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| Matt Ramos Purdue 125 lbs |
Truth is, I think Matt Ramos will forever be remembered as the guy who kept Spencer Lee & the University of Iowa from seeing its first four-time NCAA DI champion. Truth is, there's so much more to his career than that. R12-2nd-R12-4th at the NCAA DI championships, he's a walking testimony to how incredibly tough it is at the DI level to earn a top 8 finish in all of your years of competition. 7th-3rd-4th-3rd in the BIG 10's, one of the best to never win a conference title. He did however win a CKLV title, which is indisputably the toughest in-season tournament in DI. 8th-2nd-7th-1st in Vegas. 111 career wins & 31-3 on the year.
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| Caleb Smith Nebraska 125 lbs |
Started his career off at Appalachian State where he was 3rd & 1st in the Southern Conference. Transferred to Nebraska for his final two seasons of competition where he made the BIG 10 finals as a senior, earning All American statuses of 6th & 7th. Back-to-back 5th places finishes at the Southern Scuffle as a freshman & sophomore, his junior & senior seasons saw 3rd & 4th place finishes at CKLV. 115 career wins, 24 this season.
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| Tanner Jordan South Dakota State 125 lbs |
Here's a guy that made tremendous strides during his collegiate career. As a freshman, it was questionable whether he'd ever make the NCAA DI tournament. By the time he was a junior, he was beating guys that had previously majored him & he stood in 8th place as one of the best wrestlers in the DI nation. Unfortunately, he was unable to recapture All American honors this season, but what he did do is become a three-time CKLV place-winner. 6th-8th-7th for the Jackrabbit. 5th & 8th in the BIG XII, had 91 career victories. A Wildlife & Fisheries major, I'm anxious to see what he ends up doing with that.
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| Anthony Noto Lock Haven 133 lbs |
4th & 3rd in the DI nation as a sophomore & junior, this year's NCAA DI championships didn't quite turn out the way the Bald Eagle was hoping. Nonetheless, Anthony Noto added his name to the short list of wrestlers who have won four Mid-American Conference titles & he won 105 matches in his career.
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| Kai Orine NC State 133 lbs |
An Art & Design major, who does all of his own tattoos, I'm not sure what the deal was with Kai Orine this season. Twice 8th in the DI nation, Orine seemed to struggle in his final season of competition. Nevertheless, still had highlights, including becoming a four-time ACC place-winner with finishes of 3rd-1st-1st-2nd. 84 career wins & a CKLV title last year.
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| Cael Happel Northern Iowa 141 lbs |
Cael Happel entered the '24-'25 season as one of the best in NCAA DI yet to All American & I'm happy to report that the former Lisbon Lion finally got the job done. 2nd & 1st in the BIG 12, Happel brought home a 5th place showing in his final NCAA tournament. 25-5 on the year, also became a three-time CKLV place-winner this season with finishes of 2nd-4th-8th. Owned three wins over NCAA DI finalist Brock Hardy by scores of 7-5, 11-8 s.v. & 15-13.
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| Josh Koderhandt Navy 141 lbs |
Ironically enough, also competing at 141 lbs, Josh Koderhandt was another wrestler who entered '24-'25 as one of the best yet to All American. Happy to report that with a 6th place finish in the DI nation, he too got the job done on his final try. 2nd-3rd-1st-1st in the EIWA, the Midshipman was 5th-4th-4th at CKLV & 4th-1st at the Soldier Salute. 102 career wins.
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| Ridge Lovett Nebraska 149 lbs |
Add another on the list of those from Idaho to win an NCAA DI title. The Cornhusker finished off his collegiate career with 2nd-6th-1st place finishes at the national tournament. A two-time BIG 10 champion, he was also 3rd-1st-2nd at CKLV. 99 career wins & a 25-2 season.
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| Dylan D'Emilio Ohio State 149 lbs |
A five-time NCAA DI qualifier for the Buckeyes, Dylan D'Emilio finished top 12 in one of the toughest weight classes his last three years of competition going 8th-R12-4th at the National tournament. 100 career wins.
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| Sammy Alvarez Rider 149 lbs |
"Never Give Up" a saying my high school wrestling coach was quite fond of & a saying that sums up the career of Sammy Alvarez. Beginning his career at Rutgers, things looked promising as he won a Southern Scuffle title & earned NCAA DI qualification. Unfortunately, life would fall apart after that as he then transferred to Oklahoma State. He didn't find what he was looking for in Stillwater, but set sail again, this time finding his treasure about an hour's drive inland from the shores of New Jersey. In his final season competing for the Broncos, Alvarez went 25-7, racking up a series of credentials & accomplishments. 6th at CKLV, won an MAC title & finishes 7th in the DI nation.
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| Malyke Hines Lehigh 149 lbs |
The Florida native made five trips to the NCAA DI championships during his career as a Mountain Hawk. 1st-4th-4th-2nd in the EIWA, had 84 career wins.
