KEY: $ - National Champion contender
* - All American Contender
& - Dark horse All American contender
^ - NCAA Qualifier
% - Dark horse NCAA qualifier
* - All American Contender
& - Dark horse All American contender
^ - NCAA Qualifier
% - Dark horse NCAA qualifier
PAC-12
125
^Pat Rollins/Ronnie Bressler Oregon State
^Evan Silver Junior Stanford
Bressler is currently ranked and Rollins may be redshirting, I’m not 100% positive. Either way, regardless of who the Beavers put in at 125 lbs, either should qualify. Silver is currently ranked below Bressler, but I think come year’s end, it’ll be Silver who takes the gold at the PAC-10 tournament. I suppose either of these guys could potentially be an All American with the parity of the 125 lbs weight class, but it is not a very likely possibility.
133
^ Joey Palmer Junior Oregon State
^ Connor Schram Freshman Stanford
% Ian Nickell Junior Cal State Bakersfield
The Beaver’s Palmer looks to be the forerunner for a PAC-12 conference title, but I wouldn’t count out the Cardinal’s Schram. Overshadowed by the overabundance of talented freshman this season, Schram has been having himself an outstanding rookie season. Thus far into the year he has wins over Bakersfield’s Nickell and Northwestern’s Dominick Malone. He has sat out some of the tournaments and I’m not sure exactly why. I am anxious to see him against some top 10 competition. I think he’ll open up a lot of eyes. As for the Roadrunner’s Nickell, he has an impressive enough resume to where he may earn a bid to the NCAA championships, but I wouldn’t necessarily guarantee it. Some of his losses this season may keep him at home come nationals.
141
* Geo Martinez Freshman Boise State
Another unheralded freshman that despite the lack of hype, is making a name for himself with continuously wrestling well throughout the season. He is either winning matches or keeping them extremely close. The rankings currently have him at #7, which I feel he is more than capable of placing.
149
^ Chris Castillo Junior Boise State
^ Blake Kastl Sophomore Cal Poly
Neither Castillo or Kastl have been wrestling all that well this year. I really thought with some of the wins and close losses that Castillo had last season, that he would really turn it on and perform well this season. Thus far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. 149 in the PAC 12 is weak enough though, that these two shouldn’t have a problem getting to the finals to face one another. Castillo placed 2nd at the PAC-12’s last year and did not earn a at large selection to the NCAA’s, thus placing him in the “best not to qualify for the NCAA” pool of 2014. I can see the PAC-12 sending two guys at this weight class and I can also seem them only sending one. It may be crucial to win this weight class and if it is, I give the nod to Castillo.
157
^Joey Delgado Sophomore Oregon State
The Beaver’s Delgado will add yet another qualifier for head coach Jim Zalesky and that qualification should come without much challenge.
^Pat Rollins/Ronnie Bressler Oregon State
^Evan Silver Junior Stanford
Bressler is currently ranked and Rollins may be redshirting, I’m not 100% positive. Either way, regardless of who the Beavers put in at 125 lbs, either should qualify. Silver is currently ranked below Bressler, but I think come year’s end, it’ll be Silver who takes the gold at the PAC-10 tournament. I suppose either of these guys could potentially be an All American with the parity of the 125 lbs weight class, but it is not a very likely possibility.
133
^ Joey Palmer Junior Oregon State
^ Connor Schram Freshman Stanford
% Ian Nickell Junior Cal State Bakersfield
The Beaver’s Palmer looks to be the forerunner for a PAC-12 conference title, but I wouldn’t count out the Cardinal’s Schram. Overshadowed by the overabundance of talented freshman this season, Schram has been having himself an outstanding rookie season. Thus far into the year he has wins over Bakersfield’s Nickell and Northwestern’s Dominick Malone. He has sat out some of the tournaments and I’m not sure exactly why. I am anxious to see him against some top 10 competition. I think he’ll open up a lot of eyes. As for the Roadrunner’s Nickell, he has an impressive enough resume to where he may earn a bid to the NCAA championships, but I wouldn’t necessarily guarantee it. Some of his losses this season may keep him at home come nationals.
141
* Geo Martinez Freshman Boise State
Another unheralded freshman that despite the lack of hype, is making a name for himself with continuously wrestling well throughout the season. He is either winning matches or keeping them extremely close. The rankings currently have him at #7, which I feel he is more than capable of placing.
149
^ Chris Castillo Junior Boise State
^ Blake Kastl Sophomore Cal Poly
Neither Castillo or Kastl have been wrestling all that well this year. I really thought with some of the wins and close losses that Castillo had last season, that he would really turn it on and perform well this season. Thus far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. 149 in the PAC 12 is weak enough though, that these two shouldn’t have a problem getting to the finals to face one another. Castillo placed 2nd at the PAC-12’s last year and did not earn a at large selection to the NCAA’s, thus placing him in the “best not to qualify for the NCAA” pool of 2014. I can see the PAC-12 sending two guys at this weight class and I can also seem them only sending one. It may be crucial to win this weight class and if it is, I give the nod to Castillo.
157
^Joey Delgado Sophomore Oregon State
The Beaver’s Delgado will add yet another qualifier for head coach Jim Zalesky and that qualification should come without much challenge.
165
^Alex Elder Senior Oregon State
& Jim Wilson Sophomore Stanford (Max Hvolbek Sophomore)
% Holden Packard senior Boise State
The Cardinal’s Wilson looks to be the forerunner here for the PAC-12 title, although I will say that a hot and ready to go Elder could plausibly pull the upset, especially if the team title is on the line for Oregon State. Wilson is currently ranked #14, but 165 is a weird, wide open weight class and breaking into the top 8, is by no means out of the question. As for Packard, I would like to see him qualify for the NCAA tournament in his final season as a Bronco, but there are only 33 slots at the NCAA championships, and one of them may or may not be his.
