BEST OF THE UNRANKED: HWT

                                        

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

125 through 197 complete, we now take a look at those that could steal spots at 285 lbs!  

Jack Forbes
Utah Valley

What he has going against him:  In a 13-8 record, some of those 8 losses aren't good, and I would imagine are what is keeping him outside of a top 33 ranking. 

What he has going for him:  After two losing seasons & going a hard 0-2 at last year's BIG 12 championships, it has been rewarding to see how much improvement Jack Forbes has made in his final season as a Wolverine.  Never above a 10 win season in all of his time at Utah Valley, he's already at 13 wins for the year.  These aren't just against anybody either.  He owns a 13-8 decision over Jarret Stoner & an 8-2 decision over Luke Rasmussen.   I see the BIG 12 taking 7 to the NCAA DI championships this year, and yes I can see Forbes being one of those 7. 

Ashton Davis
Cornell

What he has going against him:  A 12-10 record & some of those 10 losses are real head scratchers. 

What he has going for him:  The 2025 NCAA DI qualifier as of right now is likely to receive the *3 seed at the Ivy League championships.  Putting Alex Semenenko as the *1 seed & Vincent Mueller as the *2 seed.  Against Semenenko, Davis is two & one.  Dropping a 3-2 decision, he's defeated Semenenko by 4-1 & 8-1 decisions, both contested in overtime.   He's two & zero against Mueller, defeating him twice by 6-1 decisions.   

    Daulton Mayer           Stephan Monchery
       Bellarmine                  Appalachian State

What they having going against them: Each other

What they have going for them:  The pin gawd of collegiate wrestling currently stands at a 13-8 record on the season, looking to make his first NCAA DI championships.  Among those 13 wins, a 0:39 fall over Monchery.  Was this a look at pure dominance, or did a really good pinner simply catch a tough Mountaineer offguard? 

Monchery is tough.  Currently 15-7 on the season in his own right, plus he owns an impressive 6-4 decision over Conner Barket.  

Whatever happens in a likely SOCON final, I don't see it being an under a minute fall again.  I think match #2 is going to be a much closer decided contest.   Whoever wins, will be packing their bags for Cleveland, Ohio.  
    

BEST OF THE UNRANKED: 197

 

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

Much like 165 lbs, for the most part 197 looks to me like the top 33, are probably gonna be the top 33 come season's end.   Obviously whoever wins 197 in the SOCON would technically make two, but I only see one real "stealer." 

Mikey Squires
Binghamton

What he has going against him:  No big wins yet.  

What he has going for him:  Four seasons with the Princeton Tigers & three of those seasons as a backup, Mikey Squires now finds himself floating just outside the top 33 as a Bearcat of Binghamton.   He currently owns an 11-2 record.  The EIWA looks likely to send four to the NCAA DI championships & it is a question as to whether Squires can place in the top four or not.  He's wrestled J.T. Davis to close decisions in the past (4-1, 3-0)  & that gives faith that he might be able to turn such losses into a win.  

Best of the Unranked: 184

 The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

At 184 lbs, there are four currently outside the top 33 I can see stealing spots come qualification time. 

Jaden Bullock
Virginia Tech

What He has going against him: A 12-10 record & some not so great losses among those 10 losses. 

What he has going for him: The 2024 NCAA DI qualifier despite some ugly losses this season, also has some quality wins.  He defeated Tomas Brooker 8-6 & he also owns a 4-3 decision over Ian Bush.  There's still enough time between now & the end of the season to logically see the ACC allot 3 spots to the NCAA DI championships. In that case, the third spot is likely to be Bullock's.  

Let's say that the ACC does not & come qualification time, there are only 2 spots available.  Bullock wrestled Chase Kranitz recently, dropping a 9-6 decision.  The type of match that could have gone either way.  A likely ACC semi-final, with qualification on the line, that Bullock can win. 

T.J. McDonnell
Oregon State

What he has going against him: The PAC-12 is likely to only allot the champion to the NCAA DI championships. 

What he has going for him:  The 2025 NCAA DI qualifier is currently 0-2 against likely PAC-12 finals opponent Cesar Garza.   However, both matches this season have been extremely close.  He wrestled the Mustang to an 8-6 decision back in November & more recently he took him into the tiebreakers before ultimately dropping a 5-3 decision.  The old saying is often true.  It's hard to beat a good wrestler three times in a row.  

