When it comes to the question marks of NCAA Division I wrestling, 197 lbs sure does like to take its fair share of them. The question is, who will be our top 8 by season's end & more importantly, in what order? Outright, 197 only returns three All Americans, but trust me, this won't be a mild weight class. Plenty of jalapenos to spice it up. Maybe even a few ghost peppers. We have a three time NCAA DI champion moving up from 184 lbs & we also have another three time All American moving up from 184 lbs as well. Add in a two time All American who redshirted last season + an another returning All American from 2022 & yet another from 2021. And as the game show host often likes to say, "That ain't all." We also have an assortment of others looking to earn All American honors as well. From my estimation, on returnees alone, we're looking at 14 solid candidates + a few other darkhorses all looking to walk out of Kansas City with medals.
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| Aaron Brooks Penn State |
Three NCAA DI titles, three BIG 10 titles, Aaron Brooks has all but owned the 184 lbs weight class his entire career thus far as a Nittany Lion, only knowing defeat on three occasions vs 67 varsity wins. The question is, does he dominate & control 197 lbs the way he did 184? We're not only talking wrestlers who are 13 lbs bigger & stronger, but we're also talking a different style of wrestling. 197 lbs'ers are generally longer, lankier & have a different assortment of maneuvers and strategies, especially in both the neutral & top positions. Where does Brooks fall among the best? Well, one thing is for certain, he'll be somewhere near the top. The question is, will it be the very top? Four time NCAA DI champions are a rare treat we get to see every so often. '24 could provide us one with Brooks.
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| Lucas Cochran Penn State |
As we mention Aaron Brooks, may I also put in a word for Lucas Cochran, who I believe will be an excellent replacement for Brooks in the '24-'25 season. Among his victories thus far, he defeated SOCON champ Levi Hopkins 10-5 last year.
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| Tanner Sloan South Dakota State |
Truth to be known, Tanner Sloan has been All American material since his freshman season & he finally got it done last season in top fashion as me made the NCAA DI finals. 27-3 on the year, the two time BIG 12 runner-up goes into his final season as a Jackrabbit looking to earn his fifth NCAA DI qualification. He was also 3rd at last year's CKLV.
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| Rocky Elam Missouri |
Right there wil Sloan will be Rocky Elam who goes into his junior season already a three time All American with finishes of 5th-4th-3rd. Elam defeated Sloan for last year's BIG 12 title (then dropping a match to him at the NCAA tournament) with a 15-2 record over all.
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| Trent Hidlay North Carolina State |
With Isaac Trumble redshirting, Trent Hidlay moves up to the 197 from having spent the bulk of his career at 184 lbs. A four time NCAA DI qualifier, he goes into his final season of competition a three time All American with finishes of 2nd-5th-4th. Like Brooks, it'll be engrossing to see how he handles the 197 lbs class.
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| Stephen Buchanan Oklahoma |
I've been referring to this year's squad of Oklahoma Sooners as "Transfer U" & here's another reason. Another VERY good reason. Of the many returns to varsity status off of redshirts, here's another I am very excited about. Competing for the Cowboys of Wyoming, Buchanan earned All American honors of 8th & 3rd in '21 & '22 respectively. Not only that but let's also add in that he owns a victory over Tanner Sloan & he's defeated Rocky Elam on three occasions. He could give the transfers...I mean the Sooners their first NCAA DI champion since last earning one in 2015.
I don't know if the coaching staff of Mike Grey, Donnie Vinson, Kellan Russell & Nick Gwiazdowski gets the credit it deserves or not. What I do know is that something very right is going on at Cornell. Their wrestlers are improving season to season in a vast & rapid rate. Among them, Jacob Cardenas. Cardenas looked good in '21-'22 finishing 5th in the EIWA, but he looked real good in '22-'23, winning the EIWA title & finishing 8th in the DI nation on a 20-6 record.
I would definitely keep Michael Beard in your thoughts as you examine the 197 lbs weight class. 7th in the DI nation in 2021, the Mountain Hawk will be looking to reclaim his All American status. An EIWA runner-up this past season, he was 23-5 on the year. Note that he also owns a 9-1 major decision over Tanner Sloan.
