The Biggest Upsets in NCAA Wrestling History
The world of NCAA wrestling is filled with intense competition and unexpected outcomes. While rankings provide a guideline, they don't guarantee victory. Every season witnesses upsets that defy expectations, moments where underdogs rise to defeat highly-ranked opponents. This article explores some of the most significant upsets in NCAA wrestling history.
Recent NCAA Wrestling Upsets
After the National Duals Invitational presented by Paycom, the wrestling world saw a quieter week in terms of upsets, but there were still some notable results. It is important to remember that rankings at this point in the season may not accurately reflect a wrestler's true ability, and some unranked wrestlers may be strong contenders who are simply blocked by teammates in the rankings.
Top Upsets Based on Ranking Difference
Here's a breakdown of some of the more significant upsets from a recent week:
Upsets with a Difference in Rankings of Over 20:
- 165: Sean Seefeldt (Penn) over #11 Ryan Burton (Virginia Tech) 2-1 TB
- 149: Max Petersen (North Dakota State) over #12 Caleb Rathjen (Northern Iowa) 6-5
- 133: #28 Evan Mougalian (Penn) over #7 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 11-4
- 125: Ezekiel Witt (North Dakota State) over #13 Trever Anderson (Northern Iowa) 3-1
Sean Seefeldt and Max Peterson recorded the biggest upsets of the weekend. Evan Mougalian and Ezekiel Witt were close behind.
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Upsets with a Difference in Rankings Between 10 and 19:
- 165: Cesar Alvan (Columbia) over #15 Dylan Gilcher (Michigan) 5-4
- 157: Drayden Morton (California Baptist) over #16 Jared Hill (Wyoming) 5-4
- 184: Asher Cunningham (Penn State) over #16 Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia) 11-3
- 125: Nate Desmond (Penn State) over #18 Cooper Flynn (Chattanooga) 7-0
- 141: Jordan Titus (West Virginia) over #19 Elijah Griffin (Rider) 5-2
- 197: Connor Mirasola (Penn State) over #20 Wolfgang Frable (Army West Point Tech) 17-2
- 125: #20 Tyler Klinsky (Rider) over #9 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) 20-11
- 149: Dylan Layton (Rider) over #23 Willie McDougald (West Virginia) 5-2 TB
- 133: Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine) over #24 Markel Baker (Northern Illinois) 5-2
Cunningham, Desmond and Mirasola are unranked because they have highly-ranked teammates.
Upsets with a Difference in Ranking Between 6 and 10:
- 184: #30 Christian Hansen (Cornell) over #21 Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 4-2
- 184: #20 Jared McGill (Edinboro) over #11 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) 2-0
- 157: Daishun Powe (Northern Colorado) over #26 RJ Weston (Northern Iowa) 4-2
- 157: Daishun Powe (Northern Colorado) over #26 RJ Weston (Northern Iowa) 9-4
- 149: Paul Kelly (California Baptist) over #26 Gabe Willochell (Wyoming) 17-15
- 125: Ben Monn (George Mason) over #26 Marcello Milani (Cornell) 4-3
- 141: Richie Clementi (California Baptist) over #27 Nash Singleton (Oregon State) 10-7 SV
- 125: Desmond Pleasant (Drexel) over #27 Caleb Weiand (Michigan State) 6-2
- 125: Curtis Nelson (Lock Haven) over #27 Caleb Weiand (Michigan State) 6-0
- 133: #23 Ethan Berginc (Army West Point) over #17 T.K. Davis (West Virginia) 6-4
Landmark Upsets in NCAA Wrestling History
While recent upsets provide excitement, some matches have become legendary due to their historical significance and the magnitude of the upset.
Larry Owings vs. Dan Gable (1970)
Arguably the biggest upset in NCAA Wrestling Championships finals history took place at the 1970 NCAAs when Larry Owings handed Dan Gable his first loss in his combined high school/college career. The late wrestling historian Jairus "Jay" Hammond considered this the greatest upset in NCAA finals history.
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Background
Dan Gable entered the 1970 NCAA tournament with a perfect record. He had never lost in high school (64-0 with three state titles) or college (117-0). He was heavily favored to win his third national title. Larry Owings, a sophomore from the University of Washington, was a formidable wrestler, but few expected him to defeat Gable. Owings had lost to Gable at the 1968 Olympic Trials.
