Taylor, Minto Advance to NCAA Finals as Huskers Sit Third After Day Two – University of Nebraska

Sending two wrestlers to the NCAA finals, the Nebraska wrestling team completed a strong day two showing at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday night at Rocket Arena. The Huskers claimed seven All-American honors, the second-most in program history, and sit third in the team standings with 90.5 points heading into Saturday’s medal rounds. NU has now produced multiple finalists in back-to-back NCAA Championships for the first time in program history.

Nebraska’s seven All-Americans marks the third consecutive year the program has had five or more claim the award. Brock Hardy became a four-time All-American, the sixth Husker in program history to accomplish the feat. The Huskers started Friday morning by producing five semifinalists, Nebraska’s most ever.

Session III began Friday morning with quarterfinal and wrestleback bouts. NU was led by No. 25 Kael Lauridsen at 125, where he faced No. 7 Nico Provo (STAN) but fell 16-4, ending the freshman’s NCAA run. At 133, No. 13 Jacob Van Dee followed with a 4-2 decision over No. 19 Gage Walker to continue his run in the consolation bracket. No. 3 Brock Hardy opened quarterfinal action against No. 6 Vince Cornella (COR), using an early takedown to secure a 5-3 win and advance to his third career semifinal appearance. The win also marked Hardy’s 110th career victory. 

Continuing quarterfinal efforts, No. 20 Chance Lamer took on No. 12 Carter Young (MD). Lamer controlled the bout from the start with an early takedown and added bonus-points in a 12-0 major decision. With the win, Lamer secured his first All-American honor and advanced to his first semifinal appearance as the lowest seed remaining across all brackets. At 157, No. 2 Antrell Taylor faced No. 7 Kannon Webster (ILL). Tied 1-1 late in the third, Taylor scored a takedown in the final seconds to claim a 5-2 decision and earn All-American honors for the third consecutive year. 

No. 3 Christopher Minto (174) followed against No. 11 MJ Gaitan (ISU), scoring three takedowns in an 11-3 major decision to advance to the semifinals and secure his second All-American finish. No. 6 LJ Araujo met No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OKST) in the wrestlebacks. Tied 1-1, the match moved to tiebreakers where Araujo fell 8-3, ending his freshman campaign. At 184, No. 8 Silas Allred trailed early against No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) before medically forfeiting due to injury in the quarterfinal bout. 

No. 11 Camden McDanel faced No. 3 Stephen Little (LR) in the quarterfinals, falling 4-1 and moving into the Round of 12 in the consolations. At heavyweight, No. 4 AJ Ferrari earned a 4-3 decision over No. 21 Juan Mora (OKLA) to advance and secure his third All-American honor. No. 13 Van Dee closed out Session III with a 12-1 major decision over No. 28 Garrett Grice (ISU), pushing his run to the blood round. 

The Huskers closed the morning session with 66 points, holding second place in the team standings and sending five wrestlers to the semifinals, the most in program history. Eight Huskers remained alive in the tournament heading into Friday evening’s Round of 12 matches. 

Session IV began at Rocket Arena with No. 13 Van Dee (133) defeating No. 8 Markel Baker (NIU) in the blood round, 2-1, to earn his second-straight All-American honor. Van Dee later fell to No. 15 Tyler Knox, 6-3, and will wrestle for seventh place Saturday morning against No. 7 Lucas Byrd.  At 141, No. 3 Hardy opened the semifinals against familiar foe No. 2 Sergio Vega. Action picked up in the third period when Vega scored a takedown, followed by a Hardy reversal, but Vega held on for the 5-3 decision. Hardy will face No. 4 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning. 

At 149, No. 20 Lamer met No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) in the semifinals. The undefeated top seed defeated Lamer 22-1, but the Husker will continue his tournament run against No. 4 Collin Gaj (VT) in the consolation semifinals Saturday morning. No. 2 Taylor (157) was up next against No. 11 Ty Watters (WVU) in the semifinal bout. Leading 1-0 in the third period, Taylor scored a takedown to secure the 4-2 win and a spot in his second NCAA final. Taylor will face No. 5 Landon Robideau (OKST) in the championship bout. 

Next, No. 11 McDanel defeated No. 18 Andrew Reall (BRWN) in the blood round, 4-2, securing his second consecutive All-American honor. The Ohio native then defeated No. 27 Gabe Arnold (IOWA) 4-2 to advance to the consolation semifinals, where he will face No. 5 Joey Novak (WYO). 

At 174, No. 3 Minto advanced to his first NCAA final with a 5-1 decision over No. 7 Cam Steed (MIZZ). The sophomore will face undefeated top seed Levi Haines (PSU) in the championship bout. No. 8 Silas Allred medically forfeited his consolation match, ending his tournament run as a senior. At heavyweight, No. 4 Ferrari faced No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU). Bastida won 15-7, but Ferrari remains in the tournament and will compete in the consolation finals Saturday morning. 

Final Matchups
157: No. 2 Antrell Taylor vs. No. 5 Landon Robideau (OKST)
174: No. 3 Christopher Minto vs. No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU)

Up Next
The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships conclude Saturday, March 21, with Session V beginning at 10 a.m. (CT). The medal rounds will be broadcast on ESPNU. Championship bouts will begin at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.

