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Penn State wins the 2026 NCAA DI men’s wrestling championships

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Penn State wins the 2026 NCAA DI men’s wrestling championships


285 pounds: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) and No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NC State) advance

No. 1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) over No. 4 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska), 15-7: Yonger Bastida takes an early shot against AJ Ferrari and converts for a takedown, but his coaches want near fall. Another shot from Bastida that nearly puts Ferrari on his back. This time he gets nearfall points and takes a 10-1 lead. Ferrari is helped on the mat by his trainers. Bastida chooses down to start the second period with a 10-2 lead. Ferrari is in on a shot, but he runs out of time in the period. Bastida will carry his 11-2 lead into the third. Ferrari chooses down to start the third period. The Cornhusker escapes. He trails 11-3. Takedown Ferrari. He still trails 11-6. Fourteen seconds. Bastida escapes. Takedown Bastida for good measure. The Cyclone is a national finalist with a 15-7 semifinal win. 

No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NC State) over No. 3 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan), 4-1: Ghadiali  is in on the first shot against NC State’s Trumble who finished fourth last year. No points. Scoreless first period. Ghadiali is on the board first with an escape to start the second period. Ghadiali’s point is the only point of the period. Trumble chooses down to start the third and final period. Ghadiali is warned for stalling. Ghadiali rides Trumble hard, but the Wolfpack veteran is out. Shot from Trumble. Ghadiali sprawls. Scrambling! Takedown Trumble. Both coaches threw bricks during that exchange. The call stands. Isaac Trumble is into the national finals! 

197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) and No. 7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State) advance

No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) over No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming), 14-3: Josh Barr is in a takedown right off the whistle, and he picks up a quick 3-0 lead. Reversal for Novak. The Cowboy has no quit in him. Escape Barr. The Nittany Lion leads 4-2. Takedown Barr. He leads 7-2 at the end of the first period. Novak chooses down to start the second period. He escapes, and Barr takes him down again. The Nittany Lion leads 10-3.  Barr does neutral in the third period and takes down Novak. He leads 13-3 with 2:30 of riding time. Barr is warned for stalling. Barr rides out Novak for the remainder of the third period, and he’s back in the national finals with a 14-3 win. 

No. 7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State) over No. 3 Stephen Little (Little Rock), 2-1: Scoreless first period. Merrill chooses down to start the second period and escapes quickly to put himself on the board first. Merrill’s escape is the lone point of the period. Little chooses down to start the third period. Let’s go to overtime. Little goes in on a shot and nearly gets the takedown. The officials review the call. No takedown. Time for tiebreakers. Little gets out in 24 seconds. Merrill chooses down. Little lets him up and goes for the takedown. He comes up just short. Cody Merrill is a national finalist. 

184 pounds: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) and No. 3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) advance

No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) over No. 5 Brock Mantanona (Michigan), 4-3: Scoreless after the first period. Mantanona chooses down to start the second. Mantanona escapes. Welsh in on a leg, but Mantanona scrambles away. Takedown Welsh. One minute to go. Rocco Welsh is a national finalist with a 4-3 victory!

No. 3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) over No. 7 Angelo Ferrari, 2-1 (TB-1): Scoreless first period. McEnelly chooses down to start the second period. McEnelly escapes. Ferrari chooses down to start the third. McEnelly’s escape is the only point on the board so far. Ferrari escapes. This one is tied 1-1 with 30 seconds to go. Riding time is not a factor. Let’s go to overtime. Scrambling in short time. Ferrari wants the challenge brick. He thinks he had the takedown. No takedown. Time for tiebreakers. McEnelly starts down. McEnelly is out in seven seconds. Ferrari chooses down to start his 30-second tie-breaker. He needs to get out in less than seven seconds. McEnelly holds him down. Ten seconds. Ferrari escapes, but he runs out of time. McEnelly is a national finalist!

174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) and No. 3 Chris Minto (Nebraska) advance

No. 3 Chris Minto (Nebraska) over No. 7 Cam Steed (Missouri), 5-1: Shot from Minto, and he’s on the board with a takedown in the first two minutes of the period. He finished fourth at 165 pounds last year and second in the Big Ten at 174 pounds this year. Minto chooses down to start the second period and escapes to extend his lead 4-0. Steed chooses down to start the third period. Chris Minto is a national finalist with a 5-1 win! 

