The National Collegiate Wrestling Association hosted its three-day national championship, at the Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, LA. with 578 male and 195 female athletes competing for a championship title.
BOSSIER CITY, La. – Menlo College made a charge through the championship brackets Friday to take charge of the NCWA Championships and set themselves up for a run at the men’s title at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
Five of the nine quarterfinalists won their bouts here Friday and five other wrestlers remain alive in consolation rounds that should maintain Menlo’s hefty lead over second place. The Oaks lead the field after two days with 176 points, 21 points ahead of The Apprentice School (155) and 25 ahead of first-day leader Tarleton State (150.5). Apprentice has 11 wrestlers still alive in the finals rounds but only two are in the finals. Tarleton State matches Menlo’s 10 total but with four in the finals.
In the women’s division, a five-team showdown will begin early in the day as Saturday’s placing rounds, minus the finals, begin at 9 a.m. CT. Washington State leads the field with 103 points and is tied for the teams’ lead with three finalists along with fourth-place UNLV (92.5) and sixth-place UCF (68). Utah Tech rests in second at 98.5 followed by Tarleton State with 94.5.
The national championship matches for both divisions begin at 2 p.m.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Tarleton State, an upstart program competing in its first season with the National Collegiate Wrestling Association, leads the men’s division with 73.5 points, just ahead of long-time stalwart The Apprentice School (Va.) after the first day of the NCWA Championships at Brookshire Grocery Arena.
The Texans, a non-scholarship NCWA Division I program from Stephenville, Texas, has 21 wrestlers still alive in the brackets evenly split between the championship (10) and consolation (11) brackets. Thursday’s opening rounds advanced wrestlers into the championship quarterfinals, where Tarleton’s 10 quarterfinalists trail only Apprentice (11) in quantity. Apprentice, one point back at 72.5, has 18 total wrestlers still in the over all field.
Wrestling fans, mark your calendars! The 2025 NCWA Nationals are set to take over Shreveport-Bossier on March 13th, 14th, and 15th, bringing three days of electrifying competition to the Brookshire Grocery Arena. As the best collegiate wrestlers in the country battle for national glory, you won’t want to miss a second of the action!
The NCWA Nationals is a premier event in collegiate wrestling, featuring elite athletes from across the country. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just looking for an unforgettable sports experience, this tournament is your chance to witness top-tier wrestling up close.
Shreveport-Bossier is the perfect backdrop for this high-energy event. Nestled along the Red River, this vibrant area boasts a dynamic mix of entertainment, culture, and southern hospitality. When you're not in the arena, explore world-class casinos, savor mouthwatering Louisiana cuisine, and dive into the rich history of this unique region.
Beyond the thrilling matches, Shreveport-Bossier offers plenty of entertainment and attractions. Enjoy the nightlife of downtown Shreveport, explore the scenic riverfront, and indulge in Louisiana’s famous Cajun and Creole flavors. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning fan, there’s no shortage of excitement to complement your Nationals experience.
Don’t miss out on this must-see event! Secure your tickets today at NCWA Nationals Website and get ready for an unforgettable weekend of collegiate wrestling.
We’ll see you in Shreveport-Bossier for the 2025 NCWA Nationals!
The 2025 NCWA Women's National Duals took place on Friday January 31, 2025 in St. George, Utah with Washington State coming out on top with a 6-0 record with multiple individual upsets throughout the day. Each of the 7 teams in the competition faced the other 6 teams making this a true National Duals Championship.
