It doesn't get much better than this. Big Ten finals inside a sold out RAC in Piscataway, NJ. So nice is this event that we're going to live blog the entire thing. 

Watch the 2020 Big Ten Championships Live on Flo

Third and fifth-place matches are being wrestled simultaneously and streamed live on FloWrestling (click that link directly above this sentence to watch). First place matches (which we will be blogging) are on BTN. 

Decent set up to watch the matches and blog for you, my friends. 

When it comes to Blogging Stations, it doesn't get much more primo than this. pic.twitter.com/NM6wmSUYUA

— Andrew Spey ? (@SpeyWrestle) March 8, 2020

The sparks are literally flying as the wrestlers make their entrance on the mat. We did the anthem in the morning session so we're rolling right into the matches. The RAC is full, we've been sold out for months, here we go!

125 Pounds

#1 Spencer Lee (Iowa) vs #6 Devin Schroder (Purdue) 

1st period: No surprise to see Spencer attacking earlier. He gets the takedown in the first 15 seconds but Schroder works hard for the escape. Another go behind makes it 4-1 in the first minute. Spencer riding parallel but keeping Shroder pretty flat to the mat. Less than a minute left in the first. Lee with 2:26 of RT but no turns and Schroder weathers the first-period storm.

2nd period: Lee chooses down. Schroder throws a leg in but is too high and Spencer bucks him off and covers for a reversal. Schroder has trouble getting to his base and gets dinged for stalling, his first warning. Still no turns for Spencer but an ocean of riding time, 3:44 at the end of the second. 

3rd period: Spencer has a cut on head that needs attending to. When we get back to action it's neutral, Schroder's choice. Lee goes fireman's and gets a quick two. Escape from Schroder makes it 8-2. Schroder shoots but Lee defends, scrambles, and scores to make it 10-2. Another stall call on Devin makes it 11-2. Spencer rolls through a 2 on 1 tilt in the closing seconds to make it 15-2. Plus one riding time point and it's as close to a tech-fall as you can get. Spencer Lee wins his first Big Ten Championship!

With a final score of 16-2 Spencer Lee is your 2020 B1G Champion#Hawkeyes #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/EET8vEBuPM

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 8, 2020

133 Pounds

#3 Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern) vs #4 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) 

1st period: Seabass has the New Jersey fans on his side, but there is a sizable contingent of Penn State fans here rooting on RBY. This one will get loud. RBY makes the first attack and eventually scores from rear standing to score the first points of the match. Rivera escapes to make it 2-1 with more than 2 minutes remaining in the period. Slide-by attempt by Rivera, RBY reshoots and gets in on legs, Rivera rolls forward and grabs an ankle. They scramble. Potentially dangerous is called with 20 seconds left in the first. No change, going to the second. 

2nd period: Rivera starts on bottom. He stands and escapes in 15 seconds. Riding time at 51 seconds for Bravo-Young. it's 2-2, one minute left in the second. After a couple misses, an ankle pick from Rivera lands. RBY so hard to score on but Rivera lifts the leg, avoids a scramble, and finishes for two. He rides out the period to take a 4-2 lead into the third. 

3rd period: RBY goes underneath. Rivera riding for over a minute with a couple nice mat returns. RBY looking for a granby but Rivera sniffs them out. Another mat return and Rivera almost has near fall but only gets one swipe. They go out of bounds. Rivera gets a final mat return and this time holds RBY down for a quick two-count. That's it, Rivera wins it and the New Jerseyans are showing him all sorts of love! Rivera even gives a shout out to the Garden State in his post-match interview with Shane Sparks. Seabass has completely won over the crowd in Piscataway. 

???-???? ??? ??? ???????? ?@Cbass_Rivera does it in front of his hometown crowd. pic.twitter.com/0Zole9JZCg

— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) March 8, 2020

125-pound award presentation going on behind me, then the rematch of Pletcher vs Lee!

