Completed Event: Wrestling versus NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2 on March 20, 2026 ,
/
FINAL
Wrestling
vs NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships - Day 2
South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: Justin Hoch | jhoch.com
SWENSEN NAMED TO ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
5/3/2023 5:44:00 PM | Wrestling
South Dakota State's Cael Swensen was named Wednesday to the Amateur Wrestling News 2023 All-Rookie Team.
A native of Plymouth, Minnesota, Swensen held down the starting spot at 157 pounds for the nationally ranked Jackrabbits during the 2022-23 season and finished his redshirt freshman campaign with a 24-10 overall record. Individually, Swensen climbed to as high as No. 18 in the national rankings and later qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, finishing one win away from All-America honors.
Three wrestlers were selected at each weight class, with Penn State 157-pounder Levi Haines being named the Rookie of the Year.
AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS 2023 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
125
1. Richard Figueroa/Arizona State (13-0)
2. Eddie Ventresca/Virginia Tech (20-9)
3. Stevo Poulin/Northern Colorado (31-7)
133
1. Aaron Nagao/Minnesota (23-6)
2. Jesse Mendez/Ohio State (19-9)
3. Gulamjon Abdulaev/Menlo College (18-0)
141
1. Lachlan McNeil/North Carolina (27-9)
2. Brock Hardy/Nebraska (30-8)
3. Casey Swiderski/Iowa State (14-12)
149
1. Shayne Van Ness/Penn State (24-7)
2. Caleb Henson/Virginia Tech (27-6)
3. Jackson Arrington/North Carolina State (23-9)
157
1. Levi Haines/Penn State (24-2)
2. Daniel Cardenas/Stanford (19-3)
3. Cael Swensen/South Dakota State (24-10)
165
1. Michael Caliendo/North Dakota State (28-5)
2. Patrick Kennedy/Iowa (21-5)
3. Alec Facundo/Penn State (19-6)
174
1. Tate Picklo/Oklahoma (25-10)
2. Luca Augustine/Pittsburgh (15-11)
3. Cael Valencia/Arizona State (12-12)
184
1. Lenny Pinto/Nebraska (24-11)
2. Brian Soldano/Rutgers (25-12)
3. Dylan Connell/Illinois (18-18)
197
1. Jaxon Smith/Maryland (23-8)
2. Carson Floyd/Appalachian State (19-9)
3. Elijah Hynes/Central Methodist (26-11)
285
1. Nathan Taylor/Lehigh (17-12)
2. Hunter Catka/Virginia Tech (19-8)
3. Trevor Tinker/Cal Poly (15-10)
ROOKIE COACH OF THE YEAR
Derek Moore, California Baptist
A native of Plymouth, Minnesota, Swensen held down the starting spot at 157 pounds for the nationally ranked Jackrabbits during the 2022-23 season and finished his redshirt freshman campaign with a 24-10 overall record. Individually, Swensen climbed to as high as No. 18 in the national rankings and later qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, finishing one win away from All-America honors.
Three wrestlers were selected at each weight class, with Penn State 157-pounder Levi Haines being named the Rookie of the Year.
AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS 2023 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
125
1. Richard Figueroa/Arizona State (13-0)
2. Eddie Ventresca/Virginia Tech (20-9)
3. Stevo Poulin/Northern Colorado (31-7)
133
1. Aaron Nagao/Minnesota (23-6)
2. Jesse Mendez/Ohio State (19-9)
3. Gulamjon Abdulaev/Menlo College (18-0)
141
1. Lachlan McNeil/North Carolina (27-9)
2. Brock Hardy/Nebraska (30-8)
3. Casey Swiderski/Iowa State (14-12)
149
1. Shayne Van Ness/Penn State (24-7)
2. Caleb Henson/Virginia Tech (27-6)
3. Jackson Arrington/North Carolina State (23-9)
157
1. Levi Haines/Penn State (24-2)
2. Daniel Cardenas/Stanford (19-3)
3. Cael Swensen/South Dakota State (24-10)
165
1. Michael Caliendo/North Dakota State (28-5)
2. Patrick Kennedy/Iowa (21-5)
3. Alec Facundo/Penn State (19-6)
174
1. Tate Picklo/Oklahoma (25-10)
2. Luca Augustine/Pittsburgh (15-11)
3. Cael Valencia/Arizona State (12-12)
184
1. Lenny Pinto/Nebraska (24-11)
2. Brian Soldano/Rutgers (25-12)
3. Dylan Connell/Illinois (18-18)
197
1. Jaxon Smith/Maryland (23-8)
2. Carson Floyd/Appalachian State (19-9)
3. Elijah Hynes/Central Methodist (26-11)
285
1. Nathan Taylor/Lehigh (17-12)
2. Hunter Catka/Virginia Tech (19-8)
3. Trevor Tinker/Cal Poly (15-10)
ROOKIE COACH OF THE YEAR
Derek Moore, California Baptist
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
157
/ WrestlingWrestling Weekly Update (03.24.2026)
Tuesday, March 24
Wrestling NCAA Championships - Thursday Highlights (03.19.2026)
Friday, March 20
Wrestling Weekly Update (03.12.2026)
Thursday, March 12
Wrestling Big 12 Championships - Session 2 Highlights (03.06.2026)
Saturday, March 07