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| Kyle Parco Iowa 149 lbs |
Things didn't quite end the way they should have for Kyle Parco. From Fresno State to Arizona State to Iowa, the Bulldog/Sun Devil/Hawkeye had quite the career, that most likely would have ended as a five-time All American had it not been for injury. 6th-8th-4th-5th in the DI nation is quite impressive. A Soldier Salute champ, on the year handed eventual NCAA DI champ Ridge Lovett a 3-2 loss. All defeated All Americans Lachlan McNeil 8-5 & Dylan D'Emilio 8-3 & 4-0. 21-4 on the year, 124 wins in total.
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| Jaden Abas Stanford 149 lbs |
With Dad Gerry as three-time NCAA DI finalist & Uncle Stephen as three-time NCAA DI champion, I'm sure the pressure on Jaden Abas had to be enormous. 7th in the DI nation in his redshirt freshman campaign, the Cardinal was never able to recapture All American status, but he did have a series of highlights throughout the rest of his career. 100 career wins, Abas was 3rd at the Southern Scuffle & 5th at CKLV his junior season. As a senior he'd finish 3rd at CKLV & win a Midlands title. 1st-4th-2nd-3rd in PAC-12 competition, he was 5th in the ACC. A five-time NCAA DI qualifier.
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| Trevor Chumbley Northwestern 157 lbs |
In the years of five varsity seasons, Trevor Chumbley earned three qualifications to the NCAA DI championships, making the most of his final trip, earning 4th place All American honors. A walking advertisement for why At Large/Wildcard berths are so vital at this level of wrestling. During his career also earned a 5th place showing at CKLV & Midlands finishes of 1st & 2nd.
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| Caleb Fish Oklahoma State 157 lbs |
Spending the bulk of his career at Michigan State, Caleb Fish would end his collegiate career a Cowboy of Oklahoma State. 96 career wins, Fish finished off his time on the mat with a 3rd place showing at CKLV & an 8th place finish in the DI nation.
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| Chase Saldate Michigan 157 lbs |
Another who spent the bulk of his career at Michigan State, the California native finished off his career as a Wolverine of Michigan. 95 career wins, Saldate finished twice one match shy of being an All American.
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| Jacori Teemer Arizona State 157 lbs |
Like teammate Kyle Parco, Jacori Teemer's career didn't end the way it was supposed to. Injury unfortunately got the best of Teemer in his final go-round. Teemer came to Iowa from Arizona State, where he was a four-time PAC-12 champion with NCAA DI All American finishes of 4th-6th-2nd. 93 career wins in total, this year he did have a 10-6 victory over Caleb Fish.
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| Ed Scott North Carolina State 157 lbs |
Like teammate Kai Orine, there was something off about Ed Scott this season & I was never quite able to put my finger on it. There were times when he looked like his old self on the mat, yet there were other times he looked sluggish, tired & deprived of speed & strength. This was a guy that used to go out on to the mat, come at your 110 mph & have you on your back with a headlock within the first 30 seconds. This year, he didn't have anywhere near that fire. Wrestling as cryptic as it often is, we might not ever know why. Nonetheless, Scott earned 91 wins during his career. Had R12-5th-R12 DI finishes & was 1st-3rd-1st-2nd within the ACC. Also had 2nd & 3rd place finishes at CKLV.
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| Peyton Hall West Virginia 165 lbs |
What an outstanding career for the West Virginian competing for West Virginia. A BIG XII champion this year, Peyton Hall posted R12-8th-7th-3rd place finishes in the DI nation. 4th at CKLV as a junior, he won back-to-back CKLV titles as a senior & now what some call a "grad." 35-2 on the year, won a 124 matches in total.
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| Terrell Barraclough Utah Valley 165 lbs |
Terrell Barraclough is a rare story in the book of collegiate wrestling that as the years go by will become more and more common. Spending the bulk of his career as a reserve at Penn State, Barraclough decided to take his last year of eligibility back to his home state of Utah to compete for the Wolverines. He made the most of his one & only season of varsity going 32-4 racking up a series of credentials that included 3rd place showings at both the BIG XII & CKLV, and a 5th place showing at the DI national championships. Want a testimony to how incredibly stacked each weight class is at Penn State, please, look no further.
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| Cam Amine Oklahoma State 165 lbs |
At this level of wrestling you have to bring it each and every single time you step on the mat. Nothing less than everything you have to offer. That's what it takes to succeed in collegiate wrestling & that's what Cam Amine brought every time he put his straps up on his shoulders. Four years at Michigan & one year at Oklahoma State, Amine called himself one of the top 12 wrestlers in the DI nation all five years he competed. 7th-4th-4th-R12-8th, he also earned CKLV finishes of 5th-4th-2nd. 93 career wins.
