Wisconsin Badgers
2024 Big Ten Championships
Six to Pin: B1G Championships
March 05, 2024 | Wrestling
Watch the Badgers on BTN & B1G+ this weekend
When visiting TrackWrestling, fans may need to search “Big Ten” under the Events menu to access the tournament home page.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEK IS HERE!
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 4, 2024
It’s time. All the work. All the sweat. All the early mornings and late nights. Take what’s yours.
2024 @b1gwrestling Championships
XFINITY Center
College Park, Maryland
Saturday, March 9
Sunday, March 10https://t.co/XlcG8gsYGk pic.twitter.com/zUplta67Vx
MADISON, Wis. – Ranked No. 17 by Intermat for tournaments (No. 26 for duals), Wisconsin (9-7, 3-5 B1G) competes in the 2024 Big Ten Championships hosted by Maryland at the XFINITY Center in College Park, Md.
There will be four sessions of the Big Ten Championships:
- Saturday, 9:00 a.m. CT - Session I
- Saturday, 4:00 p.m. CT - Session II
- Saturday, 6:00 p.m. CT - Semifinals
- Saturday, 6:00 p.m. CT - Semifinals
- Sunday, 11:00 a.m. CT - Session III
Consolation semifinals, 7th place matches - Sunday, 3:30 p.m. CT - Session IV
1st, 3rd and 5th place matches
The Big Ten Network and B1G+ will offer live linear and streaming coverage of all four sessions at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Linear coverage on the Big Ten Network is also available on the FOX Sports app.
Here’s six more notes to pin:
1. Lineup
| Weight | Wrestler (Record) | NCAA Coaches Ranking | Big Ten Championship Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
125 | #5 Eric Barnett (23-4) | 4th | Seeded 3rd; 5th 2023, 2nd 2022, 10th 2020 & 2021 at B1Gs; 2X NCAA All-American (3X Qualifier) |
133 | Nicolar Rivera (12-10) |
| Seeded 9th; First B1G Championships |
141 | Felix Lettini (3-16) |
| Seeded 14th; First B1G Championships |
149 | #16 Joseph Zargo (18-6) | 14th | Seeded 7th; 7th in 2023, 3rd B1G Championships Appearance; Two-time NCAA Qualifier |
157 | Luke Mechler (6-16) |
| Seeded 13th; First B1G Championships |
165 | #4 Dean Hamiti (24-1) | 4th | Seeded 1st; ’23 B1G Champion, 3rd 2022 & Freshman of the Year; 2X NCAA All-American |
174 | #15 Max Maylor (15-5) | 13th | Seeded 7th; Competed in 2 B1G Championships at Michigan (2020, 2023) |
184 | #18 Shane Liegel (18-9) | 16th | Seeded 7th; First B1G Championships |
197 | Josh Otto (1-12) |
| Seeded 14th; 3rd B1G Championship Appearance |
285 | Gannon Rosenfeld (3-14) |
| Seeded 12th; First B1G Championships |
| Head Coach: | Chris Bono | Record: | 6th B1G Championships; 2 B1G Champs; 32 NCAA qualifiers; 11 All-Americans |
| Associate Head Coach: | Jon Reader | 6th season | 6th B1G Championships; 2 B1G Champs; 32 NCAA qualifiers; 11 All-Americans |
| Assistant Coach: | Seth Gross | 4th season | 4th B1G Championships; 2 B1G Champs; 21 NCAA qualifiers; 7 All-Americans |
| Coach (RTC): | Garrett Model | 1st season | First B1G Championships as coach; 4 B1Gs appearances as wrestler; 2X NCAA Qualifier |
2. B1G Seedings:
Six Badgers earned top-10 seedings for their brackets, including reigning Big Ten Champion Dean Hamiti who is seeded first at 165 pounds for a second consecutive year and Eric Barnett seeded third at 125.
View the full Big Ten seedings list here.
Joe Zargo (149), Max Maylor (174) and Shane Liegel (184) are all seeded seventh, while Nicolar Rivera (133) is seeded ninth.
Five Badgers will be making their first-ever appearances at the Big Ten Championships: Rivera, Felix Lettini (141), Luke Mechler (157), Liegel and Gannon Rosenfeld (285), while Maylor makes his first appearance as a Badger.
The 2023 Big Ten Champion returns to fight for the crown as the No. 1 seed. Dean Hamiti is the top seed at 165 pounds for the 2024 @b1gwrestling Championships this weekend in College Park, Maryland at the XFINITY Center.
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 5, 2024
Full seeding list via https://t.co/XlcG8gsYGk pic.twitter.com/fDxiSoH8rV
3. Bono at Big Tens
Wisconsin head coach Chris Bono enters his sixth Big Ten Championships and has crowned two Big Ten Champions — Dean Hamiti won the 165-pound title in 2023 and Austin Gomez won in 2022 at 149 pounds.
Bono has qualified 32 Badgers to the NCAA Championships, including 11 NCAA All-Americans during his tenure.
4. Five Badgers Ranked by NCAA Coaches
Five Badgers are currently receiving rankings by the NCAA coaches in advance of the 2024 NCAA Championships released on Feb. 29 along with the official conference allocations.
- 4th - Eric Barnett, 125
- 4th - Dean Hamiti, 165
- 13th - Max Maylor, 184
- 14th - Joseph Zargo, 149
- 14th - Shane Liegel, 185
An earlier version of the rankings also included Nicolar Rivera in the 133-pound poll.
Barnett, Hamiti and Zargo are prior NCAA qualifiers, but Maylor, Liegel and Rivera would make their first trip if they qualify to the NCAA Championships.
5. In the media polls
Five Badgers continue to earn national rankings in the latest Intermat poll, while the team is No. 17 in the team rankings in tournament and No. 26 in duals by Intermat.
- No. 4 – Dean Hamiti, 165
- No. 5 – Eric Barnett, 125
- No. 15 – Max Maylor, 174
- No. 16 – Joseph Zargo, 149
- No. 18 - Shane Liegel, 184
6. Liegel embracing change and challenge
One of the most meaningful moments in life comes when you decide to trade a familiar existence for something unknown. It could involve a different address, time zone, acquaintance or a job offer. It could be abrupt or a long time coming.
Regardless, you expect things will become more challenging, more humbling and more uncomfortable. But you go ahead and make the change because, deep inside your heart, you believe it’s for the best.
Shane Liegel had an intensely satisfying existence as a wrestler at Loras College, an NCAA Division III school in Dubuque, Iowa. From 2019 to ’23, he won 100 of 110 matches, advanced to the national finals three times at 184 pounds and was crowned NCAA Champion as a sophomore in 2021.
"Being around a little bit higher level of wrestling, I thought I had some more potential.
— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) February 17, 2024
"Sometimes you can get a little comfortable where you’re at. I felt I could still grow in every aspect."
Shane Liegel is embracing change & challenge as a Badger https://t.co/ode35jMWtt