Team Scores:
Round 1:
Washington State - 36 Utah Tech - 27
UNLV - 53 Western Washington - 12
Ottawa-Arizona - 54 Fresno State - 10
Round 2:
Utah Tech - 42 Fresno State - 6
Washington State - 53 Western Washington - 12
Ottawa-Arizona - 54 Colorado State - 12
Round 3:
Utah Tech - 36 UNLV - 30
Western Washington - 24 Colorado State - 21
Washington State - 36 Ottawa-Arizona - 20
Round 4:
Western Washington - 18 Fresno State - 10
Washington State - 51 Colorado State - 12
Ottawa-Arizona - 44 UNLV - 18
Round 5:
Utah Tech - 54 Colorado State - 12
Ottawa-Arizona - 52 Western Washington - 12
UNLV - 51 Fresno State - 6
Round 6:
Utah Tech - 41 Ottawa-Arizona - 18
Colorado State - 24 Fresno State - 12
Washington State - 36 UNLV - 30
Round 7:
Utah Tech - 54 Western Washington - 6
UNLV - 60 Colorado State - 0
Washington State - 60 Fresno State - 4
Final Results:
NATIONAL CHAMPION: Washington State University (6-0)
Runner-up: Utah Tech University (5-1)
3rd Place: Ottawa University - Arizona (4-2)
4th Place: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (3-3)
5th Place: Western Washington University (2-4)
6th Place: Colorado State University (1-5)
7th Place: Fresno State University (0-6)
For notable matches, click on READ MORE
The first day of the 2025 NCWA Men's National Duals is complete and there were some big upsets, both team-wise and individually!
Team Scores:
Pool A
#1 Apprentice - 47 #5 Central Florida - 10
#3 Thomas More - 59 #7 Colorado State - 0
#1 Apprentice - 53 #7 Colorado State - 9
#3 Thomas More - 37 #5 Central Florida - 20
#1 Apprentice - 39 #3 Thomas More - 14
#5 Central Florida - 50 #7 Colorado State - 10
Pool B
#2 Liberty - 32 #6 Washington State - 25
#4 Life (NCWA) - 56 #8 East Carolina - 0
#2 Liberty - 55 #8 East Carolina - 6
#4 Life (NCWA) - 48 #6 Washington State - 12
#4 Life (NCWA) - 39 #2 Liberty - 9
#6 Washington State - 53 #8 East Carolina - 9
Day 2 - Quarterfinal Bracket:
Top Half
#1 Apprentice vs. #8 East Carolina
#2 Liberty vs. #5 Central Florida
Bottom Half
#3 Thomas More vs. #6 Washington State
#4 Life (NCWA) vs. #8 Colorado State
Click READ MORE for notable matches and rankings upsets!
The NCWA has released the official national qualifying bids for the 2025 NCWA National Championship being held on March 13-15th in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The NCWA has experienced unprecedented growth over the last year and with it is announcing the LARGEST COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP event in history, breaking its own record set just last season!
The Men's Division grew from 1651 athletes to 1922 this season, only surpassed in numbers by NCAA-D3. The 2022-2023 season saw 1456 men take to the mats in the NCWA. This is a 32% growth from 2 years ago! The Women's Division grew from 207 ('22-'23) to 291 ('23-'24) to now 381 competitors in the 2024-2025 season, a whopping 84% growth. Women's Wrestling is the fastest growing sport in America and the NCWA is helping to foster that growth at the COLLEGIATE FOLKSTYLE division.
All 381 female athletes will have a chance to qualify at the 8 Conference tournaments held on March 1, 2025 throughout the country. This may be the last season in which all Conference entries advance to the National tournament as qualifying procedures tighten. To accommodate for this year's expansion, the Women's National Championship moved to 3 days from the original 2 days.
The men's division will have a total of 626 potential qualifying spots, which is an average of 57 wrestlers / bracket and keeps in line with a ~33% qualification rate of total athletes. While the qualifying spots are more, it still takes a top-8 finish for All-American status.
