The 2024-25 NCAA wrestling season has delivered an abundance of excitement for the fans. While it might seem that all the excitement is concentrated in the D1 division, it’s worth exploring the other divisions as well. It’s clear that fans are buzzing with excitement for the forthcoming NCAA D1 championship matches. However, a notable controversy emerged during the NCAA D3 championship match, particularly in the 184 lbs division.

The situation also drew the ire of Olympic wrestling icon Brandon Paulson, who expressed his disapproval, remarking, “That is the wrong way to end an NCAA finals. A stall call after a scramble against the aggressor. Do Better, Be Better.. Ridiculous 184 D3 Finals call.” The competition featured Marcus Orlandoni from Wisconsin-La Crosse going head-to-head with Brandt Bombard from Augsburg. And would you believe it? The wrestlers showcased their peak performance in previous matches, making this encounter one of the season’s most eagerly awaited contests.

What events unfolded that sparked a backlash from the legendary Olympic wrestler? A stalling call was issued amid the chaos of the scramble. This undoubtedly influenced the assertive wrestler along the way. In plainer terms? Disrupting the flow of the game. The inclusion of stalling penalties aims to deter wrestlers from evading engagement. However, when this rule is enforced against an actively competing wrestler, particularly in the midst of a scramble, it can unfairly sway the result of the match.

Indeed, this is why Paulson expressed strong criticism regarding his remarks about the match, particularly given that it was an NCAA wrestling championship event. He explicitly stated that the call was unsuitable and adversely affected the integrity of the match. In the wake of a heated exchange, Orlandoni triumphed, securing the national title with a dramatic 2-1 sudden victory against Bombard. What does this scenario reveal?

Matches of this nature, particularly in NCAA wrestling, carry significant stakes, and officiating decisions can profoundly influence the trajectories of the wrestlers’ careers. However, even the D1 matches are not immune to controversies.

NCAA wrestling just can’t escape controversies

The recent Big 12 Championships sparked controversy when Justin Basch took to X to announce, “Oklahoma State’s Tagen Jamison got DQ’d, he’ll be out for the tournament.” Shortly after his update, he announced, “UPDATE: Belton & Jamison are now both back in and warming up and are in the hole on Mats 3 and 4. Their matches were skipped, and the opposing teams were told they were DQ’d. Decision reversed.” This, however, provided significant relief to the fans of Oklahoma State. What’s the reason for that?

In the 141 lbs weight class, Tagen Jamison boasted an impressive record of 17-3, with his sole defeats attributed to Jesse Mendez, Cael Happel, and Jacob Frost (Data gathered before the Big 12 championships). Initially, he faced disqualification, a fact that was widely reported.

However, when the decision was overturned, it drew sharp criticism from Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser. He wasn’t up against David Taylor’s team, yet he expressed clear discontent towards the NCAA, remarking, “Just disappointed in, you know, nobody wants anybody to sit out. But, you know, if this was the NCAA tournament, there would have been two or three wrestlers that would not have wrestled because the NCAA wouldn’t have put up with the hooey that went on this morning. Right? So there’s policies and there’s procedures that you follow. So I hope all those guys learn because they got a freebie today.”

The responsibility ultimately rested with the officials who rendered the decisions. Dresser is an individual recognized for his strict adherence to the rulebook, and he expressed dissatisfaction regarding the damage to the sport’s integrity caused by such reckless actions. Was his frustration truly warranted?

Certainly! The Cowboys wrestler faced off against Carter Nogle, Andrew Alirez, and Mosha Schwartz in the tournament, securing victories over each competitor, which elevated his season record to an impressive 20-3. One can only speculate how the outcomes might have shifted had he been unable to compete due to the disqualification.