CLEVELAND, Ohio – The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team concluded the first day of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena on Thursday night, with five grapplers advancing to the second day.
 
#3 Cross Wasilewski led the charge for Penn, clinching his spot in the 149 quarterfinals off an 8-5 sudden victory win over Northern Iowa's 14 Caleb Rathjen.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*#12 Evan Mougalian (133), #11 CJ Composto (141), #6 Jude Swisher (157), and #24 Sean Seefeldt all went 1-1 on the day to help secure their places in the second day of competition.
 
*Freshman Motyka, junior Mougalian, and junior Seefeldt made their NCAA Championships debuts during the morning session.
 
*Sophomore Wasilewski shifts to a solid 27-3 overall record on the year, picking up a win over Rider's #30 Dylan Layton (12-1 MD) in the opening round of action and his overtime win over Rathjen in the second session.
 
Up Next
The Quakers continue the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday, March 20, with the third session starting at noon in Rocket Arena.
 
Results
125
#22 Davis Motyka
CHAMPS R1: #11 Tyler Klinsky (Rider) def. Motyka, 19-2 TF
CONS PRELIM: Motyka def. #27 Brady Roark (SDSU),13-4 MD
 
133
#12 Evan Mougalian
CHAMPS R1: Mougalian def. #21 Sean Spidle (Northwestern), 8-1 DEC
CHAMPS R2: #5 Kyler Larkin (ASU) def. Mougalian, 6:31 F
 
141
#11 CJ Composto
CHAMPS R1: Composto def. #22 Lorenzo Frezza (Columbia), 2-0 DEC
CHAMPS R2: #6 Vince Cornella (Cornell) def. Composto, 12-2 MD
 
149
#3 Cross Wasilewski
CHAMPS R1: Wasilewski def. #30 Dylan Layton (Rider), 12-1 MD
CHAMPS R2: Wasilewski def. #14 Caleb Rathjen (Northern Iowa), 8-5 DEC SV
QF:
 
157
#6 Jude Swisher
CHAMPS R1: Swisher def. #27 Dylan Evans (Pitt), 8-2 DEC
CHAMPS R2: #11 Ty Watter (West Virginia) def. Swisher, 7-1 DEC
 
165
#24 Sean Seefeldt
CHAMPS R1: #9 Bryce Hepner (North Carolina) def. Seefeldt, 11-4 DEC
CONS PRELIM: Seefeldt def. #25 Mac Church (VT), 4-1 DEC