Allred, he was all gold at last year's BIG 10 championships! Holy cow did Silas Allred wrestle well at the BIG 10's last year. Wrestles like that all season, he might very well be the man at 197. 28-7 on the season, he was also 5th at CKLV.
Alex Clemsen has been doing a great job of rebuilding the Terrapin program, but he still has yet to crown his first All American since taking over as head coach four seasons ago. He might very well get his first this season in this man, Jaxon Smith. The Georgia native looked very solid last season, an impressive 3rd place showing at the BIG 10's & 4th in the Southern Scuffle. He was 23-8 overall.
I have rather enjoyed watching the Braunagel brothers compete the past seasons. Hard nosed, aggressive wrestlers, they have a style that is fun to watch. I'll say the same thing for Zac that I said for Danny...easier said than done amongst the competition, but I hope to see him go out with a bang. Thus far the Fighting Illini has been one match shy of All American honors the past two seasons. 3rd & 4th in the BIG 10, he looked at his very best winning the Midlands title (he was also 4th here two seasons ago). He goes into his final year having posted a 25-9 record last year, looking for his fifth NCAA DI qualification.
Among the horses, perhaps here is the darkest. Gavin Hoffman is the embodiment of unpredictability and not knowing what to expect. Within the vast field of ruthless competition, dare I say that he could find himself in this year's NCAA DI finals? 6th in the DI nation in 2022, he does own two victories of '23 NCAA finalist Tanner Sloan. He had 17 wins last season, R12 at CKLV & a disappointing 8th at the BIG 10's. He could as easily struggle just to get the to the NCAA tournament. In '23-'24, which Gavin Hoffman shows up?
Andy Smith really stepped it up for the Hokies last season. 15 wins on the year, he won the Southeast Open & finished 6th at CKLV upsetting Tanner Sloan 5-2. Also in the Virginia Tech lineup at 197 lbs will be T.J. Stewart who placed 8th at the Southern Scuffle on a season record of 17-5.
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| Jacob Cardenas Cornell |
I don't know if the coaching staff of Mike Grey, Donnie Vinson, Kellan Russell & Nick Gwiazdowski gets the credit it deserves or not. What I do know is that something very right is going on at Cornell. Their wrestlers are improving season to season in a vast & rapid rate. Among them, Jacob Cardenas. Cardenas looked good in '21-'22 finishing 5th in the EIWA, but he looked real good in '22-'23, winning the EIWA title & finishing 8th in the DI nation on a 20-6 record.
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| Michael Beard Lehigh |
I would definitely keep Michael Beard in your thoughts as you examine the 197 lbs weight class. 7th in the DI nation in 2021, the Mountain Hawk will be looking to reclaim his All American status. An EIWA runner-up this past season, he was 23-5 on the year. Note that he also owns a 9-1 major decision over Tanner Sloan.
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| Silas Allred Nebraska |
Allred, he was all gold at last year's BIG 10 championships! Holy cow did Silas Allred wrestle well at the BIG 10's last year. Wrestles like that all season, he might very well be the man at 197. 28-7 on the season, he was also 5th at CKLV.
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| Jaxon Smith Maryland |
Alex Clemsen has been doing a great job of rebuilding the Terrapin program, but he still has yet to crown his first All American since taking over as head coach four seasons ago. He might very well get his first this season in this man, Jaxon Smith. The Georgia native looked very solid last season, an impressive 3rd place showing at the BIG 10's & 4th in the Southern Scuffle. He was 23-8 overall.
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| Zac Braunagel Illinois |
I have rather enjoyed watching the Braunagel brothers compete the past seasons. Hard nosed, aggressive wrestlers, they have a style that is fun to watch. I'll say the same thing for Zac that I said for Danny...easier said than done amongst the competition, but I hope to see him go out with a bang. Thus far the Fighting Illini has been one match shy of All American honors the past two seasons. 3rd & 4th in the BIG 10, he looked at his very best winning the Midlands title (he was also 4th here two seasons ago). He goes into his final year having posted a 25-9 record last year, looking for his fifth NCAA DI qualification.