Qualifying bids by Conference (Men's Division only):
Great Lakes - 5 auto bids / weight class + 13 wild cards (68 total qualifying spots)
Mid-Atlantic - 6 auto + 15 WC (81)
Mid-East - 6 auto + 15 WC (81)
Northeast - 6 auto + 12 WC (78)
Northwest - 5 auto + 6 WC (61)
Puerto Rico - 2 auto + 4 WC (26)
Southeast - 5 auto + 13 WC (68)
Southwest - 6 auto + 9 WC (75)
West Coast - 6 auto + 22 WC (West Coast numbers have grown from 178 to 360 in 2 years, the 88 spots is a new record for the NCWA)
The top-4 teams in the Women's Division were unchanged; however, the distance between Utah Tech and Ottawa-Arizona tightened to 9 pts. Utah Tech leads the division with 79 points followed by Ottawa at 70 points. Washington State (52), UNLV (51), Tarleton State (35), Liberty (25), Lyon College (24), Central Florida (23, Colorado State (22), and M.I.T. (20) round out the top-10
There was only 1 change at the top of the individual rankings with previously unranked Marisol Pena of Grand Canyon coming in with a huge win over Marley Castaneda of Ottawa-Arizona at 124 lbs. The current #1 wrestlers at each weight class (and other National Champions) follow:
103 - Liliana Voakes - So - Ottawa-Arizona - 2024 National Champion at 101
110 - Krystal Corona - Fr - UNLV (defeated 2024 National Runner-Up at 116)
117 - Genesis Vasquez - So - Washington State - 2024 National Champion at 116
124 - Marisol Pena - Fr - Grand Canyon
131 - Mia Garza - Sr - Texas - 2024 National Runner-Up at 130
138 - Viveca Pannell - Sr - M.I.T. - 2024 National Champion at 130
145 - Veloria Pannell - Jr - M.I.T. - 2024 National Champion at 143
160 - Tayleigh Robertson - Jr - Utah Tech - 2024 National Champion at 170
180 - Petra Bernsten - Sr - Washington State - 2024 National Runner-Up at 170
207 - O'Dessa Laititi - Fr - Utah Tech (defeated defending National Champion)
[207] Ranaeh Ureste - Jr - UNLV is ranked #2 as Defending National Champ at 191
240 - Evelynn Coronado - So - Ottawa-Arizona - 2024 National Runner-Up at 235
For a full list of the Women's Team Rankings, click HERE. To see the current top ranked wrestlers in each weight class, click HERE.
A gap has opened up between Menlo College and the rest of the NCWA. Menlo leads all teams with 81 pts and three #1-ranked wrestlers while Apprentice maintains the #2 team spot with 61 pts and one #1-ranked grappler. Rounding out the top-5 in NCWA-D1 are Liberty (41), Thomas More (30), and Vanguard (27).
The #1 wrestlers at each weight class are currently as follows:
125 - Aiden Scheeringa - Sr - Liberty - 2024 National Runner-Up
133 - Bruno Alves - Sr - Apprentice - 3x National Runner-Up - previously ranked #2 at 141
141 - Cole Thomas - So - Thomas More (NCAA) - 2024 National Champion
149 - Lincoln Vick - So - Iowa State (NCWA) - 2024 3rd Place
157 - Ezekiel Lara - Jr - Menlo (NCAA) - previously ranked #7
165 - Keith Brubach - Sr - Slippery Rock - 2024 National Runner-Up
174 - Ledger Petrecek - Sr - Menlo (NCAA) - 2023 4th Place NJCAA - previously ranked #2
184 - Maximus Zamora - Sr - Menlo (NCAA) - 2024 7th Place NAIA - previously ranked #2
197 - Cesar Ubico - So - Utah Tech - 2024 National Champion
235 - Christopher San Paolo - So - Rowan - 2024 3rd Place
285 - Jonovan Smith - So - Caribbean - 2024 National Runner-Up
For a full list of the Men's Team Rankings, click HERE. To see the current top-20 in each weight class, click HERE.
DANVILLE, Va. - For the first time in program history, The Apprentice School wrestling team has won the Cougar Duals, hosted by Averett. The Builders went 5-0 on the weekend to win the event, including beating a trio of NCAA Division II teams.
Apprentice started out the tournament by knocking off both the A and B teams from Averett. The Builders started with a 28-13 win over the A team before cruising past the Cougar B team, 45-3. They followed that up with a 27-17 win over DII Belmont Abbey, a 53-3 win over DII Lincoln Memorial and a 30-14 win over DII Bluefield State.
The NCWA Women's Division is loaded with top talent among the top-10 teams. Utah Tech leads the crowd with ranked wrestlers at each of the 11 weight classes and is ranked #1 with 81 points. The top-10 are rounded out by Ottawa-Arizona (64), Washington State (52), UNLV (44), Central Florida (32), Tarleton State (32), Liberty (25), Lyon College (24), Florida A&M (22) and M.I.T. (20).
