The Top Matchups Of Week 3 Of The NCAA Season

The Top Matchups Of Week 3 Of The NCAA Season

Week 3 of the NCAA season offers another bounty of top matchups. Here are all the bouts we're keeping an eye on!

Nov 17, 2021 by Andrew Spey
The Top Matchups Of Week 3 Of The NCAA Season
It's another week of NCAA wrestling (already into week 3!) so we've got another list of the best matchups on the D1 schedule, featuring many of your favorite ranked wrestlers. Schedule courtesy of SHP (all times Eastern).

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It's another week of NCAA wrestling (already into week 3!) so we've got another list of the best matchups on the D1 schedule, featuring many of your favorite ranked wrestlers. Schedule courtesy of SHP (all times Eastern).

Wednesday, November 17

#17 North Carolina at #15 Nebraska, 9:00 PM 

141: #17 Kizhan Clarke, UNC vs #8 Chad Red, Neb

149: #8 Zach Sherman, UNC vs #11 Ridge Lovett, Neb

157: #2 Austin O’Connor, UNC vs #12 Peyton Robb, Neb

184: #18 Clay Lautt, UNC vs #10 Taylor Venz, Neb

A midweek dual with five potential top 20 matchups? What a stupendous way to start this week's competitions! We're interested in four-time AA Chad Red's match against Kizhan Clarke, who transferred from American and moved down a weight class. 


Thursday, November 18

Army West Point at #2 Penn State, 7:00 PM

149: #15 PJ Ogunsanya, Army vs #22 Beau Bartlett, PSU

197: #22 JT Brown, Army vs #2 Max Dean, PSU

Fresh off their bouts against Oregon State and Sacred Heart, the Nittany Lions will be heavy favorites in most bouts but 149 could be a win for the Black Knights. Slight lean toward Ogunsanya in the odds, but likely the most competitive bout either way. Markus Hartman will also likely be a favorite if he takes the mat at 157 against either Terrell Barraclough or Joe Lee.


Friday, November 19

#4 Michigan at Columbia, 7:00 PM

125: #18 Jack Medley, Mich vs #15 Joe Manchio, Columbia

It's so nice to have the Ivy League back again. The Wolverines will be heavy favorites to win this dual in New York City, but look for Manchio to lead the charge for the Lions in the marquee bout of the dual at 125. 


#11 Ohio State at #7 Virginia Tech, 7:00 PM

125: #14 Malik Heinselman, tOSU vs #8 Sam Latona, VT

141: #18 Jordan Decatur, tOSU vs #22 Sam Hillegas, VT

149: #1 Sammy Sasso, tOSU vs #7 Bryce Andonian, VT

174: #6 Ethan Smith, tOSU vs #3 Mekhi Lewis, VT

184: #14 Rocky Jordan, tOSU vs #7 Hunter Bolen, VT

285: #7 Tate Orndorff, tOSU vs #16 Nathan Traxler, VT

An extremely good dual that we will be paying close attention to. Come join the party and watch together! 174 is the headliner but plenty more juicy bouts throughout the meet. 


CSU Bakersfield vs Utah Valley, 8:00 PM

141: #23 Angelo Martinoni, CSUB vs HM Ty Smith, UVU


#20 Princeton at #1 Iowa, 8:00 PM

157: #7 Quincy Monday, PU vs #6 Kaleb Young, Iowa

184: HM Travis Stefanik, PU vs #11 Nelson Brands or Abe Assad, Iowa

197: HM Luke Stout, PU vs #3 Jacob Warner, Iowa

This dual will also feature heavily in our watch party. Looks like Spencer won't be wrestling but 157 alone is worth the price of admission.


Air Force at #13 Missouri, 8:00 PM 

133: #21 Jared Van Vleet, AF vs #12 Matt Schmitt, Mizzou

285: #12 Wyatt Hendrickson, AF vs #11 Zach Elam, Mizzou

Heavyweight looks to be the most competitive matchup of this dual. Air Force also has a good problem on their hands with deciding who to start at 133. Besides Van Vleet, Sidney Flores is also a high-caliber option for the Falcons. 