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| Gavin Hoffman Ohio State |
Among the horses, perhaps here is the darkest. Gavin Hoffman is the embodiment of unpredictability and not knowing what to expect. Within the vast field of ruthless competition, dare I say that he could find himself in this year's NCAA DI finals? 6th in the DI nation in 2022, he does own two victories of '23 NCAA finalist Tanner Sloan. He had 17 wins last season, R12 at CKLV & a disappointing 8th at the BIG 10's. He could as easily struggle just to get the to the NCAA tournament. In '23-'24, which Gavin Hoffman shows up?
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| Andy Smith T.J. Stewart Virginia Tech |
Andy Smith really stepped it up for the Hokies last season. 15 wins on the year, he won the Southeast Open & finished 6th at CKLV upsetting Tanner Sloan 5-2. Also in the Virginia Tech lineup at 197 lbs will be T.J. Stewart who placed 8th at the Southern Scuffle on a season record of 17-5.
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| Luke Surber Oklahoma State |
Among the All American candidates this season, Luke Surber went 23-10 last season capturing 3rd place finishes at both the Southern Scuffle & the BIG 12. Among his victories, a 5-4 decision over Rocky Elam.
25-10 on the year, Levi Hopkisn won the SOCON championships.
A Midlands runner-up last year, Braxton Amos heads into his junior season of competition having won 18 matches last season.
20-11 on the year, Luke Stout was 5th in the Midlands & 3rd at the EIWA.
21-11 on the season, Nick Stemmet was 7th at the Southern Scuffle & 2nd at the PAC-12's.
If you're the type of wrestling fan who enjoys watching big upsets, then I'd watch anytime Cole Urbas stepped onto the mat. He reminds me a lot of a former Purdue wrestler by the name of Jake Patacsil. Mediocre on his feet, but an absolute monster in the top position. Not a guy to casually pick bottom against. 17 victories on the season last year, he was 3rd at the Keystone Classic & 7th at the Midlands. A three time NCAA DI qualifier.
Evan Bockman is another I'd keep an eye on as far as those likely to pull off some big upsets this year. 21-9 on the season, he goes into his final season of competition a two time CKLV place-winner having posted 8th & 4th place finishes. He was 5th in the BIG 12.
17 wins on the season, Austin Cooley finished 7th in the BIG 12 as he was the Southeast Open runner-up.
Max Shaw heads into what will be his junior season of competition now a two time NCAA DI qualifier. 5th in the ACC, he was 3rd at the Southeast Open & 5th at the Lehman Open.
I've mentioned it already multiple times & let me mention it again. Air Force has a recent tradition the past couple of seasons of getting their seniors to the dance on their last try. Add Calvin Sund to the list of the likely. Finishing right outside of NCAA DI qualification last year with an 8th place finish at the BIG 12's, he did have a 4-0 win over Austin Cooley among his 17 victories.
10 wins on the season, Carson Brewer finished the year with a runner-up finish at the MAC.
Taking a redshirt this past season, Ben Smith returns to the Viking varsity lineup a two time MAC finalist, having won the MAC title in '22.
As there always is, there will be a number of redshirt freshmen this year that take the world by storm. One of them very well could end up being Pittsburgh's Mac Stout. Last year he placed a very impressive 4th at the Midlands & he also defeated three time NCAA DI qualifier Jake Koser 4-2.
Another redshirt freshman to watch out for this year will be Wyatt Voelker. 15-4 last year, he was 4th at the Soldier Salute.
If you attend the Iowa wrestle-offs, this will be one of the best matches of the night. With three time All American Jake Warner's eligibility up, these two warriors will battle it out for the varsity position. Zach Glazier, was 3rd at the Soldier Salute last season. Kolby Franklin was the Soldier Salute runner-up. He defeated Glazier 4-3 at the tournament.
