Minnesota's Max McEnelly wins 184-pound national title

McEnelly becomes the Gophers' first national champion in the weight class

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:06am

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Minnesota wrestler Max McEnelly has won the NCAA national championship at 184 pounds, defeating Penn State's Rocco Welsh 4-3 in the final. McEnelly is the Gophers' first national champion in the 184-pound weight class and the 25th overall national champion in program history.

Why it matters

McEnelly's victory marks a significant milestone for the Minnesota wrestling program, which has not had a national champion at 184 pounds. His championship win also avenges a previous loss to Welsh in the Big Ten championships earlier this month.

The details

McEnelly, the No. 3 seed, held a 3-1 advantage over Welsh, the No. 1 seed, after the first period. He then picked up an escape point in the second period before Welsh scored two points in the third period, but ran out of time in his comeback effort. The win improves McEnelly's sophomore season record to 23-2 with a 60% bonus percentage, and his career mark to 60-4 overall.

  • The NCAA National Championships took place in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • McEnelly's victory avenged his 2-1 loss to Welsh in the Big Ten championships earlier this month.

The players

Max McEnelly

A sophomore wrestler for the Minnesota Golden Gophers who won the NCAA national championship at 184 pounds.

Rocco Welsh

The No. 1 seed at 184 pounds, who wrestles for Penn State and lost to McEnelly in the national championship match.

Gable Steveson

A former two-time national champion for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the last Gopher to win a national title before McEnelly.

Andrew Sparks

A sixth-year senior for the Minnesota Golden Gophers who finished fifth at 165 pounds at the NCAA National Championships.

Jore Volk

A wrestler for the Minnesota Golden Gophers who finished seventh place at 125 pounds at the NCAA National Championships.

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What’s next

McEnelly will look to build on his national championship victory and defend his title next season as a junior.

The takeaway

Max McEnelly's national championship win is a significant achievement for the Minnesota wrestling program, which has not had a titleholder at 184 pounds. His victory also highlights the continued success of the Gophers' wrestling team and their ability to develop top-tier talent.