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| Julian Ramirez Cornell 165 lbs |
Life & wrestling have a lot in common. They're both fiercely competitive. They can both be triumphantly rewarding. They can both be cruelly unforgiving. Putting it all into perspective is key & I'll argue that till by dying breath. Yet I cannot deny the heartbreak that comes with finishing R12 in the DI nation four times in a row. 94 career wins, Ramirez was 4th-1st-1st in the EIWA, before becoming one of the Big Red's first ever Ivy League champs. Also had 4th-1st-2nd finishes at CKLV.
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| D.J. Hamiti Oklahoma State 174 lbs |
Looking at a guy like D.J. Hamiti, that's when you really begin to understand how insane DI wrestling truly is. I thought this guy might win an NCAA DI title his freshman year. Turns out, he had to wait until his final season to accomplish that goal. 6th-6th-R12-1st in the DI nation for the Wisconsin Badger/Oklahoma State Cowboy. Also hard to believe, but as good as Hamiti was, he only won one conference title. BIG 10 wise he was 3rd-1st-2nd & BIG 12 wise he was 2nd. Also a CKLV champion this year, he was 27-1 on the season, 108 career wins. Fun fact, from the same high school as Rudy, Joliet Catholic.
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| Keegan O'Toole Missouri 174 lbs |
His collegiate career now over, I have a feeling his international career is about to really get going & that we'll see O'Toole racking up World/Olympic medals in the same way he did NCAA. 108-5 during his collegiate career. That's unreal in so many ways, to be that good & have that kind of record facing the kind of competition that he had to face. Today's wrestling environment isn't Superman Vs petty thieves and criminals most of the time. Today's wrestling is Superman having to face General Zod, Lex Luther, Nuclear Man & Doomsday on a weekly basis. Few ever carried enough kyrptonite to ever get past O'Toole. 3rd-1st-1st-3rd-2nd in the DI nation, he won a MAC title as a freshman & then finished 2nd-1st-1st-1st in the BIG 12.
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| Cade DeVos South Dakota State 174 lbs |
Looking over the career of the former Southeast Polk Ram, I'm reminded of Karate Kid Part III where Mr. Myiagi gives Daniel the, "stay focused" speech. Staying focused, and getting tough when it came time to get tough is exactly what Cade DeVos was all about. Things didn't always go the way they were supposed to for the Jack Rabbit. 4th-4th-1st at CKLV in his first three seasons, this year DeVos slipped to an 8th place finish. 3rd-1st in BIG 12 competition the past two years, this year DeVos finished in 5th place. Nevertheless, come NCAA DI tournament time, DeVos would NOT be denied. 5th in the DI nation last year, he earned his second All American honor with a 6th place finish. A 5 time qualifier, 129 career wins.
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| Lennox Wolak Virginia Tech 174 lbs |
Didn't quite have the final season he was hoping to, but nonetheless came alive towards the end to finish one match shy of earning his second All American honor, after having placed 6th a year ago. 73 career wins which saw 3rd & 1st place finishes within the EIWA & a 3rd place finish in the ACC.
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| Nick Incontrera Pennsylvania 174 lbs |
One of the many collegiate standouts that Blair Academy has produced over the years, Nick Incontrera stood out most at the Midlands championships where in his final three seasons of competition he was 2nd-3rd-2nd. 3rd in the Ivy League this year, he was a four-time NCAA DI qualifier overall, finishing out one match shy of All American status. 93 career wins.
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| Carter Starocci Penn State 184 lbs |
Our fanbase's unhealthy obsession with being undefeated is about the only reason Carter Starocci would ever be placed anything less than 2nd on anyone's "Greatest Collegiate wrestler of all time list." Being an All American at this level even once is an accomplishment of unmeasurable magnitude & to think Carter Starocci won five NCAA DI titles. I honestly don't think it was given the response that it deserved. The Hodge Trophy has been shared twice in previous years & there is no reason it shouldn't have been shared once again this year. That's my opinion & I'll die on that hill. 119-4 overall, it's unreal how good this guy was. Perhaps in 50 years or so the word ONLY will have more meaning.
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| Parker Keckeisen Northern Iowa 184 lbs |
Northern Iowa wrestling has been around for a long time. The Panthers are rich in tradition & they've produced some outstanding wrestlers. Being well versed & knowledgeable on the subject, I can confidently say that Parker Keckeisen has officially cemented himself as the greatest to ever suit up in the Purple and Gold. 129-7 during his illustrious career, the Panther was a five-time BIG XII champion who captured 3rd-3rd-2nd-1st-2nd place finishes at the NCAA DI championships. He was also 2nd-1st-1st at CKLV.
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| Dustin Plott Oklahoma State 184 lbs |
Every year, right before the season starts you'll see wrestlers moving up & down in weight, trying to avoid certain wrestlers. You never saw Dustin Plott do that. You could bring out the biggest, meanest, toughest bull & the Cowboy was always ready to ride. Plott ducked no one & faced everyone head on during his career & in this day in age, that's a very admirable trait. A five-time NCAA DI qualifier, Plott earned All American finishes of 6th-6th-2nd-4th. In the BIG XII he was 4th-1st-1st-2nd-2nd & he 3rd-2nd at CKLV. 112 career wins.