19 victories on the season, I'd say Julian Broderson was one who finished right outside of NCAA DI qualification last year as he posted an 8th place finish at the BIG 12's. He's thus far competed at 174 for his career. Very anxious to see what jumping two weight classes has in store for the Cyclone.
19 wins on the season last year, Evan Bates was 2nd at the Cleveland State Open.
If you have read my stuff for very long, you know that I love seeing programs accomplish their firsts, I love seeing programs in the south do well & I love seeing kids from the south have success. Little Rock could very well crown their first PAC-12 champion this season & that person is Stephen Little. 14-4 as a redshirt last year, Little was 5th at the Southern Scuffle. He defeated last year's PAC-12 runner-up Nick Stemmet 7-5 & he also had a 9-5 victory over SOCON champ Levi Hopkins.
24 wins on the season last year, John Crawford has convinced me that he could be among the top 33 this season. 4th at the Southeast Open, he was 2nd at the Lehman Open, finishing one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Midlands. Among his victories a 5-3 decision over Max Shaw & a 3-2 decision over Michael Battista.
24-9 on the season, Carson Floyd was one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Southern Scuffle.
8th at the Midlands championships last season, Ryan Yarnell won 17 matches on the year.
The Blue Hose as mentioned previously continue to look for their first NCAA DI qualifier. Malcolm Wiley is among those looking to earn that honor.
R12 at last year's Midlands, I tell you the scoop on Nick Willham. He was 17-10 on the year last year & of those 10 losses, they were to ranked opponents and they were close matches. If he can turn some of those close losses into wins, the Hoosiers could be looking at another NCAA DI qualifier.
20-8 on the season, Sam Mitchell was 3rd at the MAC championships.
13 wins on the season, Gabe Nagel finished R12 at the Southern Scuffle.
In my opinion Tyler Mousaw is a phenomenal technician with an arsenal of great maneuvers. The problem is I see is that he doesn't have the strength. When I've watched him compete, I don't see him getting outwrestled or opponents beating him with better technique. I see him getting outmuscled. I really hope that he put some time in the weight room this summer, because I honestly believe if he got his strength up he could be the shining star on the Keydet roster the next two seasons. He's already shown signs. 3rd at the Navy Classic, he was 6th at the Soldier Salute.
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| Levi Hopkins Campbell |
25-10 on the year, Levi Hopkisn won the SOCON championships.
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| Braxton Amos Wisconsin |
A Midlands runner-up last year, Braxton Amos heads into his junior season of competition having won 18 matches last season.
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| Luke Stout Princeton |
20-11 on the year, Luke Stout was 5th in the Midlands & 3rd at the EIWA.
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| Nick Stemmet Stanford |
21-11 on the season, Nick Stemmet was 7th at the Southern Scuffle & 2nd at the PAC-12's.
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| Cole Urbas Pennsylvania |
If you're the type of wrestling fan who enjoys watching big upsets, then I'd watch anytime Cole Urbas stepped onto the mat. He reminds me a lot of a former Purdue wrestler by the name of Jake Patacsil. Mediocre on his feet, but an absolute monster in the top position. Not a guy to casually pick bottom against. 17 victories on the season last year, he was 3rd at the Keystone Classic & 7th at the Midlands. A three time NCAA DI qualifier.
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| Evan Bockman Utah Valley |
Evan Bockman is another I'd keep an eye on as far as those likely to pull off some big upsets this year. 21-9 on the season, he goes into his final season of competition a two time CKLV place-winner having posted 8th & 4th place finishes. He was 5th in the BIG 12.
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| Austin Cooley West Virginia |
17 wins on the season, Austin Cooley finished 7th in the BIG 12 as he was the Southeast Open runner-up.
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| Max Shaw North Carolina |
Max Shaw heads into what will be his junior season of competition now a two time NCAA DI qualifier. 5th in the ACC, he was 3rd at the Southeast Open & 5th at the Lehman Open.
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| Calvin Sund Air Force |
I've mentioned it already multiple times & let me mention it again. Air Force has a recent tradition the past couple of seasons of getting their seniors to the dance on their last try. Add Calvin Sund to the list of the likely. Finishing right outside of NCAA DI qualification last year with an 8th place finish at the BIG 12's, he did have a 4-0 win over Austin Cooley among his 17 victories.