No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) over No. 5 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 18-3 Levi Haines also puts himself on the board with a first-period takedown. He now leads 7-1 after Kennedy’s escape. Kennedy chooses down to start the third period. Kennedy escapes. Takedown Haines. He leads 10-3 and is looking for back points. He adds to his total, leading 17-3. He also has riding time which would give him the tech fall at the whistle. He rides out Kennedy for the bonus points. Haines is back in the national finals!

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165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) and No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) advance

No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) techs No. 12 Cesar Alvan (Columbia), 11-0: Takedown Mesenbrink. He’s looking for the fall. He takes near fall points instead and leads 11-0. He adds four more near fall points and earns the 15-0 tech fall. He’s back in the national finals. 

No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) over No. 2 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 8-5: Blaze picks up a takedown over Mikey Caliendo. He leads 3-2 with one minute to go in the second period. Takedown Caliendo. He takes the 5-4 lead. Purdue challenges the takedown. Call is upheld. Ninety seconds to go. Scrambling! This one is going to overtime 5-5. Takedown Caliendo! He is back in the national finals! Iowa’s finalist streak stays alive for another year! 

157 pounds: No. 5 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) and No. 2 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) advance

No. 5 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) over No. 1 PJ Duke (Penn State), 3-1: Scoreless first period. Robideau chooses down to start the second period. He escapes for the only point of the second period. Duke chooses down to start the third period. Duke escape, and this one is tied 1-1. Let’s go to overtime! Takedown Duke. Challenge Oklahoma State. No takedown. Robideau in on a dangerous shot. Duke wrestles on the edge. Ten seconds. Time for ride-outs! Robideau chooses down and picks up a two-point reversal. Duke chooses neutral. He has 30 seconds to get a takedown. Robideau is warned for stalling. The crowd does not approve. Robideau is going to the national finals! He tops formerly undefeated PJ Duke of Penn State 3-1. 

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No. 11 Ty Watters (West Virginia) vs. No. 2 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 4-2: Scorless first period. Taylor, the reigning champ at the weight, chooses down to start the period and escapes. Watters is on a shot, but no points. Watters chooses down to start the third period. He escapes. Takedown Taylor! Watters escapes. Taylor leads 4-2. He carries that lead through the final whistle, and he’s back in the finals. 

149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) & No. 10 Aden Valencia advance

No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) vs. No. 20 Chance Lamer (Nebraska), 22-1: Van Ness is on the board first with an early takedown. He’s looking for back points but settles for the three-point takedown. Lamer is hit for stalling. Van Ness ends the first period on top and carries his 3-0 lead into the second period. Van Ness escapes to start the second period and picks up another takedown. He leads 7-0. Escape Lamer. Takedown Van Ness. He picked up four nearfall points in the process and leads 14-1 with 26 seconds to go in the second period. Lamer chooses neutral to start the third period. Takedown and nearfall for Van Ness. He picks up the 22-1 win, and he’s a national finalist! 

No. 10 Aden Valencia (Stanford) over No. 11 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan), 9-5: Scoreless first period. McNeil escapes to start the second period. Takedown Valencia. He leads the All-American Wolverine 3-1 with short time in the second period. Valencia ends the period on top and chooses down to start the third period. He escapes for the 4-1 lead. Shot from Valencia. Takedown! He leads 7-1 and pushes riding time up over a minute. Takedown McNeil. Valencia leads 7-5 with 10 seconds to go. Aden Valencia is an NCAAA finalist with a 9-5 win. 

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141 pounds: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) and No. 2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) advance
 

No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) over No. 5 Luke Stanich (Lehigh), 4-1: Jesse Mendez continues his quest for another national title and a Hodge Trophy by going on offense right away with a shot against Stanich. The Mountain Hawk defends. Scoreless first period. Great defensive effort from Stanich. Mendez chooses down to start the second period and escapes.  Stanich chooses down to start the third period and escapes. This one is all tied up. One minute to go. Let’s go to overtime. Takedown Mendez. The Buckeye is back in the national finals!

No. 2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) over No. 3 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 5-4: Scoreless first period. Hardy chooses down to start the second period and escapes. He leads 1-0. Vega chooses neutral to start the third period. Takedown Vega. He leads 3-1. Reversal Hardy. This one is tied, but Hardy has been warned for stalling. Vega escapes and has the riding time advantage. Shot from Vega. Scrambling! Ten seconds. No takedown for Hardy, despite a tough effort. Vega takes the win 5-4. 

