Max McEnelly's wrestling journey is one that most athletes dream of. As a redshirt sophomore for the Gophers, he's already made quite a mark. Named the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, McEnelly also snagged a gold medal at the Under-20 World Championship and clinched four state titles at Waconia High School, boasting an impressive 181 wins out of his last 182 matches.
However, McEnelly has some unfinished business. He’s yet to capture a Big Ten individual title, a goal that’s on hold until 2027. More pressing is his quest for an NCAA title, which he’ll pursue at the upcoming NCAA championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, running from March 19 to March 21.
Heading into the tournament with a 19-2 record, McEnelly is the No. 3 seed in a fiercely competitive 184-pound weight class. Last year, he finished third, and this year, he's one of six Gophers competing, standing as the team's top contender for a title.
“I still believe I’m the best guy in the bracket and in the country,” McEnelly confidently stated. His two losses came against formidable opponents: No. 2 seed Aeoden Sinclair of Missouri, who edged him out 6-3 at the National Duals Invitational, and No. 1 seed Rocco Welsh of Penn State, who narrowly defeated him 2-1 in a tiebreaker during the Big Ten title match. “I’m just excited to get the opportunity to prove it.”
A Nail-Biter at the Big Ten Tournament
McEnelly found plenty of motivation in his recent showdown with the undefeated Welsh on March 7 at the Big Ten final. In front of an electrifying Penn State crowd, the match was tied 1-1, pushing it into a sudden-victory period. Neither wrestler scored, leading to a pair of 30-second tiebreakers.
Welsh chose to start down and escaped in just three seconds, taking a 2-1 lead. This forced McEnelly to go on the offensive, needing a three-point takedown.
He got in deep on a single-leg shot, seemingly taking Welsh down with mere seconds left. However, the referee didn’t award control before Welsh stood up with McEnelly behind him.
McEnelly then slammed Welsh to his shoulders, appearing to have control, but the officials ruled it happened after time expired.
Gophers coach Brandon Eggum quickly challenged the calls, but the review upheld the original decisions. In the second 30-second tiebreaker, McEnelly once again got in on an early shot but couldn’t complete the takedown.
“It’s mixed feelings,” McEnelly reflected. “I was mad that I even allowed the match to get that far. It is disappointing, but you’ve got to live with it.”
As McEnelly heads into the NCAA championships, he's carrying the lessons from these intense battles, ready to prove his mettle on the national stage.