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NCAA D1 Weekly Roundup: 2024-25

NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 3 Roundup: Star War

NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 3 Roundup: Star War

The world's finest collection of noteworthy happenings from the 3rd week of the 2023-24 NCAA D1 wrestling season.

Nov 18, 2024 by Andrew Spey
NCAA D1 Wrestling Week 3 Roundup: Star War

We've completed week three of the 2024-25 NCAA D1 wrestling season. We are rapidly approaching Thanksgiving and the holidays and then it's all downhill from there until NCAAs! 

Oh, so you think it's crazy to talk about Nationals in March? Well it's not! Blink and we'll be in Philadelphia. Just you wait and see!

Box Scores | Rankings | Last Week's Roundup

The highlight of the week was the NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Nike, which went down in Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State University. The gymnasium was packed with stars who were at war with each other. Indeed, it was a veritable Star War. 

But a full week of wrestling occurred and we will recap it all, not just the All-Star Classic. So let's get to it! 

We’ll start the week as we did last week, with the Dual of the Century of the Week, because this is a pro-dual blog. Duals are the lifeblood of college wrestling. No duals, no season. No season, no fans. No fans, no new wrestlers, and the sport is forever diminished. 

The Dual of the Century, of the Week

Hokies Harpoon The Tigers In A Top Ten Team Matchup

Though they are both Power 5 programs, with Missouri being in the SEC (and in the Big 12 for wrestling) and Virginia Tech being in the ACC, neither are prototypical top 10 teams. 

Sure, you'll find plenty of D1 wrestlers with roots in Missouri and Virginia, but neither are fertile recruiting territories like the Northeast or Midwest, which is why it's nice, at least from my perspective, to see both teams thrive in today's college wrestling environment. 

The Hokies and Tigers regularly compete for team trophies, and their respective head coaches, Tony Robie at VT and Brian Smith at Mizzou, deserve to be feted for their feats. 

And when those two programs collide in an early season dual while both in the top ten of the NWCA coaches' poll with a total of 17 nationally ranked wrestlers taking the mat? *chef's kiss*

Below is the box score: 

#8 Virginia Tech 23, #9 Missouri 10

125: #13 Eddie Ventresca (VT) over Gage Walker (Mizzou) Dec 6-5

133: #14 Connor McGonagle (VT) over #31 Kade Moore (Mizzou) Dec 3-0

141: #22 Sam Latona (VT) over #11 Josh Edmond (Mizzou) Dec 4-2

149: #1 Caleb Henson (VT) over #15 Logan Gioffre (Mizzou) MD 9-0

157: #22 Rafael Hipolito (VT) over #31 James Conway (Mizzou) MD 11-3

165: #14 Cameron Steed (Mizzou) over Mac Church (VT) Dec 8-1

174: #1 Keegan O'Toole (Mizzou) over #7 Lennox Wolak (VT) MD 13-5

184: #11 Colton Hawks (Mizzou) over #5 TJ Stewart (VT) Dec 8-2

197: #11 Andy Smith (VT) over Aeoden Sinclair (Mizzou) Dec 12-9

285: #15 Jim Mullen (VT) over #18 Seth Nitzel (Mizzou) Dec 4-2

Two numbers ones took the mat! If you missed this one, go watch the replay on ESPN+! Though you'll need a cable subscription, just FYI. 

It's too early to read too much into these results, but Hokies fans have to like seeing Latona defeat Edmond. Conversely, Tiger fans will be pleased by Hawks' victory over Stewart. 

Either way, kudos to both teams for putting this dual on their schedules. 

The Match of the Century, of the Week

You Already Know: Starocci vs Keckeisen

I'm sure this bout will be discussed on FRL and elsewhere. We hyped it as the biggest match since Taylor vs Dake and I stand by it. it's worth keeping in mind that this was an NWCA All-Star bout, so technically an exhibition, and when compared to other All-Star bouts I think it's unquestionably the biggest ASC bout since DT vs Dake. 

It should not be compared to DT vs Dake at the 2013 NCAAs. We can wait until they meet in the NCAA finals for that.  