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| Chris Foca Cornell 184 lbs |
Ups and downs in the career of Chris Foca, who finished out his time as a member of the Big Red with an up. Winning both EIWA & Ivy League titles during his career, Foca was 3rd in the DI nation two seasons ago, coming back this year to earn All American honors once again with a 5th place finish. 96 career wins, also owned two 3rd place showings at CKLV.
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| D.J. Washington Indiana 184 lbs |
You've probably noticed by now that I'm also a movie fanatic and that I enjoy making references and analogies to films. In the case of D.J. Washington, I'm reminded of the film Hook. In the film Peter Banning aka Peter Pan has forgotten who he is. He has to go through a series of tests and events to rediscover himself. I feel that is the case with D.J. Washington. I feel somewhere along the line, Washington forgot how good he was. A three-time NCAA DI qualifier, he missed out on qualification last year. I'm not sure who sprinkled him with fairy dust, but I'm sure glad they did, because he flew at this year's NCAA DI championships, picking up some very impressive wins to finish out his career with an 8th place All American honor. 90 career wins, also had a runner-up finish at the Southern Scuffle & 6th & 7th place finishes at Midlands.
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| Edmond Ruth Illinois 184 lbs |
All things considered, Edmond Ruth put together a pretty good collegiate career. One match shy of placing twice, he did manage a 7th place All American honor last year. 85 wins overall, he was 6th-1st-3rd in the BIG 10. Looks to have a career in film.
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| Gavin Kane North Carolina 184 lbs |
The Georgia native captured NCAA DI All American honors two years ago and was a four-time NCAA DI qualifier overall with 83 career wins. 2nd-2nd-4th-3rd in the ACC.
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| Stephen Buchanan Iowa 197 lbs |
The first of what I feel will one day be many, Stephen Buchanan earned NCAA DI All American honors four times in his career, representing three different schools in the process. 8th & 3rd for the Wyoming Cowboys, 3rd for the Oklahoma Sooners & a national championship for the Iowa Hawkeyes. 112 career wins, was a runner-up at the BIG 10's this year, having won both CKLV & the Southern Scuffle in previous seasons.
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| Jacob Cardenas Michigan 197 lbs |
Spending the bulk of his career at Cornell, Jacob Cardenas decided to spend his final season of collegiate wrestling competing for the Wolverines of Michigan. Earned All American status three times, placing 8th-4th-4th. A BIG 10 champion, also was a CKLV champion, with 94 career wins.
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| Michael Beard Lehigh 197 lbs |
Competing for both the Nittany Lions of Penn State & the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh, Michael Beard finished in the top 12 of his weight class all five seasons he competed. R12-7th-R12-8th-R12. 104 career wins, was a three-time EIWA finalist going 2nd-1st-1st.
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| Isaiah Salazar Minnesota 197 lbs |
82 career wins, Isaiah Salazar's time as a Golden Gopher came to an end this season, with '23-'24 being his best year. Last year was both a BIG 10 champion & 6th in the DI nation.
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| Trey Munoz Oregon State 197 lbs |
A five-time NCAA DI qualifier, Trey Munoz enjoyed the most success in both '22-'23 & '23-'24. A two-time All American with finishes of 6th & 3rd within those seasons, Munoz was 2nd-1st-1st-1st-3rd in PAC-12 competition, going 8th-R12-5th/6th at CKLV. Earned 96 career wins with one season at Arizona State & four seasons at Oregon State.
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| Wyatt Hendrickson Oklahoma State HWT |
In the history of collegiate wrestling we've had a lot of great upsets, but when it comes to the greatest upset of all time & who pulled it off, the answer is the 2025 NCAA DI HWT championship & Wyatt Hendrickson. Hendrickson's dramatic victory over Gable Steveson in the finals IS what won him the Danny Hodge award this year & what will cement him as the one who pulled off the greatest upset in collegiate wrestling for the decades to come. At 40 years old, I could live another 60 years and not see an upset of this magnitude. Representing our country as a member of the Air Force, Hendrickson was 1st-1st-2nd at the BIG 12's & 3rd-3rd at the NCAA DI's. Spending his final season at Oklahoma State, he won both the BIG 12's & the NCAA DI's, as well as a CKLV title. 123 victories in total.
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| Gable Steveson Minnesota HWT |
I'd easily say that Gable Steveson is the most popular & well known collegiate wrestler of modern times. The doors of possibility and opportunity seem to all be open to him now & it'll be interesting to see what the years ahead have in store for the Golden Gopher. 3rd-1st-1st-2nd in the DI nation, he was supposed to go down undisputedly as the greatest HWT of all time (collegiately speaking). Hendrickson put an end to that saga. Perhaps it might be the spark that lights the fire for Steveson internationally speaking. As of right now, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist has a long way to go before we start placing him ahead of the likes of Bruce Baumgartner. Yet with that said, potentially speaking, he has the talent and he has the tools. 101-3 during his career, 75% of his wins came via bonus. 2nd-1st-1st-1st in the BIG 10.
