Longest Winning Streaks Going Into The 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Longest Winning Streaks Going Into The 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships
The wrestlers with the longest winning streaks in the country heading into the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships.
It’s almost time for the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Tournament! Over the past year (or more) a number of the top wrestlers have compiled impressive winning streaks that they’ll put on the line in Tulsa. Check out the below article for a breakdown of the top 10 longest-winning streaks heading into this year’s NCAA Championships.
10) Pat Glory, Princeton - 20
Last Loss: March 19, 2022 - NCAA Championships to Nick Suriano (Michigan), 5-3
Since the beginning 2019-2020 season, Pat Glory has compiled an incredible 64-2 record with his only two losses coming last year to Nick Suriano (in the NCAA finals) and Vito Arujau (in the EIWA finals). Glory has been very public about the amount of weight he cuts in order to make 125 and there were legitimate questions mid-season if Glory would move up to 133. In fact, Glory wrestled 4 of his 20 matches on the season at 133 before moving down for good at the beginning of February. Glory has established himself as the clear #2 at 125 and will be the biggest threat to knock off Spencer Lee and keep him from his historic 4th NCAA Title.
Pat Glory’s win over All-American Brandon Kaylor:
9) Levi Haines, Penn State - 21
Last Loss: November 13, 2022 - Bearcat Open to Vincent Zerban (Northern Colorado), 8-6 (SV-1)
Who would have guessed Levi Haines would rattle off 21 straight wins after losing to Vinny Zerban on the second weekend of the season? Since that loss, Haines has done nothing but improve and record impressive wins over past All-Americans and highly-ranked wrestlers. Along with his recent Big 10 title, Haines has wins over #3 Peyton Robb, #8 Will Lewan, #13 Kendall Coleman, #14 Cobe Siebrecht, #17 Derek Gilcher, #18 Garrett Model, #20 Paddy Gallagher, and #24 Corbyn Munson. Haines has put together one of the best seasons by a true freshman in recent memory and is a legitimate title contender to take home the 157-pound crown.
Levi Haines after winning Big 10s:
8) Jared Franek, NDSU - 22
Last Loss: November 4, 2022 - Dual against Nebraska to Peyton Robb (Nebraska), 7-4
After losing his opening match of the season to Peyton Robb, Franek has recorded 22 straight wins highlighted by first-place finishes at the Southern Scuffle and Big 12 tournament. Franek also has wins on the season over #10 Kaden Gfeller, #13 Kendall Coleman, #15 Jacob Wright, #16 Jarrett Jacques, and HM Vince Zerban (three times). After 2 straight finishes in the round of 12, Franek will be looking to punch through in Tulsa for his first All-American finish.
Jared Franek’s win over Kendall Coleman at the 2023 Southern Scuffle:
7) Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado - 23
Last Loss: March 18, 2022 - NCAA Championships to Jake Bergeland (Minnesota), FALL (3:45)
Not only is Andrew Alirez looking to get on the podium for the first time, but he’s also a big favorite to walk away with the 141-pound NCAA title in Tulsa. Alirez has been incredible this year with ranked wins over #8 Allan Hart (twice), #12 Carter Young (twice), #13 Clay Carlson, HM Jordan Titus (twice), and HM Job Greenwood. Beyond those wins, Alirez has been dominant this season with 18 of his 23 wins coming by bonus points - 6 pins, 5 techs, and 7 major decisions. In order to reach the finals, Alirez will likely have to take out Cole Matthews or Beau Bartlett in the semis before a showdown with fellow undefeated wrestler Real Woods in the finals.
Andrew Alirez after winning Big 12s:
6) Daton Fix, Oklahoma State - 26
Last Loss: March 19, 2022 - NCAA Championships to Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State), 3-2
In both 2021 and 2022, Daton Fix’s only losses have come in the NCAA finals to Roman Bravo-Young. Other than those 2 matches, Fix has been flawless with wins over Austin DeSanto, Chris Cannon, Michael McGee, Dylan Ragusin, and a host of other ranked wrestlers. After finishing second 3 times, Fix will look to finally win his first title this season but will likely have to take out Vito Arujau in the semis before another potential final against RBY.
