Karson Tompkins Caps Exceptional Season, Carter Nogle Extends NCAA Tournament Run
3/19/2026 9:45:00 PM | Wrestling
CLEVELAND – Falcon C3C Carter Nogle remains in the hunt for All-America, battling to the second day of the 2026 NCAA Championships from the consolation bracket in Rocket Arena. Nogle is one-of-two nationally qualified wrestlers from Air Force to fight on.
Nogle, seeded No. 18 in his first national tournament appearance, took on 15-seed Elijah Grffin (Rider) in the opening round. Nogle and Griffin met once before in the 2024-25 dual season prior to Griffin's transfer to Rider. Griffin, a California Baptist wrestler last season, is now 2-0 against Nogle, winning the First-Round match, 7-4. Nogle tallied points via escape and penalty but was unable to secure a takedown.
Freshman standout Karson Tompkins, seeded No. 33, took on 32-seed Blake Schaffer (Kent State) in the pigtail bout of the 197 bracket. A takedown was the determining factor in the match, Schaffer scoring three points in the first period. Tompkins, tallying a pair of escape points, came up short of a winning takedown.
Nogle, rising to the occasion as he often does, met with Northwestern's (31) Billy DeKraker. Nogle turned a takedown into a pin at 2:35 in the first period— the fall marked Nogle's sixth of the season. The sophomore standout secured his position in the second day of NCAA Championship action with the commanding win. Nogle will take on service academy rival Caedyn Ricciardi of Navy in the next consolation round. Nogle met with the Midshipmen earlier this season at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas invite, pinning the Naval Academy wrestler in the third period.
Tompkins, hungry for a win on the big stage, toppled Chattanooga's (30) Kade Rule in the first battle back, 2-0—the Falcon winning with an escape point and riding time.
In one of the final matches of the first day, Tompkins was paired for survival with Indiana's 14-seeded journeyman Gabe Sollars. The Hoosier was convincing in his second-period technical fall over Tompkins.
Tompkins brought an impressive freshman season to a close at the NCAA Championships. Nationally ranked all season, Tompkins upended three top 20 wrestlers and landed a podium finish at the Big 12 Championships. He joins an elite club of C4C NCAA qualifiers.
NCAA Championship action continues at Rocket Arena, March 20, at noon ET. Fans can follow all matches on ESPN+ or tune into the championship bout commentary matches on ESPN U.
Nogle, seeded No. 18 in his first national tournament appearance, took on 15-seed Elijah Grffin (Rider) in the opening round. Nogle and Griffin met once before in the 2024-25 dual season prior to Griffin's transfer to Rider. Griffin, a California Baptist wrestler last season, is now 2-0 against Nogle, winning the First-Round match, 7-4. Nogle tallied points via escape and penalty but was unable to secure a takedown.
Freshman standout Karson Tompkins, seeded No. 33, took on 32-seed Blake Schaffer (Kent State) in the pigtail bout of the 197 bracket. A takedown was the determining factor in the match, Schaffer scoring three points in the first period. Tompkins, tallying a pair of escape points, came up short of a winning takedown.
Nogle, rising to the occasion as he often does, met with Northwestern's (31) Billy DeKraker. Nogle turned a takedown into a pin at 2:35 in the first period— the fall marked Nogle's sixth of the season. The sophomore standout secured his position in the second day of NCAA Championship action with the commanding win. Nogle will take on service academy rival Caedyn Ricciardi of Navy in the next consolation round. Nogle met with the Midshipmen earlier this season at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas invite, pinning the Naval Academy wrestler in the third period.
Tompkins, hungry for a win on the big stage, toppled Chattanooga's (30) Kade Rule in the first battle back, 2-0—the Falcon winning with an escape point and riding time.
In one of the final matches of the first day, Tompkins was paired for survival with Indiana's 14-seeded journeyman Gabe Sollars. The Hoosier was convincing in his second-period technical fall over Tompkins.
Tompkins brought an impressive freshman season to a close at the NCAA Championships. Nationally ranked all season, Tompkins upended three top 20 wrestlers and landed a podium finish at the Big 12 Championships. He joins an elite club of C4C NCAA qualifiers.
NCAA Championship action continues at Rocket Arena, March 20, at noon ET. Fans can follow all matches on ESPN+ or tune into the championship bout commentary matches on ESPN U.
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