Gable Steveson has never been a stranger to the spotlight—or controversy. Despite facing backlash for his wrestling comeback or switching the sports, one thing is clear: Hate him or love him, but you can’t ignore him. And he proves the statement right, now and then. Having a career record of 96-2, the Minnesota star has again proved his worth in the wrestling world. With the top challengers in his path, the question looms: Can Steveson cap off his collegiate career with one last statement victory?
The Olympic gold medalist remains a dominant force on the mat. As the No. 1 seed for the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, he now prepares for what could be his final NCAA run. Big Ten Wrestling made it official with their latest announcement on X, “The preliminary seeds for the #B1GWrestling Championships are here!” And from Minnesota, the 2x NCAA champion is the only name.
The preliminary seeds for the #B1GWrestling Championships are here!
: https://t.co/ujM8yzyeqc pic.twitter.com/G3kv8ciuJt
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) March 5, 2025
Unsurprisingly, Gable Steveson leads the pack at heavyweight, reinforcing his dominance despite the noise surrounding him. Steveson is declared the seed wrestler in the 285-pound weight category for the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. As the championship is approaching between March 8 and 9 at Northwestern, the Minnesota champion is all geared up for nothing less than winning the championship.
But Penn State is nowhere behind, starting from the number of wrestlers in the preliminary seed wrestler list. Read it correctly. Where five schools have only one wrestler, Penn State alone has five wrestlers. Yep, the stakes seem high. Let’s take a look at the other wrestlers.
Alongside Steveson, several other elite wrestlers secured top seeds in their respective weight classes. Penn State’s Levi Haines (157 lbs) and Carter Starocci (174 lbs) continued their stronghold, while Iowa’s Drake Ayala also found his spot among the top ranks. The stakes are high as all seasoned champions are eyeing one thing only—conference gold.
And it is only higher for Gable Steveson, as the legendary Gophers wrestler is official done with the regular season and stands undefeated. His final regular season match at the Maturi Pavilion saw him pick up a first period tech fall over Iowa’s No. 11 ranked Ben Kueter. This makes him boast of a perfect 10-0 regular season record. Given that this is his last NCAA season, it is to be seen how his career will end.
Gable Steveson’s final NCAA ride: Can he end on a high note?
With Steveson stepping onto the mat for what could be his final NCAA season, all eyes are on the competition standing in his way. From powerhouse contenders to deep talent, the Big Ten Championship is going to be worth watching. And it is safe to say that Stevenson’s NCAA career is no less than dominance on the mat.
The two-time NCAA champion clinched his first NCAA Division I National Championship in 2021, defeating Michigan’s Mason Parris with a decisive 8-4 victory in the finals. This win not only showcased his technical prowess but also earned him the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler. The wrestling star won the Dan Hodge Trophy six times. Isn’t this huge?
In 2022, Steveson continued his dominance by securing his second consecutive NCAA title. He began the tournament with a technical fall over Tyrell Gordon of UNI, followed by a victory against Zach Elam of Missouri. In the semifinals, he faced Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet, winning by decision, and ultimately defeated Arizona State’s Cohlton Schultz 6-2 in the finals. After this victory, Steveson left his shoes on the mat, symbolizing his retirement from amateur wrestling.
Beyond the NCAA, Steveson’s wrestling accolades include an Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he defeated Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili in a thrilling 10-8 finish. His collegiate record stands at an impressive 85-2, reflecting his consistent excellence on the mat. The question remains—can Gable Steveson silence the critics and cement his legacy one last time?
The post Gable Steveson’s NCAA Last Dance Brings Massive Expectations With Minnesota Star Ranked Top Seed appeared first on EssentiallySports.
