New Headline: "Wrestling Legend Steps Up to Challenge for 2026 NCAAWrestling Crown with Unmatched Strength

The 125-pound bracket at the NCAA Wrestling Championships is often one of the most competitive at the tournament. There’s usually plenty of freshmen in the field to go along with other wrestlers who have taken steps up or have placed before. This year, there are plenty of local contenders including second-seeded two-time All-American Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech, former Rutgers wrestler and eighth-seeded Iowa senior Dean Peterson, 10th-seeded Princeton sophomore Marc-Anthony McGowan and Rider’s 11th-seeded senior Tyler Klinsky , who could all be on the podium or even on the top.

2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships When : March 19-21 Where : Rocket Arena, Cleveland TV : ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU Streaming : ESPN+ Schedule Thursday, March 20 Session 1 (pigtails and first-round competition), noon (ESPN2 and ESPN+); Session 2 (Second round and wrestleback first round), 7 p. m. (ESPN and ESPN+) Friday, March 21 : Session 3 (quarterfinals, wrestleback second and third rounds), noon (ESPNU and ESPN+); Session 4 (Semifinals, blood round and wrestleback fifth round), 8 p.

m. (ESPN2 and ESPN+) Saturday, March 22 : Session 5 (Wrestlenback semifinals and medal rounds), 11 a. m.

(ESPNU and ESPN+); Session 6 (National finals), 6:30 p. m. (ESPN and ESPN+) Reigning team champion : Penn State Returning champions (this year’s weight in parentheses) : Vincent Robinson, North Carolina State (125); Lucas Byrd, Illinois (133); **Jesse Mendez, Ohio State (141); Antrell Taylor, Nebraska (157); Mitchell Messenbrink (165); Levi Haines, Penn State (174); AJ Ferrari, Nebraska (285).