Stephen Buchanan (wrestler)

Last updated

Stephen Buchanan
Personal information
Born (2000-11-30) November 30, 2000 (age 25)
Owen, Wisconsin, U.S.
Home town Loyal, Wisconsin
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Sport Wrestling
Event(s)
 Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team Iowa
Oklahoma
Wyoming
ClubHawkeye Wrestling Club
Coached by Tom Brands
Terry Brands
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Grand Prix
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2026 Nice 97 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Iowa Hawkeyes
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Philadelphia 197 lb
Big Ten Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2025 Evanston 197 lb
Representing the Oklahoma Sooners
NCAA Division I Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Kansas City 197 lb
Big 12 Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2024 Tulsa197 lb
Representing the Wyoming Cowboys
NCAA Division I Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Detroit 197 lb
Big 12 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2022 Tulsa197 lb
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2021 Tulsa197 lb

Stephen Buchanan (born November 30, 2000) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 97 kilograms. A five-time NCAA Division I Qualifier, Buchanan finished as an four-time NCAA D1 all-American and the 2025 NCAA D1 197lb National Champion. [1]

Contents

Career

High School

Buchanan attended Loyal High School in Loyal, Wisconsin. Buchanan finished his high school career with a 184–16 record, winning two WIAA State titles. Buchanan committed to attend the University of Wyoming. [2]

Wyoming

2019–2020

Buchanan earned the starting 197lb role as a true freshman for Wyoming. Buchanan tallied a 26–13 record, taking 7th at the Big 12 tournament. [3] Buchanan received an at large bid, qualifying for the 2020 NCAA Wrestling Tournament, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Buchanan led Wyoming with 36 takedowns during dual action. [4]

2020–2021

Buchanan returned to the Wyoming lineup at 197lb as a sophomore. Buchanan finished second at the Big 12 Tournament, falling to Oklahoma State's AJ Ferrari 13–8 in the finals. With a second-place finish, Buchanan punched his ticket to the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. [5] Buchanan finished the NCAA championships with a 3–3 record, finishing in 8th place receiving All-American honors. Buchanan became Wyoming's first All-American since 2018. [6]

2021–2022

In his third year as the Cowboy's starter at 197lb, Buchanan captured his first Big 12 conference title defeating South Dakota State's Tanner Sloan 3–2 in the finals. Buchanan became Wyoming's fourth Big 12 champion in program history. [7] After notching three straight decision victories to open his 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships campaign, including a 4–0 win over conference rival Rocky Elam of Missouri, Buchanan fell in the semifinals to Iowa's Jacob Warner 6–4. Buchanan rebounded with wins over Iowa State's Yonger Bastida and Missouri's Rocky Elam to finish third. [8]

Oklahoma

2023–2024

After three years at Wyoming, Buchanan transferred to Oklahoma. Buchanan redshirted the 2022–2023 season before returning to the lineup as a Redshirt Junior. [9] Buchanan finished in third place at the 2023 Big 12 championships, falling to Missouri's Rocky Elam 5–4 in the opening round before rattling off three straight wins. [10] Buchanan received all-American honors for the third time in his career with a third-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. After falling to reigning champion Aaron Brooks, Buchanan rattled off four consecutive wins finishing off with a 9–4 win over Cornell's Jacob Cardenas. [11]

Iowa

2024–2025

Buchanan committed to the University of Iowa to finish his college career. [12] Buchanan punched his ticket to the NCAA tournament with a runner up finish at the 2025 Big 10 Championships competing at 197lb. Buchanan reached the tournament finals, where he fell to Michigan's Jacob Cardenas. [13] Buchanan entered the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the second seed. Buchanan reached the semi-finals with three bonus point wins including a major decision over Michigan State's Remy Cotton and technical falls over Wyoming's Joey Novak and Ohio State's Seth Shumate. In the semifinals Buchanan defeated former national champion AJ Ferrari of Cal State- Bakersfield 3–0. In the national finals, Buchanan defeated Penn State's Josh Barr 5–2 to capture his first title and first national champion at 197 pounds in program history since the NCAA implemented the current weight class configuration in 1999. Buchanan finished the season with a 26–1 record. [14]

Freestyle

After graduating, Buchanan continued his wrestling career in Iowa, joining the Hawkeye Wrestling Club to launch his freestyle career. [15] Buchanan signed with Real American Freestyle and made his debut on January 10, 2026, defeating former Mixed Martial Artist and freestyle Olympic medalist Yoel Romero via technical fall 10–0. [16]

Freestyle record

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa's Stephen Buchanan crowned national champion at 197 pounds". KCRG. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Cowboy Wrestling Welcomes Impressive Signing Class". Wyoming Athletics.
  3. ↑ "Andrews Crowned Big 12 Champion at Heavyweight". Wyoming Athletics.
  4. ↑ "Three Pokes Earn At-Large Bids to NCAA Wrestling Championships". Wyoming Athletics.
  5. ↑ "Cowboys Finish Fourth at Big 12 Championships". Wyoming Athletics.
  6. ↑ "Cowboy wrestler Buchanan earns All-American honors". Wyo4news.
  7. ↑ "Buchanan Captures Historic Big 12 Title". Wyoming Athletics.
  8. ↑ "Buchanan Finishes Third at NCAA Tournament". Wyoming Athletics.
  9. ↑ "Two-Time All-American Stephen Buchanan Transfers To Oklahoma". FloWrestling.
  10. ↑ "He's that guy': All mats are the same, but for OU wrestling, Stephen Buchanan has made the difference". OU Daily.
  11. ↑ "Buchanan Finishes Third at NCAA's". Oklahoma Wrestling.
  12. ↑ "Loyal grad, All-American wrestler transferring to Iowa". Central WI News.
  13. ↑ "Iowa wrestling finishes third at Big Ten Championships". Hawk Fanatic.
  14. ↑ "STEPHEN BUCHANAN II WINS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP". Iowa Athletics.
  15. ↑ "BUCHANAN & YBARRA JOIN HWC". Hawkeye Wrestling Club.
  16. ↑ "RAF 5 results: Stephen Buchanan shuts down Yoel Romero with 10-0 victory, calls out Jon Jones". SB Nation. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
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