2023 NCAA DI The Season: 2023

 *NOTE* - I want to make it clear what this is and what this is not.  What this is NOT is an overview of the entire team. What this is, is a who’s who preview of THIS season 2022-2023. Meaning that I am going to talk about the starters who I feel will have an impact THIS year. Those who will win big matches in duals. Those who will earn placings in major tournaments like CKLV, RENO, MIDLANDS, MATMEN INVITE, SOUTHERN SCUFFLE, CONFERENCES & NCAA’s.  In some cases a weight class will have multiple talented wrestlers. I will note that & I will also be making posts later on about the best wrestle-offs to look forward to this season.  Then after that is determined I will make post later into the season of who our best backups are in the nation.

This post will NOT include redshirts. Those who are redshirting this season will be included in a separate post entitled “22’-23’ Best Redshirts.” 

 

Coach Hahn has himself a good team this season. I can see the Jackrabbits having as many as nine NCAA qualifiers this season, with some that will contend for All American status & one that will contend for an NCAA title. 

 

125 lbs
       Tanner Jordan OR Brandon Meredith 

Anxious to see who wins this battle between these two talented lightweights. Tanner Jordan was 20-17 on the season last year with wins over Liam Cronin of Nebraska, Bryce West of Northern Illinois & Noah Surtin of Missouri.  Brandon Meredith a transfer of Penn State has quite the resume as well. Most impressive a 3-2 victory over two time All American Pat McKee of Minnesota, he's also defeated Sid Flores of Air Force, Mike Colaiocco of Penn & Jack Wagner of Northern Iowa. This should prove to be a good wrestle-off. 

133 lbs
Gabriel Tagg 

8th in the BIG 12 this  past season, Gabriel Tagg has shown promise that he is capable of qualifying for the NCAA championships this year. He had an impressive 7-1 victory of Oklahoma's Anthony Madrigal & he also owns a 10-3 victory of Kellyn March of North Dakota State. 

141 lbs
Clay Carlson 

I think he's a contender for titles all the way around. Southern Scuffle, BIG 12 & NCAA.  In the NCAA he was 8th in 2021 & thus far in the BIG 12 he's been 5th-4th-3rd. 4th in the Scuffle last season. His biggest obstacle as it stands today seems to be Missouri's Alan Hart. He's lost to the Tiger three times, while only owning one victory against him.  He's defeated Northern Colorado's Andrew Alirez twice, versus one loss & he's defeated Minnesota's Jake Bergeland every time he's wrestled him. Most impressive he nearly majored Iowa's Real Woods 11-4.  If he can get going & spend the majority of the match in the top position, he is a threat to anyone he steps on the mat with. 

149 lbs
Daniel Kimball     OR        Alek Martin 

Here's another wrestle-off I think will be one to watch involving the Jackrabbits varsity lineup.  Daniel Kimball has had some notable wins thus far in his career. A 5-2 victory over MAC champ Kody Komara of Kent State, he also defeated Tristan Lara of Oregon State 9-5.  Alek Martin, a redshirt freshman who posted a 21-7 record, also owns a victory over Lara, 7-5 s.v.  For record Kimball has defeated Martin in the past, 7-0. 

165 lbs
Tanner Cook 

An NCAA qualifier in 2020 with a 3rd place finish at the BIG 12 tournament, I believe Cook will make it back to the NCAA's this season. 

174 lbs
Cade DeVos

31-9 on the season last year, I think two time NCAA qualifier Cade DeVos will contend for All American honors this season. Twice 4th in the BIG 12, I think he's also a fine candidate to make the conference finals this season as well. A Southern Scuffle champion, he's also been 4th in CKLV & 8th at the Midlands. 

184 lbs
Cade King 

BIG 12 184 lbs was loaded last season & it'll be tough again this season, but I do think Cade King is not only capable of a top 8 conference showing, but that he is capable of NCAA qualification as well. He owns victories over Keegan Moore of Oklahoma, Colin McCracken of Kent State & Jeremiah Kent of Missouri, all two time NCAA qualifiers. In fact, Kent was a BIG 12 finalist last season & King defeated him in sudden victory. 

197 lbs
Tanner Sloan 

I think not being 100%, 100% of the time has been the #1 issue with Tanner Sloan. A three time NCAA qualifier, one match shy of All American honors in 2021, I think the only reason we haven't seen him make the award stand at the national tournament is due to all of the hiccups he's faced throughout the years. This season he dealt with some nagging injuries right around CKLV, but battled back beautifully to take a 4th place finish at the Southern Scuffle & a runner-up finish at the BIG 12's.  He's also been a Midlands runner-up in the past as well. If he can stay healthy the whole season, he's almost a sure shot AA. Maybe even more than that. 

HWT
A.J. Nevills

A two time BIG 12 runner-up, A.J. Nevills slipped to 5th place last season. As he heads into his final season of collegiate eligibility, he has the skills & talent to earn a third trip to the conference finals. I'd even put him as a Darkhorse AA. Among his credentials, a 6th place finish at CKLV & a 4th place finish at the Midlands.