SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. — With the NCAA announcing its 2026 Division I Wrestling Championships pre-allocations, Little Rock heads into the Pac-12 Championships with several wrestlers positioned to contend for automatic qualification spots to the national tournament.
Pre-allocations determine how many automatic NCAA bids each conference tournament receives at every weight class based on regular-season performance through Feb. 23. Each conference is guaranteed at least one automatic qualifier per weight, with additional spots awarded where wrestlers met national performance benchmarks during the season.
The Pac-12 received multiple qualifying spots in a few key weight classes, giving the Trojans several opportunities to punch tickets to the NCAA Championships this weekend.
At 149 pounds, the Pac-12 was awarded two automatic bids. Brock Herman, ranked 18th nationally, will look to secure one of those spots against a field that includes Oregon State's Noah Tolentino (24), Cal Poly's Andre Gonzales and Cal State Bakersfield's Hayden Zinkin.
Little Rock also has a strong opportunity at 197 pounds where two bids are available. Fourth-ranked Stephen Little enters as one of the top contenders in the bracket alongside Oregon State's Justin Rademacher (9), Cal Poly's Cole Jackson and Cal State Bakersfield's Chris Neal.
At 165 pounds, Matty Bianchi leads a highly competitive weight class. The fifth-ranked Trojan will face Oregon State's Matthew Olguin (23), Cal State Bakersfield's Coen Quintana and Cal Poly's Anthony Berg as he looks to claim the conference's automatic qualification.
Elsewhere, several Trojans will aim to capture the Pac-12's automatic bid awarded to the tournament champion in their respective weight classes. Tyson Roach competes at 125 pounds against Oregon State's Maximo Renteria (8), Cal Poly's Koda Holeman (20) and Cal State Bakersfield's Richard Castro-Sandoval.
At 133 pounds, Dillon Cooper faces Oregon State's Gabe Whisenhunt, Cal State Bakersfield's RJ Jones and Cal Poly's Anthony Lucio. Brennan Van Hoecke will represent Little Rock at 141 pounds against Oregon State's Nash Singleton (23), Cal State Bakersfield's Santino Sanchez and Cal Poly's Alek VanBebber.
Jaivon Jones, ranked 30th nationally, competes at 157 pounds in a bracket with Cal Poly's Jagger French, Oregon State's CJ Hamblin and Cal State Bakersfield's Devyn Flores-Che.
At 174 pounds, Gunner Holland squares off with Oregon State's Daschle Lamer (29), Cal Poly's Cash Stewart and Cal State Bakersfield's Guillermo Escobedo.
Kodiak Cannedy represents the Trojans at 184 pounds against Cal Poly's Ceasar Garza (27), Oregon State's TJ McDonnell and Cal State Bakersfield's Jeremy Manibog.
Heavyweight Michael Gasper rounds out the lineup for Little Rock. The 30th-ranked Trojan will face Cal Poly's Trevor Tinker (22), Oregon State's Khale McDonnell and Cal State Bakersfield's Mason Cover.
Following the conclusion of conference championships, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will select the remaining at-large qualifiers to complete the national field. The final at-large selections will be announced March 10, with brackets and seeds revealed March 11.
The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place March 19–21 in Philadelphia.
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