2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships Coverage

Live Updates: Big Ten Wrestling Championships Finals

Live Updates: Big Ten Wrestling Championships Finals

Live updates from the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in College Park, Maryland!

Mar 10, 2024 by Andrew Spey
Live Updates: Big Ten Wrestling Championships Finals

Live updates from the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in College Park, Maryland!

For more Big Ten results, click here.

Finals are scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM Eastern time. You can watch live if you have the BTN cable channel.

Big Ten Finals Matchups

125: #9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) vs #5 Braeden Davis (Penn State)

133: #4 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) vs #7 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)

141: #1 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) vs #3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) 

149: #1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) vs #5 Austin Gomez (Michigan)

157: #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs #15 Will Lewan (Michigan)

165: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) vs #5 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 

174: #6 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) vs #3 Shane Griffith (Michigan)

184: #5 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) vs #6 Bernie Truax (Penn State)

197: #1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs #12 Zach Glazier (Iowa)

285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs #8 Nick Feldman (Ohio State)

We're going in weight class order, and we're starting right now!

Third and fifth-place bouts are being wrestled simultaneously. You can watch those mats if you have a subscription to B1G+. 

125: #9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota) vs #5 Braeden Davis (Penn State)

Things were par for the 125lb course at Big Tens, with the top 3 seeds losing in the quarterfinals. McKee was the fourth seed and Davis the 6th seed. Neither beat Matt Ramos or Drake Ayala, the #1 and #2 seed, who are wrestling for third right now. 

1st period: Physical first half of the period but no scores. Lots of collar ties and snaps. A flurry gets stalemated with about a minute left in the first. The rest of the period transpires uneventfully. 0-0 after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: McKee chooses down to start the 2nd. Davis rides tough for 30 seconds before McKee gets to his feet. Davis brings him back down to the mat, then rocks back in a grab ride and gets three nearfall. Davis leads 3-0 with 47 seconds left in the period. On the restart McKee sits and is free to make it 3-1. They finish the period in neutral, still 3-1 Davis. The Penn State true freshman also has 1:19 of RT. 

3rd period: Davis elects to go underneath. Davis sits on the whistle, and he's out in about 10 seconds. He preserves 1:09 of riding time but McKee trails 4-1 so he's going to need some offense either way. 1:17 left after a stalemate. Davis drops down on a shot. He's trying to collect the takedown, McKee keeping him at bay. There's a stalemate, the partisan Nittany Lion fans don't like it. Back to the center, McKee starts looking for upperbody moves. He gets the ties he wants but Davis is ready for his hip tosses. Nothing lands. Then Davis gets in deep on a double in short time, lifts and bombs McKee down to the mat to seal the deal. 8-1 is the final with the riding time point. Lots of PSU fans in the Xfinity Center and they are loving in. True freshman Braeden Davis is a Big Ten champion!

1st place: Davis over McKee, 8-1

3rd place: Drake Ayala (Iowa) over Matt Ramos (Purdue), 4-1

5th place: Dean Peterson (Rutgers) over Michael DeAugustino (Michigan), SV 9-6


133: #4 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) vs #7 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)

1st period: It's Dylan vs Dylan as the #1 and #2 seeds both reached the finals. Shawver on the attack early. First shot doesn't land, but on the next one he's behind Ragusin and drags him down to the mat for the first points of the match. Tagusin is out quickly so it's 3-1 after a minute or so. Now we've got dueling body locks but they go out of bounds before anyone gets hurt, including the camera man they nearly ran over (he's okay tho). Shawver on a leg, then Ragusin scrambles and has Shawver's leg, then they go out of bounds. No score, still 3-1, back to neutral in short time. Another flurry but no scores. Great action in the first period. 

2nd period: Ragusin takes bottom. He's out in a hurry and he chops that lead in half. Shawver pressuring in but Ragusin standing his ground. Stalemate. Restart, one minute to go in the period. Both wrestlers firing off shots but their respective defenses hold up. Ragusin digs underhooks after a flurry, he marches Shawver to the boundary, but Shawver hits the lateral drop and has Ragusin on his back. Shawver drags one foot in bounds and collects three for the TD and four more nearfall. 10-2 as they go out of bounds. Less than 20 on the restart, sit and a roll for Ragusin and get gets a reversal to make it 10-4. And that's how the period ends. Fantastic action in this period too. 

3rd period: Shawver takes bottom. Ragusin lets him up and it's 11-4. More upper body ties, Ragusin looking for a homerun. They go out of bounds. Ragusin still looking for a big move on the restart, but Shawver defends, then reattacks with a low double and collects three more. It's 14-4 with a minute to go, Shawver with a commanding lead. Ragusin escapes to make it 14-5, he shoots, Shawver tries to throw by, Ragusin defends and hits his own throw by for a takedown. Ragusin cuts him, 15-8, Shawver leads in short time. Ragusin with a front headlock, goes for a cement mixer, Shawver catches him on his back for four. Nearly ahs the fall but the match ends. Plus riding time and it's 23-8 tech-fall!

The Scarlet Knight from Ohio is a Big Ten champ! Ragusin was the winner the two previous times these two met this season. Ragusin won 4-1 at Midlands and 8-5 in a January dual meet. 

1st place: Shawver over Ragusin, TF 7:00 23-8 

3rd place: Aaron Nagao (Penn State) over Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska), Fall 1:52

5th place: Brody Teske (Iowa) over Braxton Brown (Maryland), 4-1


141: #1 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) vs #3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)

1st period: The last time these two met it was Barlett winning in sudden victory 4-1. Both wrestlers lock horns off the whistle. Both have been wrestling extremely physical all weekend. This finals match is starting no differently. Mendez fires off a low shot, tries to suck in Barlett's legs but Beau gets his hips back and they're back in neutral. Excellent shot, slightly more excellent defense. Mendez goes right at Bartlett in short time, nearly driving him off the mat but Barlett whizzers at the boundary. It's 0-0 at the end of the first. 

2nd period: Mendez chooses down. Bartlett maintains control on Mendez's first stand attempt. The second attempt is successful and it's 1-0 Mendez. Bartlett amasses 35 seconds of riding time. An uneventful rest of the period and it's still 1-0. 

3rd period: Bartlett gets a turn underneath. Beau is out after about 15 seconds and it's tied 1-1, riding time not a factor. They wrestle back to the center, one minute remaining in regulation. With 45 seconds on the clock Bartlett fires off a shot, Mendez downblocks and reattacks. Barlett defends. Leg elevator from Bartlett, Mendez counters, he's in on Bartlett's legs. And it's 3 for Mendez with 6 seconds left on the clock! Huge takedown. Mendez rides out the match. Jesse Mendez avenges the regular season loss and wins a Big Ten Championshoip!

That may have secured the #1 seed for Mendez at NCAAs as well. 

1st place: Mendez over Bartlett, 4-1

3rd place: Real Woods (Iowa) over Sergio Lemley (Michigan), 11-8

5th place: Brock Hardy (Nebraska) over Mitch Moore (Rutgers), Fall 2:28


149: #1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) vs #5 Austin Gomez (Michigan)

1st period: Lovett won 11-4 in the February dual meet between the Huskers and Wolverines. Gomez, who recently qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics representing Mexico, comes out with a head wrap. Lovett takes a couple of preliminary shots, defended by Gomez. Now it's Gomez with a single leg bu Lovett scrambles and avoids the takedown. Low shot by Gomez, and he finishes cleanly for three. Lovett is out quickly and it's 3-1 Gomez. Lovett on the attack now, slips a heel behind one of Gomez's and trips him to the mat for three of his own. And it's 4-3 at the end of the period, Lovett leads. 

2nd period: Lovett choose down and Gomez says optional start so it's 5-3. Two minutes of neutral wrestling and no more scores so we go to the third. 

3rd period: Gomez will take neutral, wanting nothing to do with Lovett's top wrestling. And we get some upperbody fireworks. 505/50 position. Lovett lands on his head but somehow wriggles to his belly and they go out of bounds, no one getting the advantage of that sequence. Gomez with some late match attacks but Lovett defends. Too much backing up for the refs though, as he gets dinged for stalling and it's 5-4. Gomez with one of Lovett's legs in the air as time expires and that's how it ends, 5-5, Ridge Lovett wins a Big Ten title for the Nebraska Cornhuskers!

1st place: Lovett over Gomez, 5-4

3rd place: Tyler Kasak (Penn State) over Ethen Miller (Maryland), Fall 2:37 

5th place: Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) over Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State), 11-5


157: #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs #15 Will Lewan (Michigan)

1st period: Haines defeated Lewan 2-1 in a January dual meet in what has been one of Haines' closest matches of his currently undefeated season. No scores or much in the way of flurries halfway through the first period. And that's how the period ends, in neutral 0-0. 

2nd period: Lewan chooses bottom, and struggles free after just 8 seconds of wrestling. Lewan leads 1-0. Haines taking more ground from Lewan, and there's the first stall warning on the Wolverine. Now a couple of shots from Lewan but Haines defends. They trade attacks as time expires in the period, still 1-0 for Lewan. 

3rd period: Haines takes bottom, and he's out in just four seconds. Scores is knotted up 1-1, riding time will not be a factor. Lewan on a shot but Haines with a deep sprawl to neutralize him. They trade shots, and now Haines gets hit with stalling as boos from the Penn State fans express they're disapproval. Lewan goes big with a lat drop but Haines defends and they go out of bounds, no score. Haines on a shot at the end of regulation. PSU fans wanted a stall to end it but they are disappointed. We go to overtime.

Sudden victory: Haines doesn't waste much time. Within ten seconds he's in on Lewan's legs and within 11 seconds he has the winning takedown! Levi Haines is now a two-time Big Ten Champion!

1st place: Haines over Lewan, 4-1

3rd place: Peyton Robb (Nebraska) over Jared Franek (Iowa), medical forfeit

5th place: Brayton Lee (Minnesota) over Joey Blaze (Purdue), 3-2


165: #4 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) vs #5 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)

1st period: These two have never met before. Redshirt freshman Mesenbrink is undefeated in his collegiate career. Hamiti has just one loss this season to David Carr. Both these guys have non stop motors, I expect this to be wrestled at a high pace. And right off the whistle, Mesenbrink is in on a shot. Back to neutral, another flurry off a Mesenrbink shot, stalemated. Now Hamiti fired off a shot, and he's got the first three points with a slick ankle pick. Mesenrbink is out after 12 seconds and is quickly in on his own shot. Hamiti cuts the corner and they scramble. Stalemate. Non stop action and still over a minute left in the period! Mesenbrink in deep, but Hamiti has answers. A long scramble and Hamiti finds a path to a go behind and he leads 6-1. A wild first period comes to an end, still 6-1 for the Badger. 

2nd period: Mesenbrink chooses down. He's out quickly to make it 6-2. More attacks from Mesenrbink but Hamiti is too lanky and too funky and he spins behind for three more and a 9-2 lead. Hamiti putting a ride on now. Over a minute of RT and climbing. Mesenrbink gets to his feet and kicks free and the score is 9-3. 1:26 of RT for Hamiti. Mesenrbink keeps his foot on the gas and he completes a double leg for three in the closing seconds. 9-6 and this match continues to deliver. 

3rd period: Hamiti chooses down. He explodes up and gets a reversal to make it 11-6. Mesenrbink escapes for a 11-7 scores. There's a scramble, and Mesenrbink thunders Hamiti to the mat. He'll get three and more. Four nearfall and now Mesenbrink leads 13-11. Hamiti is stuck on his belly. Mesenbrink riding tough. 30 seconds left. The crowd is getting in to it now! The roar is defending as Mesenrbink gets the monster rideout for the come-from-behind victory. Incredible bout! Half the arena is on their feet. Probably more than half. An instant classic!

1st place: Mesenbrink over Hamiti, 13-11

3rd place: Michael Caliendo (Iowa) over Cameron Amine (Michigan), SV 8-5

5th place: Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) over Chris Moore (Illinois), 4-1


174: #6 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) vs #3 Shane Griffith (Michigan)

1st period: And Griffith will medically forfeit to Ruth so Illinois has a Big Ten Champ! Ruth also helps his NCAA seed as this will count as a win for him. 

And I will use the spare time between bouts (as they still have to wrestle for 3rd and 5th) to check this blog for typos. Haha psyche I'm not doing that I am going to watch the matches without having to also type on this laptop for once in my life. 

1st place: Ruth over Griffith, medical forfeit

3rd place: Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) over Jackson Turley (Rutgers), 4-2

5th place: Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) over Andrew Sparks (Minnesota), SV 4-1


184: #5 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) vs #6 Bernie Truax (Penn State)

1st period: These two have yet to wrestle each other in their careers. Truax, a three-time fourth-placer at NCAAs, spent the previous five seasons at Cal Poly before transferring to Penn State over the summer. Salazar is in his fourth season in Minneapolis and has now qualified for his third NCAA Tournament. No scores halfway through the first. Mostly collar ties. And a tactical first period ends 0-0. 

2nd period: Truax takes bottom. He stands off the whistle but is brought down by Salazar. Another stand and Truax is out and leads 1-0. Salazar has 40 seconds of riding time. Salazar in on a shot late in the period. Truax defends. Still defending as time expires in the period and we go to the third, still 1-0. 

3rd period: Salazar gets a turn underneath, and he's out in just a few seconds to not the score at 1-1, riding time at 33 ticks for Salazar, likely won't be a factor. A flurry with both wrestlers on their knees, trading shots. No scores and we're back to the center in neutral. 35 seconds remaining and another flurry. Salazar on a low single, Truax goes back into him, sits the corner, Salazar holding on to the leg, still scrambling, and regulation time expires. On to overtime, score still 1-1. 

Sudden victory: Action picking up. A few flurries but not scores. Now Truax in on a shot, Salazar defending, Salazar gains height. And Truax in trouble. Threre's three for Salazar and he could get the pin! Truax fights off his back and Minnesota has a Big Ten Champ! 

With the nearfall it's an 8-1 victory for Salazar. Bout really picked up towards the ends, tremendous effort from both athletes. 

1st place: Salazar over Truax, SV 8-1

3rd place: Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) over Jaden Bullock (Michigan), SV 4-1

5th place: Ryder Rogotzke (Ohio State) over Brian Soldano (Rutgers), 15-3


197: #1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs #12 Zach Glazier (Iowa)

1st period: Brooks beat Glazier 5-1 in the dual meet between the Lions and Hawks. That was the closest bout Brooks has had all season and one of only four that went the full seven minutes. A little less than a minute into the bout before Brooks drops down on a leg and collects his first takedown.Glazier stands and Brooks cuts him loose and then is quickly in on another leg attack that he finishes for three more. Brooks' heavy hands set both shots up for success. Brooks rides out the period with a 6-1 leads and 1:46 of RT. 

2nd period: Brooks opts for the bottom position. Brooks is out in a couple of seconds. Brooks on the attack but Galzier fends off the foray. This time it's an underhook that keys Brooks to another takedown. Brooks again rides out the period with a 10-1 lead. Glazier got hit with a stall warning as well. 

3rd period: Glazier decided to take neutral. Glazier in on a shot, but Brooks turns it into his points with a go-behind. Brooks cuts Glazier to make it 13-2. Silky smooth ankle pick and Brooks has three more. 16-3 with the escape. Underhook and front trip and that's all she wrote. Aaron Brooks is a four-time Big Ten Champion! Too easy for Brooks, who wins his last conference title in his home state of Maryland. 

1st place: Brooks over Glazier, TF 6:08 (19-3)

3rd place: Silas Allred (Nebraska) over Jaxon Smith (Maryland), 10-3

5th place: Garrett Joles (Minnesota) over Luke Geog (Ohio State), medical forfeit


285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs #8 Nick Feldman (Ohio State)

1st period: Kerkvliet defeated Feldman 12-0 in the dual meet earlier this season. Feldman strikes first, however, with a downblock go-behind off a Kerkvliet shot to collect the first three. Kerkvliet escapes in just a couple of seconds to make it 3-1. Now it's Kerkvliet's turn to score off a Feldman shot. Feldman nearly escaped Kerkvliet's clutches but his reach and grip are too much and it's a 4-3 lead for Kerkvliet. Feldman stick on his stomach and gets dinged for stalling. Kekvliet riding parallel  though so we'll see if he doesn't get warned at some point. And there's the stall warning on Kerkvliet. Restart with 6 seconds left int he period, still 4-3. Feldman can't get out before the buzzer and Kerkvliet takes his one point lead and 1:24 of riding time to the second. 

2nd period: Kerkvliet has choice and decided to try bottom. Kerkvliet is out in a scant few ticks of the clock and it's 5-3. Feldman a straight on double and Kerkvliet sprawls and spins behind for three more and an 8-3 lead. Kerkvliet rides out the period. No additional stall calls for either wrestler and it's 8-3 going into the final period of regulation of the 2024 Big Ten finals.

3rd period: Feldman says he's had enough mat wrestling he would like to be in neutral now. One minute down. 30 seconds left. Feldman can't find an opening. And Kerkvliet wins his first Big Ten Championship! With the riding time point it's a 9-3 victory. 

And that'll do it for 2024!

1st place: Kerkvliet over Feldman. 9-3

3rd place: Lucas Davison (Michigan) over Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers), 6-3

5th place: Bradley Hill (Iowa) over Nash Hutmacher (Nebraska), 4-1

Penn State wins the team race by large margin, as was expected. Michigan was runner-up and Nebraska finished third. The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes rounded out the top five. 

That's all from College Park. Thanks for reading, apologies for the typos and see you in Kansas City for the NCAAs!