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| Cohlton Schultz Arizona State HWT |
With the likes of Gable Steveson and Wyatt Hendrickson at the HWT division, it was rather easy this year to get overlooked & underappreciated. Yet what Cohlton Schultz was able to accomplish in his illustrious career should be recognized and celebrated. Earning All American honors once in your career is something to be ecstatic about, and the Sun Devil managed to do it five times. 4th-2nd-7th-6th-3rd for the Colorado native. A four-time PAC-12 champion, he was the runner-up at the BIG 12's this season & he also finished in 3rd place at CKLV. 101 career victories, many of which were via fall.
Already having earned both PAN-AMERICAN silver & bronze, Schultz's career is far from over on the international stage. I'd say it's just beginning. The United States has been looking for a Greco-Roman superstar for quite some time now. We've had them in freestyle, but we have yet to have anyone in Greco that has really captured the imagination since Rulon Gardner. Schultz could likely be that someone.
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| Owen Trephan Lehigh HWT |
Spending the majority of his career at North Carolina State, Owen Trephan transferred to Lehigh for his final season of competition. 24-2 on the year, the final year was the greatest year. An EIWA champ, finished off with his 93rd career victory & a 5th place showing in the NCAA DI nation.
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| Greg Kerkvliet Penn State HWT |
97-12 during his collegiate career, it seems asinine to say this, but it is the truth...even with all that Greg Kerkvliet achieved, he probably would have achieved a lot more had it not been for injuries. 7th-4th-2nd-1st-6th in the DI nation, it's very likely that the five-time All American would have added more national titles to his resume. Had he been 100%, perhaps it would have been him instead of Hendrickson, pulling off the greatest upset of all time. Injuries are often the least talked about, yet most prolific of the reasons why someone's career does or does not turn out as great as it could have. A fact of life, and something to keep in mind when looking over the career of the Nittany Lion.
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| Josh Heindselman Michigan HWT |
I wrote my first article for collegiate wrestling in 2002. Over the last 23 years, I can honestly say that 99% of the time, I've been positive towards wrestlers. I do not like to be negative, but the one exception I will make is when a wrestler shows poor sportsmanship. I'm not a fan of it, I don't turn a blind eye to it, and I don't condone it. I will speak out against it. Now the other thing I can say concerning my writing is that in 23 years, not many have confronted me on things I have said, good or bad. I get about 10 messages a year from fans, wrestlers and coaches, but that's about it. One of my favorites was from Bryan Heindselman, Josh's favorite.
I had written about Josh showing poor sportsmanship in a match I had watched, I believe on FLO. What was funny about Bryan's message to me, was that he was not denying that Josh had shown bad sportsmanship, but he wanted to clarify that I had the wrong match. I had watched a ton of wrestling (as I always do) that week & I thought that the match was against West Virginia's Michael Wolfgram. It turns out it was against someone else. Bryan said that Josh normally doesn't act that way and explained the situation to me. I told him that I understood. We've all lost our cool when provoked, and I said, and meant that I hoped Josh made All American before his career was said & over.
And he did, and I was happy to see that happen. A five-time NCAA DI qualifier, four seasons at Oklahoma & one at Michigan, Heindselman seemed to have the most fun in his last go round on the collegiate mats. Seemed to wrestle loose and relaxed, like he had nothing to lose. Wasn't afraid to try things and leave it all on the mat. A Midlands champ, 4th in the BIG 10's & 7th in the DI nation, Heindselman finished out with 108 career wins.
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| Gavin Hoffman Lock Haven HWT |
My all time favorite film is Back To The Future and I have to say being a huge fan of time paradox theories, I believe in another universe in another dimension, Gavin Hoffman won an NCAA DI title. 6th in the DI nation years back, I thought Hoffman's career was a said and done thing, but he came back for one more season & damn near made All American status again. An MAC champ, one match shy of being top 8, ended with 93 career victories.
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| Angelo Rini Indiana 133 lbs |
One of the many collegiate wrestlers that St. Edward has produced over the years, Angelo Rini is a wrestler that I can say significantly got better season to season. Competing for both Columbia & Indiana, Rini took 3rd in the EIWA's two seasons ago & finished one match shy of NCAA DI All American honors this year.
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| Danny Braunagel Illinois 174 lbs |
Danny Braunagel is the type of guy I think of when I preach that there is so much more to collegiate wrestling than the last two/three days of it. He never did put it together at the NCAA DI championships, but there were many other times at other tournaments & duals where he did. This year, not sure if it was injury or something else, but it was a rough time for him. Saw a glimpse of him at his best at the BIG 10's where in the minds of many, he should have been a finalist, coming back for a strong 3rd. 82 career victories.
