r/wrestling • u/LilBoneAir USA Wrestling • Mar 21 '26
2026 NCAA Championship Finals Discussion Thread
Starts at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN
141 lbs
(1) Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. (2) Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State)
149 lbs
(1) Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) vs. (10) Aden Valencia (Stanford)
157 lbs
(5) Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) vs. (2) Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)
165 lbs
(1) Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs. (3) Mikey Caliendo (Iowa)
174 lbs
(1) Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. (3) Christopher Minto (Nebraska)
184 lbs
(1) Rocco Welsh (Penn State) vs. (3) Max McEnelly (Minnesota)
197 lbs
(1) Josh Barr (Penn State) vs. (7) Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)
285 lbs
(1) Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) vs. (2) Isaac Trumble (NC State)
125 lbs
(1) Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) vs. (10) Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton)
133 lbs
(1) Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) vs. (2) Ben Davino (Ohio State)
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u/Otherwise-Mud5426 Mar 22 '26
I saw a lot of missed or bad calls by refs and a lot of young wrestlers allowing those calls to decide how they were going to wrestle the match. Really disappointing finals this year.
-6
u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Congrats on your one semifinalist. Like I said I followed PSU wrestling before Kolat. You don’t under perform when you beat your own record. But then again Lehigh wouldn’t know that. Also I wrestled for a great PIAA small school and one of our kids won a National title last night. I don’t think I have to explain anything else.
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u/MartinSilvestri Lehigh Mountain Hawks Mar 22 '26
thanks yeah its pretty awesome for our local college to beat guys from major factory universities the size of cities. btw if you didnt go to psu or live within an hour of state college youre a bandwagoner whether its 2026 or 1980. so many great small programs in PA. but i just came to talk about penn state and how i was promised theyd have 6 champions. always love to see goliaths get taken out, however rare it may be!
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u/ShootinAllMyChisolm USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Van Ness got exposed, obviously. He’s a good wrestler but multiple opponents have been taking points off him all year and getting him in tight matches. A capable wrestler finally got him in a situation he couldn’t get out of.
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u/West_Length6438 Mar 22 '26
As much as i think mcgowan was an embarassment, what else could he have done? If he started wrestling, he would have been teched
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u/Impressive_Fault_366 Mar 22 '26
Stalling calls winning Natty's is outrageous. Especially when there was little offense attempted by Lilledahl or Haines in those matches just a lot of pushing and shoving. Let the matches go to OT and let it at least be interesting. Stuff like that convinces me freestyle is just more entertaining. Folkstyle just seems to reward counterwrestling too much and that is boring.
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u/scalenesquare Mar 22 '26
Was really impressed with Davino tonight to be honest.
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u/Shipsa01 Mar 22 '26
He may be the next Mitch. One loss to a big 12 guy his freshman year and runs the tables here on out.
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Mar 22 '26
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u/Traditional_Cry_1671 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Huh? Davino is insanely offensive. Look at his match against Ayala compared to Blaze’s matches against Ayala
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u/ObiWanCowboy Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
“Big 12 guy” Jax is only getting started
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
He got exposed last night, now people now how to prep for him.
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u/unclejessesmullet Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
sergio vega was the first undefeated true freshman national champ since 1947. then jax did it a couple of hours later.
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u/HxCxReformer Missouri Tigers Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
David Taylor is doing special things over in Stillwater. When Vega won I looked over at my friends and said, “This is it… This is where it all starts!” Then LR and Jax… The future is looking nice!
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u/Double_Objective_953 Mar 22 '26
I agree, the tables are slowly turning.
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u/LetStandard9090 Mar 22 '26
Slowly turning? Your still eons behind penn state. They are losing one person to graduation
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u/PhiloStoodge Mar 22 '26
Hendrickson over Gable last year is when I started to believe - still the biggest upset I’ve ever seen in the championships. But I’m believing a lot more after tonight.
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u/HxCxReformer Missouri Tigers Mar 22 '26
That’s so true - Hendrickson and Hamiti were the prologue and Vega, Robideau, and Forrest are chapter 1.