#24 Oklahoma at #3 Arizona State, 9:00 PM 

125: #20 Joey Prata, OU vs #4 Brandon Courtney, ASU

133: #10 Tony Madrigal, OU vs #7 Michael McGee, ASU

141: #14 Dom Demas, OU vs #19 Jesse Vasquez, ASU

149: #18 Mitch Moore, OU vs #4 Kyle Parco, ASU

157: #18 Justin Thomas, OU vs #4 Jacori Teemer, ASU

197: #6 Jake Woodley, OU vs #9 Kordell Norfleet, ASU

285: #19 Josh Heindselman, OU vs #4 Cohlton Schultz, ASU

One of the best duals of the week that not enough people are talking about.197 offers the most intrigue, as at the last NCAAs, Woodley had the #26 seed whereas Norfleet had the #3 seed, yet it was Woodley who found his way to the podium while Norfleet was stopped in the bloodround. 


Saturday, November 20

Lindenwood Open, 10:00 AM 

Illinois, Missouri, SIU Edwardsville

125: #19 Noah Surtain, Mizzou; #21 Justin Cardani, Illinois

133: #6 Lucas Byrd, Illinois; #12 Matt Schmitt, Mizzou

141: #6 Dylan Duncan, Illinois; #10 Allan Hart, Mizzou

149: #13 Michael Carr, Illinois; HM Josh Edmond, Mizzou

165: #5 Keegan O’Toole, Mizzou; #22 Dan Braunagel, Illinois

174: #11 Peyton Mocco, Mizzou; #23 DJ Shannon, Illinois

184: #12 Jeremiah Kent, Mizzou; #20 Zac Braunagel, Illinois

197: #5 Rocky Elam, Mizzou; #21 Matt Wroblewski, Illinois

285: #11 Zach Elam, Mizzou; #18 Luke Luffman, Illinois

It all depends on the entries but the finals here could closely resemble a Missouri vs Illinois dual meet. 


Navy Classic, 10:00 AM

American, Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Cleveland State, Edinboro, Kent State, Lock Haven, Michigan State, Navy, Ohio, The Citadel, VMI

133: #13 Rayvon Foley, MSU; #24 Mario Guillen, Ohio

157: #19 Chase Saldate, MSU; #21 Andrew Cerniglia, Navy

165: #10 Zach Hartman, Bucknell; #17 Jake Tucker, MSU

184: #23 Layne Malczewski, MSU; #24, DeAndre Nassar, CSU

197: #14 Cam Caffey, MSU; #23 Jacob Koser, Navy; #24 Ben Smith, CSU


Campbell at Virginia, 1:00 PM

149: #17 Josh Heil, Camp vs HM Jarod Verkleeren, UVA

197: HM Levi Hopkins, Camp vs #17 Jay Aiello, UVA


#14 Stanford at #9 Cornell, 6:30 PM

149: #5 Jaden Abas, Stanford vs #1 Yianni Diakomihalis, Cornell (probably)

We cheated and assumed Yianni would be up at 149 but he's actually ranked at 141, which would still make for a very dece matchup against #12 Real Woods. Either way, the Rob Koll Classic (not the official name of the dual) should be a fun one. 


#5 Oklahoma State at #9 Minnesota, 8:00 PM 

125: #16 Trevor Mastrogiovanni, OKSt vs #5 Pat McKee, Minn

133: #2 Daton Fix, OKSt vs HM Jake Gilva, Minn

149: HM Kaden Gfeller, OKSt vs #19 Michael Blockhus, Minn

157: #16 Wyatt Sheets, OKSt vs #5 Brayton Lee, Minn

165: #7 Travis Wittlake, OKSt vs #18 Andrew Sparks, Minn

174: #19 Dustin Plott, OKSt vs #20 Jared Krattiger, Minn

The last time these two teams clashed, Gable Steveson announced his presence to the collegiate world by beating eventual NCAA finalist Derek White. Every match has the potential for fireworks when these blue bloods of college wrestling get together. 


Sunday, November 21

Keystone Classic, 9:00 AM

Appalachian State, Drexel, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason, Harvard, Penn, Rider, Sacred Heart

133: #9 Michael Colaiocco, Penn; #20 Codi Russell, App State

149: #9 Jonathan Millner, App State; #20 Anthony Artalona, Penn

157: #20 Parker Kropman, Drexel; #24 Doug Zapf, Penn

174: #12 Michael O’Malley, Drexel; #24 Nick Incontrera, Penn

Penn looks to stay on their hot streak after an excellent Journeymen Collegiate Classic.