174
^Joe Latham Senior Oregon State
*Bryce Hammond Junior Cal State Bakersfield
^ Dom Kastl Senior Cal Poly
Even though Latham is currently ranked above Kastl, I actually see him finishing in third place at the PAC-12 tournament, which should have three earned bids by year’s end. I see the finals being between Kastl and Hammond, with Kastl having at least some chance of defeating Hammond. Hammond has proved to be a wrestler of attrition as he battled his way to All American status from a first round loss at last year’s NCAA tournament. I think this will be a fun weight to watch unfold at the PAC-12’s.
184
$Taylor Meeks Senior Oregon State
^Cody Dixon Senior Boise State
$ Blake Stauffer Junior Arizona State
The 184 lbs weight class this season is truly up for grabs and as far as I’m concerned the Sundevil’s Stauffer has as good a chance of being an NCAA champion as does anyone. Yet, one of his toughest challenges in getting to the NCAA championship will be a guy in his own conference, the Beaver’s Meeks. Both wrestlers have similar backgrounds which makes this story all the more interesting. Stauffer didn’t quite have the season he was wanting last year at a lower weight class and Meeks had a very disappointing ending at a higher weight class. Meeks started off the year top ranked at 197 lbs, but unfortunately failed to win the PAC-10’s and ended up having a very disappointing NCAA tournament after placing 5th as a sophomore. The two have met twice thus far this season with Stauffer winning two three point decisions. As they say though, it’s hard to beat someone three times in a row and Meeks has a habit of figuring people out and avenging losses.
As for Dixon, I believe that this is the first time in his career where he has been able to wrestle at his best weight. Last year as a junior he wrestled at both HWT and 197 and was severely undersized. 184 fits him much better and I believe he should be an NCAA qualifier this season.
HWT
& Amaveer Dhesi sophomore Oregon State
Dhesi is a returning PAC-12 finalist, who should easily win the PAC-12 tournament this season. He is a hit and miss wrestler, currently out of the top 20, with plenty of skills to easily crack his way back in. Heavyweight matches often come down to who gets the takedown or who gets the escape or who can ride out who in a 2-1, 3-2 win or loss. I can see Dhesi wrestling very well at the NCAA’s and finding himself on the award stand.
197 was skipped because at the current time it doesn’t seem to really have a forerunner.
^Alex Elder Senior Oregon State
& Jim Wilson Sophomore Stanford (Max Hvolbek Sophomore)
% Holden Packard senior Boise State
The Cardinal’s Wilson looks to be the forerunner here for the PAC-12 title, although I will say that a hot and ready to go Elder could plausibly pull the upset, especially if the team title is on the line for Oregon State. Wilson is currently ranked #14, but 165 is a weird, wide open weight class and breaking into the top 8, is by no means out of the question. As for Packard, I would like to see him qualify for the NCAA tournament in his final season as a Bronco, but there are only 33 slots at the NCAA championships, and one of them may or may not be his.
174
^Joe Latham Senior Oregon State
*Bryce Hammond Junior Cal State Bakersfield
^ Dom Kastl Senior Cal Poly
Even though Latham is currently ranked above Kastl, I actually see him finishing in third place at the PAC-12 tournament, which should have three earned bids by year’s end. I see the finals being between Kastl and Hammond, with Kastl having at least some chance of defeating Hammond. Hammond has proved to be a wrestler of attrition as he battled his way to All American status from a first round loss at last year’s NCAA tournament. I think this will be a fun weight to watch unfold at the PAC-12’s.
184
$Taylor Meeks Senior Oregon State
^Cody Dixon Senior Boise State
$ Blake Stauffer Junior Arizona State
The 184 lbs weight class this season is truly up for grabs and as far as I’m concerned the Sundevil’s Stauffer has as good a chance of being an NCAA champion as does anyone. Yet, one of his toughest challenges in getting to the NCAA championship will be a guy in his own conference, the Beaver’s Meeks. Both wrestlers have similar backgrounds which makes this story all the more interesting. Stauffer didn’t quite have the season he was wanting last year at a lower weight class and Meeks had a very disappointing ending at a higher weight class. Meeks started off the year top ranked at 197 lbs, but unfortunately failed to win the PAC-10’s and ended up having a very disappointing NCAA tournament after placing 5th as a sophomore. The two have met twice thus far this season with Stauffer winning two three point decisions. As they say though, it’s hard to beat someone three times in a row and Meeks has a habit of figuring people out and avenging losses.
As for Dixon, I believe that this is the first time in his career where he has been able to wrestle at his best weight. Last year as a junior he wrestled at both HWT and 197 and was severely undersized. 184 fits him much better and I believe he should be an NCAA qualifier this season.
HWT
& Amaveer Dhesi sophomore Oregon State
Dhesi is a returning PAC-12 finalist, who should easily win the PAC-12 tournament this season. He is a hit and miss wrestler, currently out of the top 20, with plenty of skills to easily crack his way back in. Heavyweight matches often come down to who gets the takedown or who gets the escape or who can ride out who in a 2-1, 3-2 win or loss. I can see Dhesi wrestling very well at the NCAA’s and finding himself on the award stand.
197 was skipped because at the current time it doesn’t seem to really have a forerunner.
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