Will Ebert
Binghamton

What he has going against him:  Having made JT1Wrestle's "Best to Not qualify" list in both 2024 & 2025, I was expecting a lot more out of Will Ebert in '25-'26.  Unfortunately, things haven't been going the Bearcat's way, as he currently holds a 5-4 record.  Two of those four losses, not pretty.  

What he has going for him:  The EIWA is likely to take three to the NCAA DI championships.  I honestly don't know if finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd is going to happen for Ebert this season or not. What I do know or at least feel strongly about, is that he can be the 4th best wrestler in the bracket.   If he can find himself in that consolation final, with qualification on the line, perhaps he can pull it off. 

Tyler Bienus
Bucknell

What he has going against him: As said, the EIWA looks like it is likely to only allot the top 3 to the NCAA DI championships this season.  As of right now, on paper, due to an 8-0 major decision loss to Will Ebert, Tyler Bienus looks to be the 5th best man. 

What he has going for him: The Bison pulled off a very impressive 4-2 win over Aiden Brenot here a couple of weeks ago.  In a sport with so much parity & turn around, gotta think that it's not out of the question that he ends his EIWA run with a top 3 finish. 

BEST OF THE UNRANKED: 174

 

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

Here at 174, it isn't an abundant amount like 157, but it is a fair amount. An often wild and crazy weight class, full of parity, make '25-'26 no exception. 

Sergio DeSiante
Virginia Tech

What he has going against him: Life is a little tougher in the Atlantic Coast Conference than what it was in the Southern Conference.  If DeSiante was still wrestling for Chattanooga, I'd say there would be nothing to worry about as he'd be a clear favorite to win the SOCON title.  He's at Virginia Tech now though, and the bracket looks to be a lot thicker. 

What he has going against him: Never a fan of injuries, but they are a part of this sport.  Lorenzo Norman being out for the rest of the year makes it one less person to get through in Blacksburg, if DeSiante wants to qualify for this second NCAA DI championships.  I would think the tournament being held at home, in front of Hokie fans would also be an advantage.  I see the ACC taking four here & the idea of DeSiante pulling off an upset isn't that far of a stretch.  He's taken Luca Augustine into the tiebreakers, & among his wins, 4-2 over Myles Takats & 5-4 over Derek Gilcher. 

Holden Garcia
Princeton

What he has going against him: Parity for one.  Ironically enough, he just beat Enrique Munguia who earlier in the season beat Nick Fine.  Fine has two wins over Garcia, one by technical fall.  I can't see the Ivy League taking anything more than two here, and Garcia is not beating Simon Ruiz. 

What he has going for him:  The first time the Tiger met up with Nick Fine, he lost 18-0.  Yet the second time he met up with the Lion, he only lost 5-3.  If you can turn an 18-0 loss into a 5-3 loss, can you turn a 5-3 loss into a win?  He's going to have to if he wants to see the NCAA DI championships this season. 

What they have going against them: Well for starters, each other.  Both Avery Bassett & Enrique Munguia were NCAA DI qualifiers this past season, but it is almost certain that at least one of them (if not both) will not be going to the NCAA DI championships this year.   

As to the Mid-American Conference championships, I see only two allocations, and one of them (Garrett Thompson) is already spoken for.   This leaves only one spot open in the conference for qualification, and three talented wrestlers who want that spot. 

What they Have going for them:  Munguia has to be the most unpredictable wrestler in NCAA DI wrestling for the '25-'26 season.  With him you never know what you're going to get.  He defeats Nick Fine 11-6, and then turns around & drops an 11-2 major decision to Holden Garcia who not long before was tech'd by Fine.  Seeding wise, he does have an 11-5 win over Bassett but....

Bassett has a much better record of 14-5, than Munguia's record of 9-8.   Again, a lot of season left, but the OTHER huge thing Bassett has going for him is that while he hasn't faced Logan Messer yet this year, he owns both an 8-5 s.v. & 7-3 decision over the Patriot.  If he can defeat him again on February 1st, this could potentially give Bassett the *2 seed.  Munguia himself will get a shot at Messer on Jan 30th. 