133 pounds: No. 1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) & No. 2 Ben Davino (Ohio State) advance

No. 1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) over No. 4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech), 14-3 Takedown Forrest. He’s on fire this tournament. This is exactly the barn-burner it was advertised to be. Forrest leads 3-0 after the first minute.Forrest chooses down to start the second period with a 3-1 lead. Forrest leads 5-1 with 30 seconds to go in the second period. Takedown Forrest. Make that 8-1 in favor of the Cowboy. Shot from Seidel. Forrest leads 11-1 with twenty seconds to go in the period. Ten seconds. Out of bounds. Jax Forrest is into the national finals with a 14-3 major decision win over Seidel! 

No. 2 Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs. No. 3 Marcus Blaze (Penn State), 3-2: Scorless first period. Such a clash of styles across the two mats in this semifinal, with this one showing off impressive defensive prowess. Blaze is in on a leg. Davino scrambles on the edge and rolls into a shot of his own. Out of bounds. This one is all tied up 1-1 with less than a minute to go in the third period. Thirty seconds. Overtime. Davino is in on a shot. The crowd wants a takedown call. No takedown. Let’s resume sudden victory! Now tie-breakers. Davino escapes in 21 seconds. He holds down Blaze for 30 seconds, and Ben Davino is a national finalist! This crowd loves him! Challenge call. Call upheld. Davino is a national finalist!

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledadhl (Penn State) & No. 10 Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton) advance

No. 1 Luke Lilledadhl (Penn State) vs. No. 5 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 8-3: Lightin’ Luke Lilledahl is living up to his nickname, and he picks up an early takedown against 2025 NCAA finalist Troy Spratley. Spratley escapes. Lilledahl leads 3-1. Another shot from Lilledahl. Spratley is scrambling. Lilledahl puts him on his back, but Spratley scrambles out of it. The Nittany Lions leads 8-1. Officials review the near fall points. Call is upheld. Escape Spratley. Lilledahl leads 8-3 with one minute to go in the second period. Lilledahl holds his lead through the third period and takes the win 8-3. He’s heading to the national finals!

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No. 10 Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton) over No. 14 Jacob Moran (Indiana), 4-1: Scoreless first period. McGowan chooses down to start the second period and escapes. He’s in on a leg. Out of bounds. Moran chooses down to start the third period. He trails 1-0. Moran escapes. This one is all tied up. Short time takedown from McGowan! He’s a finalist for the Princeton Tigers with a 4-1 win.  





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Cleveland, OH

WKYC Channel 3

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4 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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WKYC Channel 3
WKYC (Cleveland) is your source for breaking news, Northeast Ohio weather, traffic, and live coverage in Cleveland and across the region. Get the latest updates from the WKYC team — from major local headlines and investigations to severe weather, community stories, and the moments everyone’s talking about.
Watch live newscasts, stream breaking coverage, and catch up on the top stories shaping Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and surrounding communities.

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WKYC — Cleveland news and weather, live and on demand.

🔗 More: https://www.wkyc.com/



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Northeast Ohio drag performers speak out against HB 249

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16 hours ago

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March 26, 2026

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Northeast Ohio drag performers speak out against HB 249


CLEVELAND — For Kyle Burnett, drag is more than just a hobby, discovering the art form after falling into a deep depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burnett, who is nonbinary, has been living in Ohio for more than a decade and has performed as “Zoey Zegai” for five of those years. 

What You Need To Know

  • 2025 is considered one of the most dangerous years on record for LGBTQ+ Americans, according to GLAAD

  • The nonprofit reports that more than 930 anti-LGBTQ incidents were recorded last year, ranging from hate speech to threats and physical violence

  • Ohio is now one of several U.S. states at the center of political debate over LGBTQ rights

  • House Bill 249, widely referred to as the “drag ban,” is now heading to the Ohio Senate after passing in the House this week

“It was a tough time … I found drag not only as a way of entertainment, but embracing myself as a queer member of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Burnett, who uses he/they pronouns.

While Burnett has been met with substantial support, he said, he’s noticed a recent shift in societal attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community over the last year.

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“I had my purse and was wearing short shorts because Ohio gets hot in the summertime, and I had a beer bottle thrown at me from outside of someone’s car window,” Burnett said.

“Zoey Zegai,” which Burnett said, is influenced by old-school divas like Joan Crawford and newer divas like Jinkx Monsoons.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed during the 2026 legislative session nationwide.

One of these bills is HB 249, or the “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act,” which would restrict drag performances to adult entertainment venues. The policy also changes the definition of public indecency to include “performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s biological sex using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers.”

TransOhio Executive Director Dara Adkison said the bill uses broad language and could criminalize gender-diverse expression.