Daktronics Open, 10:00 AM 

Watch LIVE on FloWrestling

Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State

125: #5 Pat McKee, Minn; #7 Brody Teske, UNI; #17 Liam Cronin, Neb

141: #8 Chad Red, Neb; #11 Clay Carlson, SDSU

149: #11 Ridge Lovett, Neb; #19 Michael Blockhus, UNI; #24 Zach Price, SDSU

157: #5 Brayton Lee, MInn; #12 Peyton Robb, Neb 

165: #18 Andrew Sparks; #20 Tanner Cook, SDSU

174: #5 Mikey Labriola, Neb; #17 Cade DeVos, SDSU; #20 Jared Krattiger, Minn

184: #4 Parker Keckeisen, UNI; #10 Taylor Venz, Neb

197: #11 Eric Schultz, Neb; #13 Tanner Sloan, SDSU

285: #1 Gable Steveson, Minn; #13 Christian Lance, Neb; #17 Carter Isley, UNI; #24 AJ Nevills, SDSU

This tourney has a lot to recommend! 141 and 197 could both have finals that feature heavily into the rankings conversation. 125 could also see a top 10 matchup. Again it all depends on the entries but these are four very solid squads scheduled to compete. 


Roadrunner Open, 1:00 PM 

Watch LIVE on FloWrestling

California Baptist, CSU Bakersfield, Utah Valley

141: #23 Angelo Martinoni, CSUB; HM Ty Smith, UVU


#4 Michigan at Buffalo, 1:00 PM

133: #16 Dylan Ragusin, Mich vs HM Derek Spann, Buff


West Virginia at #6 NC State, 1:00 PM

125: #9 Killian Cardinale, WVU vs #10 Jakob Camacho, NCSU

165: #14 Peyton Hall, WVU vs #11 Thomas Bullard, NCSU

285: HM Michael Wolfgram, WVU vs HM Owen Trephan, NCSU

We haven't seen Cardinale on the mat yet this season, however, his first trip to the center circle this season could be one of his most important matches of the season. 


Duke at Purdue, 1:00 PM

174: #7 Matt Finesilver, Duke vs #13 Gerritt Nijenhuis, Purdue

A very under-the-radar dual with a very under-the-radar huge match at 174. 


#12 Pittsburgh at Lehigh, 2:00 PM 

Watch LIVE on FloWrestling

125: HM Colton Camacho, Pitt vs #23 Jaret Lane, LU

133: #8 Mickey Phillippi, Pitt vs #18 Malyke Hines, LU

157: HM Elijah Cleary, Pitt vs #13 Josh Humphreys, LU

165: #2 Jake Wentzel, Pitt vs HM Brian Meyer, LU

174: HM Hunter Kernan, Pitt vs HM Jake Logan, LU

The ink is still wet from the contract but we couldn't be more pumped to stream Lehigh's home duals this season. Dual #1 should be a fun one as you never know what to expect when these rivals from opposite sides of the Keystone state get together. 


Northern Illinois at Purdue, 3:00 PM

157: HM Tulga Zuunbayan, NIU vs #11 Kendall Coleman, Purdue

184: #9 Brit Wilson, NIU vs #17 Max Lyon, Purdue

Another sneaky, under-the-radar dual with an under-the-radar excellent match at 174. Max Lyon has a big weekend coming up!


#24 Oklahoma at Northern Colorado, 4:00 PM 

Watch LIVE on FloWrestling

125: #20 Joey Prata, OU vs HM Jace Koelzer, UNCO

133: #10 Tony Madrigal, OU vs HM Mosha Schwartz, UNCO

141: #14 Dom Demas, OU vs #9 Andrew Alirez, UNCO

174: HM Anthony Mantanona, OU vs #18 Jackson Hemauer, UNCO

197: #6 Jake Woodley, OU vs HM Alan Clothier, UNCO

Can Andrew Alirez maintain his momentum after his defeat of Allan Hart of Missouri last week? Throw out the rankings, this one is very much a toss-up. 


Campbell at #17 North Carolina, 7:00 PM

133: HM Dominic Zaccone, Camp vs #14 Jaime Hernandez, UNC

149: #17 Josh Heil, Campb vs #8 Zach Sherman, UNC

184: #19 Caleb Hopkins, Camp vs #18 Clay Lautt, UNC