*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.”
While the Badgers did lose some talent, Chris Bono & the gang look to be very competitive this season. As of the preseason, I see eight NCAA qualifiers. Gone is four time NCAA qualifier Chris Weiler as well as three time NCAA qualifier Andrew McNally. Kyle Burwick has transferred to Nebraska.
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| 125 lbs Eric Barnett |
When it comes time to show up, Eric Barnett is front and center. The past two seasons he has found himself on the award stand at the NCAA's. A 8th place finish in 2021, he was 7th last year. Despite whatever may or may not happen throughout the regular season, he's proven himself a safe bet come NCAA time.
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| 133 lbs Taylor LaMont |
Four time NCAA qualifier & 2021 All American (5th), Utah Valley transfer Taylor LaMont will spend his final season of wrestling at Wisconsin. 88 career wins thus far, it's foreseeable that he'll surpass the 100 win mark. Among the vast talent at 133 lbs, Roman Bravo Young & Daton Fix, as well as Vitali Arujau already mentioned, could LaMont be our Darkhorse? He did wrestle 133 as a sophomore going 17-7 on the year.
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| 141 lbs Joe Zargo |
An NCAA qualifier for the Badgers last season, sophomore Joe Zargo also placed 4th at the Mat Men Invitational.
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| 149 lbs Austin Gomez |
Talk about a come back! Misses the 19'-20' season due to injury as well as the 20'-21' season, leads some to believe his collegiate career may very well be said & done, then shows up at Wisconsin & totally kicks rear the entire season. Runner-up at the Mat Men Invitational, a BIG 10 champion & 4th at the NCAA's. Upends Ohio State's Sammy Sasso twice in 6-5 & 8-5 decisions. He'll be one of the top contenders to face Diakomihalis in the NCAA finals.
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| 157 lbs Garrett Model |
I was very impressed with the consistency and improvements of Garrett Model this past season. 10-14 as a freshman & 9-15 as a sophomore, this past season he earned a 15-14 record, qualifying for the NCAA championships, taking 8th place at the Mat Men Invitational & scoring a 10-5 decision over Minnesota's Brayton Lee.
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| 165 lbs D.J. Hamiti |
One of the top freshmen of the season last year, I think national titles are within the future of D.J. Hamiti. He was 28-4 this past season, placing 6th at the NCAA's with a 3rd place finish at the BIG 10's & a Mat Men Invitational title. To earn All American honors, he majored 2021 NCAA finalist Jake Wentzel of Pittsburgh 8-0. With David Carr of Iowa State, Keegan O'Toole of Missouri, Shane Griffith of Stanford & other top contenders it won't be easy, but Hamiti is in the hunt.
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| 197 lbs Braxton Amos |
Overshadowed by the incredible accomplishments of teammate D.J. Hamiti last season, Braxton Amos is another tough, young Badger who is capable of doing great things throughout the remainder of his career. 18-11 on the season last year, he was 3rd in the Mat Men Invitational.
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| HWT Trent Hillger |
Among the youthful & the transfers on the team, Trent Hillger has been with the Badgers his entire career, earning four NCAA qualifications & 99 victories for them. An All American in 2019 with an 8th place finish & an All American in 2021 with a 6th place finish, he most likely has a bitter taste in his mouth after failing to make the award stand this past season. With Mason Parris of Michigan, Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State, Tony Cassioppi of Iowa & Greg Kervliet of Penn State, the first four spots on the NCAA award stand may already be spoken for. However that 5th place spot as far as I'm concerned is very much in grasp for Hillger. A Mat Men Invitational champion, he has Midlands finishes of 8th & 3rd.
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