Wrestling

Mizzou’s O’Toole & UNCO’s Alirez Crowned National Champions

TULSA, Okla. — Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole and Northern Colorado’s Andrew Alirez won individual national titles at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships. O’Toole claimed his second consecutive national title as he defeated the 2021 NCAA champion and reigning Big 12 champion David Carr (Iowa State) 8-2, to defend his 165-pound title. Alirez became the first wrestler in UNCO program history to win a national championship.

Missouri finished fifth in the overall standings with 64.5 points while Penn State took the team title with 137.5 points. Five more Big 12 squads earned a spot in the top-20 as Iowa State finished in 11th, South Dakota State finished at 14th, Northern Iowa ended at 16th and Air Force and Oklahoma State tied for 18th.

OSU’s Daton Fix finished fourth at 133 pounds after dropping a 2-1 decision to Arizona State’s Michael McGee.

SDSU’s Tanner Sloan ended as the runner-up against Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi while Missouri’s Rocky Elam took third place at 197 pounds with a 5-2 decision over Cal Poly’s Bernie Truax.

AF’s Wyatt Hendrickson posted a 4:16 fall to take home third place at 285 pounds against Iowa’s Tony Cassioppi.

NDSU’s Jared Franek completed his weekend with a fourth-place finish, falling to Lehigh’s Josh Humphrey’s in the 157 pounds third-place match. Franek also garnered his second-straight Elite 90 Award for his 4.0 GPA.

UNI’s Parker Keckeisen concluded as the runner-up at 184 pounds, dropping to PSU’s Aaron Brooks in a 7-2 decision.
 
2023 Big 12 All-Americans
Killian Cardinale, 5th Yr., West Virginia, 125
Daton Fix, R-Sr., Oklahoma State, 133
Andrew Alirez, Jr., Northern Colorado, 141
Clay Carlson, Sr., South Dakota State, 141
Brock Mauller, R-Jr., Missouri, 149
Jared Franek, Sr., North Dakota State, 157
David Carr, Sr., Iowa State, 165
Keegan O’Toole, So., Missouri, 165
Michael Caliendo III, R-Fr., North Dakota State, 165
Peyton Mocco, R-Jr., Missouri, 174
Parker Keckeisen, R-So., Northern Iowa, 184
Marcus Coleman, Sr., Iowa State, 184
Tanner Sloan, Sr., South Dakota State, 197
Rocky Elam, So., Missouri, 197
Wyatt Hendrickson, Jr., Air Force, 285

 
Final Standings
5.         Missouri                               64.5
11.       Iowa State                           47
14.       South Dakota State         37
16.       Northern Iowa                  29
18.       Air Force                              28.5
18.       Oklahoma State               28.5
23.       Northern Colorado          26
24.       North Dakota State          25.5
34.       West Virginia                       8
40.       Oklahoma                            6
40.       Utah Valley                          6
50.       Wyoming                              2