Wrestling pre-seeds announced for Big Ten Championships
March 02, 2026 | Wrestling
Badgers set for postseason competition in State College
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin wrestling, head coached by Chris Bono, will send 10 competitors to the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships this weekend in State College, Pa., as the conference announced pre-seeds ahead of the two-day tournament from March 7-8.
The Badgers enter the postseason following a 12-5 dual campaign and a strong close to the regular season after an upset win over Michigan. The Badgers feature experience and depth across all 10 weight classes heading into the conference championships.
At 125 pounds, Nicolar Rivera, ranked at No. 7, Â carries a 16-4 overall record with 14 dual wins this season. Zan Fugitt, ranked at No. 4 and competing at 133 pounds, enters with a matching 16-4 mark, highlighted by eight major decisions and consistent bonus-point production.
Carson Exferd, ranked at No. 13, represents the Badgers at 141 pounds, while Joseph Zargo, ranked at No. 3, anchors 149 with a 15-4 overall record, notching six technical falls throughout the season.Â
At 157 pounds, Luke Mechler, ranked at No. 8, brings a 15-6 record and 12 dual victories into the postseason. At 165, No. 10 Cody Goebel has tallied 10 victories this season, while No. 12 Luke Condon (174) and No. 14 Cale Anderson (184) add depth to Wisconsin's middleweights.
Wyatt Ingham, ranked at No. 6, Â enters the championships at 197 pounds with 14 wins, including four technical falls. At heavyweight, Braxton Amos, ranked at No. 5, leads the team with 17 victories, including five falls and five major decisions.Â
The Big Ten tournament is one of the toughest in the country, with NCAA spots on the line across all 10 weight classes. Wisconsin will look to build on its regular-season momentum as it competes for conference placement and national positioning.
The 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will take place March 7-8 in State College, Pa. The two-day tournament serves as the NCAA qualifier for all 14 conference programs. Action begins Saturday at 9 a.m. CT with session one, airing on BTN and B1G+. Session two starts at 4 p.m. CT on B1G+, followed by semifinal coverage on BTN from 6-8 p.m. CT. Competition resumes Sunday at noon ET on B1G+, with championship finals set for 3:30 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network. Consolation placement matches will stream on B1G+.
Full Pre-Seeds List
125 lbs
133 lbs
141 lbs
149 lbs
157 lbs
165 lbs
174 lbs
184 lbs
197 lbs
285 lbsÂ
The Badgers enter the postseason following a 12-5 dual campaign and a strong close to the regular season after an upset win over Michigan. The Badgers feature experience and depth across all 10 weight classes heading into the conference championships.
At 125 pounds, Nicolar Rivera, ranked at No. 7, Â carries a 16-4 overall record with 14 dual wins this season. Zan Fugitt, ranked at No. 4 and competing at 133 pounds, enters with a matching 16-4 mark, highlighted by eight major decisions and consistent bonus-point production.
Carson Exferd, ranked at No. 13, represents the Badgers at 141 pounds, while Joseph Zargo, ranked at No. 3, anchors 149 with a 15-4 overall record, notching six technical falls throughout the season.Â
At 157 pounds, Luke Mechler, ranked at No. 8, brings a 15-6 record and 12 dual victories into the postseason. At 165, No. 10 Cody Goebel has tallied 10 victories this season, while No. 12 Luke Condon (174) and No. 14 Cale Anderson (184) add depth to Wisconsin's middleweights.
Wyatt Ingham, ranked at No. 6, Â enters the championships at 197 pounds with 14 wins, including four technical falls. At heavyweight, Braxton Amos, ranked at No. 5, leads the team with 17 victories, including five falls and five major decisions.Â
The Big Ten tournament is one of the toughest in the country, with NCAA spots on the line across all 10 weight classes. Wisconsin will look to build on its regular-season momentum as it competes for conference placement and national positioning.
The 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will take place March 7-8 in State College, Pa. The two-day tournament serves as the NCAA qualifier for all 14 conference programs. Action begins Saturday at 9 a.m. CT with session one, airing on BTN and B1G+. Session two starts at 4 p.m. CT on B1G+, followed by semifinal coverage on BTN from 6-8 p.m. CT. Competition resumes Sunday at noon ET on B1G+, with championship finals set for 3:30 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network. Consolation placement matches will stream on B1G+.
Full Pre-Seeds List
125 lbs
- Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
- Spencer Moore (ILL)
- Nic Bouzakis (OSU)
- Jacob Moran (IND)
- Jore Volk (MINN)
- Ayden Smith (RU)
- Nicolar Rivera (WIS)
- Dean Peterson (IOWA)
- Diego Sotelo (MICH)
- Dedrick Navarro (NU)
- Kael Lauridsen (NEB)
- Nick Corday (MSU)
- Ashton Jackson (PUR)
- Abram Cline (MD)
133 lbs
- Marcus Blaze (PSU)
- Lucas Byrd (ILL)
- Ben Davino (OSU)
- Zan Fugitt (WIS)
- Drake Ayala (IOWA)
- Jacob Van Dee (NEB)
- Sean Spidle (NU)
- Braxton Brown (MD)
- Dylan Shawver (RU)
- Blake Boarman (PUR)
- Caleb Weiand (MSU)
- Blaine Frazier (IND)
- Gauge Botero (MICH)
- Jager Eisch (MINN)
141 lbs
- Jesse Mendez (OSU)
- Brock Hardy (NEB)
- Vance VomBaur (MINN)
- Nasir Bailey (IOWA)
- Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
- Greyson Clark (PUR)
- Braeden Davis (PSU)
- Billy Dekraker (NU)
- Henry Porter (IND)
- Joseph Olivieri (RU)
- Dario Lemus (MD)
- Danny Pucino (ILL)
- Carson Exferd (WIS)
- Jaden Crumpler (MSU)
149 lbs
- Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
- Ethan Stiles (OSU)
- Joseph Zargo (WIS)
- Lachlan McNeil (MICH)
- Carter Young (MD)
- Chance Lamer (NEB)
- Andrew Clark (RU)
- Ryder Block (IOWA)
- Michael Gioffre (ILL)
- Drew Roberts (MINN)
- Joey Buttler (IND)
- Gavin Brown (PUR)
- Clayton Jones (MSU)
- August Hibler (NU)
157 lbs
- Antrell Taylor (NEB)
- PJ Duke (PSU)
- Kannon Webster (ILL)
- Anthony White (RU)
- Cameron Catrabone (MICH)
- Charlie Millard (MINN)
- Brandon Cannon (OSU)
- Luke Mechler (WIS)
- Stoney Buell (PUR)
- Victor Voinovich III (IOWA)
- Bryce Lowery (IND)
- Darius Marines (MSU)
- Mekhi Neal (MD)
- Ty Wilson (NU)Â
165 lbs
- Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)
- Michael Caliendo (IOWA)
- Joey Blaze (PUR)
- Andrew Sparks (MINN)
- LJ Araujo (NEB)
- Braeden Scoles (ILL)
- Andrew Barbosa (RU)
- Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
- Tyler Lillard (IND)
- Cody Goebel (WIS)
- Jacob Bostelman (NU)
- Justin Gates (MICH)
- AJ Rodrigues (MD)
- Jack Conley (MSU)
174 lbs
- Christopher Minto (NEB)
- Levi Haines (PSU)
- Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
- Beau Mantanona (MICH)
- Carson Kharchla (OSU)
- Derek Gilcher (IND)
- Ethan Riddle (MINN)
- Brody Baumann (PUR)
- Colin Kelly (ILL)
- Lenny Pinto (RU)
- Eddie Enright (NU)
- Luke Condon (WIS)
- Connor O'Neil (MSU)
- Seth Digby (MD)
184 lbs
- Rocco Welsh (PSU)
- Max McEnelly (MINN)
- Silas Allred (NEB)
- Brock Mantanona (MICH)
- Chris Moore (ILL)
- Dylan Fishback (OSU)
- Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU)
- Angelo Ferrari (IOWA)
- Sam Goin (IND)
- James Rowley (PUR)
- J.D. Perez (NU)
- Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (MD)
- Ryan Boucher (MSU)
- Cale Anderson (WIS)
197 lbs
- Josh Barr (PSU)
- Camden McDanel (NEB)
- Remy Cotton (RU)
- Branson John (MD)
- Luke Geog (OSU)
- Wyatt Ingham (WIS)
- Kael Wisler (MSU)
- Gabe Sollars (IND)
- Ben Vanadia (PUR)
- Hayden Walters (MICH)
- Gavin Nelson (MINN)
- Dylan Connell (ILL)
- Gabe Arnold (IOWA)
- Alex Smith (NU)Â
285 lbsÂ
- Taye Ghadiali (MICH)
- AJ Ferrari (NEB)
- Nick Feldman (OSU)
- Cole Mirasola (PSU)
- Braxton Amos (WIS)
- Luke Luffman (ILL)
- Koy Hopke (MINN)
- Hunter Catka (RU)
- Josh Terrill (MSU)
- Ben Kueter (IOWA)
- Hayden Filipovich (PUR)
- Joey Schneck (MD)
- Gabe Christenson (NU)
- Caleb Marzolino (IND)
Players Mentioned
HWT
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
149
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