Big Ten Wrestling Championship | 2018 NCAA Wrestling

Big Ten Championship Finals Live Updates

Big Ten Championship Finals Live Updates

Live updates of the finals of the 2018 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

Mar 4, 2018 by Andrew Spey
Big Ten Championship Finals Live Updates

It's here! The culmination of the Big Ten season. The toughest conference in the nation has whittled things down to the final two. Find out who's taking home the hardware as we provide live updates for you!


125 #4 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) vs #8 Ethan Lizak (Minnesota)

1st period: And here we go! Tomasello looking for his 4th Big Ten title! Lizak finished 2nd at the NCAAs last year, NaTo 3rd at 133 pounds. NaTo goes sweep single, switch to a double, Lizak counters with a crotch-lock and it's stalemated. A low level double this time for NaTo and he converts. 2-0 with a little over a minute left in the 1st. NaTo goes optional start and they're back on their feet. Nate probably wants to spend as much time as possible in neutral. But Lizak makes him regret the choices and converts a double of his own. 3-2 Ethan with 40 seconds left. Backpack time. With legs in Lizak goes suck back for two back points. The period ends 5-2 in favor of Lizak, who also has 40 seconds of RT.

2nd period: Lizak starts the second on top. Lizak chewing up clock, over a minute of RT now. Close to more back points but only a one count. NaTo gets to his feet and finally frees himself. 1:59 of RT for Lizak with 30 seconds left in the second. Snap down go behind for NaTo in short time, he rides out the period, score tied 5-5 but 1:40 of RT for Lizak. 

3rd period: NaTo takes feet with no hesitation. Heavy pressure from Tomasello forces Lizak, who has a stall call, to circle back to the center and into another go behind takedown for NaTo. Optional and more pressure gets the stall point. It's 8-6 with a minute to go. A scramble but it's stalemated. RT locked up, 30 seconds to go, NaTo with an effective 1 point lead. Pressure from NaTo again forces Lizak out of bounds and he gets hit again with stalling. 9-6 now but Minnesota head coach Eggum wants it reviewed. Can you review that? I have no idea. Yes you can! Stall call is reversed and a point comes off the board! But on the restart another extremely fierce snap down and go behind by NaTo ices it. 10-7 is the final! Nathan Tomasello is the 15th man in history to win FOUR Big Ten Championships! Also important points for the Buckeyes in the team race.


133 #2 Stevan Micic (Michigan) vs #3 Luke Pletcher (Ohio State)

1st period: Round three of Pletcher and Micic! Pletcher won at the CKLV but Micic got revenge in the dual meet. Micic comes out aggressive, snap down to a single, switches to the double and converts. He's on the board first inside of 30 seconds. Pletcher gets to his feet and escapes after 40 seconds. 2-1 Micic. Now Micic with a Russian hold from neutral. No scores though. Lightening quick high crotch from Micic and he converts for two more in short time. The period ends 4-1. 

2nd period: Pletcher will start on top. Micic is out in 5 seconds, 5-1. A couple shots but no serious threats from either wrestler. The period ends still 5-1, Micic with 48 ticks of RT. 

3rd period: Micic's turn on top. Micic got dinged for stalling for dropping to an ankle but maintains control and now has RT over 1:00. A second stall call 30 seconds later makes it 5-2, but Micic is still on top and will soon have RT locked up. A great granby by Pletcher gives him a reversal but Micic escapes immediately and it's 6-4, with RT locked up for Micic and they're in neutral. Pletcher so close to a takedown in the final seconds but it wouldn't have mattered Micic wins, 7-4, and the Michigan crowd lets Stevan hear it!


141 #4 Joey Mckenna (Ohio State) vs #11 Michael Carr (Illinois)

1st period: McKenna v Carr is underway! McKenna in on a single leg. Carr keeps McKenna from converting and they are stalemated by the edge of the mat after 40 seconds of wrestling. McKenna in on another deep shot thats's successfully defended. Carr then shoots but McKenna blocks, then grabs a tricep for a dump that takes Carr to his back. McKenna now leads 6-0 with a minute left int he first. A tight bar tilt gives McKenna four more and like that it's 10-0.

2nd period: We start in neutral as Carr has had enough of being on bottom. RT sits at 1:40. A lot of fakes and head snaps but not too many committed shots. Period ends the same way it started. 

3rd period: And we start the final frame in neutral as well. Front headlock for McKenna has precious clock is run down. 90 second left in regulation. McKenna in on a shot. He looks near arm dump. And he comes around for two more. It's 12-0, RT locked up. 30 seconds remaining. Coaches Dlagnev and Jaggers give McKenna some instruction. McKenna looking for the tech, almost gets swipes with a tilt but Carr rolls through. Time expires but the Buckeyes want to challenge to get the tech and extra half a team point. Either way, Joey McKenna is your 2018 Big Ten 141 pound champion!