The Match
Both wrestlers pinned their way to the finals. Owings dropped down to the 142-pound weight class specifically to challenge Gable. The match was a back-and-forth battle. Owings took an early lead, but Gable rallied to tie the score. Late in the third period, Gable attempted an armbar, but Owings countered with a leg sweep, taking Gable down and scoring two points for exposure. Owings led 13-11 with 17 seconds left and secured the victory.
Significance
Owings' victory over Gable is considered one of the greatest upsets in NCAA wrestling history because it was Gable's only loss in his entire high school and college career. Gable went on to win an Olympic gold medal and become a legendary coach at Iowa, but this loss remains a significant part of his story.
Darrion Caldwell vs. Brent Metcalf (2009)
Jay Hammond considered this the second-greatest upset in NCAA finals history.
Background
Brent Metcalf of Iowa was undefeated and a defending national champion. Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State was a highly-ranked wrestler, but Metcalf was the clear favorite. Metcalf had a flawless prep career record of 228-0. He won four consecutive state titles in Michigan. Caldwell was a three-time state wrestling champ in his native New Jersey, compiling an impressive 146-4 mat record in high school.
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The Match
Caldwell defeated Metcalf 4-2. The match was entertaining and controversial. Caldwell was on the attack from the start and used two takedowns from scrambles to lead 4-2. As the match came to an end, Caldwell began a premature celebration that included a full back flip. Metcalf pushed Caldwell mid-flip and after a review by the officials, Iowa was penalized a team point.
Significance
Caldwell's victory over Metcalf was a significant upset because Metcalf was undefeated and a defending national champion.
Jack Flasche vs. Phil Kinyon (1962)
Jay Hammond considered this the third-greatest upset in NCAA finals history.
Background
Before the start of the 1962 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Oklahoma State's Gallagher Hall on March 23-24, few would have guessed that the 157-pound title match would have seemed to be mismatch. There was Jack Flasche, unseeded wrestler from what was then called Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado), a sophomore making his first appearance at the NCAAs. Kinyon was the prohibitive favorite. Navy where he served for nearly a decade, continuing his wrestling career in freestyle. After a brief time on the wrestling roster at UCLA, Kinyon returned to his hometown to wrestle for the Cowboys, winning the 157-pound crown at the 1961 NCAAs, and compiling an overall record of 26-1-3 right up to the '62 NCAA finals. There were two other factors that made Kinyon "the sure bet" to win a second NCAA title in his home gym. freestyle wrestling team for the 1960 Rome Olympics, losing the final match in a bruising series of a dozen bouts to former Oklahoma State champ Doug Blubaugh, eventual gold medal winner. He was also known for his physical strength and intimidating musculature. Even in high school, Kinyon was voted "Best Physique" twice. As for Flasche … Colorado wrestling historian Ray Coca wrote, "Pound-for-pound, Jack Flasche was considered one of the greatest amateur wrestlers to come out of the Western Slope." While at Fruita High, Flasche won back-to-back Colorado state titles.
The Match
Flasche beat Kinyon 5-2.
Significance
Looking back at the 1962 NCAAs, Ray Coca wrote, "When Flasche beat the number-one seed Kinyon 5-2, it was considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history. Coca went to write, "Many young wrestlers attempted to emulate Flasche's style of wrestling 'from his knees' instead of the more conventional style of 'on both feet.' However, fans outside wrestling circles were unaware of the fact that Flasche had a permanent injury to his knee.
Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Gable Steveson (2025)
This match is a more recent example of a significant upset.
Background
Gable Steveson was a two-time national champion and Olympic gold medalist. Wyatt Hendrickson was a transfer from the Air Force Academy. Steveson had been away from wrestling for two years to try both WWE and the NFL. He didnât wrestle in any tournaments this year at all. Heâs only had 14 matches.
The Match
Trailing late in the third period, Hendrickson took down Steveson to win 5-4. Wyatt Hendrickson shot in on Gable Stevesonâs right leg, then grabbed his left leg and dumped him to the mat.
Significance
Hendrickson's victory was a major upset because Steveson was an Olympic champion. The stunning victory led to Hendrickson winning the Dan Hodge Trophy as college wrestling's most outstanding wrestler.
Factors Contributing to Upsets
Several factors can contribute to upsets in NCAA wrestling:
- Rankings are not definitive: Rankings are based on past performance and can be influenced by various factors.
- Wrestler Development: Wrestlers can improve significantly throughout the season.
- Weight Cutting: Dropping weight classes can affect a wrestler's strength and performance.
- Injuries: Injuries can hinder a wrestler's ability to compete at their best.
- Mental Game: Confidence and mental toughness play a crucial role in wrestling.
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