Anyway, watch the whole match again, why not? 

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How about that sudden victory takedown by Starocci? What a beast. I very much look forward to watching both of these competitors wrestle the rest of the season in their final year of eligibility.

The Move of the Century, of the Week

Endene's Wrist Snap from Hell

Are wrist snaps the new super ducks? Many people are saying so. More and more every day. 

Endene wrestles for Division III Wartburg College and put on quite the performance in the second annual DII vs DIII matchup at the All-Star Classic. So far DIII is 2-0! As a proud DIII alumnus myself, this swells my heart with pride (go Gennies!)

And yeah, this is an NCAA D1 blog. So what we can still mention a DIII wrestler every now and then it's no biggie.

Other Things Happened

Like the NWCA All-Star Classic, Duh

This was the best All-Star Classic I have ever been to in my life. I've only ever been to one other and it was before I started working at Flo, but still, I stand by my statement. 

In all seriousness, this really was a tremendous experience and I am very thankful for everyone who made it happen, especially the athletes for putting it on the line and also the fans, who made the environment in Rec Hall so electric. 

It was a blast from start to finish. A lot of work went into it but that's what it makes it so much more satisfying when things go smoothly. 

And of course, the wrestling whipped heinie. 

  • Starocci won the headliner and added yet another NCAA champion to his hit list. 
  • Taye Ghadiali had the upset of the evening with his win over #3 Nick Feldman.
  • Jesse Mendez showed why he has his sights set on a Hodge with his second consecutive win over Beau Bartlett (though he'll have Alirez to contend with as well). 
  • Tyler Kasak and Levi Haines showed that bumping up in weight is not going to be a problem. 
  • And Shayne Van Ness showed he is going to be a problem for 149 after he demolished the very solid Ty Watters 16-4. 
  • And you have to give props to the five women's matches for putting on a show. 
    • Two McBryde sisters won matches for Life University and Kendra Ryan and Amani Jones made it two-for-two for North Central College. Victoria Baez-Dilone won the other match representing King University. 
  • Here's my favorite highlight from the women's freestyle matches, courtesy of Jamilah McBryde. 

The Magic Man Era of Oklahoma State Wrestling Continues

  • The first Cowboy win with David Taylor at the helm occurred Friday in a 38-6 win over Utah Valley.
  • The second win of David Taylor's head coaching career happened Sunday, live on Flo, with a win over Oregon State 36-3.
    • The Beavers did get a nice win by Ethan Stiles, their 157-pounder.

Utah Valley and Bellarmine Set Attendance Records

  • Speaking of Utah Valley and new head coaches, Adam Hall may not have gotten a win in the first home dual of his head coaching career, but he did set an attendance record!

Bellarmine Also Set An Attendance Record!

  • Kudos to head coach Ned Shuck for both his excellent taste in music festivals and for the incredible strides he's made in advancing both Bellarmine's wrestling program and the wrestling culture of the Louisville metro area! 

Gable Steveson Is Back!

  • He's got one more year of college eligibility and he'll be competing for the Gophers this season!
    • His career has 3rd, Covid, 1st, 1st, redshirt, Olympic redshirt
    • He's also a two-time NCAA champ, a two-time Hodge Trophy winner, and an Olympic gold medalist! Pretty good!
  • I enjoyed Michael Kemerer's take on the news
  • Kemerer was on the receiving end of many such comments when he announced his return to competition in his seventh year in Iowa City. He has a good sense of humor imo.

Marcus Blaze Committed To Penn State

  • One of the last remaining blue chips from the Class of 2025 Big Board is off the table!
  • I'm guessing, though, that you may have already heard?

Sammy Sasso Is Back!

  • It's been over a year since Slammin Sammy was last on the mat. In the interim he suffered a gun shot wound. Now the three-time All-American and two-time finalist Sammy Sasso is back in action in Columbus!
  • You simply love to see it.

