With the 2024 NCAA Tournament coming to a close, I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of the biggest matches of the last 10 years. In this article we will breakdown and discuss some all-time classics.
The Year The Weight The Match
2015 197 J’Den Cox VS Kyle Snyder
These two met in the semi-finals of the 197 lb weight class at the 2015 NCAA tournament! Its note worthy to mention that the 2015 197 lb bracket that year would have a total of four different wrestlers who would win NCAA titles throughout their careers. Cox was the defending NCAA Champion and ranked 1st in the nation. Snyder on the other hand was a true freshman and advanced from the number 4 seed. While Cox was the defending national champion, both men were just beginning their legendary mat careers. While Snyder won a close and competitive 3-2 decision, both would go on to win 3 NCAA titles, as well as a combined 6 World Championships. After this season Snyder would move up to heavyweight and J’Den would dominate the 197 class the following two years.
2016 157 Isaiah Martinez VS Jason Nolf
Going into the 2016 season, Imar was the talk of the town. After just one season with the fighting Illini, he was already being compared to the great Cael Sanderson. As crazy as this seems now, it made all the sense in the world at the time. Imar had just completed a perfect freshman year (35-0) and was rarely even tested, leading the country with 11 tech falls on the season. During his sophomore season it was business as usual, that was until he ran into a talented and undefeated freshman from Penn State named Jason Nolf. Nolf would walk away the victor after scoring the pin, ending Imars unbeaten streak. The two would meet again in the Big 10 finals with Imar gaining a bit of revenge and evening the series 1-1. Two weeks later they would meet for the 3rd and final time with the NCAA title on the line. Imar would again emerge victorious, claiming a 6-5 decision, and winning his second National Title. After the match Nolf would go on the reign over the division the following 3 years. Isaiah Martinez would go down as a 4X NCAA finalist and 2X Champion with a 116-3 record. Nolf would leave Penn State as a 3X Champion with a 133-4 record.
2016 Heavyweight Kyle Snyder VS Nick Gwiazdowski
Nick was the defending 2X NCAA Heavyweight Champion looking to win his 3rd straight title. Nick was a rare 4X all-american at heavyweight. Snyder on the other hand had just moved up from 197 and was significantly smaller. Snyder had yet to win his first NCAA title, after finishing as runner up the year before. While he hadn’t established himself in the college wrestling world just yet. He had just won his first of what would be 4 World Championships. So the ground work was set. One of the best heavyweights of the last decade VS a young up and comer who had already won a world title. It had all the makings of a big Las Vegas prize fight. The match did not disappoint as it was a back and forth affair, with Snyder scoring the takedown in sudden victory. These two combined for 8 all-american honors 7 NCAA finals appearances, and 5 NCAA titles. Both would also enjoy international success as well.
2017 184 Gabe Dean VS Bo Nickal
For starters, this weight class was completely loaded with 5 wrestlers who would win NCAA titles during their college careers. Gabe Dean was a senior and the 2X defending NCAA Champion, Bo Nickal was just a sophomore and had yet to make a name for himself, despite finishing second as a freshman the year prior. Bo moved up in weight wanting a challenge, and stormed his way into the finals with a tech fall and 3 straight pins. Gabe was almost considered unbeatable at the time and was a heavy favorite going into the match. Nickal would secure a hard fought 4-3 victory and win his first of 3 NCAA titles. Dean would go down as a 4X all-american and 2X NCAA Champion.
2018 125 Spencer Lee VS Nick Suriano
Spencer was a true freshman at the time, and had a ton of hype around him, before he even wrestled his first college match. In a loaded weight class featuring 4 wrestlers who would go on to win NCAA titles, Spencer was the number 3 seed and scored 2 tech falls and 2 pins to reach the finals. One of his pins was over former NCAA Champion Nathan Tomasello. On the top half of the bracket, Nick had been equally impressive, scoring a tech, a pin, a major, and shutting out the defending NCAA Champion, Darian Cruz 2-0 in the semi finals. Nick was undefeated and looking to score his first title. Spencer was in control from the very beginning winning a one sided 5-1 victory. Spencer would go on to dominate the weight the next 2 seasons, and becoming a 3X NCAA Champion. Suriano would end his career as a 2X NCAA Champion, winning titles at 125 and 133.