141 Pounds

#1 Nick Lee (Penn State) vs #2 Luke Pletcher (Ohio State)

1st period: Lee with a well-timed single leg in the first 20 seconds, Pletcher does the splits and keeps him at bay. They go out of bounds, no scores. Pletcher counters a Lee shot and now he has a single leg. He converts for two, scoring the first take just like he did in their match earlier this year. Lee escapes quickly. Another attack by Lee and he converts to take the 3-2 lead. Pletcher goes out of bounds 3 times in a row. On the fourth restart he stands and is out to tie it up. RT at 19 seconds for Lee. Same score going to the second.

2nd period: Pletcher chooses down. He's out in about 2 seconds and a 4-3 lead. Pletcher gets to Lee's legs but almost too deep, as Lee catapults over the top and they're back in neutral. Pletcher shoots Lee out of bounds and Lee gets hit for stalling. The Penn State fans don't like that. Pletcher gets his for stalling not long after that and the Buckeye fans are likewise displeased. I will reserve editorial comment for a later time. Lots of action but no more other scores in the period.

3rd period: Lee chooses down. He's out in no time and it's tied up again, most of the period left to wrestle. Both wrestlers staying offensive. A double leg by Pletcher gives him a two-point lead, but Lee cuts that in half the lead in half with a quick escape. 45 seconds to go and both wrestlers have stall warnings. Pletcher in on a shot, they scramble, they straddle the boundary. Lee screams, he may be hurt. He's holding his right leg as they whistle the match dead and the Penn State trainer comes out. Lee looks okay though, thankfully, and they quickly get back to the center. I would think that would be an injury-time and Pletcher would get choice now but apparently not. Potentially dangerous could have been called, I didn't see. Either way, back to neutral. A flurry of action. Lee attacks, Pletcher circling, also backing away some. 10 seconds to go. No stall call. PSI fans unleashing a torrent of boos. No stall call and that's how it ends, 6-5, Pletcher gets his revenge!

Pletcher being loudly booed during his post-match interview but he doesn't seem to mind. Ohio State has a Big Ten champ!

? CHAMPION ?#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/rKRDG98Tx8

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 8, 2020

149 Pounds

#1 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) vs #2 Pat Lugo (Iowa)

1st period: Fierce hand-fighting in the first 90 seconds. A couple of decent attacks but neither wrestler threatened. Lugo gets an angle around the 1 minute mark and tackles Sasso to the mat, scoring the first points of the match. Lugo being a bully on top, muscling Sasso down or out of bounds whenever he stands. He rides out the period, amassing 1:10 of RT. 

2nd period: Lugo chooses down. Some false starts and clock issues are causing delays. Now it's Sasso's turn to be stingy on top. He works the RT clock back down to zero. Sasso briefly had a cradle but Lugo breaks the grip. Sasso does ride out the period though. He has 48 seconds of RT and trails by 2 going into the third. 

3rd period: Sasso on bottom. Nearly an escape but it's waved off after a review. Buckeye coaches didnd't want the official review, they wanted to get back to the wrestling, echoing the thoughts of all the fans as well. Sasso back to his feet, Lugo gets hit for stalling, his first warning, then Sasso gets the escape. Lugo leads 2-1 with less than a minute to go. 30 seconds. Lugo defending, standing his ground. Sasso finally gets through the head-heads defense, there's a scramble. Lugo has a leg, but Sasso has him on his back. Is it a takedown? Is it back points? No call on the mat as time runs out, but the officials will review. No takedown! The Hawkeyes get a second Big Ten champ! 

That was a tough call at the end and the Ohio State coaches (and many in the stands) aren't happy. Great effort from both wrestlers though. Despite the low score there was plenty of action. 

With a final score of 2-1 Pat Lugo is your 2020 B1G Champion#Hawkeyes #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/gQMIWMxOK6

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 8, 2020

157 Pounds

#1 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) vs 7 Kendall Coleman (Purdue)

1st period: Deakin and Coleman both wrestling in championship singlets. Very sharp imo. Deakin gets the first takedown right at the 2-minute mark. Deakin comes close to nearfall and Coleman comes close to an escape but neither wrestler scores this period. They both, however, pick up stall warnings, in a unique interpretation of the rule, at least from my perspective. Deakin gets the rideout nad has almost 2 minutes of RT. 

