2026 Hodge Trophy: Fan Vote for Wrestling’s Top Star – Penn State & OSU Dominate

CLEVELAND – Fan voting is underway to help determine the winner of the 2026 Dan Hodge Trophy, collegiate wrestling’s most prestigious individual award. Seven NCAA champions, all finishing the 2025-26 season undefeated, are finalists for the honor, following the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 21 at the Wolstein Center.

Penn State leads the list of finalists with four contenders: Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds, 25-0), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds, 27-0), Levi Haines (174 pounds, 26-0), and Josh Barr (197 pounds, 24-0). Mesenbrink and Haines have already secured NCAA titles in previous seasons, adding to their credentials. Oklahoma State boasts two finalists in freshmen Jax Forrest (133 pounds, 18-0) and Sergio Vega (141 pounds, 24-0). Rounding out the group is North Carolina State’s Isaac Trumble (285 pounds, 21-0).

The selection process considers a wrestler’s record, dominance measured by bonus-point percentage, the strength of their competition, and demonstrated sportsmanship. The Hodge Trophy Voting Committee, comprised of past Hodge winners, retired coaches, national media, and representatives from wrestling organizations, will ultimately decide the winner. The fan vote, which closes on Friday, March 27, carries the weight of five additional first-place votes in the committee’s tally.

Vega’s path to the finals included a victory over two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, a wrestler widely considered a frontrunner for the award throughout the season. The NCAA finals were intentionally structured to conclude with a highly anticipated matchup between Forrest and Ohio State’s Ben Davino at 133 pounds, showcasing the rising talent in collegiate wrestling.

Statistical analysis highlights the impressive performance of the finalists. Lilledahl secured pins in 18 of his 25 victories, while Forrest achieved a remarkable 88.9% bonus-point percentage. Vega demonstrated consistent dominance with a 45.8% bonus-point rate, and Mesenbrink recorded bonus points in 96.3% of his matches. Haines achieved an 80.8% bonus-point percentage, Barr a 95.8% rate, and Trumble a 71.4% rate, according to data from wrestlestat.com.

Past winners of the Dan Hodge Trophy include Penn State wrestlers Bo Nickal (2019) and Aaron Brooks (2024), as well as Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson (2025) and Alex Dieringer (2016). The award has been presented annually since 1957, recognizing the most outstanding wrestler in NCAA Division I competition.

The 2026 Dan Hodge Trophy winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, at 12 pm CST.