Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling Finishes Eighth at Big Ten Championships

The Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling finished eighth in the Big Ten Championships and had five place winners qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Let’s take a look at how the Badgers performed in the Big Ten Tournament.

125 pounds

No. 3 seed Eric Barnett finished his final Big Ten tournament 3-2 and seventh place.

Barnett secured a spot at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with his podium finish.

While we may watch EB in his last collegiate tournament in two weeks, I am reminded to not cry because its over – smile because it happened.

Eric Barnett finishes 7th overall at 125 pounds in @b1gwrestling Championships with a 17-2 tech fall over Caleb Smith (Nebraska)

This 2X @ncaawrestling All-American qualified for his 4th trip to the national tournament in Kansas City on March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center pic.twitter.com/wDEcbyiQ2X

— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 10, 2024

133 pounds 

No. 9 seed Nicolar Rivera finished the tournament 0-2.

Not the outing he wanted but this season was invaluable to his growth as a wrestler and I’m excited to see his development going into next season.

141 pounds

No. 14 seed Felix Lettini finished the tournament 0-2.

Lettini had a rough season and didn’t secure as many wins as he was likely trained for but he continued to battle and give everything he had. Much respect.

149 pounds

No. 7 seed Joseph Zargo finished his tournament 2-3 and eighth place.

Zargo secured a spot at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with his podium finish.

Joe Zargo places 8th overall at 149 pounds in @b1gwrestling Championships @joseph_zargo qualified for his 3rd trip to the @ncaawrestling Championships in Kansas City on March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center pic.twitter.com/27xeuxdMMm

— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 10, 2024

157 pounds

No. 13 seed Luke Mechler finishes the tournament 1-3.

It was asweome to have Mechler return to Madison after a year at Oklahoma State and excited to see what he does next year for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 157 pound class.

165 pounds

No. 1 seed Dean Hamiti finished his tournament 2-1 and second place.

Hamiti secured a spot at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with his podium finish.

Still bummed for DJ as he was up in the championship bout but couldn’t fend off Penn State freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink.

I think these two can and will likely meet again at NCAA’s and DJ is going to be working like a madman to avenge this heartbreaker in the finals.

Dean Hamiti finishes 2nd at 165 in @b1gwrestling Championships.

Advancing to B1G final for 2nd straight year with two wins by tech fall & pin, Hamiti narrowly lost 13-11 to Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) in closing seconds.

Making 3rd trip to @NCAAWrestling Championships pic.twitter.com/mbBisE1jqs

— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 10, 2024

174 pounds

No. 7 seed Max Maylor finished his tournament 3-2 and seventh place.

Maylor secured a spot at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with his podium finish.

Even though we only had one season with Max in the Wisconsin singlet – I am happy for our fans for being able to root him on.

Max Maylor finishes 7th overall at 174 pounds in @b1gwrestling Championships with a 5-0 decision over Brody Baumann (Purdue)@max_maylor10 qualified for his first career trip to the @NCAAWrestling Championships 👏 in Kansas City on March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center pic.twitter.com/wg6CLdfl71

— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 10, 2024

184 pounds

No. 7 seed Shane Liegel finished his tournament 1-2 and eighth place.

Liegel secured a spot at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with his podium finish.

For a Wisconsin legacy, a Division III National Champion, and a Wisconsin graduate student, this will be an awesome way to finish his college career NCAA tournament appearance.

Shane Liegel earns a spot on the podium in nation’s toughest wrestling conference with 8th place at 184 pounds at @b1gwrestling Championships

He qualified for his first career trip in D-I to @ncaawrestling Championships 💪 in Kansas City on March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center pic.twitter.com/3Liiyj62Nt

— Wisconsin Wrestling (@BadgerWrestling) March 10, 2024

197 pounds

No. 14 seed Josh Otto finished his final collegiate tournament 0-2.

Otto was the consummate teammate all year battling to keep the team moving at 197 pounds. I don’t know that enough has been made of him wrestling up three weight classes.

It was a pleasure to watch him compete and give all he had for the motion W. Much respect to Otto for his work and sacrifices made.

285 pounds

No. 13 seed Gannon Rosenfeld finished his tournament 1-2.

Up and down season for the redshirt freshman but great building blocks for a successful next season. Excited to see his growth and how he develops.

What’s Next for Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling?

Wisconsin now shifts its focus to the NCAA Championships March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO.

Stay tuned to Badger Notes for coverage of the Wisconsin Badgers wrestling program.

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