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| Zac Braunagel Illinois 197 lbs |
An identical twin, call it irony that Zac Braunagel's career mirrored that of Danny's in many ways. Although he did come close a couple of times, Zac wasn't able to capture All American honors during his career either. Still a great career full of many highlights, that again ironically speaking, including a 3rd place showing at this year's BIG 10's. A five time NCAA DI qualifier, with 88 career wins.
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| Kyle Burwick North Dakota State |
Never give up. That's the story of Kyle Burwick. Nebraska, Wisconsin, the North Dakota native went out into the world looking for riches, only to find that what he needed was right at home competing for the Bison of North Dakota State. The three-time NCAA qualifier earned 25 wins this season, placing 4th at the Southern Scuffle & making the BIG 12 finals.
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| Cleveland Belton Oklahoma 133 |
A two-time NCAA DI qualifier who finished one match shy of All American honors in '24, things unfortunately didn't end as well for Cleveland Belton who came up short of NCAA DI qualification in his final season of wrestling. On the plus side, the Arizona State to Oregon State to Oklahoma wrestler did place 7th at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Andrew Alirez Northern Colorado 149 lbs |
Andrew Alirez came up a little short of All American honor #2, but what a phenomenal career for the Colorado native. A four-time qualifier, he became both Northern Colorado's first BIG 12 champion & their first NCAA DI champion. Going 4th-WC-1st-1st-3rd in the BIG 12, he also had 4th & 3rd place showings at the Southern Scuffle & was a Cliff Keen runner-up 17-3 in his final season.
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| Mosha Schwartz Oklahoma 141 lbs |
Another Colorado native, Mosha Schwartz competed for both Northern Colorado & Oklahoma during his collegiate career. A four-time NCAA DI qualifier he went 2nd-4th-6th-7th in BIG 12 competition, also earning both 5th & 7th place finishes at CKLV & the Southern Scuffle respectively.
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| Cobe Siebrecht South Dakota State 157 lbs |
The Lisbon, Iowa native spent some time at Iowa where he was an NCAA DI qualifier & then transferred to South Dakota State for his final season of competition. Once again qualified for the DI championships, with the highlight of both his career & season making the BIG 12 finals.
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| Evan Bockman Iowa State 184 lbs |
From California Baptist to Utah Valley to Iowa State, Evan Bockman enjoyed a successful collegiate career that saw NCAA DI qualification on four occasions. Knee injuries kept him from enjoying further success, but he did often shine at CKLV going 8th-4th-R12-6th at the DI's most prolific in-season tournament.
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| Luke Surber Oklahoma State 197 lbs |
A four-time NCAA DI qualifier, Luke Surber finished out his career with 3rd-3rd-2nd place showings at the BIG 12 & a 3rd place showing at CKLV. 21-5 on the year.
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| Zach Glazier South Dakota State 197 lbs |
Every couple of years my girlfriend and I like to take small little vacations. Minneapolis is a fun place to spend a three or four day weekend. On the way up, we always go through Albert Lea. Curious as to the wrestling in Albert Lea, I looked up the high school the last time we went up there and came across the name Zach Glazier, a two-time Minnesota High School state champ. Reading up more on him, I saw that he was going to Iowa, although I'm sure St. Cloud State was hoping they might get him. Was happy to see him earn BIG 10 runner-up status last year & was hoping that he might earn All American honors this year. 197 lbs was absolutely stacked. Had a great showing in his first & only BIG 12 tournament, taking 3rd.
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| Lance Runyon Northern Iowa HWT |
Talk about a team player. The Southeast Polk native, qualified for the NCAA DI championships twice competing at 174 lbs. In his final season, he was needed elsewhere & competed in the HWT division for the Panthers. 20-9 on the year, took 7th place finishes at both the BIG 12 & CKLV.
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| Sam Mitchell Wyoming HWT |
Spending the bulk of his career at Buffalo, Sam Mitchell spent his final season at Wyoming. 89 career victories, was a two-time NCAA DI qualifier.
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| Connor McGonagle Virginia Tech 133 lbs |
I've spoken earlier about wrestlers who make some vast improvements during their collegiate careers, and I don't know if that is more exemplified than what it is when you take a look at Connor McGonagle. Here's a guy that had a couple of losing seasons & a .500 season, who capped it all off by winning an ACC title & finishing 6th in the DI nation.
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| Sam Latona Virginia Tech 141 lbs |
Was hoping to see Sam Latona finish out better than what he did, but remind myself of the fact, that he had an outstanding career nonetheless. A five-time NCAA DI qualifier, he was 6th-R12-7th-Q-Q in national competition & 1st-2nd-3rd-2nd-2nd in the ACC. 114 career wins, I'd call him one of the best to come out of the state of Alabama.
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| Jason Miranda Stanford 141 lbs |
Three seasons ago, Jason Miranda finished 4th in the PAC-12 and they took the top 3. The next year, he finished in 3rd place, and they took the top two. It was like, sheesh, this guy has finished probably 34th or 35th in the DI nation two years in a row. Will he finally make it to the NCAA DI championships & be one of the top 33 in his final season? Happy to report that yes, he was. Finished a very strong & impressive 3rd at the ACC. Was also 4th at the Midlands this year & a runner-up at the Southern Scuffle last year.