2nd period: Deakin starts on bottom and escapes in about 10 seconds. He leads 3-0. Coleman with a nice shot but Deakin's defense is too strong. Deakin on a single leg but Coleman Houdini's out of it. Northwestern wants a review but the original call is confirmed. Still 3-0 with 30 seconds in the second. Deakin shoots again and this time finishes cleanly. Deakin gets the rideout. 

3rd period: We start in neutral. Coleman times a slick slide-by and gets a no-reaction takedown. Deakin is out in a hurry and it's 6-2 in Deakin's favor, though riding time is locked up, and has been for a while. Coleman keeps attacking but he's not there yet. It's (almost) all Deakin in the finals. He wins by the official score of 7-2 and the Wildcats have their second Big Ten Champion of 2020!

A season to remember just got more memorable.@RyanDeakinn is a Big Ten champion. pic.twitter.com/hydyREPlCE

— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) March 8, 2020

165 Pounds

#1 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) vs 2 Alex Marinelli (Iowa)

1st period: This is a big one. Marinelli holds a 2-1 lead in the lifetime series but Cenzo won the last match a month or so ago. Double leg from Cenzo but Marinelli gives him some heavy hips of his own and fights of the takedown. Some masterful collar ties and handfighting as they both look for opening and their next shot set up, but no scores after 2 and a half minutes. Also after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: Marinelli wins the toss and chooses down. A brief scare for the Bull as Cenzo almost countered his stand with nearfall points but Marinelli eventually got out after 22 seconds with no other harm done. 1-0 Marinelli. Less than a minute to go in the second. Great battles but no scores, as maybe both guys are thinking about that #1 NCAA seed on the line and are playing it a bit more cautiously. 

3rd period: Cenzo gets a turn on bottom. One mat return and then Joseph is out to tie the score. RT not a factor. And we have bloodtime for Marinelli with 1:35 left in regulation. Alex had an over-under chest lock for a few seconds and the crowd all ooh'd in anticipation but there was no upper body fireworks. Yet anyway. Another body lock, Marinelli goes for a trip, Cenzo goes lat drop, they both go flying, no scores though. But what a sequence! The crowd applauds. And now more blood time for Marinelli, it's the bridge of his nose I believe. Back to action. More flurries, no scrambles. Marinelli legs a single-leg. He's got 15 seconds to finish. And the Bull takes Cenzo to the mat! Wild finish! Cenzo is out but there's only a few seconds left. Alex Marinelli gets revenge! He points to the Iowa section who are all on their feet! Incredible bout between two of the best in college. 

With a score of 3-2 your B1G Champion is Alex Marinelli#Hawkeyes #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/FUzc6vLN1Q

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 8, 2020

174 Pounds

#1 Michael Kemerer (Iowa) vs #2 Mark Hall (Penn State)

1st period: Another huge Iowa vs PSU match with the #1 seed at NCAAs on the line. Kemerer won the first and only match up in a dual meet on January 31. Hall in on the first good shot. Kemerer grabs an ankle and they scramble. Hall methodically works up to collect the two. Kemerer out soon after. 2-1 with 1:30 to go in the first. Good hand fighting but nothing else in the first.

2nd period: Hall goes underneath. He's out in about ten seconds. Nice shot by Kemerer but Hall anticipated it just enough to avoid danger. Now Hall in on Kemerer's legs. Kem draped over the back. Hall dumps him to his hip. Danger call starts. Hall gets the takedown and get's two swipes before Kemerer reacts. That's a big score for Hall as he gets 2 and 2 to take a 7-1 lead. Kemerer escapes to cut it to 7-2 but he's in a big hole. 

3rd period: Kemerer on bottom and escapes to make it 7-3. Takedown by Kemerer to make it 7-5. That chewed up clock though. Kemerer cuts him with about a minute to go. Hall gets dinged for stalling. 30 to go. Kemerer shoots with 10 seconds to go. Hall too strong, he fights off the takedown but it's academic as time runs out and Hall gets the victory. Penn State has their first Big Ten champion of 2020!