Cael Valencia
Arizona State 

What he has going against him:  He might not even be the starter come the BIG 12's.  Leo Tukhlynovch beat him officially 10-9 earlier this season & they've split time ever since.  On top if it, many of the BIG 12 opponents that Valencia would face, have already had their way with him this season.  Talking falls & major decisions.  

What he has going for him: I almost feel stupid putting him on this list, but I'm telling you when qualification is on the line, it's like Valencia removes his glasses, rips open his shirt, reveals the diamond shaped S & becomes a whole new wrestler.  I've seen this guy do things that he shouldn't have been capable of doing.   In 2024, he got beat up pretty bad by Mason Reiniche at RENO eventually getting pinned at the 5:00 mark.  Come PAC-12's, he destroyed Reiniche 16-4.   

Now granted the BIG 12's is gonna be a lot tougher than the PAC-12's, but if any coach sees his wrestler has Cael Valenica in the next round, they should treat him like the unstable land mine that he is.  I see the BIG 12 having 8 allocations, and the Sun Devil could steal one. 



What he has going against him: A 5-8 record 

What he has going for him:  A 9-2 decision over M.J. Gaitan really sticks out for the Road Runner.  

BEST OF THE UNRANKED: 165

 

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

Not near as many as 157, 165 is pretty much 33 for 33.  However, there are still a few unranked who could potentially make some noise before the end of the season.  

Jared Keslar
Pittsburgh

What he has going against him: Currently carrying a 12-8 record, Keslar has yet to garner any significant wins on the season.  

What he has going for him: An NCAA DI qualifier last year, Keslar is in a conference likely to allot three to the NCAA DI championships.  I believe by a long shot, Keslar is the 4th best wrestler in the ACC at the time given.  Hunter Garvin being out with a season ending injury bodes well for the Panther.  It is not out of the question that he pulls off an upset come qualifying time. 

Peyten Kellar
Oklahoma

What he has going against him: As with Gavin Drexler, a move up in weight has not been kind to Peyten Kellar at all.  5th in the NCAA DI nation in 2024 at 157, Peyten Kellar currently stands at 7-5, with no ranked wins & some very ugly losses. 

What he has going for him: They don't just hand out All-American honors.  You don't luck into 5th place at the toughest wrestling tournament in America.  You have to have serious talent & skill to even get close to that accomplishment.  As I said with Gavin Drexler, if someone can be an All-American at one weight, surely, they can in the very least be in the discussion for qualification at another weight.  The BIG 12 isn't as loaded at 165 as they are at some other weights, but we still ought to see at least 6 allocations.  Kellar taking 6th is no stretch of the imagination. 


What he has going against him: 9-10 record.  Some ugly losses & no wins of significance. 

What he has going for him: The Ivy League looks to probably send 

Anthony Ferrari
Campbell

What he has going against him: Not enough ranked wins yet. 

What he has going for him:  He's a heavy favorite to make the SOCON finals & in his way stands Thomas Snipes, whom he has lost to twice already this season.  6-2 at the beginning of the year & more recently 5-3.   It's hard to beat someone good three times in a row.  Conference champion, gets to go to the NCAA DI championships.  Ferrari also owns a 5-4 win over Sean Seefeldt. 

BEST OF THE UNRANKED: 157

                                           

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

I had someone say to me on Twitter that they were looking forward to my analysis on 157 lbs regarding this subject.  I can see why.  Only 33 spots available & I counted 45 eligible candidates.  

Once the dust settles, JT1Wrestle's "Best to not qualify 2026: 157 lbs NCAA DI" list is going to be LONG....

Daniel Zepeda
NC State

What he has going against him:  He's a fill in for an injured Jackson Arrington, thus putting him a bit behind the curve. 

What he has going for him: I'd be surprised if Zepeda wasn't ranked the next time rankings come out.  He's 9-1 on the season, a Southern Scuffle runner-up & he owns a 1:46 fall over Jude Swisher.  The ACC likely to allot 6 & no question about it, he's one of the 6. 