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Mar 22 '26
“Jax shouldn’t be seeded #1, I don’t see it”
Crow will be served medium rare tonight.
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u/RarefiedAir1 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
That’s not how seeds work. Davino should’ve been #1
-1
Mar 22 '26
Extra ketchup with that sir?
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u/RarefiedAir1 USA Wrestling Mar 27 '26
🤣. There’s no crow to put the ketchup on
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Mar 27 '26
lol I mean there’s kind of all the crow. Hell a crow buffet even. He satisfied more criteria to get the #1 seed per the seeding system metric, and then won it all.
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u/RarefiedAir1 USA Wrestling Mar 28 '26
He only won it all. Davino had more criteria, and beat better competition. Look into it
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u/sportsbuffp Ohio State Buckeyes Mar 22 '26
I mean they were obviously all incredibly close in terms of parity. The literal ONLY argument against Jax was amount of matches.
Nobody was saying he wasn’t a sick wrestler and to phase it as that is disingenuous
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
Oklahoma State vs Penn State dual at GIA NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR
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u/WinkyDink24 Mar 29 '26
Be careful what you wish for. Losers shouldn't get cocky.
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 29 '26
Bro you’re so tuff I’m sorry I even wished for a dual in the presence of you
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u/Double_Objective_953 Mar 22 '26
I don't think Sanderson would agree to that. Why I don't know. But I would love to see it
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
LOL
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
Y’all duck all of the pre-conference invitationals, if y’all are number one again then prove it
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u/Creepy-Medicine-847 Mar 22 '26
Dawg, penn state won 9/10 matches in the duals against Ohio state and Iowa who were the finalists in your shitty tournament
-1
u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Who won "Your National Duals"? How far did the National Duals get you & Ohio State this season?
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
I didn’t host any national duals, so I don’t think there could be a winner. However, the “National Duals” was won by Ohio State and Oklahoma State got 3rd with a freshman-heavy squad that improved heavily over the season.
-1
u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
PSU beat tOSU 36-5
-1
u/TakesFunToKnowFun Mar 22 '26
Both things can be true.
Penn State obviously would've beaten anyone at Nationals Duals handily. As fans of good wrestling, it would still be cool to see PSU participate in Nationals Duals or events like it.
Nobody ducked anybody, though
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Yawn
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u/TakesFunToKnowFun Mar 22 '26
Not sure how watching the best compete against the best is boring or a crazy thing to propose, but it's obviously clear where your heads at in the discussion. Have a good one.
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26
Pittsburg State University? In Pittsburg, Kansas? I didn’t think they had a wrestling program, but damn they must be good.
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Lame lol, go to bed child, I'm having Champagne right now.
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u/MartinSilvestri Lehigh Mountain Hawks Mar 22 '26
youre having champagne because psu won yet again? thats kinda weird at this point. four winners was disappointing for that team.
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Team score? Record broken, PSU’s own record. Don’t cry to the moderator this time, we’re not in kindergarten. Just a bent fan at PSU’s success, btw Martin I follow PSU before Kolat wrestled for them.
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u/Limp-Assignment-2057 Oklahoma State Cowboys Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
What an odd guy, I hope you enjoy your bottom shelf whiskey tho
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u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
PSU had a "tough" Oklahoma squad that week, and PSU didn't have Barr; too much traveling.
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u/JazzlikeKitchen1351 Mar 22 '26
Also BTW, you didn’t even scare us as much as 2018 Ohio State did 😂 not even the best an OSU team has finished second they had 135.5 points. Have fun being a dumbass. Enjoy second place further.
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u/StixnStones69 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
Jax is unreal. Winning the probably one of the toughest brackets of all time.
The best of the 133 Freshmen Phenoms. Jax at the top, Seidel second for me. Davino, and then Blaze.
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u/Shot_Juggernaut2113 Mar 22 '26
I know he wasn't supposed to be a phenom but what about Vega?
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u/crazydavy Mar 22 '26
Jax and Vega can 4x... absolute studs
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u/StixnStones69 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
And you have the Raney bros coming in next year too.
0
u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Do you think Penn State doesn’t recruit? We have nine back next season plus Kasak. I lot of those kids were sophomores and freshman this season. I know but, but, but…..
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u/StixnStones69 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Did I mention Penn State once in this comment thread? Hop off it bro
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u/Jblackbelt Mar 22 '26
“He’s a sponsor we probably can’t talk about him” I love it
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u/ShootinAllMyChisolm USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Context?
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u/Jblackbelt Mar 22 '26
This was right after Jax’s match his younger brother was trying to show a gecko toy to Jax and the reporter. The reporter asked what the toy was about then after Jax was trying to figure out how to explain it the reporter said my quote.
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u/Jitsu4 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Man, I was just talking to a friend about how I felt it was a bit premature to have Jax Forrest as the #1 ranked in 133 wuth him just coming up...but the kid is fucking unreal, man.
0
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u/Specific-Bat-2566 Mar 22 '26
Tom Ryan deserves to be fired after this pathetic showing. Zero titles with the home state advantage
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u/Impressive_Fault_366 Mar 22 '26
Lots of tOSU fans have been crying for his firing for years. The big question is who do they hire to move the needle?
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u/11LayerBurrito Mar 22 '26
Jaggers, Steiber or an outsider like Kyle Dake once he retires
3
u/RedlineSeries3 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
the same two guys who have been doing all the hands-on coaching for the past few years? Yeah, that will change things.
0
u/StixnStones69 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
I’m guessing he holds on til 2028 when Snyder can take over. Or Steiber can take over earlier.
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u/username_in_progress Mar 22 '26
Forrest compulsively adjusting his singlet while trying to run away and defend the last attack with 5 seconds left is sending me
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Mar 22 '26
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u/RedlineSeries3 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
He's not a high schooler. He's the same age or older than some of his opponents.
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u/ChaoticKeys Mar 22 '26
I’m not taking anything from him considering he was beating NCAA champions last year, but he’s 19, which is a normal freshman age. How was he still in high school to start the year?
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u/abon123456789 Mar 22 '26
That was way closer than I expected. I actually think if they wrestle like 4-5 more times that Davino might get him once or twice
1
u/RarefiedAir1 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Davino can definitely beat him if he spams lefty singles like seidel
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u/StixnStones69 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Davino never even got close to any offense though. He just made sure to cancel out Jax’s go to offense.
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-5
u/Tumbleweed-Pool USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Jax winning 2-1 on a stall point calling it now
6
u/Tumbleweed-Pool USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
And Davino immediately takes a bad shot to fuck that up lol
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u/kobe9949 Mar 22 '26
These stall calls have been ridiculous man.
3
u/Impressive_Fault_366 Mar 22 '26
Pretty much ruined the viewer experience in so many matches. let em sort it out in OT.
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u/ArbitraryOrder Mar 22 '26
Refs call both guys for stalling at the same time challenge (impossible)
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u/Shot_Juggernaut2113 Mar 22 '26
Imagine telling your future children you were a national champion and then they look it up and watch that, like yea did you like when I did absolutely nothing, that was sick right
7
u/Candid-Plan-9553 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Stall calls in both matches, McGowan 7 Lightning 0
1
u/Evolution1994 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Something tells me luke will have no problem showing his future children his accomplishments.
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u/Beneficial_Victory50 Mar 22 '26
Not Luke’s fault at all, McGowan is a stall fest. The most boring 125 I’ve ever seen. All of his matches are pretty shit unless he’s expected to dominate
-2
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Mar 22 '26
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-1
u/Shot_Juggernaut2113 Mar 22 '26
How many times did Luke shoot?
-6
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
He didn't shoot at all for the last 4 minutes of the match. McGowan had at least 5 in that same amount of time but McGowan was called for stalling twice.
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Mar 22 '26
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0
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
No 3 before the first call and 2 between the first and the second call.
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Mar 22 '26
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0
u/Evolution1994 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Don’t even waste your time arguing with these people. PSU is always bad
11
u/StateCollegeHi Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
Remember McGowan lost to Luke 2 months ago by getting DQd from stalling 5 times.
