It was a fantastic finish in Indianapolis as the Michigan Wolverines held on to beat the UConn Huskies in a defensive battle. Thanks to the Wolverines winning the NCAA tournament, congratulations go out to Bill Richter, our 2026 Stomp the Lunatic Contest Champion!!!! Bill outscored Mark Walsh by 130 points to claim the championship.

In the Upset Pool, Mark Walsh held off Shirli Zelcer by 5 points to claim the title.

And in the Second Chance Pool, Debbe Evans and William E Craft held on to tie for the win with 800 points, 40 points ahead of Michael Cheung and Mack Fournier.

Here is the list of all our prize winners!!!!

STANDARD POOL

• 1) Bill Richter (1430)
• 2) Mark Walsh (1300)
• 3) Jim Carini (1200)
• 4th tie) Chris Stolzer and Bernard Benson (1180)
• 6th tie) Matt Reilly and Michael Cheung (1160)
• 8) Michael Cheung’s 2nd entry (1150)
• 9) Greg Farber (1140)
• 10th tie) Shirli Zelcer and Charlie Hodgson (1130)
• LAST) Brent Hassell (190)

UPSET POOL

• 1) Mark Walsh (278)
• 2) Shirli Zelcer (273)
• 3) Mark Reilly (271)
• 4) Mack Fourier (251)
• 5th tie) Bill Richter and Al Lester (245)

SECOND CHANCE POOL

• 1st tie) William E Craft and Debbe Evans (800)
• 3rd tie) Michael Cheung and Mack Fournier (760)

As for our sleep-deprived Lunatic, it was a thorough stomping. After Purdue and Duke both lost in the Elite 8, the Crazed Lunatic’s picks fell all the way to a tie for 233rd. This almost beat the pool’s biggest stomping of the Lunatic from 2012, when 256 people stomped the Lunatic into the ground. So, it was a historic stomping of the Lunatic!

Yet, the Lunatic is strangely happy. If his Boilermakers weren’t going to win it, he has to be happy that the Big 10 finally won. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another 26 years for the next time the conference wins it all. While it was a thorough stomping, I am sure that the Lunatic will enjoy finally getting some sleep, mend his wounds from this beating, and be back again next March for another stomping.

As always, I want to thank all of you for indulging my rants on the blog about my favorite time of year. This is always such a fun tournament every year thanks to all of your support.

Congratulations again to Bill Richter – our 2026 Stomp the Lunatic champion, Mark Walsh – our Upset Pool champion, and William E Craft and Debbe Evans – our second chance pool champions.

And of course, congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines – our 2026 NCAA men’s basketball champions!!!!!