Team Standings (Through Day Two) 

1. Penn State (153)
2. Oklahoma State (111.5)
3. Nebraska (90.5)
4. Iowa (81)
5. Ohio State (77.5)
6. Stanford (58)
7. Iowa State (52)
8. Michigan (48)
9. Minnesota (39.5)
10. NC State (37)

125: No. 25 Kael Lauridsen DNP (1-2)
First Round: No. 8 Dean Peterson (IOWA) major dec. No. 25 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) 9-1
Cons. Round 1: No. 25 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) dec. No. 24 Ayden Smith (RUT) 5-1
Cons. Round 2: No. 7 Nico Provo (STAN) major dec. No. 25 Kael Lauridsen (NEB) 16-4

133: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (4-2) All-American
First Round: No. 20 Julian Farber (UNI) dec. No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) 5-4
Cons. Round 1: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 29 Luke Willochell (WYO) SV-1 10-7
Cons. Round 2: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 19 Gage Walker (MIZZ) 4-2
Cons. Round 3: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) major dec. No. 28 Garrett Grice (ISU) 12-1
Cons. Round 4: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) dec. No. 8 Markel Baker (NIU) 2-1
Cons. Round 5: No. 15 Tyler Knox (STAN) dec. No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) 6-3

141: No. 3 Brock Hardy (3-1) All-American
First Round: No. 3 Brock Hardy (NEB) tech. fall No. 30 Dario Lemus (MD) (5:47) 18-1
Second Round: No. 3 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. No. 14 Braeden Davis (PSU) 9-4
Quarterfinal: No. 3 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. No. 6 Vince Cornella (COR) 5-3
Semifinal: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OKST) dec. No. 3 Brock Hardy (NEB) 5-3

149: No. 20 Chance Lamer (3-1) All-American
First Round: No. 20 Chance Lamer (NEB) dec. No. 13 Joseph Zargo (WIS) 4-1
Second Round: No. 20 Chance Lamer (NEB) dec. No. 4 Collin Gaj (VT) 3-1
Quarterfinal: No. 20 Chance Lamer (NEB) major dec. No. 12 Carter Young (MD) 12-0
Semifinal: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness tech. fall No. 20 Chance Lamer (NEB) (5:21) 22-1

157: No. 2 Antrell Taylor (4-0) All-American
First Round: No. 2 Antrell Taylor (NEB) tech fall. No. 31 Garrett McChesney (EDIN) (5:31) 19-4
Second Round: No. 2 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 15 Cameron Catrabone (MICH) 5-3
Quarterfinal: No. 2 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 7 Kannon Webster (ILL) 5-2
Semifinal: No. 2 Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. No. 11 Ty Watters (WVU) 4-2

165: No. 6 LJ Araujo DNP (1-2)
First Round: No. 27 EJ Parco (STAN) dec. No. 6 LJ Araujo (NEB) 8-7
Cons. Round 1: No. 6 LJ Araujo (NEB) tech. fall No. 22 Matthew Olguin (ORST) (5:51) 16-0
Cons. Round 2: No. 5 LaDarion Lockett (OKST) dec. No. 6 LJ Araujo (NEB) 8-3

174: No. 3 Christopher Minto (4-0) All-American
First Round: No. 3 Christopher Minto (NEB) tech. fall No. 30 Riley Davis (WYO) (6:05) 20-4
Second Round: No. 3 Christopher Minto (NEB) major dec. No. 19 Logan Messer (GMU) 11-2
Quarterfinal: No. 3 Christopher Minto (NEB) major dec. No. 11 MJ Gaitan (ISU) 11-3
Semifinal: No. 3 Christopher Minto (NEB) dec. No. 7 Cam Steed (MIZZ) 5-1

184: No. 8 Silas Allred (2-2)
First Round: No. 8 Silas Allred (NEB) dec. No. 25 Malachi DuVall (GMU) 3-1
Second Round: No. 8 Silas Allred (NEB) major dec. No. 9 Chris Moore (ILL) 15-5
Quarterfinal: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) injury def. No. 8 Silas Allred (NEB) (5:11) 7-1
Cons. Round 4: No. 22 Zack Ryder (OKST) over No. 8 Silas Allred (NEB) (MFFL)

197: No. 11 Camden McDanel (4-1) All-American
First Round: No. 11 Camden McDanel (NEB) dec. No. 22 Devin Wasley (NDSU) 7-2
Second Round: No. 11 Camden McDanel (NEB) major dec. No. 6 Justin Rademacher (ORST) 13-5
Quarterfinal: No. 3 Stephen Little (LR) dec. No. 11 Camden McDanel 4-1
Cons. Round 4: No. 11 Camden McDanel (NEB) dec. No. 18 Andrew Reall (BRWN) 4-2
Cons. Round 5: No. 11 Camden McDanel (NEB) dec. No. 27 Gabe Arnold (IOWA) 4-2

HWT: No. 4 AJ Ferrari (3-1) All-American
First Round: No. 4 AJ Ferrari (NEB) tech. fall No. 29 Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) (6:01) 17-2
Second Round: No. 4 AJ Ferrari (NEB) major dec. No. 20 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) 12-0
Quarterfinal: No. 4 AJ Ferrari (NEB) dec. No. 21 Juan Mora (OKST) 4-3
Semifinals: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) major dec. No. 4 AJ Ferrari (NEB) 15-7