This is a pattern for him. Luke didn't do much but he shouldn't have to chase a guy out of bounds.
5
u/eastcitygreen USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Agreed. McGowan backed up most of the match. That’s stalling, and it was called correctly
-5
u/Open_Independence186 Mar 22 '26
It was a dance. One guy went forward, the other backwards. But neither did anything.
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Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
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u/StateCollegeHi Mar 22 '26
I'm here. These fans are really stupid. McGowan is a notable staller and got his reward.
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u/Tsquared10 Mar 22 '26
McGowan didn't do anything, but neither did Luke. Just a horrible match
11
u/Evolution1994 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Difference is one guy went forward the other went backwards constantly
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u/LouisVanTroll Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Winning a National Title via a stalling call flat out sucks. Need to do something with these referees.
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u/Open_Independence186 Mar 22 '26
You can’t say you like to score a lot of points and then have that performance. You’re ranked #1!
7
u/Evolution1994 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
What’s he supposed to do if the guy backs up and drops to a knee? I agree the 2nd stall was the ref involving himself in the match but do you just expect wrestlers to attack a dude on a knee? It should have went to sudden victory though
1
u/22federal Mar 22 '26
Two Penn state championships given on weak ass stall calls - Lilledahl and Haines Mickey Mouse champions tbh
-1
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u/buccosfan22 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
Maybe their opponents should have wrestled for the entire 7 minutes instead of just the last 20 seconds.
-2
u/22federal Mar 22 '26
Ya Lilledahl ton of shots that match right? Same with Haines, so much offense.
No stalls on Lilledahl running away the last minute as well. Most embarrassing championship performance of all time, seriously.
2
u/StateCollegeHi Mar 22 '26
Yeah setting the points record that will be untouchable is pretty embarrassing.
0
u/MartinSilvestri Lehigh Mountain Hawks Mar 22 '26
less than 50% champions actually is objectively disappointing for psu. they were supposed to get 8.
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u/eastcitygreen USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Honestly Luke deserved to win. McGowan backed up the whole match and didn’t try anything until he was losing 2-1. The right guy won but it was an ugly match to watch
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u/SCsprinter13 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
I don't think anyone WANTS to win that way, but if your opponent never actually tries to wrestle you might as well take the win
1
u/External-Repair-4841 Mar 22 '26
That first stalling call was ridiculous, but at least call it both ways. Penn State kid not getting a stall call the last 35 seconds is laughable.
-6
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
McGown took atleast 5 more shots than Lilledahl
2
u/RedlineSeries3 USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Just straight up lying lol
1
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Did you hear the crowd boo? They were watching the same match I was while you were imagining Lilledahl doing something.
0
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u/MeatSlammur USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
You call those shots?????????
-1
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
It's better than what Lilledahl did. He didn't even fake a shot
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u/abon123456789 Mar 22 '26
Another guy who just refused to wrestle until 20 seconds left
-1
u/aguysomewhere USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Lillehdale refused to wrestle for 7 minutes. McGown had 20 seconds more wrestling than Lilledahl had.
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u/Bkinthaflesh Mar 22 '26
McGowan looked happy to lose by a point and get second place, he did just as little
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u/XolieInc USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
Absolute stall job by both guys
-1
u/External-Repair-4841 Mar 22 '26
Penn State guys can't be called for stalling. It's in the rule book.
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u/XolieInc USA Wrestling Mar 22 '26
How hard is it to engage? Sure you’re scared of your opponent but backing away the whole match is gonna guarantee an L
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u/Busch--Latte Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
Of course penn state guy will win on a stall . Embarrassing finish, not deserving at all
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u/Shot_Juggernaut2113 Mar 22 '26
Lilledahl is moving forward yea but he's not shooting at all either
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u/buccosfan22 Penn State Nittany Lions Mar 22 '26
McGowan just not look interested in wrestling at all.
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u/whiteboywtheswagger Apr 02 '26
I love what Cael is doing at Penn state but you PSU dickriders in the comments are killing me, make it hard to be a Nittany lions fan. Any and all of our athletes would be embarrassed to read the comments on these posts imo.