CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Citadel redshirt junior
Thomas Snipes orchestrated a competitive two-day run at the 2026 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships, compiling an even 2-2 record in the 165 lbs division behind an early loss to third-ranked Mikey Caliendo out of Iowa followed by back-to-back victories over No. 33 Ryan Vigil of VMI and Rutgers' 14th-seeded Andrew Barbosa and capped with a late stumble against No. 13 overall Andrew Sparks from Minnesota across Thursday and Friday action at Rocket Arena.
The Simpsonville, S.C., product dropped his initial Championship First Round bout against Caliendo via fall before registering a pair of 'survive & advance' wins on Thursday evening, topping Vigil courtesy of a 15-4 major decision in the Consolation Prelims before edging Barbosa behind a 3-1 tiebreaker decision to close out the Consolation First Round. In a rematch of an early November gold-medal clash at the Southeast Open, Snipes faltered against Sparks via a 7-2 decision, officially bowing out of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday afternoon.
FRIDAY SOCIAL UPDATES
THURSDAY SOCIAL UPDATES
CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND | Thursday Afternoon
165 -- No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (IOWA) over No. 30
Thomas Snipes (CIT), FALL (2:44)
CONSOLATION PRELIMS | Thursday Evening
165 -- No. 30
Thomas Snipes (CIT) over No. 33 Ryan Vigil (VMI), MD (15-4)
CONSOLATION FIRST ROUND | Thursday Evening
165 -- No. 30
Thomas Snipes (CIT) over No. 14 Andrew Barbosa (RUT), DEC (3-1 TB-1)
CONSOLATION SECOND ROUND | Friday Afternoon
165 -- No. 13 Andrew Sparks (MINN) over No. 30
Thomas Snipes (CIT), DEC (7-2)
-- #NextDogUp --