And the result of the challenge is negative, McKenna 'merely' majored his way to a Big Ten title, 13-0.

Also attendance for the finals session was announced at 6,319!


149 #1 Zain Retherford (Penn State) vs #2 Brandon Sorenson (Iowa)

1st period: They've wrestled quite a few time before, though Retherford has always gotten the W. Both seniors looking to cap off storied career this season. Heavy hand fighting but nothing serious yet. A minute to go in the first. A scoreless first. Zain defers, Sorensen chooses down. 

2nd period: Retherford not stretching Sorensen out or getting back points but he's not letting him out either. RT over a minute and climbing. And Retherford gets the ride out, keeping the pressure on with spiral rides and ankle picks all period. 

3rd period: Retherford gets a turn on bottom with exactly 2 minutes of RT banked. Zain crawls forward, sits, turns and stands to face Sorensen to get the escape point 24 seconds in to the 3rd. Sorensen going for high crotches, Retherford going for the snap down go behinds. Now Retherford dives in for legs. He gets them but Sorensen sprawls out of it. RT locked up for Zain. 15 seconds to go, and that's it, Zain Retherford collects his third Big Ten Title, all at 149 pounds!


157 #7 Micah Jordan (Ohio State) vs #6 Alec Pantaleo (Michigan)

1st period: It's another classic Ohio State Michigan matchup. Pantaleo has won the two previous meetings between these two wrestlers this season. Hand fighting but no scores after 2 minutes. Some action from short offense but nothing on the scoreboard after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: Pantaleo selects down. Alec is up to his feet and out in 10 seconds. Pantaleo with the slim 1-0 lead. Insanely heavy hands on a snapdown but Pantaleo can't get the go behind. Less than a minute left in the 2nd. Pantaleo in on a single, he missed the trip but finds Jordan's other leg when he comes back to the mat. He'll ride out to the period to take a 3-0 lead into the third. 

3rd period: Jordan now gets a turn on bottom. After a couple failed attempts, Jordan stands and is out to cut the lead to 2. RT not a factor. A minute left in regulation. Jordan looking for that final shot to hopefully send things to overtime. 30 seconds left. Pantaleo successfully defends. Michigan has their second champ of the day as Pantaleo joins teammate Stevan Micic as podium toppers.


165 #1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs #3 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State)

1st period: OK HERE WE GO. NCAA FINALS REMATCH. No scores after a minute and we pause for Joseph to get something checked out on his head. Eye poke maybe? Both guys working from over ties and under ties equally. IMar looking for his fourth Big Ten title. A nice level change just as time expires by IMar but no points. 

2nd period: Cenzo will start underneath, 0-0 on the scoreboard. Mat return by IMar, then Cenzo granbies out of bounds. Cenzo keeps fighting to his feet but IMar manages to maintain control after 30 seconds. More mat returns and going out of bounds. After a switch attempt IMar appears to have gained the upper hand. But then Joseph sits out and stands for 1. IMar with 1:20 of RT. Period ends still 1-0. 

3rd period: IMar will get a shot on bottom. He gets out in 3 seconds so score is tied and IMar has 1:17 of RT. Conservative match so far. 60 seconds to go in the 3rd and no takedowns. 30 seconds to go and Cenzo gets in on a single. IMar dives through and avoids danger. A quick stalemate with 17 seconds left. 10 to go. IMar with a go behind with 2 seconds to seal the deal! Plus a riding time point gives Isaiah Martinez the 4-1 victory and his fourth Big Ten title! The 16th wrestler in history to go 4 for 4 at the Big Tens!


174 #2 Mark Hall (Penn State) vs #5 Myles Amine (Michigan)

1st period: Hall is the favorite and has a win over Amine this year but it was a near run 6-5 decision. Amine is in on a head outside single but Hall sits, crotch locks and attempts to cut the corner. Amine comes up with the leg, Hall dives for an ankle, they roll through and then scramble out of it. Great early action despite the lack of scores. A couple more attempts from each wrestler but the period ends 0-0.

2nd period: Hall takes bottom to start the 2nd and is out in 10 seconds. A minute left in the second and it's been mostly collar ties. The period ends with no more scores.

3rd period: Amine's turn on bottom. He stands, granbies, and then comes behind for a reversal. Amine now leads 2-1 with RT at 1 second. Hall is out after 2 seconds and it's a tie ballgame with 90 seconds in regulations. Hall grabs a single leg, swings it around to get the takedown. It's 4-2, but Amine gets out quickly to cut the deficit to 1. 50 seconds to go, RT not a factor. Amine in on a shot, Hall sprawls, now backs away and gets hit with stalling. Out of bounds and a restart. Amine attacking, Hall defending. No last second stall call and Hall will squeak by with a 4-3 victory! Some boos from the Michigan fans as Hall stares that section of the arena down. Despite all that, Hall gets the Big Ten title!


