Thursday, March 21
Pittsburgh, PA
All Day
Air Force Academy
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Darcie Ibidapo
Anthony McLaughlin to Represent Air Force at 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships
3/19/2019 2:30:00 PM | Wrestling
WatchESPN ScheduleLive ResultsESPN Stream InformationFull Tournament ScheduleChampionship CentralFull Brackets (PDF)Follow on Twitter
The 197 pounder will be making his first appearance at the national tournament
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Senior co-captain Anthony McLaughlin will represent the Air Force Academy wrestling team at the 2019 NCAA Championships, taking place Thursday-Saturday, March 21-23, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
FIRST DANCE FOR MCLAUGHLIN: Anthony McLaughlin, who is competing in his first NCAAs at 197 lbs., is the 92nd different AFA wrestler to rep the Blue and Silver at Nationals, and is the Academy's 144th overall participant. McLaughlin earned an automatic bid after placing seventh at Big 12 Championships.
FOLLOWING ALONG: All matches on all eight mats will be streamed live on ESPN 3 and the WatchESPN App. Live results can be tracked on FloWrestling and the FloArena. McLaughlin's matches can also be tracked live via Twitter, @AFAWrestling. A mat assignment will not be given until the day of.
THE MATCHUP: McLaughlin was seeded 26th at 197 lbs., and as such he will wrestle the No. 7 seeded Jay Aiello of Virginia. Aiello is a redshirt sophomore who enters the tournament with a 23-6 mark overall, including 16-4 in duals. The two have never faced each other in their respective collegiate careers.
MCLAUGHLIN SEASON RECAP: McLaughlin has had a battle tested senior campaign, as he has missed parts of the season with injuries. He certainly saved his best for last though, as he went from an unseeded wrestler to seventh place at the Big 12 Championships. After dropping his opening match to No. 2 seeded Willie Miklus, McLaughlin kept his season alive with a thrilling TB-2 win over No. 8 seeded Cale Davidson of Wyoming to get to the second round of consis. After falling to No. 4 seeded Tanner Orndorff of Utah Valley, McLaughlin knocked off No. 7 seeded Jacob Seely to claim seventh, and the automatic bid.
McLaughlin enters the tournament with a 13-7 overall record, including 5-4 in duals. He has nine wins via decision, two major decisions, a pin, and a win by default. McLaughlin is 4-6 this year against fellow wrestlers in the field. He has two wins over No. 30 seeded Jacob Seeley of Northern Colorado, while also recording wins over No. 27 seeded Josh Roetman of Navy and No. 28 seeded Drew Phipps of Bucknell.
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT NCAAs: Out of the 144 total Air Force participants in program history, the Falcons have had eight individuals achieve All-American status, totaling 11 medals. The most recent All American came in 2003, when heavyweight Kevin Hoy finished runner-up. Air Force also has one National Champion to its name, when Don Henderson won the 1967 title at 145 lbs.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: A full schedule of events can be found at the link above, but the NCAA Tournament begins with Session I at noon ET on Thursday, March 21.
FIRST DANCE FOR MCLAUGHLIN: Anthony McLaughlin, who is competing in his first NCAAs at 197 lbs., is the 92nd different AFA wrestler to rep the Blue and Silver at Nationals, and is the Academy's 144th overall participant. McLaughlin earned an automatic bid after placing seventh at Big 12 Championships.
FOLLOWING ALONG: All matches on all eight mats will be streamed live on ESPN 3 and the WatchESPN App. Live results can be tracked on FloWrestling and the FloArena. McLaughlin's matches can also be tracked live via Twitter, @AFAWrestling. A mat assignment will not be given until the day of.
THE MATCHUP: McLaughlin was seeded 26th at 197 lbs., and as such he will wrestle the No. 7 seeded Jay Aiello of Virginia. Aiello is a redshirt sophomore who enters the tournament with a 23-6 mark overall, including 16-4 in duals. The two have never faced each other in their respective collegiate careers.
MCLAUGHLIN SEASON RECAP: McLaughlin has had a battle tested senior campaign, as he has missed parts of the season with injuries. He certainly saved his best for last though, as he went from an unseeded wrestler to seventh place at the Big 12 Championships. After dropping his opening match to No. 2 seeded Willie Miklus, McLaughlin kept his season alive with a thrilling TB-2 win over No. 8 seeded Cale Davidson of Wyoming to get to the second round of consis. After falling to No. 4 seeded Tanner Orndorff of Utah Valley, McLaughlin knocked off No. 7 seeded Jacob Seely to claim seventh, and the automatic bid.
McLaughlin enters the tournament with a 13-7 overall record, including 5-4 in duals. He has nine wins via decision, two major decisions, a pin, and a win by default. McLaughlin is 4-6 this year against fellow wrestlers in the field. He has two wins over No. 30 seeded Jacob Seeley of Northern Colorado, while also recording wins over No. 27 seeded Josh Roetman of Navy and No. 28 seeded Drew Phipps of Bucknell.
AIR FORCE HISTORY AT NCAAs: Out of the 144 total Air Force participants in program history, the Falcons have had eight individuals achieve All-American status, totaling 11 medals. The most recent All American came in 2003, when heavyweight Kevin Hoy finished runner-up. Air Force also has one National Champion to its name, when Don Henderson won the 1967 title at 145 lbs.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: A full schedule of events can be found at the link above, but the NCAA Tournament begins with Session I at noon ET on Thursday, March 21.
Players Mentioned
197
/ WrestlingSam Barber Interview - December 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Sam Barber Interview November 25, 2025
Tuesday, November 25
Sam Barber Interview - November 18th, 2025
Tuesday, November 18
Wyatt Hendrickson Visit
Monday, April 07
