Provo, Jack set to wrestle in Cleveland at NCAA Div. I nationals
Stratford’s Nico Provo and Danbury’s Ryan Jack will be competing at the NCAA Division I national championships beginning Thursday in Cleveland. (Photos courtesy of Stanford and North Carolina State Athletics)
Two veteran Connecticut wrestlers will be competing at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships beginning on Thursday in Cleveland.
Stratford’s Nico Provo of Stanford (125) is making his third NCAA appearance while Danbury’s Ryan Jack (141) is making his fourth appearance.
Provo (13-5) is the No. 7 seed at 125 while Jack (15-7) is the No. 16 seed at 141 pounds. Both missed the tournament a year ago because they were redshirted due to injuries.
Jack will be trying to secure All-American honors for the second time. He was an All-American after finishing seventh in 2024. Provo will be looking for All-American honors for the first time.
Only five Connecticut wrestlers have earned All-American honors at the NCAA championships. The last person before Jack to earn All-American honors was his older brother, Kevin, a three-time All-American with North Carolina State in 2018.
The only Connecticut wrestler to win the NCAA Division I championship came 95 years ago in 1931 when Stamford’s John Engel won the 118 pound championship wrestling for Lehigh.
Provo is the highest-seeded Stanford wrestler in the tournament. He will face No. 26 seed Cooper Flynn (18-4) of Chattanooga in the first round.
Two weeks ago, Provo finished second in the ACC Tournament. At the tournament, he beat defending NCAA champion Vincent Robinson of North Carolina State for the second time this season in the semifinals. In the ACC final, Provo dropped a 2-1 decision on tiebreakers to top seed Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech, snapping a six-match winning streak.
Jack faces No. 17 seed Caedyn Ricciardi of Navy in the first round and if Jack prevails, he should get a tough second round contest against top seed Jesse Mendez of Ohio State (22-0). Mendez beat Jack by technical fall in December, 21-6.
At a glance
Nico Provo, Stanford
Hometown: Stratford
High school: Greens Farms Academy
This year’s record 13-5; Record vs. ranked opponents: 8-5
NCAA qualifier (3): 20023, 2024, 2026
NCAA tournament career record: 2-4
Collegiate career record: 53-25, 1 pin, 7 tech falls
Of note: U.S. national team 2019; Prep school national champion 2019; Beat No. 1 Vincent Robinson of NC State on Jan. 16, 4-1 in OT; 3-1 in extra session this season.
Ryan Jack, North Carolina State
Hometown: Danbury
High school: Danbury
This year’s record: 12-6; Record vs. ranked opponents: 3-4
NCAA qualifier (4): 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
NCAA tournament career record: 7-6
Collegiate career record: 75-26, 7 pins
Of note: Earned All-American honors in 2024, finishing seventh. ACC champion, 2024
How to watch
Thursday, March 19
Session 1: First round, noon on ESPN+ & ESPN2
Session 2: Second round & consolation first round, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Friday, March 20
Session 3: Quarterfinals & consolation second and third rounds, noon on ESPN & ESPNU
Session 4: Semifinals & blood round, 8 p.m. on ESPN & ESPN2
Saturday, March 21
Session 5: Medal Round, 11 a.m. on ESPN & ESPNU
Session 6: Championship matches, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN