The first day of the NCWA Men’s National Championships saw intense competition as wrestlers from across the country battled for individual titles and crucial team points.
Among the standout teams, Tarleton State University made a commanding statement, finishing the day in first place with an impressive 73.5 points.
With a deep and talented roster, Tarleton State demonstrated dominance across multiple weight classes, securing decisive victories in both the championship and consolation brackets.
Their wrestlers showed skill, resilience, and determination, delivering high-scoring technical falls, quick pins, and hard-fought decisions that kept the team ahead in the overall standings. Other Texas teams, including Texas A&M, Texas State, North Texas, Houston-Downtown, and Sam Houston State, also had strong showings, with several wrestlers advancing deep into the tournament while others battled through the consolation rounds to keep their championship hopes alive. As the competition unfolded, Texas wrestlers made their presence known, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and hard-fought journey toward individual and team titles.
The action began in the Round of 64, where Texas wrestlers wasted no time establishing their dominance.
At 141 pounds, Anthony Dicks of Tarleton State secured a pin against Elijah Padilla of Colorado State in 4:02, while his teammate Zachery Espalin wasted no time, pinning Chase Turpin of UMASS in just 30 seconds.
At 149 pounds, Caden Garcia of Texas A&M earned a fall over William Wareham of Fresno State in 2:03. Tarleton State’s Caleb Juarez and Zachary Casias both won by technical falls, with scores of 21-5 and 21-6, respectively.
