Max McEnelly Wins First 184-Pound National Title in Gophers Wrestling History

McEnelly is Minnesota's first National Champion since Gable Steveson in 2022.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:18pm

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Gophers superstar Max McEnelly made history on Saturday night, becoming the first wrestler in program history to win an individual national title in the 184-pound division. McEnelly, the No. 3 seed, avenged his earlier loss to No. 1 seed Rocco Welsh of Penn State with a 4-3 win in the finals.

Why it matters

This is a significant achievement for the University of Minnesota wrestling program, as McEnelly is the first Gopher to win a national title in the 184-pound weight class. The Gophers have a strong wrestling tradition, and this victory continues that legacy.

The details

McEnelly compiled a 17-1 record before the Big Ten Championship, where he lost to Welsh in the finals. However, he was able to defeat Welsh in the NCAA Championship finals, becoming the 19th different Gopher to win a national title. Minnesota finished ninth in the team standings, with Jore Volk (7th in 125-pound) and Andrew Sparks (5th in 165-pound) also earning All-American honors.

  • McEnelly won the national title on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • He finished third in his weight class at the NCAA Championships last season.

The players

Max McEnelly

A superstar wrestler for the University of Minnesota, McEnelly made history by becoming the first Gopher to win a national title in the 184-pound division.

Rocco Welsh

The top-seeded wrestler from Penn State, who lost to McEnelly in the NCAA Championship finals.

Gable Steveson

The former Gopher wrestler who won back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, the last time Minnesota had an individual national champion before McEnelly.

Jayson Ness

The last non-heavyweight Gopher wrestler to win a national title, which he did in 2010.

Brandon Eggum

The 10th-year head coach of the Minnesota wrestling team, who has led the Gophers to five top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships.

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What they’re saying

“That National Championship feeling...”

— Minnesota Wrestling

What’s next

McEnelly will look to defend his national title and lead the Gophers to an even higher team finish next season.

The takeaway

McEnelly's historic victory is a testament to the strength of the Minnesota wrestling program and its ability to develop elite talent. This achievement will inspire future Gopher wrestlers to strive for greatness and continue the program's rich tradition.