| Custom Title: | 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Sport: | Wrestling |
| Teams: | 63 |
| Format: | Knockout |
| Finals Site: | St. Louis Enterprise Center |
| Champions: | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Title Count: | 24th |
| Runner Up: | Penn State Nittany Lions |
| Semifinal1: | Oklahoma State Cowboys |
| Semifinal2: | Arizona State Sun Devils |
| Coach: | Tom Brands |
| Coach Count: | 4th |
| Attendance: | 25% capacity |
| Television: | ESPN Networks |
| Prev: | 2019 |
| Tournament Link: | NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships |
| Next: | 2022 |
The 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships took place from March 18–20, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri at the Enterprise Center. The tournament was the 90th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship, following the cancellation of the 2020 edition, and featured 63 teams across that level.[1] [2]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the event was forced to occur with modifications.[3] Due to the same reason, the Ivy League was unable to compete through the season, leaving out notable teams like Cornell and Princeton, therefore notable wrestlers such as two-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis and returning All-American Vito Arujau.[4]
In the tournament, Iowa clinched its first NCAA title since 2010 and finished with one individual national champion, while the defending Penn State became the runner-up of the tournament with four individual national champions.[5] Little Rock made its NCAA tournament debut with one national qualifier, while it was also the last year for Stanford and Fresno State.[6] [7] Shane Griffith became the second ever NCAA champion from Stanford, and as a response to the cut of the school's wrestling team (Stanford eventually decided to keep the program), he wore a black singlet with no logo during the finals match, and was named the Outstanding Wrestler afterwards.[8] North Carolina also saw its first National champion since 1995, with Austin O'Connor at 149 pounds.[9]
| Rank | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 129 | ||
| 113 | |||
| 99 | |||
| 74 | |||
| 69 | |||
| 68 | |||
| 64 | |||
| Missouri (H) | 64 | ||
| 46 | |||
| 45 |
Source:
| Weight | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 lbs | Spencer Lee Iowa | Brandon Courtney Arizona State | Patrick McKee Minnesota |
| 133 lbs | Roman Bravo-Young Penn State | Daton Fix Oklahoma State | Austin DeSanto Iowa |
| 141 lbs | Nick Lee Penn State | Jaydin Eierman Iowa | Tariq Wilson NC State |
| 149 lbs | Austin O'Connor North Carolina | Sammy Sasso Ohio State | Yahya Thomas Northwestern |
| 157 lbs | David Carr Iowa State | Ryan Deakin Northwestern | |
| 165 lbs | Shane Griffith Stanford | Jake Wentzel Pittsburgh | Keegan O'Toole Missouri (H) |
| 174 lbs | Carter Starocci Penn State | Michael Kemerer Iowa | Mikey Labriola Nebraska |
| 184 lbs | Aaron Brooks Penn State | Trent Hidlay NC State | Parker Keckeisen Northern Iowa |
| 197 lbs | A.J. Ferrari Oklahoma State | Nino Bonaccorsi Pittsburgh | Myles Amine Michigan |
| 285 lbs | Gable Steveson Minnesota | Mason Parris Michigan | Tony Cassioppi Iowa |