Live updates: 2023 NCAA DI wrestling championships

125 pounds: 
Top title contenders: Spencer Lee, Patrick Glory
Sleeper to watch: No. 19 Braxton Brown, Maryland

Three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee picks up the No. 1 seed while Princeton’s Pat Glory will look to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history and become the first national champion for the Tigers since 1951. 

133 pounds:  
Top title contenders: Roman Bravo-Young, Daton Fix, Vito Arujau 
Sleeper to watch: No. 14 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State

Two-time NCAA champ Roman Bravo-Young will be looking for a three-peat at this weight, but he could be pushed by three-time NCAA runner-up Daton Fix and Olympic Trials finalist Vito Arujau. Bravo-Young and Fix are undefeated while Arujau has one in-season loss to Virginia Tech’s Sam Latona. 

141 pounds:  
Top title contenders: Real Woods, Andrew Alirez, Cole Matthews 
All-American sleeper : No 25 Casey Swiderski, Iowa State 

This weight started as pretty wide open in the fall, but Iowa’s Real Woods and Northern Colorado’s Andrew Alirez have really separated themselves over the last few months. Look for Cole Matthews from Pittsburgh to potentially cause some problems as well. Alirez beat Matthews in the All-Star match earlier this year, but the All-American Panther is defensive and strong, and he could make a run for a title as well. 

149 pounds: 
Top title contenders: Yianni Diakomihalis, Sammy Sasso, Paniro Johnson

Cornell’s Diakomihalis is the defending champ and has three titles to his name but 2021 NCAA finalist Sammy Sasso from Ohio State would love a chance to take down the Big Red senior. Don’t count out Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson either. He took Diakomihalis to overtime early this year and just earned his first Big 12 title against All-American Brock Mauller. Johnson is a tough battle for anyone. 

157 pounds:  
Top title contenders: Austin O’Connor, Levi Haines, Peyton Robb
All-American sleeper: No. 14 Cobe Siebrecht, Iowa

Austin O’Connor earned the No. 1 spot after Nebraska’s Peyton Robb took a loss to Levi Haines of Penn State at the Big Ten tournament. Any of these three would be considered title favorites, but there are some funky sleepers to watch in this weight. 

165 pounds
Top title contenders: David Carr, Keegan O’Toole
All-American Sleeper: No. 11 Cameron Amine

This is the deepest weight in the country, but Iowa State’s David Carr leads the way right now following his back-to-back wins over 2022 NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole. Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti put up an impressive performance at Big Tens too, so he’s in the mix, as his 2021 NCAA champ Shane Griffith, despite the fact that Griffith has taken several losses already this year. The Cardinal is known to be Mr. March. 

174 pounds
Top title contenders: Carter Starocci, Mekhi Lewis, Mikey Labriola
All-American sleeper: Rocky Jordan, Chattanooga

This is Penn State’s Carter Starocci’s weight until proven otherwise. The two-time champ outrode Virginia Tech’s Mekhi Lewis in last year’s final, and he just beat the No. 2 seed, Mikey Labriola in the Big Ten finals. He’s confident, strong and competitive, so expect Starocci to take charge next weekend, though these other top contenders won’t go down without a fight. 

184 pounds

Top title contenders: Aaron Brooks, Parker Keckeisen, Trent Hidlay Marcus Coleman
All-American Sleeper to watch: Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

Despite being the No. 3 seed, Aaron Brooks is still a heavy favorite in this bracket. The two-time champ took a loss earlier this season to Iowa State’s Marcus Coleman, which puts Coleman’s name on this list, though Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen topped Coleman in the Big 12 finals. Then there’s Trent Hilday of N.C. State who has challenged Brooks in the past and is a 2021 NCAA finalist at this weight. 

197 pounds
Top title contenders: Nino Bonaccorsi, Bernie Truax, Silas Allred, Max Dean 
All-American sleeper: No. 18 Tanner Harvey

285 pounds 

Top title contenders: Mason Parris, Greg Kerkvliet, Wyatt Hendrickson, Tony Cassioppi, Cohlton Schultz
All-American sleeper: AJ Nevills, South Dakota State 

The top guy at this weight is Mason Parris, but Greg Kerkvliet has kept his matches close. Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson at the No. 2 spot is so fun. You also can’t count at Tony Cassioppi, who has wins over Kerkvliet or Cohton Schultz, the 2022 NCAA finalist. 

 

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