Seven Sooners chase NCAA glory at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, aiming to revive historic championship pedigree
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The No. 23-ranked Oklahoma Sooners wrestling team is set to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships, taking place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena.
This marks the 96th edition of the NCAA Wrestling Championships and the first time Cleveland has hosted the event since 2018.
The tournament stretches across three days, with 330 of the nation's top wrestlers battling for individual titles and team glory.
Broadcast coverage will be on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, alongside comprehensive mat-by-mat streaming on ESPN+.
Under third-year head coach Roger Kish, the Sooners are sending their largest contingent to the NCAAs in recent years with seven qualifiers.
This ties for the most in a single season during Kish's tenure and represents the program's highest total since dispatching eight wrestlers in 2023.
Kish, who took over the program in 2023 after a successful stint at North Dakota State, has rebuilt Oklahoma's wrestling identity, emphasizing resilience, technical precision, and competitive fire.
The qualifiers include:
- Conrad Hendriksen (125 lbs, No. 21 seed) vs. No. 12 Vincent Robinson (North Carolina State)
- Carter Schmidt (133 lbs, No. 33 seed) vs. No. 32 Andrew Austin (Central Michigan)
- Tyler Wells (141 lbs, No. 21 seed) vs. No. 12 Luke Simcox (North Carolina)
- Carter Schubert (174 lbs, No. 12 seed) vs. No. 21 Lenny Pinto (Rutgers)
- Brian Soldano (184 lbs, No. 20 seed) vs. No. 13 Isaac Dean (Iowa State)
- DJ Parker (197 lbs, No. 8 seed) vs. No. 25 Evan Bates (Missouri)
- Juan Mora (285 lbs, No. 21 seed) vs. No. 12 Braxton Amos (Wisconsin)
Wells, Schubert, Parker, Mora, Hendriksen, and Schmidt all earned automatic bids through their performances at the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships.
Wells, Schubert, Parker, and Mora placed fourth in their respective weight classes, while Hendriksen finished fifth and Schmidt seventh. Soldano secured one of the 42 at-large selections, highlighting the committee's recognition of his strong season.
Wells and Parker are entering their third NCAA appearances, bringing valuable big-match poise, while Hendriksen, Schmidt, Schubert, and Mora make their debuts.
The Sooners aim to produce their first All-American since 2024 and their first individual NCAA champion since Cody Brewer won at 133 pounds in 2015.
Oklahoma enters the tournament with a 10-6 overall record (3-5 in Big 12 duals), but momentum from signature victories. The team closed the regular season with a thrilling 23-18 home win over No. 13 Northern Iowa on January 31.
Back on December 13, the Sooners staged a dramatic comeback from a 14-6 deficit to upset No. 12 Rutgers 19-14 in Piscataway, marking their highest-ranked dual victory since 2015.
Overall, the Sooners notched nine Division I dual wins this season, which was the most under Kish.
Historically, Oklahoma stands among collegiate wrestling's elite. Since the sport's NCAA inception in 1928, the Sooners have claimed seven team national titles (1936, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1974), with the 1936 crown marking the university's first-ever national championship in any sport.
The Sooners rank fifth all-time in team titles. Oklahoma has also finished as national runner-up 12 times (third-most nationally), secured 40 top-four team finishes (fourth-most), and earned top-10 placements in 64 of 95 championships (third-most).
In 2020, the NCAA recognized Oklahoma as the fourth-greatest wrestling dynasty in the country.
The program boasts 67 individual national champions and 278 All-Americans, underscoring a legacy of excellence. Oklahoma has also won 24 conference championships and produced 186 individual conference titlists, with the most recent team conference title coming in 2021 after a 19-year drought.
As the Sooners step onto the mats in Cleveland, expectations are high for breakthroughs. With a mix of seeded veterans and eager newcomers, plus the backing of a storied tradition, this tournament offers a prime opportunity to add new chapters to Oklahoma's rich wrestling history.
Whether chasing All-American honors, individual podium finishes, or contributing to team points, the No. 23 Sooners are poised to make noise on the national stage.