The Top 5 NCAA DIVISION I 165 lbs Wrestlers in the 21st Century to not All American

This is a topic that has been talked to death.  Yet, it's usually discussed from an overall standpoint. I don't know if it's ever been discussed weight by weight.  So as a result, I'm going to do that.  I took a look at all 10 weight classes in Division I and I put together who I thought the top five best wrestlers at each weight class were that never made All American status during their career.

I realize that most likely I'm going to get a lot of feedback about the guys I overlooked or the guys I forgot. Trust me, I most likely already know.  It was very difficult narrowing it down to five guys per weight. 

I write this because I feel that we as a whole, we as a wrestling community tend to put too much emphasis on the NCAA tournament alone.  There have been wrestlers in our past and their will be wrestlers in our future who achieve an assortment of credentials, but fall short of All American status.  I personally feel that these wrestlers should still be celebrated.  Still be remembered.  And this is my way of doing it.

Here are who I consider to be the top Five at 165 lbs.

#5
Nick Baima
Northern Iowa

124 career wins, a Midland's title and the Western Wrestling Conference wrestler of the tournament as well as wrestler of the year it seemed the only thing left for Baima to do was to go into the NCAA tournament and come home with a medal.  Unfortunately, Baima would lose out to Central Michigan's Matt Miller in the blood round.

#4
Levi Prevost
Wyoming

A two time Western Regional Champion, Levi Prevost of Wyoming earned the #10 seed as a junior and the #9 seed as a senior at the NCAA tournament.  Both years he would finish one match shy of All American status, including losing in the final seconds 7-6 to Ohio State's John Clark in his final collegiate match.  Prevost had many notable wins during his career and most certainly deserves to be mentioned when fans speak of the best to never AA.

#3
Ralph Everett
Hofstra

Three time NCAA champion Greg Jones of West Virginia only lost three times during his illustrious career and one of those losses was to Ralph Everett of Hofstra.  Along with being one of only three to hand Jones a loss, Everett was a two time CAA conference champion. As a senior he finished in second place at the Midland's championships and he received the #6 seed at the NCAA tournament.   He finished one match shy of All American status as a both a junior and a senior.

#2
Nick Passolano
Iowa State 

Wrestling isn't a sport for the selfless. It's not kind to kind.  It's not a sport to be a nice guy in and that may very well be the case with Nick Passolano.  After second and third place finishes at the BIG 12 tournament, which gave him #7 and #8 seeds at the NCAA's,  Passolano looked poised and ready to win his first conference title and his first All American honor as a senior.  For the betterment of the team, Passolano put his fellow Cyclones first and moved up to 174 lbs.  In my opinion I think had Passolano stayed at 165 lbs, he probably wouldn't be on this list.  Finishes of seventh and third at the Midland's as well as victories of Oklahoma State four time All American Tyrone Lewis and two time All American Tyron Woodley of Missouri help me to justify my feelings.

#1
Pat Pitsch
Arizona State 

He certainly came close.  That's for sure.  Arizona State's Pat Pitsch won three PAC-12 titles, earned the #10 seed as a sophomore and the #11 seed as a junior, finishing one match shy of All American status all three years.  He was also a four time CKLV place-winner going 8th, 4th, 5th, 5th at the tournament.


Who did I miss?

Nick Frost of Arizona State?
JJ Holmes of Eastern Michigan?

Let me know!