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| Carter Starocci Penn State |
He has ruled the 174 lbs weight class for four straight years. He hasn't lost a match since his freshman season and even then, he only has two losses in total. Carter Starocci has the opportunity this year, in the '24-'25 season to go down as the greatest collegiate wrestler of all time. Argue with me what you will, I say you can take two losses compared to undefeated and flush it down the toilet. If he wins his fifth NCAA DI title this year, he'll be the only wrestler to ever have five NCAA titles. Circumstances fair or unfair, we usually don't whine when comparing three titles during the freshman excluded period to four. It's not Dake's or Stieber's or Sanderson's or Smith's fault that Uetake for example only got three opportunities while they got four. Therefore, it isn't Starocci's fault that he got five opportunities while they only got four. Pressures on 23 lbs of muscle up, but Starocci has a chance to do in collegiate wrestling what no one will ever have the chance to do again.
Honestly I don't know if Lucas Cochran will be backing up Starocci at 197 or if he'l be backing up Kerkvliet at HWT this season. Either way, I can't see him defeating either one for the varsity position, BUT I will say that at 197 or HWT, he'll be one of the best backups in the country. Frankly, I think after posting an 8-3 decision over All American Yaraslau Slavikouski, Cochran would be doing himself a favor competing at HWT. Yet thus far from what I've heard, looks like he's going 197.
UPDATE: Starocci is going to try and win title #5 at 184. Cochran looks to battle it out with Josh Barr for the 197 spot.
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| Parker Keckeisen Northern Iowa |
If he isn't considered already, by the end of '24-'25, Parker Keckeisen will undisputedly go down as the greatest wrestler in Northern Iowa wrestling history. I mean, the results don't lie. 3rd-3rd-2nd-1st in the NCAA, he's already a four time BIG 12 champion. 31-0 last season, only three of his matches didn't end in bonus points. He's 102-6 overall. He was also the CKLV champ last season.
As Panther fans contemplate what their world will be like without Keckeisen in '25-'26, head coach Doug Schwab has already answered that question with C.J. Walrath, who will be backing up the historic making rep of the purple and gold. Walrath went 13-2 last season as a redshirt, collecting a 5-3 win over Gavin Kane.
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| Dustin Plott Oklahoma State |
Dustin Plott heads into his final season of competition a three time All American having posted NCAA finishes of 6th-6th-2nd. A BIG 12 champion in 2023, he was a runner-up last season. Winner of the final Lindenwood Open any of us will ever see, he was 3rd at CKLV. 31-4 on the year.
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| Trey Munoz Oregon State |
The three time PAC-12 champion enters his final season of competition a two time All American with NCAA finishes of 6th & 3rd. 24-4 on the season, he came up a match short of a medal at CKLV, although he was 8th there two seasons ago. He was also the Southeast Open champion.
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| Edmond Ruth Illinois |
Two time Midlands champion, BIG 10 champion & 7th in the NCAA, Edmond Ruth has proven himself one of the best 174 lbs wrestlers in the nation. Now it's time to see if he can duplicate that success competing at 184. He was 26-4 overall last year.
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| Bennett Berge South Dakota State |
Here's a guy that showed a lot of heart and tenacity at last year's NCAA championships. Losing via major decision in the first round, Berge won six matches in a row to eventually finish in 4th place. Wrestling is often a sport where you have to pick yourself up for the next battle, and Berge displayed a great deal of intestinal fortitude. Also 4th in the BIG 10's, he was 25-7 overall.
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| Chris Foca Cornell |
Injury? Sickness? Something to effect his mental health? Whatever the reason may be, '23-'24 will not go down as Chris Foca's favorite season of wrestling. 3rd in the NCAA in 2023, he came up a match short of placing last year. An EIWA champion in 2023, he finished 4th last year. Twice 3rd in CKLV championships, he failed to place last year. Now with that said, we did see a glimpse of the Foca we're more used to at the NCAA's. Having lost twice to Aaron Ayzerov by scores of 4-0 & 9-1, Foca defeated him 16-1 via technical fall. If Foca's back, as in BACK, he'll be a contender for a spot in the NCAA finals.
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| Lenny Pinto Nebraska |
If 184 has a best yet to All American, then that someone without question is Lenny Pinto. A match away from a top 8 finish in the nation last season, he defeated NCAA finalist Dustin Plot 12-10 & he defeated All American Bennett Berge 4-1. A Navy Classic champion & 4th at CKLV, he's thus far been 5th & 3rd within the BIG 10.