Daton Fix shares his thoughts on another match with RBY:
5) David Carr, Iowa State - 28
Last Loss: March 17, 2022 NCAA Championships to Hunter Willits (Oregon State), 2-1 (TB-1)
David Carr has absolutely cleared out the 165-pound division in his first year wrestling at the weight. Check out his wins this year over ranked wrestlers in the field - #2 Keegan O’Toole (twice), #3 Julian Ramirez, #4 Quincy Monday, #5 Dean Hamiti, #7 Patrick Kennedy, #10 Matthew Olguin, #12 Peyton Hall (twice), #13 Alex Facundo, #17 Austin Yant (twice), #18 Gerrit Nijenhuis, #21 Cole Moody, #23 Wyatt Sheets, and HM Holden Heller. Carr is 22-0 on the year - 16 of his wins are against ranked wrestlers with 7 coming against top 10 opponents! Carr will likely have to defeat reigning national champion Keegan O’Toole for the third time this year and if he does that - this will go down as one of the most impressive seasons of all time.
David Carr after his Big 12 title and second straight win over Keegan O’Toole:
4) Mason Parris, Michigan - 29
Last Loss: March 19, 2022 - NCAA Championships to Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State), 6-1
Mason Parris has been a man on a mission this season looking to win his first NCAA title in the final season of his career. Along with amassing an undefeated record and earning the #1 seed, Parris has tallied victories over #2 Greg Kerkvliet (twice), #3 Tony Cassioppi, #4 Wyatt Hendrickson, #7 Lucas Davison, #9 Owen Trephan, and #10 Trent Hillger (twice) - that’s 8 wins over top 10 opponents! Parris will likely have to defeat either Cohlton Schultz (who defeated Parris at last year's NCAAs) or Tony Cassioppi in the semi-finals before a potential match with either Greg Kerkvliet or Wyatt Hendrickson for the national title.
Mason Parris’ win in the 2022 CKLV finals over Lucas Davison:
3) Carter Starocci, Penn State - 47
Last Loss: March 6, 2021 - Big Ten Championships to Michael Kemerer (Iowa), 7-2
Carter Starocci is a 2-time NCAA Champion with his last loss coming against Michael Kemerer in the 2021 Big Ten finals. Starocci has since avenged that loss three times over Kemerer and has an incredible hitlist during this streak. Take a look at the list of All-Americans Starocci has defeated since his last loss - Demetrius Romero, Logan Massa (twice), Mikey Labriola (twice), Hayden Hidlay, Mekhi Lewis (twice if you count the All-Star), and Ethan Smith. Starocci is a big favorite to win his third-straight NCAA title and will likely have to defeat a familiar foe in the finals in either Mekhi Lewis or Mikey Labriola.
Carter Starocci talks about Penn State’s March Magic:
2) Roman Bravo-Young, Penn State - 52
Last Loss: March 7, 2020, Big Ten Championships to Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern), 7-2
Not only does RBY bring a 52-match-winning streak into his final NCAA Tournament. What’s more impressive is who he has defeated during that streak. Since March of 2020, RBY has 4 wins over Austin DeSanto, 2 over Daton Fix, and 6 other wins over former All-Americans. Bravo-Young will likely have to get by Fix one more time to end his career as a 3-time NCAA champion.
Roman Bravo-Young's win over Daton Fix in the 2022 NCAA finals:
1) Spencer Lee, Iowa - 55
Last Loss: March 9, 2019, Big Ten Championships to Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern), 6-4 SV1
Spencer Lee will make his return to NCAAs for the first time since 2021 on his quest to become a 4-time NCAA champion. Lee’s torn ACLs have been the focus of the wrestling community over the past 3 years but that only adds to how impressive he’s been on the mat. Despite injury, Lee has an over 80% career bonus rate and hasn’t lost in 4 years. This season, Lee is 17-0 with 15 wins coming by bonus points - 8 pins, 4 techs, and 3 major decisions. All eyes will be on Lee in Tulsa as he attempts to make history for the Hawkeyes.
Spencer Lee's win over Brandon Courtney in the 2021 NCAA finals:
Check out the wrestlers with winning streaks just outside of the top 10:
- 18 - Austin O’Connor (North Carolina), Anthony Noto (Lock Haven)
- 17 - Chris Foca (Cornell)
- 16 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt), Josh Humphreys (Lehigh), Real Woods (Iowa), Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell)