2023 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Notebook • Heavyweight

WIN Magazine will provide notes and quotes about the Heavyweight wrestlers at the 2023 NCAA Division I Championships in Tulsa, Okla.

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Semifinals (March 17 – 7 p.m.)

#1 Mason Parris (Michigan) won by TF over #4 Tony Cassioppi (Iowa), 16-1 5:12 — Parris dismantled his Hawkeye foe, racking up 10 points in the first period via a takedown and consecutive bar arms. After a second period escape and takedown, the top-seeded Wolverine finished off the bout with a third takedown just 12 seconds into the third frame to earn his first finals trip.

#3 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) dec. #2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force), 4-2 — Hendrickson scored the opening takedown, but a second period reversal and a strong third period ride allowed the Nittany Lion to punch his ticket to his first NCAA final.

Quarterfinals (March 17 – 11 a.m.)

#1 Mason Parris (Michigan) won by major decision over #9 Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 10-1 — Parris, who won by just a 6-4 decision earlier this winter over the Wildcat, had no trouble with Davison; scoring two takedowns and four-point fall in the first period. The 2021 national runner-up also added a 3:22 riding time advantage of the Davision.

#4 Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) dec. #5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State), 3-1 SV – The Hawkeye converted a single leg takedown in sudden victory and was able to keep the Sun Devil from scooting behind on a scramble attempt to punch his ticket to the semis.

#3 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) dec. #11 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin), 4-0 — The two-time All-American guaranteed his team a seven semifinalist by scoring the bout’s only takedown with 23 seconds left in the second period and added a 2:20 riding time advantage.

#2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) major dec. #10 Zach Elam (Missouri), 17-8. – Becoming the first Falcon All-American since Kevin Hoy in 2003 (also a heavyweight), Hendrickson was lateral dropped early on and trailed 6-0, but reversed the Tiger heavyweight to his back to tie the score 6-6 after one. Hendrickson broke open a close match early in the third period, hitting an escape and then a double leg straight to the back for six more points, putting an exclamation point on his quarterfinal victory.

Second Round (March 16 – 6 p.m.)

• Top-seeded Mason Parris (Michigan) earned a workmanlike 6-1 decision over No. 17 Taye Ghadiali (Campbell).
• No. 9 Lucas Davison (Northwestern) used two escapes, the second coming after an injury timeout, to defeat No. 8 Sam Schuyler (Iowa State), 2-1.
• No. 5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) broke a late 1-1 deadlock, clamping No. 12 Colton McKiernan (SIUE) in a body lock for a fall at the 6:10 mark.
• No. 11 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) used a second period escape and fended off late takedown attempts to knock off No. 6 Yaraslau Slavikouski (Harvard), 1-0.
• A takedown with four seconds left in the opening period helped No. 10 Zach Elam (Missouri) upset No. 7 Owen Trephan (NC State), 4-0.
• No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson was hungry for bonus points again, tallying four takedowns and four nearfall points in a 14-1 major decision over No. 15 Grady Griess (Navy).

First Round (March 16 – 11 a.m. CDT)

• No. 17 Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) converted a takedown 30 seconds into overtime to upend No. 16 Tate Orndorff (Ohio State), 3-1 SV.
• No. 2 and No. 3 seeds Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) and Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State), respectively, secured first period falls. Hendrickson pinned Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) in 1:54 while the Nittany Lion stuck Hayden Copass (Purdue) in 0:34.

All-American Round (March 18 – 10 a.m.)

Finals (March 18 – 6 p.m.)