PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—The 2025 NCAA Div. I National Championships concluded on Saturday night, as ten champions were crowned inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. History was made after Carter Starocci of Penn State won his fifth NCAA title, the first to do so in NCAA wrestling history.
Penn State clinched the team title at 11:14 a.m. ET this morning, soon after the fifth session began. This is the 12th national title for the Nittany Lions in the last 14 seasons under Cael Sanderson, the 13th overall. Penn State also made history on Friday night, becoming the second team in NCAA wrestling history to have 10 All-Americans in one year, a feat accomplished in 2001 by Minnesota for the first time.
The night concluded at 285 pounds, with one of the biggest upsets in college wrestling history. No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State defeated No. 1 Gable Steveson of Minnesota, a two-time NCAA champion for the Golden Gophers. Both Steveson and Hendrickson compete internationally for Team USA, as Steveson is a 2021 Tokyo Olympic Champion and three-time age-group World Champion, while Hendrickson secured gold at the 2023 U23 World Championships.
Steveson jumped to a 3-0 lead with a first period takedown, and Hendrickson was able to make a quick escape for a 3-1 score. After starting the second period down Hendrickson’s escape closed the gap to 3-2. In the third period, Steveson pushed ahead 4-2. With 18 seconds remaining in the match, Hendrickson scored on a single leg takedown, taking a 5-4 lead.
The competition started at 184 pounds, with No. 1 Carter Starocci of Penn State meeting No. 2 Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa in the finals. Both returning national champions, Starocci was going for his fifth NCAA title, while Keckeisen was a 2024 NCAA champion for the Panthers.
Starocci entered the match 25-0 on the season. Keckeisen was 28-0 this season. The pair met at the end of November at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Starocci got the leg of Keckeisen on the edge, but was unable to pull him in for a takedown, and a stalemate was called for a scoreless first period. To start the second period, Starocci jumped to a 1-0 lead with an escape. Keckeisen evened the score at 1-1 with a quick escape in the third. Starocci took a 4-1 lead after getting to Keckeisen’s legs, but Northern Iowa challenged the call, and the takedown was confirmed. Keckeisen made it a 4-2 match with 20 seconds remaining, and added another point after Starocci was hit for stalling. The Nittany Lion held on to win 4-3. This is the first time in NCAA Wrestling history that an individual has won five NCAA titles at the Div. I level.
At 125 pounds, No. 4 Vince Robinson of NC State met No. 7 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State in the finals. Robinson opened the scoring in the match with an escape in the second period. In the third, Spratley tied it up at 1-1 with an escape point. The match went to tiebreakers after no scores were added in sudden victory overtime. Robinson earned a point for a quick escape, only allowing Spratley to accumulate two seconds of riding time. Robinson won his first national title 2-1 in tiebreaker. This is the first NCAA title for Robinson, a freshman from Chicago, Illinois.
The 133-pound final saw No. 1 Lucas Byrd of Illinois battle last year’s national finalist at 125 pounds, No. 2 Drake Ayala of Iowa. This is the third meeting for the duo this season, with Ayala winning in the regular season dual, and Byrd pinning Ayala in the Big Ten finals. Byrd chose down to start the second, and opened the scoring with one point on an escape. In the third period, Ayala chose down and evened the score with an escape. Left ankle pick for Byrd, and a takedown isn’t called, but Illinois challenges the call. The call is confirmed, and the match goes to sudden victory overtime. A few scrambles in overtime but no score. In tiebreakers, Ayala get the escape but is called for stalling, and it’s back at 2-2. Byrd chooses neutral and wins riding time, and wins 3-2 in tiebreaker. This is Byrd’s first NCAA title.
The night continued with the final match at 141 pounds, a battle between Big Ten foes, No. 1 Brock Hardy of Nebraska versus No. 3 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State. Both age-group World Medalists for the United States, Mendez is a 2024 NCAA champion. Earlier in the postseason, Hardy defeated Mendez in the Big Ten Championships semifinals, 9-8.
