On March 19, 2025, North Carolina and Navy wrestling teams announced their lineups for the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, set to take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia from March 20 to 22.
Eight wrestlers from North Carolina will compete, including three who are seeded in the top 15. Leading the Tar Heels is Lachlan McNeil, who is seeded sixth in the 149-pound category. The other two top seeds from North Carolina are Ethan Oakley at 12th in the 133-pound division and Spencer Moore at 14th in the 125-pound category. Additionally, Gavin Kane has a 17th seed at 184 pounds; Joshua Ogunsanya is seeded 21st at 174 pounds; Nolan Neves comes in ranked 24th at heavyweight; Sonny Santiago is 25th at 157 pounds; and Jayden Scott, ranked 29th at 141 pounds, rounds out the North Carolina representation.
In their opening matchups, North Carolina wrestlers face their respective counterparts with varied records. Spencer Moore will compete against Minnesota's No. 19 Cooper Flynn, Ethan Oakley will wrestle Indiana's No. 21 Angelo Rini, and Lachlan McNeil will face George Mason's No. 27 Kaden Cassidy. Other matchups include Jayden Scott against Navy's No. 4 Josh Koderhandt, who has made a name for himself as a formidable competitor. Here, he heads to the championship as the fifth seed.
Navy, on the other hand, showcases three wrestlers: Josh Koderhandt at 141 pounds, Danny Wask at 174 pounds, and Payton Thomas at 197 pounds. Notably, Koderhandt, who is returning to the championship for his fourth consecutive year, will kick off his journey against North Carolina's Jayden Scott. Last November, Koderhandt asserted his dominance by defeating Scott with a 7-2 victory during the Navy-North Carolina dual meet.
Koderhandt has been a standout for the Mids, holding a 10-3 record against NCAA qualifiers this season, including wins over top seeds. He leads his team this season with 23 overall wins, nine of which came during dual meets.
In the context of the Navy wrestling accolades, they boast a rich history of accomplishments, having participated in the NCAA Championships for the 76th time. The Mids have secured three individual national titles. Today, they look to add to that impressive list, with Koderhandt aiming to improve on last year's performance, where he just missed out of All-American status.
As the championships unfold, everyone's eyes will also be on Danny Wask, seeded No. 13 at 174 pounds. Following a strong performance at the EIWA Championship, where he placed second, Wask has proven that he can grapple alongside the best in his division. He faces a familiar foe in Purdue's No. 26 Brody Baumann.
Lastly, Navy's Payton Thomas is stepping onto the national stage for the first time. Seeded 29th, Thomas will confront Lehigh's highly-seeded Michael Beard. Despite previous losses against Beard, Thomas is determined to make a mark in this championship.
As the tournament approaches, excitement and anticipation build both for fanbases, as well as athletes looking to make their mark in collegiate wrestling history.
With a packed schedule, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will feature two sessions daily across a total of 33-man tournaments held in ten weight classes. The competition is fierce, with athletes fighting for their spot in the coveted All-American ranks. The top eight finishers in each class will claim this distinguished honor, while every match win contributes valuable points towards the team national champion title.
The battles take place on the mat starting Thursday, March 20, at the Wells Fargo Center, and each bout represents countless hours of discipline and dedication that these athletes have put forth. Viewers can catch the action on ESPNU and ESPN, as they showcase the incredible talent on display during this championships.
As arguments kick off in this spirited event, one can't help but wonder which of these promising athletes will rise to the occasion and immortalize themselves in NCAA wrestling history. With North Carolina and Navy bringing their best to the mat, we expect thrilling clashes and unforgettable moments from the next few days.