Mark Hall holds on for the 8-5 win! Mark Hall now a 3X Big Ten Champion! #PSUwr pic.twitter.com/oiEpnmyHo6

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 8, 2020

184 Pounds

#6 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs #7 Cameron Caffey (Michigan State)

1st period: Two minutes in and we've seen a couple half-shots from Caffey but not a ton of action otherwise. Brooks doing a good job cutting off Caffey's angles. No scores after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: Caffey starts down. He's out quickly. Brooks back in on a shot, he comes close but they go out of bounds before Brooks can score. One minute to go in the second, Caffey lead 1-0. Brooks pressuring but Caffey holds his ground. No other scores in this period.

3rd period: Brooks on bottom. He's out in no time to tie it up. Brooks in on a shot, he's got Caffey's leg. Caffey defending. They start scrambling. Brooks has a cradle locked up! Shades of Venz! But no, Caffey counters. Insane flurry! Finally they go out of bounds, no score. 30 seconds to go. Brooks in on a shot. And this time he finishes! 15 left on the clock. Caffey escapes. Brooks thumb blocks out of danger. That'll do it. Back to back champs for the Nittany Lions!

Aaron Brooks the 3-2 win! Brooks is a true freshman Big Ten Champion! #PSUwr pic.twitter.com/BdSfQaidBT

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 8, 2020

197 Pounds

#1 Kollin Moore (Ohio State) vs #8 Eric Schultz (Nebraska) 

1st period: Moore with the go behind attempt but Shultz circles and avoids giving up the takedown. 90 seconds to go in the first, 0-0. Pretty duck under by Moore at the 45 second mark gives the Buckeye two points. That's how the period ends.

2nd period: Moore starts on bottom. He escapes to add a point to his lead. Nothing else happens in the second.

3rd period: Schultz back on bottom to start the third. Moore sticks on him like glue for the first 45 seconds. Schultz finally escapes, but not before Moore gains 1:43 of riding time. RT point is secured. Short time for Schultz and he needs something big. He doesn't get it, and a very workmanlike win for Kollin Moore. The Buckeye stays undefeated on the year and wins his third Big Ten Championship!

CHAMPION

???
THIRD Big Ten title for Kollin Moore.

27-0 heading to the NCAA Championships.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Nged5aDZD9

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 8, 2020

285 Pounds

#1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) vs #2 Mason Parris (Michigan)

1st period: Last match of the 2019-20 Big Ten wrestling season! These two young giants have yet face each other in any style, free, folk, Greco or otherwise. Parris in on a shot and has a single. Steveson sits back on it and then kicks free. They go out of bounds with over 2 minutes to go in the period. Now Steveson takes advantage of a Parris shot and gets a go behind takedown. Huge mat return and they go out of bounds again. Sweep single for Steveson and a precision footsweep gives him two. Ganby roll for Parris and he escapes to make it 4-2. A shot from Parris that almost finishes but time expires. Steveson rolls to his back after the bell to give the crowd some excitement but there was no points for Parris. 

2nd period: Parris down again. He escapes to cut the deficit to one, though he trails the takedown battle 2-0. RT not yet a factor. Steveson gets dinged for stalling, then attempts a throw-by. They go tumbling out of bounds and the fans again respond to the action with cheers. Period ends stil 4-3. 

3rd period: Steveson chooses down and is up in a hurry. He goes right in on a single and he drives them into the head table, almost killing me and everyone around me. The table stops our immediate deaths, and also the takedown. Minnesota wants a review, but the call on the mat is confirmed: "They hit the table." Steveson leads 5-3 now with a minute to go. Another shot by Parris but Steveson counters to make it 7-3. Parris is right out and it's 7-4. Escape and it's 7-5. Parris in on a shot, he's got a leg, he works for the takedown. That makes it a one-point match, but there's not enough time left for a comeback. Parris lets him up, time expires and Steveson wins his first Big Ten Championship! 

Only one undefeated heavyweight remains...

B1G Champ Gable Steveson pic.twitter.com/eeg9SxVbyO

— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) March 8, 2020

Final team scores are below. 

And that's a wrap on the Big Ten wrestling season! Next up? You know it. NCAAs in Minneapolis. Thanks for reading and sorry for the typos. See you in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!