Thursday, March 19
Cleveland, OH
8:00 am
Air Force Academy
at
NCAA Championships
Falcon Wrestlers take the Fight to the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland
3/18/2026 2:30:00 PM | Wrestling
2026 NCAA Championships
Thursday, March 19 to Saturday, March 21
Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
The Falcons return to the big stage for the first time since 2024 as a pair of young guns aim to make a run for All-America against the nation's best wrestlers. C3C Carter Nogle and C4C Karson Tompkins will represent Air Force at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 19
Session 1 Noon
Session 1 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN 2
Session 2 7:00 p.m.
Session 2 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN
Friday, March 20
Session 3 Noon
Session 3 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN U
Session 4 8:00 p.m.
Session 4 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN 2
Saturday, March 21
Session 5 11:00 a.m.
Session 5 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN U
Session 6 6:30 p.m.
Session 6 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN
All matches on all mats will be live streamed on ESPN+
*All broadcast times are subject to change. All times are Eastern Time.
Air Force Lineup and Seeding
C3C Carter Nogle landed the 18 seed in the wake of an impressive run and third-place finish at the Big 12 Championship. Nogle will meet with 15 seed Elijah Griffin of Rider. The match will mark the first meeting between the two this season, and second meeting all-time. Last year, Griffin narrowly bested Nogle, 11-10 in dual action against California Baptist. Griffin is a 2024 NCAA qualifier. The winner of the match will take on the winner of (2) Sergio Vega (OKST) and (31) Billy DeKraker (NW).
The 141-pound division at the NCAA Tournament is filled with talent, led by two-time NCAA Champion Jesse Mendez and freshman contender Sergio Vega. Beyond the top two at this weight, nine other past All-Americans add incredible depth to this field.
2025 All-Americans
1. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
2. Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
3. Beau Bartlett (Penn State)
4. CJ Composto (Penn)
5. Cael Happel (Northern Iowa)
6. Josh Koderhandt (Navy)
7. Jacob Frost (Iowa State)
8. Vance VomBaur (Minnesota)
C4C Karson Tompkins, ranked as high as No.18 and has been ranked all season, is the 33 seed and will wrestle 32 seed Blake Schaffer of Kent State in a pigtail match. The match marks the first meeting between the two wrestlers. Schaffer, a senior, is making his first NCAA Championship appearance. The winner of the pig tail match will take on (1) Josh Barr of Penn State. Tompkins is the first AF freshman qualifier since teammate Tucker Owens in 2023.
2025 All-Americans
1. Stephen Buchanan (Iowa)
2. Josh Barr (Penn State)
3. AJ Ferrari (Cal State-Bakersfield)
4. Jacob Cardenas (Michigan)
5. Joey Novak (Wyoming)
6. Stephen Little (Little Rock)
7. Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
8. Camden McDanel (Nebraska)
Falcons at the NCAA Championships
The Air Force wrestling program boasts a proud history, with nine different wrestlers earning All-America accolades a combined 13 times—most recently two-time All-American Wyatt Hendrickson who finished third in 2023 and 2024. The Falcons have 102 all-time NCAA qualifiers; head coach Sam Barber has led 33 of those qualifiers to the big stage. In 2003, Kevin Hoy made it to the heavyweight finals where he finished second to become Air Force's highest place winner since Ken Donaldson in 1971. Don Henderson is the program's only national champion, winning the 145 lb. title in 1967.
Last Time at the Dance
AF's Hendrickson, Giano Petrucelli and Sam Wolf were the last Falcons to battle at nationals in 2024. Hendrickson, a four-time qualifier, finished third for a second time. Petrucelli was one spot shy of All-America, knocking off (13) Joseph Bianci (Little Rock) and (21) Caleb Fish (Michigan State) before falling to (8) Antrell Taylor (Nebraska). Hendrickson took down (9) Nick Feldman (Ohio State) and (6) Zach Elam (Missouri) on his run.
Thursday, March 19 to Saturday, March 21
Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
The Falcons return to the big stage for the first time since 2024 as a pair of young guns aim to make a run for All-America against the nation's best wrestlers. C3C Carter Nogle and C4C Karson Tompkins will represent Air Force at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 19
Session 1 Noon
Session 1 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN 2
Session 2 7:00 p.m.
Session 2 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN
Friday, March 20
Session 3 Noon
Session 3 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN U
Session 4 8:00 p.m.
Session 4 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN 2
Saturday, March 21
Session 5 11:00 a.m.
Session 5 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN U
Session 6 6:30 p.m.
Session 6 commentary broadcast will be aired on ESPN
All matches on all mats will be live streamed on ESPN+
*All broadcast times are subject to change. All times are Eastern Time.
Air Force Lineup and Seeding
C3C Carter Nogle landed the 18 seed in the wake of an impressive run and third-place finish at the Big 12 Championship. Nogle will meet with 15 seed Elijah Griffin of Rider. The match will mark the first meeting between the two this season, and second meeting all-time. Last year, Griffin narrowly bested Nogle, 11-10 in dual action against California Baptist. Griffin is a 2024 NCAA qualifier. The winner of the match will take on the winner of (2) Sergio Vega (OKST) and (31) Billy DeKraker (NW).
The 141-pound division at the NCAA Tournament is filled with talent, led by two-time NCAA Champion Jesse Mendez and freshman contender Sergio Vega. Beyond the top two at this weight, nine other past All-Americans add incredible depth to this field.
2025 All-Americans
1. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
2. Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
3. Beau Bartlett (Penn State)
4. CJ Composto (Penn)
5. Cael Happel (Northern Iowa)
6. Josh Koderhandt (Navy)
7. Jacob Frost (Iowa State)
8. Vance VomBaur (Minnesota)
C4C Karson Tompkins, ranked as high as No.18 and has been ranked all season, is the 33 seed and will wrestle 32 seed Blake Schaffer of Kent State in a pigtail match. The match marks the first meeting between the two wrestlers. Schaffer, a senior, is making his first NCAA Championship appearance. The winner of the pig tail match will take on (1) Josh Barr of Penn State. Tompkins is the first AF freshman qualifier since teammate Tucker Owens in 2023.
2025 All-Americans
1. Stephen Buchanan (Iowa)
2. Josh Barr (Penn State)
3. AJ Ferrari (Cal State-Bakersfield)
4. Jacob Cardenas (Michigan)
5. Joey Novak (Wyoming)
6. Stephen Little (Little Rock)
7. Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
8. Camden McDanel (Nebraska)
Falcons at the NCAA Championships
The Air Force wrestling program boasts a proud history, with nine different wrestlers earning All-America accolades a combined 13 times—most recently two-time All-American Wyatt Hendrickson who finished third in 2023 and 2024. The Falcons have 102 all-time NCAA qualifiers; head coach Sam Barber has led 33 of those qualifiers to the big stage. In 2003, Kevin Hoy made it to the heavyweight finals where he finished second to become Air Force's highest place winner since Ken Donaldson in 1971. Don Henderson is the program's only national champion, winning the 145 lb. title in 1967.
Last Time at the Dance
AF's Hendrickson, Giano Petrucelli and Sam Wolf were the last Falcons to battle at nationals in 2024. Hendrickson, a four-time qualifier, finished third for a second time. Petrucelli was one spot shy of All-America, knocking off (13) Joseph Bianci (Little Rock) and (21) Caleb Fish (Michigan State) before falling to (8) Antrell Taylor (Nebraska). Hendrickson took down (9) Nick Feldman (Ohio State) and (6) Zach Elam (Missouri) on his run.
Players Mentioned
HWT
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
157/165
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
174
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