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| T.J. Stewart Virginia Tech |
Here's a guy I think is going to keep getting better and better and better as the years progress. 14-4 on the season, T.J. Stewart won an ACC title & finished 7th in the nation.
Also gotta put in a word for Sam Fisher. A senior this season, I suppose that Fisher will end his career as one of the best to never see the post season. I say this because if he were the starter, I'm pretty sure he'd be an NCAA qualifier. What gives me this inclination? Runner-up finishes at both the Southeast Open & the Keystone classic, he has a 4-2 win over Gavin Kane, a 10-9 win over Brian Soldano & a 7-3 win over Caleb Hopkins. Don't see him beating Stewart for the starting spot, but he is a tough wrestler and should be recognized for it.
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| Nelson Brands Iowa |
Johnnie Cochran? Ben Matlock? Perry Mason? Robert Shapiro? Amateurs, or at least compared to whoever Nelson Brands had representing him. It wasn't all that long ago, I read a well written soliloquy of how Brands felt robbed of his final season of collegiate wrestling & how knowing he'd never step on the mats of the NCAA again, was of great devastation to him. Now we're in the here and now, and that final opportunity Brands thought would never come, came. 5th in the nation in 2023 competing at 174 lbs, Brands dives into the waters of 184 for '24-'25.
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| Aaron Ayzerov Columbia |
Here's a guy who really impressed me last season. In his first two seasons at Columbia in terms of quality wins & performance, he hadn't really done a whole heck of a lot. Yet last year, he really turned it on and turned it up, winning an EIWA title. 20 wins on the season for the Lion.
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| Colton Hawks Missouri |
19 wins on the season for Colton Hawks who finished one match shy of being an All American. Thus far 4th & 5th in the BIG 12, Hawks was 3rd at the Soldier Salute & a runner-up at the Appalachian State Mountaineer Open.
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| Dylan Fishback North Carolina State |
20 wins on the season for Dylan Fishback who finished out his freshman campaign one match shy of being an All American. A 9-6 win over All American Trey Munoz, he was 2nd at the ACC's & 7th at CKLV.
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| Max McEnelly Minnesota |
Max McEnelly heads into his freshman season of collegiate wrestling, after a pretty impressive showing last year as a redshirt. Going 15-0, he tech'd Colton Hawks 23-6 & he defeated EIWA champ Aaron Ayzerov 12-8. He was co-winner of the Soldier Salute.
Backing him up will be Missouri transfer Caleb Whiting, who winning the Appalachian State Mountaineer Open last season, also defeated Colton Hawks by a score of 4-1.
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| Josh Barr Penn State |
Yet another tough freshman to look forward to in '24-'25, who also ironically enough went 15-0 as a redshirt last season is Penn State's Josh Barr. he won the Black Knight, as well as the Edinboro Opens.
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| Evan Bockman Iowa State |
It'll be a new home & a new weight class for three time NCAA qualifier Evan Bockman. 5th & 7th the past two seasons within the BIG 12 representing Utah Valley at 197 lbs, Bockman will be at 184 lbs this season for Iowa State.
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| Jaden Bullock Michigan |
An NCAA qualifier for the Wolverines last season, Jaden Bullock finished 4th at the BIG 10's, 6th at CKLV & 2nd at the Michigan State open. Among his wins, a 9-6 victory over NCAA R12'er Dylan Fishback.
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| Reece Heller or Chase Kranitz Pittsburgh |
Reece Heller heads into his final season of eligibility a two time NCAA qualifier. Finishing 3rd in the ACC, he was a Clarion Open champion. 20 wins on the year, he had a 4-3 win over R12'er Dylan Fishback. Challenging Heller for the starting spot this season will be talented Chase Kravitz. 26 wins on the season, Kravitz had a 4-2 victory over four time NCAA qualifier Jha'Quan Anderson & he was 2nd at the Black Knight Invitational.
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| Brian Soldano Rutgers |
Two time NCAA qualifier Brian Soldano has had back to back 6th place finishes at the BIG 10's as he heads into the '24-'25 season.
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| James Conway Franklin & Marshall |
A trailblazer within what is shaping up to be some of the best years within the long history of Franklin & Marshall wrestling, James Conway won 30 matches last season. Among his many accomplishments, he was a champion at the Keystone Classic, a runner-up at the Franklin & Marshall Lehman Invitational, and he took 5th place finishes at both the Midlands and the EIWA. He had a 5-4 victory over Chris Foca as well.
UPDATE: James Conway will be redshirting this season.