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“It’s really making a statute that law enforcement professionals get to enforce their personal ideas about what is and isn’t appropriate gender representation, what is and isn’t performance. You know, is it singing karaoke? Is it being and drag queen? I know, is it a trans person walking down?” said Adkison, who uses they/them pronouns.

While many Ohioans are expressing concerns about the bill targeting transgender people and drag performers, nonprofit Equality Ohio said, the legislation’s impact expands to athletes and countless others.

The bill revises a previous code banning the exposure of “private parts” to now ban the exposure of “private areas,” said Dwayne Steward, Executive Director of Equality Ohio.

“Because the language they use is so vague, it really can apply to anyone, really. The language has been shifted from ‘obscenity’ … someone showing their genitals … to anyone showing their ‘genital area’, which could mean anyone who’s wearing a sports bra, a cheerleader who may be showing their midriff. “

Supporters of HB 249 said the bill is meant to protect children, while others have said this argument reinforces a harmful narrative surrounding drag performances.

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“People, immediately when they see drag, they think that it is something that is sexual, something that is trying to indoctrinate children, to expose them to sexual content. And that’s not the case in any capacity,” Olivia Kowslowski.

Kowslowski is born and raised in northeast Ohio, now performing as “Monica Mod.”  

Kowslowski, who started first started performing drag in Jan. 2022.

“I think that my perspective is important because it just shows that the bill is harmful to many people, including people that they were not expecting to be impacted by this,” she said. “… Most people don’t realize that when I’m in drag, I am, I’m a cisgender woman.”

While she’s become well known around her college campus’ drag scene, Kowslowski said, she and other performers are facing additional barriers.

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“I have found that finding bookings is much more difficult because many venues are a lot more hesitant to host drag events at their spaces, or even support drag entertainers and their venues. Mainly from HB 249,” she said.

 

 

The Democratic Society of America’s Cleveland chapter recently announced it is launching a Gender Freedom Policy Petition that would go against “recent legislation calling to limit and ban drag performances,” calling it, “an injustice to not only the drag scene but also the broader Cleveland community.”

The petitions also includes provisions “that safeguard drag performers” and call for city-backed gender-affirming care services.

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HB 249 now remains under review by the Ohio Senate and would require the governor’s signature before going into effect.

While the future remains uncertain, Burnett said, he and others in the drag community are hoping to build wider solidarity across all Ohio populations.

“We’re all just trying to live the same day-to-day life, get groceries, pay bills, drive to-and-from work. But there’s no room for hate,” Burnett said. “There’s no room for violence. We just want to feel like Ohio citizens.”



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Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement From MLB Before Opening Day

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1 day ago

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March 26, 2026

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Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement From MLB Before Opening Day



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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 01: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs , hit a two-run RBI double during the first inning in Game Six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on November 1, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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On Thursday evening, the Cleveland Guardians will play their first game of the 2026 regular season when they visit the Mariners in Seattle.

Before Opening Day, a franchise legend announced that he is calling it quits on his baseball career.

Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement

GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 10: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning during a game at Progressive Field on April 10, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Roberto Perez (who last played in 2023) announced his retirement from baseball (h/t MLB Trade Rumors).

Perez wrote (via Instagram): “After much thought and reflection, I have decided to officially retire from baseball. This game has been a major part of my life and has shaped me both on and off the field. Through baseball, I’ve learned discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the importance of commitment. I am deeply grateful for every coach, teammate, trainer, and supporter who helped me along the way and believed in me throughout my journey. While this decision was not an easy one, I feel confident that it is the right time to step away and begin the next chapter of my life. I leave the game with nothing but respect and appreciation for everything it has given me. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this experience and for the opportunities, lessons, and memories that will stay with me forever. Sincerely, Roberto Bebo Perez🙏🏻⚾️”

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Perez’s MLB Career

GettyCHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 29: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians walks across the field in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game Four of the 2016 World Series at Wrigley Field on October 29, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Perez was picked in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

He spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Guardians.

In that span, the 37-year-old won two Gold Glove Awards (and helped the franchise reach the World Series).

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GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 31: Roberto Perez #55 and Brad Hand #33 of the Cleveland Indians hug at the mound after defeating the Minnesota Twins 6-2 at Target Field on July 31, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Perez also spent the final two seasons of his ten-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.

Over 516 career games, he batted .207 with 55 home runs, 193 RBI’s and 165 runs.

GettyNEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Roberto Perez #1 of the San Francisco Giants hits a single during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Current Guardians

GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians speaks with the media following game one of the American League Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The Guardians are coming off a season where they won the AL Central with an 88-74 record.

They lost to the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Round.

Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years. 

He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar

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