NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, March 20
Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs | 12 p.m.
Semifinals and wrestle-backs | 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 21
Consolation finals | 11 a.m.
Championship finals | 6:30 p.m.
 
Watch Live: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and streamed on ESPN+
Click here for every weight-by-weight bracket. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – All four George Mason wrestlers remain alive after day one of the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena.

It was a strong showing for the Patriots, with each wrestler posting a 1-1 record on Thursday and advancing to Friday's sessions beginning at noon. Highlighting the day, Malachi DuVall recorded his 100th career victory.

Ohio native Logan Messer opened his tournament with an impressive sudden victory win over 14-seed Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU). Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, Messer secured a riding time point to tie the match before delivering an early takedown in SV-1 to earn his first NCAA Championship victory.

In the second round, Messer faced Nebraska's Christopher Minto, a familiar opponent from earlier this season. Minto built an early lead and ultimately secured a major decision, 11-3.

 At 149 pounds, Kaden Cassidy fell in his opening match to fourth-seeded Collin Gaj (Virginia Tech), 9-4. Cassidy bounced back in the consolation preliminaries with a statement performance, pinning 13-seed Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) in 4:23.

Competing in his third NCAA Championship, DJ McGee dropped a 5-0 decision to Michigan's Cameron Catrabone in the championship bracket. McGee responded in the consolation round with a 6-3 win over MAC opponent Garrett McChesney (Edinboro), using a first-period takedown and steady control to stay in the tournament.

Malachi DuVall narrowly fell in the championship round to Nebraska's Silas Allred, 3-1, in a tightly contested match. DuVall rebounded with a dominant effort in consolations, pinning Columbia's Joe Curtis (1:50), tying the NCAA leader in falls with 11 this season.

All four Patriots will continue competition Friday in the consolation rounds beginning at noon.

George Mason First Day Results:
149 #22 Kaden Cassidy
Champ Rd -- #4 seed Collin Gaj (VT), 20-8 over Cassidy, 9-4
Cons. Prelims – Cassidy over Joseph Zargo (Wisc), Fall (4:23)
Cons. – v. Caleb Rathjen (Northern Iowa)

157 – #18 DJ McGee 
Champ Rd. -- #15 Cameron Catrabone (Mich) (18-8) over McGee, 5-0
Cons. Prelims. – McGee over Garrett McChesney (Edinboro), 6-3
Cons. – v. Luke Mechler (Wis)

174 #19 Logan Messer
Champ Rd. -- Messer over #14 Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU), 27-8, 6-3 SV-1
Champ Rd. -- #3 Christopher Minto (Neb) over Messer, MD, 11-3
Cons. – v. #13 Carter Baer (Bing)

184 #21 Malachi DuVall 
Champ Rd. -- #12 seeded Silas Allred (Neb) over DuVall, 3-1
DuVall over #24 Joe Curtis (Columbia), Fall (1:50)
Cons. -- #10 Caleb Campos (American)
 # = NCAA Tournament Seed