More Things Happen

  • Myles Takats watch: the true sophomore from Bucknell is 4-0 on the season, having recently beaten Minnesota's #11 Clayton Whiting 11-9. Takats, a graduate of Northwest Ohio's Perrysburg High School, qualified for the NCAAs last season as a freshman and could be poised for a breakout season in 2025. 
  • NC State won two matches at the Journeymen Jersey Jostle in Toms River down the Jersey Shore. 
    • The marquee dual of the event saw the Wolfpack defeat Rutgers 23-14.
    • Bright spots for NCSU included Matty Singleton beating All-American Jackson Turley at 174 and #7 Issac Trumble notching a minor upset at heavyweight over #4 Yaraslau Slavikouski.
    • Rutgers' unranked Andrew Barbosa picked up a solid win over #19 Derek Fields at 165.
  • #1 Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado got back on the mat for the second time this season and picked up two more wins.
  • #1 Ryan Crookham of Lehigh also saw his first action of the season. He's 1-0 with a win over Morgan State.
    • Malyke Hines wrestled 141 for the Mountain Hawks, so Luke Stanich's redshirt stays intact for now. 
    • Heavyweight Nathan Taylor did not wrestle, and we don't know yet if he'll be back this season. 
  • Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser confirmed that Casey Swiderski is unfortunately out for the season with an injury. 
    • Yonger Bastida is also still on the mend but is expected back before March. 
  • Terrell Barraclough refuses to lose. The #7 ranked Wolverine of Utah Valley took out All-American #6 Cam Amine of Oklahoma State in tiebreakers.
  • #5 Ridge Lovett beat #7 Lachlan McNeil 4-0 in one of the only top ten bouts of the week outside of the All-Star Classic.
    • The Huskers' true freshman 197-pounder Camden McDanel has also started the season strong, winning by major decision in his last two bouts. He's 3-0 so far in varsity matches.
  • Campbell University hosted Nebraska outside on their softball diamond, and while mother nature did cooperate and the dual was forced to move indoors midway through the competition, the Camels did secure an upset win at 133 when unranked Domenic Zaccone defeated #11 Jacob Van Dee in sudden victory.
  • Grigor Cholakyan got another start for Stanford at 157, increasing the odds that Daniel Cardenas redshirts. Cholakyan can wrestle one more time and maintain his redshirt, but if he wrestles twice more his shirt will be burnt and it's a near certainty that Cardenas will defer eligibility this season.
  • Chris Cannon is back!
    • The two-time All-American for Northwestern who spent last year at Michigan but only wrestled one match before getting injured and then received a medical redshirt and then transferred back to Northwestern celebrated his first match back in a Wildcat singlet with a win!
    • Cannon wrestled at 141 though it's possible he moves back down to 133 and Frankie Tal-Shahar returns to the lineup at 141. Or Cannon stays at 141. Who knows what the future holds? Life is full of mysteries!

Heavy Metal Matness

Inspired by an FRL question, I made the topic of picking D1 programs and explaining what heavy metal bands they would be a feature of the roundup. I chose to do so because I like both wrestling and heavy metal music. I will continue to do so until I get bored of the idea or a deadline crunch forces me to jettison any superfluous material from this blog.

Today I will compare Oklahoma State to Black Sabbath

This one is quick and straightforward. Black Sabbath was the first and best heavy metal band. Plain and simple, end of story.

Likewise, Oklahoma State had the first and most impressive dynasty in college wrestling. That story is also both plain and simple and that conversation is also ended. 

Thus, Oklahoma State = Black Sabbath. 

I'd expand on the topic (believe me I have maaaaaaaany thoughts about the legends Black Sabbath), but you see, I had to get up at 4:30AM to make a flight out of State College this morning and then United Airlines did everything they possibly could to keep me from getting home to Austin. However, I preserved. Also however, I am very tired and fear I will make nothing but typos should I continue this blog. 

Not that waking up early makes me special or anything but I still need to publish this roundup before I conk out. I appreciate your understanding!

What Would YOU Like To See In This Blog? 

It wouldn’t exist with you so I implore you to provide feedback! 

Send all suggestions, requests, commendations and condemnations to me at [andrew.spey@flosports.tv]. I’m also usually available on Twitter (@speywrestle). 

Thanks for reading! Your time is precious and I appreciate you choosing to spend it with me!