PITTSBURGH, PA – Teams have arrived, wrestlers are warming up, and fans are making the trek into the Steel City! ESPN will be showing every single match with ESPNU doing some broadcasting as well. Here is a little guide to this week’s NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh! 

 

Updated Brackets

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Storylines To Follow

 

Penn State Party

The Nittany Lions could wrap up the team title as early as the semifinals depending on how the chips fall. They are the overwhelming favorites to win the team race as are seniors Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal who are in a battle for the Hodge Trophy.

Fans – appreciate these two wrestlers. We take for granted their levels of greatness because they almost make it look too easy. Enjoy them while they are here for three days – we won’t be seeing wrestlers like Nolf and Nickal every year.

 

Underdog Champions

After an unbelievable and dominating run to his first NCAA Title as a true freshman in 2018 – it’s hard to imagine Spencer Lee is not the undisputed favorite to win a National title at 125 pounds in 2019. Lee comes in as the third seed with three loses this season; two to top seed Sebastian Rivera and one to second seed Nick Piccininni. Now Spencer is the third seed and will likely get a re-match with Piccininni in the semifinals before facing Rivera in the finals (if everything goes according to plan – which we know it always does).

Likewise, 2-time NCAA Champion Vincenzo Joseph, comes in as the #2 seed after falling in the Big Ten finals to Iowa’s Alex Marinelli. The 165 pound junior is competing in his home City of Pittsburgh and is accustomed to the big stage. 

 

133 Pound Madness

Not only is 133 pounds one of the deepest weights overall – but in terms of Pennsylvania talent this weight is out of control. There are five wrestlers from the Keystone State seeded in the top 15 and combined they had a high school career record of 864-54 along with ten State Championship titles. Pletcher and Lizak are the highest returning NCAA medalists from Pennsylvania, both finishing fourth last season (Lizak down at 125 pounds). Pletcher has a loss to Phillippi this season, Phillippi has a win over top seed Daton Fix, Myers has a win over Phillippi, DeSanto and Lizak split matches this year, DeSanto split matches with third seed Nick Suriano, Pletcher beat Lizak, and the madness never stops.

I love this weight not only because of the top end talent from Pennsylvania represented here – but the overall intensity of the field. Fix and Suriano are must see wrestling and throw in Tariq Wilson have we are going to have a party.

 

Championship Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Watch

Date	Time (ET)	Session	Networks	Number of ESPN3 Mat Feeds
Thur, Mar 21	12 – 3:30 p.m.	First Round	ESPNU/ESPN3	Eight Mats
	7 – 10:30 p.m.	Second Round	ESPN/ESPN3	Eight Mats
Fri,  Mar 22	11 a.m. –  2 p.m.	Quarterfinals	ESPNU/ESPN3	Eight Mats
	8 p.m. –  11 p.m.	Semifinals	ESPN/ESPN3	Six Mats
Sat, Mar 23	11 a.m. –  2 p.m.	Medal Round	ESPNU/ESPN3	Three Mats
	6:30 –  7 p.m.	Off the MatPregame Show	ESPN3	N/A
	7 –  10 p.m.	Championship	ESPN/ESPN3	One Mat
	Approximately 10 p.m.	Off the MatPostgame Show	ESPN3