Gable Steveson Faces Unexpected Challenge as Surprising Opponent Announced as Opening Bout for NCAA Finale

The moment everyone was waiting for is finally here. The brackets and the seedings for the NCAA Championship are here. As expected, the man who was given the #1 seed for the tournament about to happen in Philadelphia is none other than Gable Steveson. Now we know it is not that surprising. After all, the man just won his 4th Big 10 title. But what might be surprising is who is about to become the first victim of the Golden Gabe. So, who is it? Well, it is not someone most would know.

Now, since Gable is a seeded entry, he won’t have to fight in the first round. Instead, he will be watching the first-round matchup between #32 Stephan Monchery from Appalachian State and #33 Hayden Filipovich from Purdue. Now, when it comes to Filipovich, Steveson has already faced him earlier this year. In an 18-3 TF, the Gopher swiftly defeated Hayden.

The wildcard in this scenario could be Stephan, who might deliver an unexpected challenge.  Stephan has played a pivotal role in securing back-to-back Southern Conference (SoCon) tournament titles for his team, with a dramatic reversal in the final 14 seconds of a championship match on March 8, 2025, clinching the victory.

A high school state champion with an undefeated 42-0 senior year, Monchery has established himself as a formidable competitor in collegiate wrestling, contributing significantly to his team’s success. His athletic journey highlights dedication and skill in the competitive world of amateur wrestling. But knowing Gable, most doubt that either winner could stand up to the Golden Gabe.

After all, just a week ago, Gable defeated arguably the second-best heavyweight in Greg Kerkvliet. With this, he will be high on confidence, but don’t count Stephan out yet. The underdog in this matchup could be the one to shake things up. Gable has a lot on the line here. Fans won’t like any upsets yet. But for Gophers, Is Gable the only catch to vouch for? Perhaps not, because Gable Steveson isn’t the only strong guy in the Gopher

Minnesota is more than just Gable Stevson

While Gable Steveson often steals the spotlight, Minnesota’s wrestling team showed at the 2025 Big Ten Championships that it’s not a one-man operation. Vance Vombaur (141 pounds) finished second, upsetting No. 1 Beau Bartlett 5-3 in the semifinals and earning key team points, though he lost to Brock Hardy in the final. In addition to this, the second place was shared by Max Enelly at 184 lbs.

The redshirt freshman did pretty well but ultimately fell to the eventual champ, Carter Starocci, in a sudden victory. On his way to victory, he had defeated Iowa’s Gabe Arnold. These performances underline the Gophers’ strength beyond Steveson. Minnesota’s depth is further evidenced by other key contributors who bolstered the team’s fourth-place finish at the 2025 Big Ten Championships, held March 8-9 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Isaiah Salazar (197 pounds) placed fourth, while Tommy Askey (165 pounds) and Andrew Sparks (174 pounds) each secured seventh, contributing to the team’s effort. The Gophers’ regular season boasted a 13-3 overall dual record and a 6-2 Big Ten mark, with seven wrestlers placing in the top eight at the Championships and nine qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia (March 20-22, 2025).

These efforts—yielding 87.5 points from non-Steveson wrestlers compared to his 21—demonstrate that Minnesota’s roster is a collective force, not just a platform for Steveson’s brilliance. With Vombaur, McEnelly, Salazar, and others driving results, the Gophers are poised to make noise at nationals, proving their identity extends well beyond their heavyweight superstar.

With a strong dual record and nine NCAA qualifiers, the Gophers racked up significant points without relying solely on Steveson, proving they’re a well-rounded squad ready for the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.

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