The #1 wrestlers at each weight class (and other National Champions) follow:
103 - Liliana Voakes - So - Ottawa-Arizona - 2024 National Champion at 101
110 - Krystal Corona - Fr - UNLV (defeated 2024 National Runner-Up at 116)
117 - Genesis Vasquez - So - Washington State - 2024 National Champion at 116
124 - Lauren Mills - So - Utah Tech - 2024 National Champion at 123
131 - Mia Garza - Sr - Texas - 2024 National Runner-Up at 130
138 - Viveca Pannell - Sr - M.I.T. - 2024 National Champion at 130
[138] Anja Hansen - So - Ottawa-Arizona is ranked #3 as Defending National Champ at 136
145 - Veloria Pannell - Jr - M.I.T. - 2024 National Champion at 143
160 - Tayleigh Robertson - Jr - Utah Tech - 2024 National Champion at 170
[160] Mikayla Silverman - Sr - UCLA is ranked #2 as Defending National Champ at 155
180 - Petra Bernsten - Sr - Washington State - 2024 National Runner-Up at 170
207 - O'Dessa Laititi - Fr - Utah Tech (defeated defending National Champion)
[207] Ranaeh Ureste - Jr - UNLV is ranked #2 as Defending National Champ at 191
240 - Evelynn Coronado - So - Ottawa-Arizona - 2024 National Runner-Up at 235
For a full list of the Women's Team Rankings, click HERE. To see the current top ranked wrestlers in each weight class, click HERE.
The NCWA Men's Division does not appear to have a runaway team as it has had in past years. The top-5 in D1 consist of Menlo (66 points), Apprentice (47), Liberty (45), Thomas More (32), and Washington State (32). Of note only one team has a ranked wrestler in each of the 11 weight classes - Tarleton State, the soon to be NCAA-D1 program in Texas (currently tied for 6th with Springfield Tech. Division 2 is once again led by THE Ohio State (25 points) making it the 8th best program in the NCWA currently. Chasing the Buckeyes are Slippery Rock (15), Iowa State (14), Clemson (12), and West Chester (11).
The #1 wrestlers at each weight class are currently as follows:
125 - Aiden Scheeringa - Sr - Liberty - 2024 National Runner-Up
133 - Ethan Vugman - So - Florida - 2024 National Runner-Up
141 - Cole Thomas - So - Thomas More (NCAA) - 2024 National Champion
149 - Lincoln Vick - So - Iowa State (NCWA) - 2024 3rd Place
157 - Kanaipono Tapia - Jr - Menlo (NCAA)
165 - Keith Brubach - Sr - Slippery Rock - 2024 National Runner-Up
174 - Isaiah Morales - Jr - Menlo (NCAA)
184 - Graham Carson - Sr - Ohio State (NCWA) - 2024 3rd Place / 3x All-American
197 - Cesar Ubico - So - Utah Tech - 2024 National Champion
235 - Christopher San Paolo - So - Rowan - 2024 3rd Place
285 - Jonovan Smith - So - Caribbean - 2024 National Runner-Up
For a full list of the Men's Team Rankings, click HERE. To see the current top-20 in each weight class, click HERE.
Junior heavyweight Wade Wheeler won all five of his matches by fall to capture first place in the Silver Division of Saturday's Lucha Open at Life University in Marietta, Ga., highlighting a strong showing for Liberty University's men's wrestling team.
The Flames also recorded very respectable fourth- and sixth-place individual showings and a 5-1 finish from freshmen in a field of 68 NAIA and NCWA colleges and universities represented. No team scores were kept.
"We are very encouraged by the team's performance this weekend," Liberty Head Coach Jesse Castro said. "We are extremely young yet eager to improve. Our main objective was to get more gritty, to show courage, perseverance, and
NEWPORT NEWS - The Apprentice School men's wrestling team has completed its weekend of action as the team was split between the Lucha Open near Atlanta and a quad match at East Carolina Saturday.
