PREVIEW: Northern Colorado Wrestling Travels to Tulsa for Big 12 Championship Weekend

Friday, March 6

Tulsa, Okla.

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Big 12

PC: Caleb Steele

3/4/2026 10:44:00 AM | Wrestling

Live Results

By: Elian Soto, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado wrestling is set to open postseason competition this weekend, traveling to Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma starting on Friday, March 6.

SEASON RECAP: UNC wrestling enters the conference tournament after closing the regular season with a 3–10 overall record and a 2–6 mark in Big 12 Conference duals, marking the first season under head coach Teyon Ware.

NOTES ABOUT THE BEARS: Despite navigating a demanding dual schedule, the Bears head to Tulsa with momentum and proven individual success across the lineup. Northern Colorado will be paced by 133-pound standout Dom Serrano, who carries a 15–1 record this season, captured the 133-pound title at the Southern Scuffle, and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. Serrano has established himself as one of the conference's most consistent and dominant competitors.

Serrano's dominant campaign has positioned him as a title contender heading into championship weekend and will be a key driver for the Bears as they look to make noise in a deep and competitive Big 12 field. The Big 12 Tournament serves as the primary postseason qualifier for the NCAA Championships, with automatic bids on the line in each weight class. For Northern Colorado, the weekend represents an opportunity to capitalize on individual performances, gain valuable postseason experience under a new coaching staff, and set the tone for the program's next phase under Ware's leadership.

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS:
125 lbs: Bryson Valdez (2-13) vs. (3) Jett Strickenberger (Oklahoma State, 14-5)
133 lbs: Dominick Serrano (15-1) – first-round bye
141 lbs: Joel Aguilar-Guerrero (5-5) vs. (6) Tyler Wells (Oklahoma, 13-7)
149 lbs: KJ Evans (10-9) vs. (2) Jacob Frost (Iowa State, 13-5)
157 lbs: Daishun Powe (11-13) vs. (3) Vinny Zerban (Iowa State, 14-3)
165 lbs: Kilian Schultz (8-10) vs. (1) LaDarion Lockett (Oklahoma State, 13-1)
174 lbs: Murphy Menke (10-8) vs. (4) MJ Gaitan (Iowa State, 11-5)
184 lbs: Mahonri Rushton (14-12) vs. (5) Nick Fox (Northern Iowa, 0-2)
197 lbs: Tyler Perry (5-15) vs. (4) Bennett Berge (South Dakota State, 0-0)
285 lbs: Enzo Cappabianca (0-19) vs. (2) Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State, 14-2)

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, March 6
Session 1: Preliminary & Quarterfinal Matches — 10:00 a.m. CT
Session 2: Semifinal & Consolation Quarterfinal Matches — 5:00 p.m. CT

Saturday, March 7
Session 3: Consolation Semifinals— 12:00 p.m. CT
Session 4: Finals — 7 p.m. CT
*Doors open one hour before each session

Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+, with live scoring and real-time results available through TrackWrestling.com.

TAKEDOWN CLUB: The Takedown Club plays a vital role in the success of UNC Wrestling. Your support helps invest in the latest training and performance technology and supports championship-level travel opportunities. These investments directly support our student-athletes as they prepare to compete on the biggest stage at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships.

Give to the Takedown Club today!

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, visit the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the wrestling team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNCBearsWrestle) and Instagram (@UNCBearsWrestle).