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| Nick Stemmet Stanford 197 lbs |
A four-time NCAA DI qualifier, Nick Stemmet was 3rd-4th-2nd-3rd in PAC-12 competition & 2nd in the ACC. 85 career wins, placed at all of DI's major in-season tournaments including 7th at CKLV & 5th at the Southern Scuffle last year and 4th at the Midlands this year.
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| Andy Smith Virginia Tech 197 lbs |
A three-time NCAA DI qualifier for the Hokies. Finished 5th-3rd in the ACC & was one match shy of DI All American honors in '24.
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| Peter Ming Stanford HWT |
Interestingly enough, Peter Ming never did have a winning season during his time at Stanford. Doesn't matter. No one is going to remember that. What everyone will remember, is that he was an NCAA DI qualifier, with a 3rd place showing at the ACC & that he also captured a 6th place showing at the Midlands.
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| Ryan Miller Pennsylvania 133 lbs |
It's often said, and often true that you have to "find a way" in this sport. Ryan Miller, a two-time NCAA DI qualifier, had to do just that, when he moved up to 133 lbs. I don't think it was easy at first, adjusting to his new weight, but he soon found himself competing at a high level. This included in his final season placing 4th at the Midlands & winning the first every 133 lbs Ivy League title.
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| Luke Stout Princeton 197 lbs |
From the same high school as Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle, Luke Stout, a four-time NCAA DI qualifier will go down in history as the first ever Ivy League champion at 197 lbs.
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| Colton Camacho Edinboro 133 lbs |
Like Jason Miranda, Colton Camacho found himself a nosehair outside of the top 33 multiple times throughout his career. When he transferred to Edinboro from Pittsburgh, I said at the beginning of the season that I thought he would be one of the highlights for the Fighting Scots this year. I was right, he was. 30 wins on the season, he shined at both the Midlands and in the MAC. 6th in Chicago, 3rd in the Mid-American.
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| Johnny Lovett Central Michigan 157 lbs |
I thought somewhere along the line, the Miami, Florida native would earn DI All American honors, but that is the one thing that the Chippewa didn't earn among the many accomplishments and credentials that he did. A five-time NCAA DI qualifier, he was 3rd-2nd-1st-3rd-2nd in the MAC, winning a Midlands title this year & earning 120 victories overall.
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| Alex Cramer Central Michigan 174 lbs |
Another Chippewa who put together a strong career was Alex Cramer. 3rd-1st-1st-2nd in the MAC, he was 5th-7th-4th in the Midlands. 101 career wins, he did start off his collegiate competing for Old Dominion, before they ended their wrestling program.
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| Avery Bassett Lock Haven 165 lbs |
Originally competing for George Mason, Avery Bassett finished off his collegiate career at Lock Haven where he was 3rd at MAC championships.
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| Mike Wilson Rider 174 lbs |
Son of Minnesota Twin scout John Wilson, Mike Wilson has one of the most interesting stories I think an NCAA DI wrestler will ever have. 5th-2nd-4th in MAC action, it looked like Wilson was going to end his career as a one time NCAA DI qualifier. However, shenanigans within PAC-12 competition, and suddenly Wilson was a two-time qualifier. I highly doubt under these particular circumstances, if we ever seen anything like this in collegiate wrestling again.
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| Anthony Molton Campbell 125 lbs |
This sport can be unforgiving and rather cruel. Gawd only knows how many times I've said that over the last 23 years. Truth is, if you're asking me, Anthony Molton is easily one of the absolute best who never made the NCAA DI tournament during his career. The future law enforcement officer still had many highlights though, including placing 3rd in the Southern Conference on two occasions. Was also a two-time Franklin & Marshall Open champ & took 3rd at the Southern Scuffle. Competed for Old Dominion before we lost that program due to discontinuation.
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| Todd Carter Gardner Webb 133 lbs |
The Georgia native capped off his career for the Runnin' Bulldogs with 90 career wins earning 2nd & 1st place finishes at the SOCON championships.
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| Devan Hendricks Bellarmine 184 lbs |
It was a season of firsts in '24-'25 & we saw the Knights of Bellarmine crown their first SOCON champion in Devan Hendricks. Hendricks has been a staple for the Knights ever since their move to NCAA Division I. Awesome to see him earn this achievement and forever be cemented in history as their first conference champ.
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| Levi Hopkins Campbell 197 lbs |
89 career wins, Levi Hopkins capped off his career as a three-time SOCON champion. He also placed 5th at this year's Southern Scuffle.
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| Daulton Mayer Bellarmine HWT |
After a storied career in the NAIA competing for the Saints of Thomas More, Daulton Mayer decided to compete his final season in NCAA DI competing for Bellarmine. Although this did not translate into qualification, he still had some highlights throughout the season including placing 8th at the Southern Scuffle & 3rd at the Southern Conference. 23 wins, including one over Dan Herrera of Iowa State.
