Little Rock's Brennan Ruled Ineligible for NCAA Tournament

The following is a statement from Little Rock Head Coach Neil Erisman

As the head coach of the Little Rock Wrestling program, I want to confirm that Tyler Brennan will not participate in the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships, which are set to begin tomorrow in Philadelphia.

Tyler was certified as eligible to compete on two separate occasions during the current academic year, with both certifications ratified by the Pac-12 Conference. His eligibility was only called into question less than a week ago, after he had competed throughout the entire season. Neither Tyler nor the Little Rock Department of Athletics had any indication of an issue until it was raised by league officials, following a complaint from another Pac-12 institution. Upon discovery, the matter was thoroughly reviewed.

After being declared ineligible by the Pac-12, Tyler sought to have his eligibility reinstated by appealing to the NCAA and its Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. Despite presenting a compelling and well-supported case, the request for reinstatement was ultimately denied. Following that decision, and after carefully considering various options, Tyler and the Brennan family made the conscious choice to not to pursue a legal remedy, instead prioritizing the focus on his teammates and the exceptional wrestlers competing at this national championship event.

We are hurting for Tyler and we will continue to offer him our unwavering support. Integrity, commitment, and hard work are the pillars of our program, and Tyler embodies these values. There has never been any malicious intent in our decision to allow a stand-up wrestler to return to our program.

Tyler has made significant personal sacrifices to remain at Little Rock this season and pursue his passion for wrestling. Ultimately, his desire has always been to compete with his teammates. We will not condone any unsportsmanlike comments or defamatory remarks directed at an innocent student-athlete who has been solely focused on pursuing his dreams.

- Little Rock Wrestling Head Coach Neil Erisman