CLEVELAND — Rocco Welsh again fell just short.
Welsh (25-1) dropped a 4-3 decision to Minnesota’s Max McEnelly (24-2) in the 184-pound final at the 2026 NCAA Division I men’s wrestling championships. After a redshirt season which followed his runner-up finish in 2024, Welsh must wait another year for his chance at NCAA gold.
McEnelly secured a first period takedown which proved decisive in the bout. Welsh’s first two points came via escape before a late stalling point.
Path to finals
Welsh’s path to the final included wins of four different varieties.
He defeated Utah Valley’s Caleb Uhlenhopp by technical fall in the first round before a major decision over Lehigh’s Rylan Rogers in the second. He held a 7-1 lead over Nebraska’s Silas Allred in the quarterfinals when Allred injury defaulted.
Welsh then out-lasted Beau Mantanona of Michigan, 4-3, in the semifinals. That booked a Big 10 championship rematch with McEnelly, one which Welsh won in tiebreakers on March 7.
Two years remain
Welsh redshirted at Ohio State during the 2024-25 season and won all 12 matches he wrestled as an unattached athlete. The year prior, he fell victim to Carter Starocci’s fourth NCAA title for Penn State in the 174-pound final.
A native of Waynesburg, Welsh finished his redshirt sophomore season with a 59-6 career collegiate record. Two years of eligibility remain for the two-time PIAA champion.
Contact Jeff Uveino at [email protected]. Follow him on X @realjuveino.
