By: Brook Weber
PHILADELPHIA — Session 1 of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships concluded with redshirt senior Matt Ramos (125 lbs) and sophomore Joey Blaze (157 lbs) earning first round victories to advance in the winners' brackets.
Wrestling in his fourth and final national tournament, Ramos (No. 2 seed) took care of business with an 11-3 major decision over Cal State Bakersfield's No. 31 Richard Castro-Sandoval.
Ramos landed three takedowns, the last of which pushed him over the threshold for bonus points to take an eight-point victory. It was his fourth opening round victory in as many years at NCAAs.
Ramos will see his in-state rival, Indiana's Jacob Moran (No. 18) in Thursday night's Session 2 after beating him in their previous two meetings this season. A trip to the 125-pound quarterfinal will be on the line.
Blaze (No. 8 seed) shut out North Carolina's No. 25 Sonny Santiago, 7-0, to secure his first-ever win at the national championships.
The sophomore racked up 3:34 of riding time in his dominant effort, beating the Tarheel with a takedown, a reversal and a penalty point for stalling.
Blaze is set for a rematch from the Big Ten Championships with Minnesota's No. 9 Tommy Askey in the second round. Last time out he beat Askey in overtime, 4-1.
Making his NCAA Tournament debut, redshirt junior Hayden Filipovich (No. 33, 285) defeated Appalachian State's No. 32 Stephan Monchery in a wrestle-in match via 9-0 major decision.
The only wrestler in the national tournament hailing from Indianapolis, "Big Fil" impressed after wrestling at 184 pounds just 13 months ago.
He ultimately lost to No. 1 Gable Steveson in the first round, sending him to the consolation ladder.
Also wrestling on in consolation, No. 26 Brody Baumann (174) and No. 27 Greyson Clark (141) dropped their matches to higher-seeded opponents.
Baumann and Clark will also compete Thursday night.
Session 2 is slated to start at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. RESULTS / UP NEXT 125 | #2 Matt Ramos (R-Sr.)
Round 1: Ramos over #31 Richard Castro-Sandoval (CSUB) – MD 11-3
Round 2: vs. #18 Jacob Moran (IND)
141 | #27 Greyson Clark (So.)
Round 1: #6 Vance VomBaur (MINN) over Clark – D 2-0
Cons. Round 1: vs. #22 Jordan Soriano (DREX)
157 | #8 Joey Blaze (So.)
Round 1: Blaze over #25 Sonny Santiago (UNC) – D 7-0
Round 2: vs. #9 Tommy Askey (MINN)
174 | #26 Brody Baumann (R-So.)
Round 1: #7 Danny Wask (NAVY) over Baumann – TF 15-0 (6:41)
Cons. Round 1: vs. #10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
285 | #33 Hayden Filipovich (R-Jr.)
Prelim: Filipovich over #32 Stephan Monchery (APP ST) – MD 9-0
Round 1: #1 Gable Steveson (MINN) over Filipovich – Fall (1:25)
Cons. Round 1: vs. #17 Jake Andrews (CSUB)
PHILADELPHIA — Session 1 of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships concluded with redshirt senior Matt Ramos (125 lbs) and sophomore Joey Blaze (157 lbs) earning first round victories to advance in the winners' brackets.
Wrestling in his fourth and final national tournament, Ramos (No. 2 seed) took care of business with an 11-3 major decision over Cal State Bakersfield's No. 31 Richard Castro-Sandoval.
Ramos landed three takedowns, the last of which pushed him over the threshold for bonus points to take an eight-point victory. It was his fourth opening round victory in as many years at NCAAs.
Ramos will see his in-state rival, Indiana's Jacob Moran (No. 18) in Thursday night's Session 2 after beating him in their previous two meetings this season. A trip to the 125-pound quarterfinal will be on the line.
Blaze (No. 8 seed) shut out North Carolina's No. 25 Sonny Santiago, 7-0, to secure his first-ever win at the national championships.
The sophomore racked up 3:34 of riding time in his dominant effort, beating the Tarheel with a takedown, a reversal and a penalty point for stalling.
Blaze is set for a rematch from the Big Ten Championships with Minnesota's No. 9 Tommy Askey in the second round. Last time out he beat Askey in overtime, 4-1.
Making his NCAA Tournament debut, redshirt junior Hayden Filipovich (No. 33, 285) defeated Appalachian State's No. 32 Stephan Monchery in a wrestle-in match via 9-0 major decision.
The only wrestler in the national tournament hailing from Indianapolis, "Big Fil" impressed after wrestling at 184 pounds just 13 months ago.
He ultimately lost to No. 1 Gable Steveson in the first round, sending him to the consolation ladder.
Also wrestling on in consolation, No. 26 Brody Baumann (174) and No. 27 Greyson Clark (141) dropped their matches to higher-seeded opponents.
Baumann and Clark will also compete Thursday night.
Session 2 is slated to start at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. RESULTS / UP NEXT 125 | #2 Matt Ramos (R-Sr.)
Round 1: Ramos over #31 Richard Castro-Sandoval (CSUB) – MD 11-3
Round 2: vs. #18 Jacob Moran (IND)
141 | #27 Greyson Clark (So.)
Round 1: #6 Vance VomBaur (MINN) over Clark – D 2-0
Cons. Round 1: vs. #22 Jordan Soriano (DREX)
157 | #8 Joey Blaze (So.)
Round 1: Blaze over #25 Sonny Santiago (UNC) – D 7-0
Round 2: vs. #9 Tommy Askey (MINN)
174 | #26 Brody Baumann (R-So.)
Round 1: #7 Danny Wask (NAVY) over Baumann – TF 15-0 (6:41)
Cons. Round 1: vs. #10 Alex Cramer (CMU)
285 | #33 Hayden Filipovich (R-Jr.)
Prelim: Filipovich over #32 Stephan Monchery (APP ST) – MD 9-0
Round 1: #1 Gable Steveson (MINN) over Filipovich – Fall (1:25)
Cons. Round 1: vs. #17 Jake Andrews (CSUB)