Northwestern University Athletics
NCAA Releases 2018 Championships Brackets
3/7/2018 5:35:00 PM | Wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. — The first-round matchups for the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, were announced today on NCAA.com's Selection Show.
2018 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS
Four Wildcats earned automatic qualifying spots with their finishes at the 2018 Big Ten Championships — No. 8 Sebastian Rivera (125), No. 5 Ryan Deakin (149), No. 18 Johnny Sebastian (174), and No. 17 Conan Jennings (285).
There are 33 wrestlers competing in each weight class.
Sebastian Rivera earned the 10th seed in his weight class and will pair with unseeded Ibrahim Bunduka of George Mason in the opening round. The winner will face Taylor LaMont of Utah Valley, the 12th-ranked wrestler at 125 lbs. by InterMat.
The highest-seeded NU grappler in the event, No. 7 seed Ryan Deakin will battle against Frank Garcia of Binghamton in round one. The winner will face Dane Robbins (Air Force) or former Wildcat Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State), the 10 seed in the event.
Johnny Sebastian and Conan Jennings are both unseeded and drew seeded opponents in their opening round.
Sebastian will wrestle against (15) Dylan Lydy of Purdue for the fourth time this season. Sebastian leads the season series, 2-1, including a win at the Big Ten Championships. The bout winner will face second-seeded Mark Hall of Penn State or Austin Rose of Drexel.
Jennings is pitted against (15) Thomas Haines of Lock Haven, the former Ohio State Buckeye. The winner will face second-seeded Adam Coon of Michigan or Matt Voss of George Mason.
First and second round matches can be found below. The 2018 NCAA Championships get underway from the Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 15 at 11 a.m. CT and will run through the finals, which takes place on Saturday, March 17 at 7 p.m. CT.
Matchups
125: (10) Sebastian Rivera (26-5) vs. Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason, 23-12)
Winner vs. (7) Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley) or Brock Hudkins (NIU)
149: (7) Ryan Deakin (30-5) vs. Frank Garcia (Binghamton, 27-11)
Winner vs. (10) Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State) or Dane Robbins (Air Force)
174: Johnny Sebastian (26-10) vs. (15) Dylan Lydy (Purdue, 32-12)
Winner vs. Austin Rose (Drexel) or (2) Mark Hall (Penn State)
285: Conan Jennings (25-10) vs. (15) Thomas Haines (Lock Haven, 18-5)
Winner vs. (2) Adam Coon (Michigan) or Matt Voss (George Mason)
2018 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS
Four Wildcats earned automatic qualifying spots with their finishes at the 2018 Big Ten Championships — No. 8 Sebastian Rivera (125), No. 5 Ryan Deakin (149), No. 18 Johnny Sebastian (174), and No. 17 Conan Jennings (285).
There are 33 wrestlers competing in each weight class.
Sebastian Rivera earned the 10th seed in his weight class and will pair with unseeded Ibrahim Bunduka of George Mason in the opening round. The winner will face Taylor LaMont of Utah Valley, the 12th-ranked wrestler at 125 lbs. by InterMat.
The highest-seeded NU grappler in the event, No. 7 seed Ryan Deakin will battle against Frank Garcia of Binghamton in round one. The winner will face Dane Robbins (Air Force) or former Wildcat Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State), the 10 seed in the event.
Johnny Sebastian and Conan Jennings are both unseeded and drew seeded opponents in their opening round.
Sebastian will wrestle against (15) Dylan Lydy of Purdue for the fourth time this season. Sebastian leads the season series, 2-1, including a win at the Big Ten Championships. The bout winner will face second-seeded Mark Hall of Penn State or Austin Rose of Drexel.
Jennings is pitted against (15) Thomas Haines of Lock Haven, the former Ohio State Buckeye. The winner will face second-seeded Adam Coon of Michigan or Matt Voss of George Mason.
First and second round matches can be found below. The 2018 NCAA Championships get underway from the Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 15 at 11 a.m. CT and will run through the finals, which takes place on Saturday, March 17 at 7 p.m. CT.
Matchups
125: (10) Sebastian Rivera (26-5) vs. Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason, 23-12)
Winner vs. (7) Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley) or Brock Hudkins (NIU)
149: (7) Ryan Deakin (30-5) vs. Frank Garcia (Binghamton, 27-11)
Winner vs. (10) Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State) or Dane Robbins (Air Force)
174: Johnny Sebastian (26-10) vs. (15) Dylan Lydy (Purdue, 32-12)
Winner vs. Austin Rose (Drexel) or (2) Mark Hall (Penn State)
285: Conan Jennings (25-10) vs. (15) Thomas Haines (Lock Haven, 18-5)
Winner vs. (2) Adam Coon (Michigan) or Matt Voss (George Mason)
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Wrestling - Four 'Cats Earn Bonus Points as Northwestern Downs Maryland in Big Ten Opener (1/9/26)
Saturday, January 10
Wrestling - 'Cats Take Down Wisconsin, 27-11, on Senior Night (2/14/25)
Saturday, February 15
Wrestling - Seven 'Cats Claim Victory in 27-12 Win Over Michigan State (2/8/25)
Saturday, February 08
Wrestling - 'Cats Tame Mustangs, Take Down Cal Poly 29-14 (12/19/24)
Friday, December 20