184 #1 Bo Nickal (Penn State) vs #2 Myles Martin (Ohio State) 

1st period: We've seen this one a couple few times, and they're never disappoint. Two NCAA champs face off yet again. Nickal in on a shot first. And in a way only Nickal can do he climbs behind Martin for the takedown. Martin stands and frees himself after 48 seconds. It's 2-1 in favor of Nickal with about 1 minute to go in the 1st. Nickal working from an underhook, Martin backing out of it. The period ends still 2-1.

2nd period: Martin gets choose and opts for down. Martin sits and tries to float his hips over but Nickal adjusts with his world class gyro and stays in control. RT cliimbs just over a minute as they go out of bounds. Now Martin is out and it's 2-2. Nickal on another low shot and converts because he has special wrestling powers. Nickal now riding tough, and he'll stay on top as the period ends with over 2 minutes of RT. 

3rd period: Nickal gets a crack at bottom and escapes still with 2 minutes of RT banked. It's 5-2, but essentially 6-2. Martin tries an arm drag, Nickal counters and Martin re-counters for his first offensive points. It's 5-4 now. After a stalemate Martin goes option. 6-4, RT locked for Nickal. 12 seconds left, Nickal circles and avoids Martin's last attacks. Nickal follows Hall as usual and collects another Big Ten championship for the Nittany Lions!


197 #6 Kollin Moore (Ohio State) vs #7 Shakur Rasheed (Penn State)

1st period: Here's one we've never seen before. Moore was felled by Rasheed teammate, Anthony Cassar in the dual meet last February. Which speaks to Penn State's absurd depth at some weight classes. Rasheed immediately hits a shrug and appears to get a flash takedown but nothing is awarded. Coach Sanderson throws the challenge brick and we'll go to a video review. The call is upheld so the score stays at double donuts. Moore gets a hold of Rasheed's tricep and dumps Rasheed to his back. Rasheed rolls through though so no backs and they go out of bounds. Rasheed escapes quickly and it's 2-1 with 90 seconds left in the 1st. Lots of handfighting and Rasheed hits a duck to a single but runs out of time before he can convert. 

2nd period: Rasheed starts on bottom and is up in 5 seconds. It's tied up. Moore again gets the modified fireman's carry for two and Rasheed again out in under 10 seconds. It's 4-3 in favor of Moore with a minute left in the second. The period ends with no more scores and we'll go to the third.

3rd period: We start and neutral and Moore connects with his first single leg. He collects Rasheed's second ankle and 2 more points. Moore is not much for riding though and they're back on their feet. Score is 6-4 to Moore's favor, RT not a factor. Moore counters a Rasheed shot with a nifty high crotch and 2 more to ice the match. He wins 8-4, getting revenge from the dual and earning yet another title for the Buckeyes! Not only that but the team score is definitley clinched now for the Buckeyes, who are 2018 Big Ten champs!

285 #1 Adam Coon (Michigan) vs #2 Kyle Snyder (Ohio State)

1st period: Our final final of the day and it's kind of a big deal. Coon upset Snyder in a dual just about a month ago, handing Snyder his first collegiate loss in years. Nothing beyond hand fighting and collar ties after 90 seconds. Coon working from over ties. We get a stalemate with 50 seconds remaining in the 1st. The period ends scoreless. 

2nd period: Coon starts underneath and is out in 2 seconds. Very conservative match for these two monsters so far. Not a whole lot going on and the period ends 1-0 in favor of Coon.

3rd period: Snyder with a chance to earn an escape point. And he does in 5 seconds. We're back on our feet, score tied 1-1. Pause for blood on Kyle's forehead and we're back in action. One minute to go in regulation. 30 seconds. I don't think we've seen a committed shot from either wrestler. Kyle drops to Coon's ankle with 15 seconds to go but Coon defends and regulation ends.

Sudden Victory: Snyder with a half shot but can't finish. Half way through SV1. Snyder hits a shot, Coon counters. Coon's very close to a TD but Snyder scrambles away. 15 seconds in SV1. Nothing. On to tie breakers. 

TB1: Coon's out in 5 seconds. Nothing from Neutral.

TB2: Kyle on bottom. Snyder escapes just barely in bounds after 13 seconds. Nothing from neutral. 1 more minute on the clock for SV2.

SV2: Low shot from Snyder. Snyder's got Coon's leg in the air. He finishes, but is he in bounds? TWO IS THE CALL. But will it stand. We will review. IT WILL STAND. SNYDER IS ONCE AGAIN BIG TEN CHAMP. Coon may have been able to pull it out in ultimate tie breakers but it was Snyder who risked it with his offense and it's Snyder who will reap the reward.

That'll do it here in East Lansing. Thanks so incredibly much for following along. I regret the typos with all my heart. See you all in Cleveland!!!!