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| Carson Brewer Ohio |
10 wins on the season, Carson Brewer finished the year with a runner-up finish at the MAC.
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| Ben Smith Cleveland State |
Taking a redshirt this past season, Ben Smith returns to the Viking varsity lineup a two time MAC finalist, having won the MAC title in '22.
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| Mac Stout Pittsburgh |
As there always is, there will be a number of redshirt freshmen this year that take the world by storm. One of them very well could end up being Pittsburgh's Mac Stout. Last year he placed a very impressive 4th at the Midlands & he also defeated three time NCAA DI qualifier Jake Koser 4-2.
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| Wyatt Voelker Northern Iowa |
Another redshirt freshman to watch out for this year will be Wyatt Voelker. 15-4 last year, he was 4th at the Soldier Salute.
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| Zach Glazier Kolby Franklin Iowa |
If you attend the Iowa wrestle-offs, this will be one of the best matches of the night. With three time All American Jake Warner's eligibility up, these two warriors will battle it out for the varsity position. Zach Glazier, was 3rd at the Soldier Salute last season. Kolby Franklin was the Soldier Salute runner-up. He defeated Glazier 4-3 at the tournament.
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| Julian Broderson Iowa State |
19 victories on the season, I'd say Julian Broderson was one who finished right outside of NCAA DI qualification last year as he posted an 8th place finish at the BIG 12's. He's thus far competed at 174 for his career. Very anxious to see what jumping two weight classes has in store for the Cyclone.
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| Evan Bates Northwestern |
19 wins on the season last year, Evan Bates was 2nd at the Cleveland State Open.
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| Stephen Little Little Rock |
If you have read my stuff for very long, you know that I love seeing programs accomplish their firsts, I love seeing programs in the south do well & I love seeing kids from the south have success. Little Rock could very well crown their first PAC-12 champion this season & that person is Stephen Little. 14-4 as a redshirt last year, Little was 5th at the Southern Scuffle. He defeated last year's PAC-12 runner-up Nick Stemmet 7-5 & he also had a 9-5 victory over SOCON champ Levi Hopkins.
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| John Crawford Franklin & Marshall |
24 wins on the season last year, John Crawford has convinced me that he could be among the top 33 this season. 4th at the Southeast Open, he was 2nd at the Lehman Open, finishing one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Midlands. Among his victories a 5-3 decision over Max Shaw & a 3-2 decision over Michael Battista.
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| Carson Floyd Appalachian State |
24-9 on the season, Carson Floyd was one match shy of a top 8 showing at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Ryan Yarnell SIUE |
8th at the Midlands championships last season, Ryan Yarnell won 17 matches on the year.
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| Malcolm Wiley Presbyterian |
The Blue Hose as mentioned previously continue to look for their first NCAA DI qualifier. Malcolm Wiley is among those looking to earn that honor.
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| Nick Willham Indiana |
R12 at last year's Midlands, I tell you the scoop on Nick Willham. He was 17-10 on the year last year & of those 10 losses, they were to ranked opponents and they were close matches. If he can turn some of those close losses into wins, the Hoosiers could be looking at another NCAA DI qualifier.
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| Sam Mitchell Buffalo |
20-8 on the season, Sam Mitchell was 3rd at the MAC championships.
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| Gabe Nagel Minnesota |
13 wins on the season, Gabe Nagel finished R12 at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Tyler Mousaw VMI |
In my opinion Tyler Mousaw is a phenomenal technician with an arsenal of great maneuvers. The problem is I see is that he doesn't have the strength. When I've watched him compete, I don't see him getting outwrestled or opponents beating him with better technique. I see him getting outmuscled. I really hope that he put some time in the weight room this summer, because I honestly believe if he got his strength up he could be the shining star on the Keydet roster the next two seasons. He's already shown signs. 3rd at the Navy Classic, he was 6th at the Soldier Salute.
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