Live Updates: NCAA DI Men’s Wrestling Championships Finals
Share:
by Brian Reinhardt
Max McEnelly (Minnesota) celebrates his win in the 184-pound semifinals at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
The NCAA Finals begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET), starting at 141 pounds. Tune in live on ESPN.
7:13 PM - Second straight OT battle, second straight freshman to win a national title, second straight upset to start the night! Up at 149 pounds all tied up 5-5 after 7 minutes, #10 seed Aden Valencia of Stanford secured a takedown 32 seconds in extra time and took out the top seeded Van Ness from Penn State, 8-5. Valencia becomes the third national champion from Stanford and avenges an earlier 10-4 loss to Van Ness.
6:48 PM - The first champion is crowned, true freshman Sergio Vega from Oklahoma State at 141 pounds. The bout went to extra time tied 1-1, and Vega countered a shot by two-time defending champion Jesse Mendez of Ohio State and secured the takedown with 23 seconds left. Vega caps off an undefeated season without giving up a takedown the entire year.
2026 Championship Results
125 Pounds
#1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) vs. #10 Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton)
133 Pounds
#1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) vs. #2 Ben Davino (Ohio State)
141 Pounds
#2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) dec. #1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State); 4-1 (SV1)
149 Pounds
#10 Aden Valencia (Stanford) dec. #1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State); 8-5 (SV1)
157 Pounds
#5 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) vs. #2 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)
165 Pound
#1 Mitchell Messenbrink (Penn State) vs. #3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa)
174 Pounds
#1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. #3 Christopher Minto (Nebraska)
184 Pounds
#1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) vs.#3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota)
197 Pounds
#1 Josh Barr (Penn State) vs. #7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)
285 Pounds
#1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) vs. #2 Isaac Trumble (NC State)