Hardy scores first with a takedown in the first period, and Hardy moves to a tilt for nearfall points. He’s awarded two, Mendez escapes, but Nebraska throws the challenge brick looking for more nearfall points. No more points are awarded, and it’s a 5-1 match. Mendez counters with a double leg takedown, moving the score to 5-4. Hardy chooses down to start the second period, and earns a point for an escape. Mendez goes behind Hardy and scores another takedown, leading 7-6, then adds four nearfall points to jump ahead 11-6. Hardy adds three with seconds remaining. Mendez adds a point for riding time and wins his second-straight NCAA title, 12-9.
Returning NCAA champion at 149 pounds, No. 1 seed Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech, faced No. 2 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska in the finals. Both conference champions this season, Henson won the ACC individual title while Lovett secured a Big Ten individual title. Henson earned three for a takedown as time expired in the second period, Nebraska challenged the call, and it was overturned. Henson granted Lovett and escape to start the third, giving Lovett at 1-0 lead. Lovett shut down Henson’s offense in the final period, winning his first national title, 1-0.
The final at 157 pounds featured No. 3 Antrell Taylor of Nebraska facing No. 8 Joey Blaze of Purdue. Taylor got on the board at the end of the first period with a takedown, to lead 3-0. Taylor added a point with an escape to jump to 4-0 in the second. Blaze scored a point on an escape, and Taylor was hit with a penalty for stalling. Time expires, and Taylor secures a 4-2 victory.
No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State saw No. 3 Mike Caliendo of Iowa in the finals at 165 pounds. Mesenbrink, a finalist last year for the Nittany Lions, defeated Caliendo 8-2.
After early injury time, Mesenbrink started in the down position, earning a quick escape and a 1-0 lead. In the second, Caliendo secured a point with an escape to make it a 1-1 match. Mesenbrink added to his total with a takedown in the second, but a quick escape from Caliendo made it 4-2. To start the third, Mesenbrink made it 5-2 with an escape, and with less than ten seconds remaining, Mesenbrink secured a takedown. Mesenbrink wins his first national title for the Nittany Lions, ending a dominant season on top of the podium.
Mesenbrink is a 2023 U20 World Champion, and 2024 U23 World bronze medalist. Also on the Senior National Team, Mesenbrink is third at 74 kg in men’s freestyle.
Two-time national champion No. 1 Keegan O’Toole of Missouri battled No. 3 Dean Hamiti of Oklahoma State in the final at 174 pounds. Both of O’Toole’s championship titles were won at 165 pounds. A past Senior National Team member, O’Toole is also a two-time age-group World Champion. It was Hamiti that struck first, getting on the board with a point for an escape. O’Toole evened it with an escape in the third, then Hamiti got to the leg of O’Toole for a takedown. Missouri challenged the call, and it was reversed to remain 1-1. The match went to sudden victory overtime, and it was Hamiti with an overtime takedown to win his first NCAA title.
No. 2 Stephen Buchanan of Iowa won his first NCAA title with a 5-2 victory over No. 4 Josh Barr of Penn State. Barr took a 2-0 lead with an escape and a penalty called on Buchanan. Buchanan countered with a takedown, moving to a 3-2 lead in the second period. To start the third, Buchanan made it 4-2 with an escape.