2019 174 Mark Hall Vs Zahid Valencia
This was considered by many the greatest active rivalry in college wrestling at the time. Hall was the 2017 NCAA Champion, where he had defeated a then undefeated Zahid 4-3 in the semi finals. Valencia was the 2018 NCAA Champion, where he had defeated Hall 8-2 in the finals. They had also met in a dual meet just weeks prior to this 2019 NCAA finals match, in the dual Hall had dominated Valencia, racking up 2:48 of riding time. Well Valencia scored a measure of revenge, winning a hard fought 4-3 decision in what would be their final college meeting. The series ended tied 2-2, but you could argue that Zahid walked away the winner, due to winning the final match and by winning 2 NCAA titles to Hall’s 1. Hall ended his college career with a 116-6 record, while Zahid left Arizona State with a record of 114-3.
2021 HWT Gable Steveson VS Mason Parris
These are two of the most decorated heavyweights in history. Coming into college Gable was already a 3X age group world champion with a ton of hype surrounding him. Mason had similar credentials and was a 2019 Junior World Champion. Meeting in the finals Gable dominated the match 8-4. Stevenson would end his wrestling career as a 2X NCAA Champion, A Hodge Trophy winner, and an Olympic Gold Medalist. Mason Rounded out his career as a 1X NCAA Champion, a 3X All-American, and a Hodge Trophy winner. Due to the Covid Pandemic, injuries, and the WWE both of these wrestlers stats are missing.
2022 174 Carter Starocci vs Mekhi Lewis
The stakes were set for an epic clash between 2 former NCAA Champions and two of college wrestling’s most dominant grapplers. Carter came into the match as the defending champion and was a perfect 22-0 on the year. Mekhi was the 2019 NCAA Champion at 165 lbs, and was 24-1 on the season. The match itself was a real barnburner going into the 2nd tie breaker with Carter earning the victory by riding time advantage of a 5-5 match. Both wrestlers are still competing and will build on their impressive legacies. Carter is already a 3X NCAA Champion and will likely win his 4th this weekend in Kansas City. Mekhi is a 2018 Junior World Champion, a 2019 NCAA Champion, and the 2019 NCAA Championships’ Most Outstanding Wrestler.
2023 133 Vito Arujau VS Roman Bravo Young
RBY entered the match as the man to beat, already a 2X NCAA Champion and looking more dominant than ever. Carrying a 56 match win streak into the NCAA Finals his confidence had to be sky high. Most everyone in attendance and watching on TV around the world had penciled Young to win his 3rd straight title. Unbeknownst to most everyone was a fact that RBY had never beaten Vito in a wrestling match and was 0-6 against him dating all the way back to junior high. Vito was 24-1 and was having a fantastic tournament, after dismantling 3X NCAA finalist Dayton Fix in the semi finals, he was poised to dethrone RBY. The match was a one sided beating and Vito cruised to a 10-4 decision. Since this match, Vito has won his first Freestyle senior level world title, and RBY has qualified to represent Mexico in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
2023 165 David Carr Vs Keegan O’Toole
Both of these wrestlers enter the match as highly decorated wrestlers. O’Toole being a 2X age level world champion as well as the defending 165 lb NCAA Champion. Carr was a 2019 Junior world champion and the 2021 157 lb NCAA Champion. Carr had already defeated O’Toole twice in the season and seemed like the man to beat. Just reaching the finals would prove to be a challenge for Carr as he would have to navigate past another former NCAA Champion just to get there. In the Finals it was all O’Toole as he won a hard fought 8-2 decision. These two are on a collision course to meet at the NCAA tournament once again in 2024.