Gavin Drexler
North Dakota State

What he has going against him: The move up to 157 from 149 has NOT been kind to the Bison at all. He currently stands 5-8 for the year & looks like a shadow of his former self.  

What he has going for him: He was 8th in the nation at 149 lbs in 2025.  You can't tell me if he wrestled that good last year at 149 lbs, that he couldn't wrestle well enough to finish within the top 8 at the BIG 12 this season.  I'm not saying it is a guarantee, but it is certainly feasible.  If not clear already, I'm very confident that the BIG 12 takes 8. 

   R.J. Weston
     Northern Iowa

What he has going against him: Inconsistency.  The fact that if we were to hold a tournament to figure out who is currently #34 at 157, it'd be a 12-man bracket.  With Weston, you can see him winning at the BIG 12 against someone like Drayden Morton or Jared Hill.  You can also see him losing to someone out of sight, out of mind.  

What he has going for him: The guy has won some very notable matches in the past. This year alone, he's already taken out Laird Root (4-3) & he's likely to have a couple more notable wins before the regular season comes to a close.  The problem is, can he avoid the "shouldn't have lost this one" moments in between?  As said when looking over Drexler, pretty sure the BIG 12 allots 8.  Weston can be one of the 8. 

Bryce Lowery
Indiana

What he has going against him: He doesn't have enough quality wins yet. Unfortunately for the young Hoosier, Kal Miller is currently redshirting. Otherwise that 5-1 decision would hold a lot more weight than what it currently does. 

What he has going for him:  Pros & cons to being a BIG 10 wrestler, one of the pros is, come qualification time, the BIG 10 always gets a huge, healthy helping.  I say at least 10 allocation spots & Lowery is well within his means to nab one of them. 

Darius Marines
Michigan State

What he has going against him:  Doesn't have the quality wins yet.  

What he has going for him:  The Spartan freshman is currently 15-6 on the year as we finish up the last half of the regular season.  As mentioned when speaking about Lowery, the BIG 10 is likely to have 10 allocation spots here at 157.  Marines is within his means to be among one of the top 10. 

Jonathan Ley
Navy

What he has going against him:  It's hard to say right now.  A lot can change in a short amount of time and we still have just shy of two months before the EIWA championships.  With that said, if the EIWA tournament were today, I say that it'd only be the champion going.   Could Jonathan Ley upset Logan Rozynski? That's an awful tall order.  Even more pressing, before he even could think about Rozynski, he'd have to get past Luke Nichter. 

What he has going for him: He's had some good wins thus far this year & could pick up some more before the EIWA championships.   He has a 2-1 win over Colton Washleski & for whatever it is or isn't worth a 5-2 win over Gavin Drexler.  Going into the EIWA's, I don't think it really matters whether he's the *2 or the *3 seed.  If he wants an opportunity to try and knock off Rozynski, he's gonna have to beat Nichter. 

Luke Nichter
Drexel

What he has going against him: See above.  Luke Nichter is playing with the exact same hand that Jonathan Ley is playing with.  A likely *2 or *3 seed at the EIWA championships & either way that sets up a likely semi-final with Ley.  Making the finals would mean having to pull off one of the biggest upsets of his career in knocking off Rozynski. Unlike ZZ Top, this IS asking for much. 

What he has going for him: He has defeated Ley in the past & that bodes well for the Dragon heading into the EIWA championships.  An NCAA DI qualifier all the way back in 2021, he owns both a 12-4 major over Stoney Buell, as well as a 4-1 s.v. over Anthony White on the season. 

Nick Stampoulos
Lock Haven

What he has going against him:  Forest Gump has a few favorites this year in college wrestling and Nick Stampoulos is one of them.  When it comes to this Bald Eagle, you never know what you're gonna get.  I can't see him getting anything higher than a *5 seed, but I worry as the season progresses if he might end up a lower seed.  

What he has going for him: If he wrestles to his capability, I think he should secure the *5 or *6 seed.  The MAC looks to me like it should be taking the top four finishers of the weight class.  I can't see him knocking off D.J. McGee, but he's kept it awful close with Mason Shrader & I don't think Kaleb Burgess is out of his league either.  An NCAA DI qualifier in 2024, for what it is worth he owns an 8-2 victory over Gavin Drexler. 

