Wrestling | March 18
TULSA, Okla. – No. 12 redshirt senior
Izzak Olejnik (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) finished in eighth place at 165 lbs. after going 4-3 at 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships inside the BOK Center in Tulsa.
Despite losing 6-2 to No. 7 Michael Caliendo (NDSU) in the seventh-place match Saturday morning, Olejnik is still an All-American.
Olejnik's path to the podium began after falling to the consolation bracket Thursday. In Friday's Blood Round, Olejnik knew he needed three-straight wins to earn podium honors; one loss would send him home.
Olejnik plowed his way through No. 22 seeded Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) and No. 20 Holden Heller (Pittsburgh) before upsetting No. 10 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) to guarantee All-American status.
"This tournament is somewhat based on seeds, but they don't really mean much," said Olejnik. "A lot of the higher seeds fell early, and anyone can beat anyone on any given day. I just tried my best to get to my offense and work in every position. Then the big day yesterday was just confidence in myself. I believed in myself and ultimately got it done. I think the big thing for me was belief,"
After qualifying in 2020, 2021, and 2022, landing All-American status for the first time is especially meaningful.
"I've been here a couple of times, and I've always kind of came up short. But this time was just about really believing in myself. Being able to come out with All-American status was a goal of mine for sure,"
Olejnik is Head Coach
Ryan Ludwig's second All-American as
Brit Wilson earned the plaudit in 2021. Ludwig couldn't be prouder of the way his team's leader displayed grit and determination at the tournament.
"Izzak [Olejnik] has had an outstanding run at the NCAA Championships," said Ludwig. "Placing among the nation's elite to become an All American is a long-term goal realized. The depth of this tournament, in this weight class, in this particular year, makes standing on the podium even more special. He's the prime example of leadership and grit in this program,"
The back-to-back Mid-American conference champion finishes the year with a 31-5 overall mark, including being a perfect 6-0 in MAC duals.
Olejnik's NCAA Championship Results
Champ. Round 1 -
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 won by decision over Gerrit Nijenhuis (Oklahoma) 16-9 (Dec 4-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Quincy Monday (Princeton) 26-3 won by decision over
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 -
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 won by decision over Tanner Cook (South Dakota State) 18-9 (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Round 3 -
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 won by injury default over Holden Heller (Pittsburgh) 16-8 (Inj. 5:40)
Cons. Round 4 -
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 won by decision over Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 15-6 (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Round 5 - Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) 25-6 won by decision over
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 (Dec 7-3)
7th Place Match - Michael Caliendo III (North Dakota State) 28-5 won by decision over
Izzak Olejnik (NIU) 31-5 (Dec 6-2)