2025 NCAA Div. I National Championships
At Philadelphia, Pa., March 22
Final Team Standings
1 Penn State, 177.0
2 Nebraska, 117.0
3 Oklahoma State, 102.5
4 Iowa, 81.0
5 Minnesota, 51.5
5 Ohio State, 51.5
7 Cornell, 50.0
8 NC State, 46.5
9 Northern Iowa, 45.5
10 Illinois, 44.5
11 Virginia Tech, 41.0
12 Michigan, 35.5
13 Purdue, 34.5
14 Missouri, 32.0
15 Lehigh, 29.0
16 Pennsylvania, 26.5
17 Little Rock, 22.5
18 Arizona State, 21.0
18 Stanford, 21.0
18 West Virginia, 21.0
21 Navy, 20.0
22 Wyoming, 19.5
23 South Dakota State, 19.0
24 Indiana, 18.5
24 Maryland, 18.5
24 Oregon State, 18.5
Championship Finals Results
125 pounds – No. 4 Vincent Robinson (NC State) won in tie breaker over No. 7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), TB-1 2-1
133 pounds – No. 1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) won in TB-2 by riding time over No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), TB-2 (RT) 3-2
141 pounds – No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. No. 1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 pounds – No. 2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) dec. No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
157 pounds – No. 3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec. No. 8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
165 pounds – No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. No. 3 Mike Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
174 pounds – No. 3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) won in sudden victory over No. 1 Keegan O`Toole (Missouri), SV-1 4-1
184 pounds – No. 1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-3
197 pounds – No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. No. 4 Josh Barr (Penn State), 5-2
285 pounds – No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota), 5-4
Full Results
125 pounds
1st – Vincent Robinson (NC State) won in tie breaker over Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), TB-1 2-1
3rd – Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) pin Matt Ramos (Purdue), 6:18
5th – Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) dec. Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh), 11-4
7th – Caleb Smith (Nebraska) maj. dec. Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado), 18-5
133 pounds
1st – Lucas Byrd (Illinois) won in TB-2 by riding time over Drake Ayala (Iowa), TB-2 (RT) 3-2
3rd – Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) dec. Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin), 7-3
5th – Braeden Davis (Penn State) pin Connor McGonagle (Virginia Tech), 2:33
7th – Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) dec. Tyler Knox (Stanford), 7-2
141 pounds
1st – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
3rd – Beau Bartlett (Penn State) maj. dec. CJ Composto (Pennsylvania), 11-2
5th – Cael Happel (Northern Iowa) dec. Josh Koderhandt (Navy), 7-2
7th – Jacob Frost (Iowa State) maj. dec. Vance VomBaur (Minnesota), 17-3
149 pounds
1st – Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) dec. Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
3rd – Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) maj. dec. Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State), 15-4
5th – Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina) dec. Ethan Stiles (Oregon State), 8-4
7th – Sammy Alvarez (Rider) won in sudden victory over Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State), SV-1 9-6
157 pounds
1st – Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec. Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
3rd – Tyler Kasak (Penn State) maj. dec. Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern), 8-0
5th – Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) maj. dec. Vinny Zerban (Northern Colorado), 11-0
7th – Matty Bianchi (Little Rock) dec. Caleb Fish (Oklahoma State), 4-2
165 pounds
1st – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. Mike Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
3rd – Peyton Hall (West Virginia) maj. dec. Christopher Minto (Nebraska), 13-5
5th – Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley) dec. Hunter Garvin (Stanford), 1-0
7th – Cam Steed (Missouri) pin Cameron Amine (Oklahoma State), 2:08
174 pounds
1st – Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) won in sudden victory over Keegan O`Toole (Missouri), SV-1 4-1
3rd – Levi Haines (Penn State) maj. dec. Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 11-3
5th – Simon Ruiz (Cornell) dec. Cade DeVos (South Dakota State), 2-1
7th – Matthew Singleton (NC State) dec. Danny Wask (Navy), 3-1
184 pounds
1st – Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-3
3rd – Max McEnelly (Minnesota) dec. Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State), 6-5
5th – Chris Foca (Cornell) dec. Jaxon Smith (Maryland), 7-4
7th – Silas Allred (Nebraska) dec. Donnell Washington (Indiana), 4-2
197 pounds
1st – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. Josh Barr (Penn State), 5-2
3rd – AJ Ferrari (CSU Bakersfield) dec. Jacob Cardenas (Michigan), 2-0
5th – Joseph Novak (Wyoming) maj. dec. Stephen Little (Little Rock), 8-0
7th – Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) maj. dec. Camden McDanel (Nebraska), 12-3
285 pounds
1st – Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) dec. Gable Steveson (Minnesota), 5-4
3rd – Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) dec. Isaac Trumble (NC State), 5-3
5th – Owen Trephan (Lehigh) med. forf. Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
7th – Joshua Heindselman (Michigan) dec. Ben Kueter (Iowa), 2-1