Landon Johnson
Northern Illinois

What he has going against him: Landon Johnson faces the same music that Nick Stampoulos faces.  He's in a bracket likely to send the top 4, & on paper he's either the 5th or 6th best man.  This puts the Husky in a situation of having to upset to earn a ticket to Cleveland. 

What he has going for him: Again rinse and repeat about what I said about Stampoulos above.  Johnson was an NCAA DI qualifier last season.  Finishing in the top 4 in the MAC will be an absolute must. Something he is capable of doing. 

What they have going against them:  Each other 

What they have going for them: The PAC-12 is going to take the champion here, so unless something out of this world happens, one of these two gentlemen will be going to the NCAA DI championships.  Jaivon Jones, despite being unranked at the moment has a very impressive 4-1 s.v. over Charlie Millard on the season.  I personally can see Millard, only a freshman now, one day challenging for the NCAA DI title.   

As to Hamblin, no big wins on the season yet, but he was an NCAA DI qualifier last year. 


These two will meet very soon (January 23rd!)   

Not that seeding really matters cause a likely *1 is gonna likely meet a *2 in the PAC-12 finals, but it will give us an idea of how desperate of a situation this could be. 

Tanner Peake
Davidson

What he has going against him: Started off the season at 165 lbs & as a result has some bad losses.  He's not the most consistent wrestler in the world, but now that he's back at 157, things seem to be going better.  Problem is, I don't know if he has enough time or enough quality competition ahead of him to where we could see the SOCON possibly allot two to the NCAA DI championships.  Most likely if he wants to go, he's gonna have to pull off an upset. 

Let me also add in that in a day in age where we have some wrestlers on their 8th season of collegiate wrestling, Tanner Peake is four and out.  This is his fourth year of collegiate wrestling & it is also his final season of collegiate wrestling.  For everyone that likes to cry and moan about all the extra eligibility everyone is taking due to Covid, mission trips, medical redshirts, Olympic redshirts & whatever else I'm missing, perhaps take the time to let Peake know you admire what he's been able to accomplish despite not having those advantages. 

What he has going for him: I think the Wildcat needed something to happen to him to let him know that he IS top 33 material & that he DOES belong in the discussion.  I'm hoping that despite ups & downs, the Southern Scuffle was that something.  He pulled off a 2-0 win over Gavin Drexler & found himself on the award stand.  

At the end of the day, he's going to have to figure out a way past Kyrell Leavell.  The Citadel freshman stands in the way of Tanner Peake & Peake is going to have to figure out a way past him if he wants to be Davidson's first NCAA DI qualifier since 2015. 

BEST OF THE UNRANKED: 149

 

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

If the NCAA DI championship were today, & it was the 33 currently ranked somewhere between #1 & #33, there would be some very good wrestlers being left at home. 

To be quite frank, I'm pretty happy with the rankings at 149 lbs.  I believe pretty much who should be going to the DI championships in 2026, are the 33 that are currently listed. 

However, I do see two that could steal spots. 

Carson DesRosier
The Citadel 

What he has going against him: When it is all said and done, if Carson DesRosier wants to call himself a two-time NCAA DI qualifier this season, he's going to have to win the SOCON title. 

What he has going for him: Winning the SOCON title is well within DesRosier's capabilities.  His adversary for Southern Conference gold is going to be Kaden Keiser.  Thus far DesRosier has split with the Mountaineer dropping an 8-3 decision & winning a 4-1 s.v.    It'll be a SOCON finals most certainly worth watching, because not only will the title be on the line, so will qualification. 

Jack Crook
Harvard

What he has going against him: He has some very ugly losses this year & a record of 6-5.   On top of it, the EIWA is likely to take 3 to the NCAA DI championships this year.  The chances of Crook upsetting Jaxon Joy are pretty much 0% & the chances of him upsetting Cross Wasilewski aren't much above 0%. 

What he has going for him: An NCAA DI qualifier in 2024, while the gold & the silver of the EIWA are out of the question, the bronze is within reach.  If Crook can wrestle well enough to find himself in the EIWA consolation finals, he has taken out Eligh Rivera before.  Crook owns a 14-12 decision over the Tiger.