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| Legend Lamer Cal Poly 157 lbs |
Things didn't quite end the way they should have for Legend Lamer. Injuries and other factors, the three-time NCAA DI qualifier missed out on his fourth qualification this year. Thrice 3rd in the PAC-12's, he did have a 4-3 win over D.J. McGee on the season.
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| Brevin Cassella Binghamton 174 lbs |
A four-time NCAA DI qualifier, Brevin Casella has EIWA finishes of 5th-4th-3rd-1st during his career. 96 career wins, also had CKLV finishes of 8th & 5th.
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| Dalton Harkins Army 174 lbs |
The Black Knight had a strong final season of collegiate wrestling placing 5th at the Southern Scuffle & 3rd in the EIWA.
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| Mickey O'Malley Drexel 197 lbs |
The Dragon enjoyed a successful career that saw NCAA DI qualification five times. EIWA finishes of 4th-2nd-1st-3rd. 88 career wins.
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| Cory Day Binghamton HWT |
Cory Day ended his career as a Bearcat with three NCAA DI qualifications, going 5th-5th-2nd in the EIWA championships.
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| Bubba Wilson Nebraska 165 lbs |
Unfortunate circumstances followed this young man around like a flea on a dog. Nevertheless, despite everything he went through, we still go to see glimpses of how talented he truly was. A two-time NCAA DI qualifier, Wilson shined through best at CKLV where he was 8th-4th-4th during his career.
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| Sammy Sasso Ohio State 157 lbs |
The most heartbreaking of the '24-'25 stories I believe would be Sammy Sasso. Missed out on what should have been a national championship season, because of the poor choices of another individual. Perspective kept, Sasso had a stellar career for the Buckeyes, even if it didn't end as it should have. 2nd-5th-2nd in the DI nation & 114 career wins.
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| Daniel Bucknavich Cleveland State HWT |
Imagine being told that this will be the last season ever for your wrestling team. Imagine the amount of pressure you have in realizing that it is up to you to become the last NCAA DI qualifier that your team will ever produce. That's the type of pressure Daniel Bucknavich had upon him this season, and he handled it very well. A two-time NCAA DI qualifier overall, he was 2nd & 3rd in the MAC.
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| Blake Saito Brown 157 lbs |
Blake Saito really stuck out as a star in a season where the Bears were in need of one. 21-7 on the year, Saito qualified for the NCAA DI championships & he won a Southern Scuffle title.
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| Dylan Cedeno Virginia 141 lbs |
Last year did not end well for the Cavalier as it came up short due to injury. He more than made up for it this season going 15-3 on the year, winning both a Southern Scuffle title and an ACC title.
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| Diego Sotelo Harvard 125 lbs |
Although Diego Sotelo came up short of his third NCAA DI qualification this season, I still think overall he's been the leader and standout for the Crimson wrestling program these last few seasons. Highlights were most seen at the Midlands where he was 3rd-5th-3rd.
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| Beau Bartlett Penn State 141 lbs |
Every season we say goodbye to someone that fits the description of, "One of the best to never win an NCAA DI title." Not only does Beau Bartlett resemble that remark, but he's also one of the best ever to never win a BIG 10 title. Ironically enough, at both tournaments, Bartlett went 3rd-2nd-3rd in his last three years of competition. 100 career wins for the Nittany Lion.
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| Jackson Turley Rutgers 174 lbs |
An 8th place All American in 2021, Jackson Turley was unable to recapture All American honors during his career. Mainly due to health and injuries. Nevertheless, the Scarlet Knight did make the NCAA DI championships on four occasions. He was also 5th at the Midlands this season.
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| Reece Heller Pittsburgh 184 lbs |
Starting his career off at Hofstra, Reece Heller transferred to Pittsburgh, where he was a three-time NCAA DI qualifier for the Panthers. Going 4th-3rd-1sts at the ACC championships, he also won a Midlands title in his final season.
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| Reece Witcraft Oklahoma State 133 lbs |
I heard another fan say, "He was a guy you could never count out, but always count on" and I thought that was a perfect description of the type of wrestler, person & teammate Reece Witcraft was during his time as an Oklahoma State Cowboy. I've never coached, but I know enough about coaching that if I were a coach, Reece Witcraft is the type of guy I'd want on my team. An NCAA DI qualifier in '20 & '23, I'd easily call Witcraft one of the best to DNQ this season. Had a great CKLV where he finished in 4th place & on the season wins over Jacob Van Dee, Derek Cardinale & Kade Moore.
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| Michael Wolfgram West Virginia HWT |
Michael Wolfgram's final season unfortunately came to a premature end due to injury. To be quite frank, I always felt that he was holding something back. That we never saw him at 100%, and that could be due to injuries. Every season he had a handful of impressive wins, this season no different. A two-time NCAA DI qualifier over all.
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