University Park, Pa. — NCAA champion Lucas Byrd of Illinois, undefeated Joey Blaze of Purdue, and former No. 1-ranked Brandon Cannon of Ohio State entered the 2025–26 Big Ten Wrestling Championships with title aspirations. Instead, each found themselves in the consolation bracket and responded with key wins to keep their podium hopes alive.
Byrd was dominant against Maryland’s Braxton Brown, earning an 8-0 major decision to advance to a key consolation matchup against Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee at 133 pounds.
At 157 pounds, Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon, last year’s Big Ten runner-up at the weight, moved forward after defeating Purdue’s Stoney Buell by default. Cannon remains in the hunt for a third-place finish and is aiming to secure his first All-American honor at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland after falling in the Blood Round last season.
NCAA finalist Joey Blaze bounced back from an earlier upset loss to Rutgers’ Andrew Barbosa by defeating Indiana’s Tyler Lillard 4-1. Blaze will next face Illinois’ Braeden Scoles, whom he defeated 3-0 in the Purdue–Illinois dual earlier this season.
At 141 pounds, Penn State’s Braeden Davis continues his push for a third-place finish and is the lone Nittany Lion competing in the consolation bracket after the opening session.
Below are the full consolation round results from Saturday.
125 Pounds
Ayden Smith (Rutgers) over Ashton Jackson (Purdue), 4-2
Kael Lauriden (Nebraska) over Abram Cline (Maryland), 11-0
Diego Sotelo (Michigan) over Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin), 11-1
Ayden Smith (Rutgers) over Spencer Moore (Illinois), 3-2
Kael Lauriden (Nebraska) over Nick Corday (Michigan State), 3-2
Dean Peterson (Rutgers) over Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern), 5-0
133 Pounds
Blaine Frazier (Indiana) over Gauge Botero (Michigan), 10-4
Jager Eisch (Minnesota) over Caleb Weiand (Michigan State), 15-0
Lucas Byrd (Illinois) over Braxton Brown (Maryland), 8-0
Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) over Blaine Frazier (Indiana), 19-4
Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) over Jager Eisch (Minnesota), 5-2
Sean Spidle (Northwestern) over Dylan Shawver (Rutgers), 1-0
141 Pounds
Danny Pucino (Illinois) over Carson Exferd (Wisconsin), 10-7
Dario Lemus (Maryland) over Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State), 10-1
Joey Olivieri (Rutgers) over Henry Porter (Indiana), 13-1
Braeden Davis (Penn State) over Danny Pucino (Illinois) by fall
Dario Lemus (Maryland) over Dylan Ragusin (Michigan), 12-3
Billy DeKraker (Northwestern) over Greyson Clark (Purdue), 5-4
149 Pounds
Clayton Jones (Michigan State) over Gavin Brown (Purdue), 10-2
August Hibler (Northwestern) over Joey Buttler (Indiana), 9-8
Michael Gioffre (Illinois) over Drew Roberts (Minnesota), 12-3
Clayton Jones (Michigan State) over Chance Lamer (Nebraska) by fall
Carter Young (Maryland) over August Hibler (Northwestern), 8-0
Andrew Clark (Rutgers) over Ryder Block (Iowa), 4-0
157 Pounds
Tony White (Rutgers) over Mekhi Neal (Maryland), 8-1
Bryce Lowery (Indiana) over Ty Wilson (Northwestern), 4-1
Brandon Cannon (Ohio State) over Stoney Buell (Purdue) by default
Charlie Millard (Minnesota) over Tony White (Rutgers), 4-2
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Bryce Lowery (Indiana) over Darius Marines (Michigan State), 5-4
Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) over Victor Voinovich (Iowa), 8-3
165 Pounds
AJ Rodrigues (Maryland) over Justin Gates (Michigan) by fall
Jack Conley (Michigan State) over Jacob Bostelman (Northwestern), 4-2
Joey Blaze (Purdue) over Tyler Lillard (Indiana), 4-1
Braeden Scoles (Illinois) over AJ Rodrigues (Maryland), 18-2
LJ Arauja (Nebraska) over Jack Conley (Michigan State), 11-0
Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State) over Cody Goebel (Wisconsin), 13-4
174 Pounds
Luke Condon (Wisconsin) over Connor O’Neill (Michigan State), 8-6
Derek Gilcher (Indiana) over Seth Digby (Maryland), 4-2
Brody Baumann (Purdue) over Ethan Riddle (Minnesota), 8-6
Lenny Pinto (Rutgers) over Luke Condon (Wisconsin), 9-4
Beau Mantanona (Michigan) over Derek Gilcher (Indiana) by default
Colin Kelly (Illinois) over Eddie Enright (Northwestern), 4-1
184 Pounds
Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (Maryland) over Ryan Boucher (Michigan State), 4-2
J.D. Perez (Northwestern) over Cale Anderson (Wisconsin), 12-8
Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) over Sam Goin (Indiana), 12-7
Dylan Fishback (Ohio State) over Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (Maryland), 17-1
Chris Moore (Illinois) over J.D. Perez (Northwestern), 19-3
Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) over James Rowley (Purdue), 5-1
197 Pounds
Gabe Arnold (Iowa) over Dylan Connell (Illinois), 5-1
Gavin Nelson (Minnesota) over Alex Smith (Northwestern), 4-3
Ben Vanadia (Purdue) over Kael Wisler (Michigan State), 7-2
Remy Cotton (Rutgers) over Gabe Arnold (Iowa), 4-1
Branson John (Maryland) over Gavin Nelson (Minnesota), 8-5
Gabe Sollars (Indiana) over Hayden Walters (Michigan), 6-1
285 Pounds
Gabe Christenson (Northwestern) over Joey Schneck (Maryland), 7-2
Caleb Marzolino (Indiana) over Hayden Filipovich (Purdue) by fall
Ben Kueter (Iowa) over Josh Terrill (Michigan State), 4-1
Luke Luffman (Illinois) over Gabe Christenson (Northwestern), 14-2
Braxton Amos (Wisconsin) over Caleb Marzolino (Indiana), 7-0
Koy Hopke (Minnesota) over Hunter Catka (Rutgers), 2-0
