NCAA DI Championship Finals Results & Notes
Photo: Wyatt Hendrickson captured the 285-pound title with a 5-4 decision over two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson of Minnesota. Photo by Sam Janicki.
Final Team Scores (Top 5)
- Penn State 177.0
- Nebraska 117.0
- Oklahoma State 102.5
- Iowa 81.0
- Minnesota & Ohio State 51.5
Session VI Notes: Championship Finals
184: (1) Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. (2) Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-3
Starocci became the first ever five-time NCAA DI champion, as the Nittany Lion converted a left-handed high crotch to a double with 46 ticks remaining in the bout. Keckeisen escaped with 20 seconds remaining but was unable to convert a few last-second shot attempts. After claiming four titles at 174 pounds, Starocci’s fifth and final title came up a weight from his previous four, as the Erie, Pa. native further cemented his legacy by winning the 184-pound class in the only final that featured two former National champs.
125: (4) Vincent Robinson (NC State) dec. (7) Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 TB
Robinson was in deep on a single on the edge in the opening frame, but the Cowboy fought it off to end the first period scoreless. The duo traded escapes in the second and third period and ended the sudden victory period scoreless. The Wolfpack rookie then earned an escape in the tiebreaker before fending off Spratley’s shot attempts to become the first freshman to win an NCAA title for NC State since 1980.
133: (1) Lucas Byrd (Illinois) dec. (2) Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 TB-2
The Illini was in on several shots throughout the match but was defended by Ayala. The pair headed to sudden victory where several near-scoring sequences ensued, but the Hawkeye countered effectively to send the bout to the tiebreakers. Ayala escaped before a point for stalling was awarded to Byrd, and the Illini senior’s six seconds of riding time advantage was enough to earn him the national title.
141: (3) Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. (1) Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
The defending NCAA champ repeated for the Buckeyes despite surrendering an early takedown and two nearfall points. The Indiana native responded with an escape and takedown to cut the deficit to 5-4 heading into the second frame. Mendez exploded in the second period for a takedown and four nearfall to carry an 11-6 lead into the third period, where the Husker’s last-second takedown was not enough to overcome the reigning champ.
149: (2) Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) dec. (1) Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
The physical Husker earned a stall warning early by pushing the defending NCAA champ out of bounds in the first period, but no points were earned. After Henson chose neutral to begin the second period, the Hokie converted an ankle pick to a double just before time expired to take a 3-0 lead, but a brick throw had the call overturned. Lovett escaped in the third period to take a 1-0 lead and fended off a late Henson leg attack to claim his first National title.
157: (3) Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec. (8) Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
The Huskers crowned two NCAA champions in the same night for the first time since 1984, as the sophomore converted a double leg takedown with under five seconds remaining in the opening frame and was able to fend off several late shot attempts by the Boilermaker to follow up teammate Ridge Lovett’s National title.
165: (1) Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. (3) Mikey Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
The Hawkeye landed awkwardly on a shot attempt in the opening 10 seconds, which required injury time. As a result, Mesenbrink was awarded choice and chose bottom, gaining an escape to take a 1-0 lead into the second period. The Nittany Lion scored a second period takedown and third period escape before landing on top of the Hawkeye on a desperation inside trip attempt in the waning seconds to claim his first NCAA title.
174: (3) Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) dec. (1) Keegan O’Toole (Missouri), 4-1 SV-1
In a rematch of the Big 12 final, the pair traded escapes in the second and third period before a reattack takedown for the Cowboy was overturned by a Missouri coach’s challenge, leading to sudden victory overtime. A scramble ensued 30 seconds into the overtime period in which Hamiti came out on top for a takedown, and the Missouri coach’s challenge this time resulted in the call’s confirmation and the first Oklahoma State NCAA champion of the David Taylor era.
197: (2) Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. (4) Josh Barr (Penn State), 5-2
The Nittany Lion freshman took a 2-0 lead on an escape and locked hands call in the second period, but the Hawkeye responded with an escape and takedown of his own while adding a riding time point to claim his first National title in his final career bout.
285: (2) Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) dec. (1) Gable Steveson (Minnesota), 5-4
In an upset for the ages, the Cowboy surrendered the first takedown after contesting an early Steveson shot with a crowd-gasping scramble but came back with an escape and third period high-crotch-to-a-double takedown to go ahead, 5-4, with 14 ticks remaining. The Newton, Kan. native clung tightly in the waning seconds, preventing the Gopher’s escape and solidifying one of the sport’s biggest upsets in recent memory.
