Stanford's Valencia Reaches NCAA Wrestling Finals

10-seed Aden Valencia pulls off surprising run to championship match against Penn State's Shayne Van Ness.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:08pm

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Stanford wrestler Aden Valencia, a 10-seed, has fought his way through a loaded 149-pound bracket to reach the NCAA Wrestling finals in Cleveland. He will face off against unbeaten Penn State wrestler Shayne Van Ness, who is the heavy favorite to win the national title. Valencia has controlled most of his matches in the tournament so far, while Van Ness needed a sudden victory win in the semifinals to advance.

Why it matters

Valencia's surprise run to the finals is a major accomplishment for the Stanford program, as he is the first national finalist coached by Chris Ayres. Ayres previously coached Princeton's Pat Glory to a national title in 2023. Valencia's underdog story has captivated wrestling fans as he looks to pull off the upset against the dominant Van Ness.

The details

After a disappointing regular season that included a lopsided loss, Valencia credits his family, coaches and training partners for helping him get focused and locked in for the NCAA tournament. He believes that at this level, 'every guy is not good, they're great' and that 'every single guy here is capable of squeaking their way to a national title'.

  • The NCAA Wrestling finals will take place on Saturday night in Cleveland.
  • Valencia reached the finals after a 9-5 win over Michigan's Lachlan McNeil in the semifinals.

The players

Aden Valencia

A 10-seed wrestler from Stanford University who has fought his way to the NCAA 149-pound finals.

Shayne Van Ness

The unbeaten wrestler from Penn State University who is the heavy favorite to win the 149-pound national title.

Chris Ayres

The head wrestling coach at Stanford University, who would earn his first national finalist under his tutelage if Valencia wins.

Pat Glory

A wrestler that Ayres previously coached to a national title in 2023 while at Princeton University.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, wow, really exciting. It's been — for me it's been a little bit of an up-and-down season. I think going into this tournament, my coaches, my partners, my family helped me do all the right things, and obviously myself as well. I was locked in. I was focused. At the end of the day, everything leads to this tournament. I was ready to go when I needed to be. I'm excited to be here, and I'm excited to let it rip tomorrow.”

— Aden Valencia

“I remember going back and being confused. I saw my dad in the parking lot. I ran and cried in his arms. I was trying to figure myself out. Couldn't figure it out. I went to dinner with him and my mom. He sat me down and said, to compete at this level, every guy is not good, they're great. Every guy can win. Every single guy here is capable of squeaking their way to a national title.”

— Aden Valencia

What’s next

The NCAA Wrestling finals will take place on Saturday night in Cleveland, where Valencia will face off against Van Ness for the 149-pound national championship.

The takeaway

Valencia's surprise run to the NCAA Wrestling finals is an inspiring underdog story, showcasing the competitive parity at the highest level of collegiate wrestling. His ability to refocus and get locked in for the tournament after a disappointing regular season has put him in position to potentially pull off a major upset against the heavily favored Van Ness.