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| Troy Fisher Northwestern |
Like Chris Foca, Troy Fisher has seen better times than what he saw in '23-'24. He's a two time NCAA qualifier, but he missed out on qualification last season. He's twice been 5th at CKLV, but he came up short of placing last year. The highlight however, was a 7th place finish at the Midlands. Redemption stories are often the best stories among our sport & it's likely Fisher could be telling one in '24-'25.
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| Jha'Quan Anderson Gardner Webb |
Jha'Quan Anderson made history last season by becoming the Runnin' Bulldogs' first ever Southern Scuffle champion. Thus far 3rd-2nd-2nd-3rd within the SOCON, he also plans to make history this season by becoming Gardner Webb's first five time NCAA qualifier. He had 30 wins on the year.
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| Brock Delsignore Little Rock |
Brock Delsignore went 11-1 last season, including a very impressive 11-3 major decision over All American Bennett Berge. This season he will be competing for the Trojans of Little Rock.
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| Gavin Kane North Carolina |
20 wins on the season, Gavin Kane heads into '24-'25 a three time NCAA qualifier. A two time ACC runner-up, he slipped to a 4th place finish last year, but looks to reclaim his place in the finals this year. A match shy of placing at CKLV, he did defeat All American T.J. Stewart by an 11-8 s.v. score.
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| D.J. Washington Indiana |
When the at large wildcards were handed out last season, I felt that if anyone got the short end of the stick, D.J. Washington was one of them. I imagine he simply didn't have enough matches, but out of the matches he did have, quite a few were of quality. He was also the Southern Scuffle runner-up. Not to mention a three time NCAA qualifier. Nevertheless, he wasn't chosen. However there's light at the end of the tunnel and competing his final season at 184 lbs, he'll have another shot to earn that fourth qualification.
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| D.J. Parker Oklahoma |
An NCAA qualifier for North Dakota State in 2023, D.J. Parker took a redshirt last year & will be competing for Oklahoma this season. Among his victories, a 4-2 decision over All American Bennett Berge.
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| Dennis Robin West Virginia |
An NCAA qualifier for the Mountaineers in 2022, Dennis Robin was 7th at the BIG 12's last season & 3rd at the Southeast Open.
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| Ryder Rogoski Ohio State |
Ryder Rogoski won 20 matches last season. Qualifying for the NCAA's, he was 5th at the BIG 10's.
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| Cael Valencia Arizona State |
While some people are fortunate to have good luck shine on them but once a life, it seems to follow Cael Valencia around like a dog. Despite having losing records the past two seasons, he has managed to flip the switch to on at just the right times to steal allotments at the PAC-12 championships. That's been competing at 174 lbs. Will the crystal ball favor him as much at 184?
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| Aziz Fayzullaev Arizona State |
As we wonder about Cael Valencia, we also get to wonder how Aziz Fayzullaev will fair in his first season of NCAA DI wrestling. He absolutely dominated in the NJCAA last year competing for Northwest CC, won both a Plains District title & the NJCAA title.
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| Kole Mulhauser Princeton |
The Princeton staff has a lot of positive things ahead for Tiger wrestling and Kole Mulhauser is one of them. A Michigan State Open champion last year, he was runner-up at the Princeton Open.
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| Giuseppe Hoose Drexel |
It's been quite the journey for Giuseppe Hoose. From Hofstra, to Buffalo, to Oklahoma, Hoose will spend his final season of eligibility competing for the Dragons of Drexel. An NCAA qualifier in 2023 he was 5th at the Southern Scuffle, placing 3rd at both RENO & the Michigan State Open.
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| Matt Zuber Northern Illinois |
21 wins on the season, Matt Zuber was 4th at the Michigan State Open. He had a dominating 15-4 major decision over Midlands champion Shane Liegel.
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| Zayne Lehman Ohio |
An NCAA qualifier in 2023, it's safe to assume Zayne Lehman will once again be competitive within the MAC conference. 20 wins on the season, he was one match shy of placing at CKLV.
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| Tony D'Alesio Long Island |
Tony D'Alesio made history last season by becoming the Sharks first ever NCAA DI qualifier, placing 7th at the EIWA championships.
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| Max Hale Pennsylvania |
An NCAA qualifier last season, Max Hale earned runner-up honors at the Midlands. Among his victories, a 9-4 decision over EIWA champion Aaron Ayzerov.
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| Tomas Brooker Appalachian State |
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the SOCON tournament last season, Tomas Brooker came out of nowhere to take the title at 184 lbs. He won 21 matches on the year.
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| Malachi DuVall George Mason |
19 wins on the season last year, Malachi DuVall won the MAC title.
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