Young used a third period escape and takedown to force overtime. In the sudden victory period, the two-time defending national champ wasted little time, striking with a quick low ankle shot and converted for the takedown and a third consecutive finals berth.

#3 Vito Arujau (Cornell) major dec. #2 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State), 11-3 — Arujau controlled the bout from start to finish, scoring a first period takedown, second period reversal, and then using two takedowns including a feet-to-back bodylock in the final frame to cruise to a bonus-point victory for the Big Red.

Quarterfinals (March 17 – 11 a.m.)

#1 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) dec. #8 Aaron Nagao (Minnesota), 4-1 – In a rematch of the 2023 Big Ten final, the two-time defending national champ rode out the Gopher the entire second period, then eventually ended the bout with a 1:39 riding time advantage.  Nagao did escape in the third period for a point.

#4 Michael McGee (Arizona State) dec. #5 Kai Orine (NC State), 8-2 – While Orine closed the gap on a previous 18-4 result, McGee controlled the bout, scoring three takedowns, an escape and a point for riding time advantage.

#3 Vito Arujau (Cornell) dec. #6 Sam Latona (Va. Tech), 8-5 – The rubber match of the season between these All-American started in crazy fashion, as the Hokie scored the first takedown a minute into the bout before each wrestler reversed the other. Arujau fought back to score an escape and takedown to end the first period with a 5-4 lead, then ended any doubt when he scored a clinching takedown with three seconds left.

#2 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) dec. #10 Lucas Byrd (Illinois), 3-2 – Fix became a four-time All-American, scoring a third-period reversal to settle the score between the former All-American Illini.

Second Round (March 16 – 6 p.m.)

• Seven of the top eight seeds advanced to the quarterfinals at 133 pounds.
• Minnesota freshman No. 8 Aaron Nagao scored a takedown straight into a turk to finish off veteran No. 9 Micky Philippi (Pitt) with a fall in 2:50.
• No. 6 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) kept the nail-biting wins coming with a narrow 2-1 decision over upset-minded No. 22 Cody Phippen (Air Force), as a riding time point was the difference in a bout where no offensive points were scored.
• In a battle of All-Americans, No. 10 Lucas Byrd controlled No. 7 Michael Colaiocco (Penn) for a 6-3 decision.

First Round (March 16 – 11 a.m. CDT)

• No. 9 Micky Philippi (Pitt) surrendered the first takedown but broke a 2-2 deadlock with a late takedown and added a riding time point to top fellow PA native No. 24 Wyatt Henson (Oklahoma), 5-2.
• No. 21 Chance Rich (CSU Bakersfield), an at-large selection, got off to an early lead and held on late to defeat returning All-American No. 12 Chris Cannon (Northwestern), 6-5.
• No. 11 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) was upset and pinned by Cody Phippen (Air Force), at the 2:02 mark. A long challenge ensued to determine if a technical violation occurred before the pinning move was executed, but the call ultimately stood.
• In a rematch of a 2021 NCAA Quarterfinal at 125 pounds, No. 6 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) flipped a former loss into a victory, taking down No. 27 Taylor LaMont (Wisconsin) with 24 ticks left in overtime for a 3-1 SV advancement.

Pre-NCAA Notes

• Lehigh’s Connor McDonagle was forced to withdraw from the 2023 Nationals because of an injury. A native of Danville, N.H., the Mountain Hawk had earned an at-large bid to this his third national tournament. He was 12-3 this season and 43-27 in his career. He was replaced by Applachian State’s Ethan Oakley and seeded No. 33.

All-American Round (March 18 – 10 a.m.)

Finals (March 18 – 6 p.m.)