Starting with the Lucha Open, the Builders sent 10 wrestlers to the Peach State for competition. In the Gold Division, Ethan Baker and Caleb Hartung each notched a win in their competitions. Baker, wrestling at 174, started his tournament with a quick pinfall of St. Thomas's Daniel Garlin before falling in a pair of close decisions. Hartung had a long first match of the day at 285 but finished it off with a pinfall in the final minute of the match. He then fell in a close decision to Life's Nate Glass before a major decision loss in the consolation bracket.
In the Silver Division, Lucas Vannostrand saw a lot of action at 125, wrestling in six matches. He started the day with
The women's division has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years; however, the division remains top heavy with four teams at the top and then the rest. Look for Ottawa-Arizona to attempt to get back to the top of the podium (1st in 2023, 2nd in 2024) and Washington State, Utah Tech, and UNLV to battle it out for the top spot. Click on READ MORE for a top-25 team preview!
Now that the 2x Defending National Champions, Bellarmine University, have moved on to full NCAA-D1 status, the battle for the 2025 NCWA Men's National Championship seems to be a dog-fight between around 5 programs. Liberty graduated some top talent including National Champions but also brought in a stellar recruiting class. Thomas More and Apprentice re-loaded their rosters with several key returners. Menlo College will be in a NCAA-transition year along with Vanguard University. Tarleton State will be in their first year with a NCAA-recruited team. Then there are the upstart programs that have made a recent mark such as Washington State, Utah Tech, and Springfield Tech. For the top-25 Men's team (NCWA-D1 and D2 ranked together, click READ MORE).
DANVILLE, Va. - The Apprentice School men's wrestling program wrapped up their second event of the year Sunday at the Cougar Open with Matthew Henson and David McElravy, Jr. each earning second place finishes to lead the way for the Builders.
Henson started his road to the podium at 184 with a 4-1 decision win over Allen's Jerrel Baskings before a 4-2 win over Bluefield State's Aiden Santos in the quarterfinals. Henson then got a medical forfeit in the semifinals to earn his second place finish. More
Tarleton State University made a strong statement at this weekend's Viking Open, hosted by Carl Albert College in Poteau, Oklahoma. Competing against a talented field in their first season under coaches Grant Leeth and Dalton Brady, Tarleton’s wrestlers claimed impressive individual victories and clinched second place overall with 112.5 points. They finished just behind North Eastern Oklahoma, who led the team scores with 124 points.
Navy transfer Zach Espalin dominated the 133-pound bracket with an undefeated 4-0 record, taking home the title in his weight class. True freshman Finn Shephard turned in an outstanding performance, winning five matches against 0 losses in a tough 32-man bracket at 165 pounds, securing another championship for Tarleton.
Other notable performances came from 184 lb Laird Borbon 5-1 with a solid second place finish ,141 pound
The National Collegiate Wrestling Association is seeing unprecedented growth in its women’s wrestling division. Since introducing a national championship for women in 2007 with just seven teams, the NCWA has expanded to 86 schools now sponsoring women’s wrestling programs. This season alone, 27 new programs joined, adding to last year's total of 59 teams.
The surge highlights a rising demand for women’s wrestling opportunities in collegiate athletics. The NCWA’s steady commitment to supporting and promoting women’s wrestling is paying off as the sport continues to grow nationwide. This years Nationals will be expanded from a two day event to three days with competition beginning Thursday March 13th 2025. With a vibrant community of 86 schools, NCWA women’s wrestling is primed for an exciting year.
Teams to watch this season include Washington State, Ottawa University Arizona, Utah Tech, Tarleton State in Texas, and Liberty University in Virginia—all strong contenders likely to vie for the national championship title. With these powerhouse programs, the race for this year’s championship promises some of the most intense competition in women's wrestling nationwide.
Utah Tech University has been awarded the 2025 NCWA Women's National Duals and the Men's Western Regional Duals. Teams expected to compete for the Women's title include the host Utah Tech Trailblazers, Ottawa University - Arizona, Grand Canyon University, and UNLV. The application / contract for the 2025 NCWA Women's National Duals can be found at 2025 NCWA WOMEN'S NATIONAL DUALS APPLICATION / CONTRACT. The contract for the 2025 Men's West Regional Duals can be found at 2025 NCWA MEN'S REGIONAL DUALS CONTRACT.