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| Greg Kerkvliet Penn State |
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| Wyatt Hendrickson Oklahoma State |
Representing the Air Force, Wyatt Hendrickson has earned bronze medal showings at the past two NCAA DI championships. A two time BIG 12 champion, he was 2nd at last year's championships. 27-2 on the season, he won both RENO and the Franklin & Marshall Lehman Invitational. He'll look to become a three time All American this season, challenging for both BIG 12 & NCAA titles.
With that said, keep in mind that also in the Cowboy lineup at HWT, we have Konner Doucet, himself a two time NCAA qualifier. Winner of the last Lindenwood Open we'll ever see, he's been 5th the past two BIG 12's.
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| Yonger Bastida Iowa State |
In the minds of some, be it good or bad, luck has nothing to do with it. I say bull. It has a lot to do with it. In the case of Yonger Bastida, matter of fact, I'd say it has everything to do with it. CKLV champ, BIG 12 champ, Bastida went into the NCAA's last year undefeated. Had it not been for injury....I'll leave it at this... A 5-3 win over NCAA runner-up Lucas Davison. A 10-7 win over Wyatt Hendrickson who finished 3rd. 13-4 & 11-3 majors over Zach Elam who finished 4th. 13-5 major decision over Nick Feldman who finished 5th. 4-3 over Cohlton Schultz who finished 7th. The crystal ball is showing a future Olympic medalist for Cuba, but along the way Bastida has a few more collegiate medals to pick up first. He was 5th in the NCAA in 2023.
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| C.J. Carter Iowa State |
Bastida won't be the only strong talent the Cyclones have at the HWT class either. They also picked up NJCAA champ C.J. Carter out of Iowa Western.
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| Nick Feldman Ohio State |
In a weight class full of seniority and experience, Nick Feldman is strongly representing the youth. Only a freshman last season, he racked up 29 wins on the season. A 6th place showing at CKLV, he really came alive at the BIG 10's earning a runner-up finish, closing out the season 5th at the NCAA's.
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| Cohlton Schultz Arizona State |
The four time PAC-12 champion only wrestled a total of 16 matches last season, which has me questioning if he was at 100% or not. Another HWT I can see becoming a successful international star in the years to come, like Kerkvliet he'll be going for his fifth All American honor. Thus far the Sun Devil has been 4th-2nd-7th-6th at the NCAA's. One who if healthy & 100%, can and will challenge for the NCAA title.
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| Yaraslau Slavikouski Rutgers |
22 wins on the season, the Scarlet Knight was 4th in the BIG 10 championships & 7th at the NCAA's. He was also champion at the Black Knight Invitational. Although he did not compete in either CKLV or the Midlands last season, it should be noted he is a two time place winner at both tournaments. 3rd-3rd in Vegas & 4th-4th in Chicago.
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| Taye Ghadiali Campbell |
As said, HWT is full of tremendous talent this season & here's probably another name I'm not pronouncing correctly. Taye Ghadiali heads into the '24-'25 season looking to become a four time SOCON champion. Among his other credentials he won the Southeast Open, finished 2nd at the Franklin & Marshall Lehman Open, took 3rd at CKLV & finished 8th in the nation. 36 wins overall.
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| Nathan Taylor Lehigh |
2nd in the EIWA in 2023, Nathan Taylor won the EIWA title last season. 25 wins on the season, he was one match shy of earning All American honors.
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| Isaac Trumble Or Owen Trephan North Carolina State |
'24-'25 is going to be full of tremendous wrestle-offs to start off the season & as far as HWT is concerned, we're looking that what will probably shape up to be the best one. Both of these guys, Isaac Trumble & Owen Trephan are All American material. I don't know if either one could possibly go down to 197, but it's a sad thought to think one of these guys will be watching the ACC's from the sidelines.
As to Trumble, he's a two time NCAA qualifier, who won the Midlands last season.
Trephan is already a two time ACC champ. While he came up a match short of a medal at CKLV, he was 7th there two seasons ago. He also won an 8-6 match against All American Nick Feldman last season.
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| Josh Heindselman Oklahoma |
The Sooner heads into his final season of eligibility looking to become a five time NCAA qualifier. Posting his best season yet, Heindselman took titles at both the Michigan State Open & the Southern Scuffle, taking runner-up honors at RENO. As he'll look to earn All American honors, it should be mentioned that he has a rather tough backup in Juan Mora. Mora himself was 5th at the Southern Scuffle, including a 5-2 win over qualifier Josiah Hill. In competition Heindselman defeated Mora 7-2 last season.
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| Hunter Catka or Jimmy Mullen Virginia Tech |
Here's another situation that could turn into an excellent wrestle-off between two talented HWTs competing for the same varsity position. Hunter Catka Vs Jimmy Mullen. Catka is a three time NCAA qualifier, having placed 3rd & 2nd in the past two ACC championships. R12 at the NCAA's, he was also the Keystone Classic champ.
Challenging him for the position will be freshman Jimmy Mullen, who went 14-4 last season in a redshirt. Among his wins a 4:04 fall over Trevor Tinker & he was also 3rd at the Midlands.
In competition Catka won a close 4-1 battle.
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| Dayton Pitzer Pittsburgh |
I don't think we saw Dayton Pitzer at his best last season, I really don't. He was injured in mid January and we didn't see him back on the mat until early February. Nevertheless he did finish 3rd at the ACC's & before he was injured, he made the Midlands finals. If 100%, I can see him being a huge surprise in the HWT field this season.
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| Cory Day Binghamton |
A two time NCAA qualifier for the Bearcats, Cory Day has posted back to back 5th place finishes in the EIWA. 25 wins on the season he was the Black Knight Invite runner-up, 3rd at the Franklin & Marshall Lehman invitational & 7th at CKLV.
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| Luke Luffman Illinois |
I wish I had known Robert Stack while he was alive, and I wish that he were still alive. Why? Cause I'm almost positive I could have made him into a huge collegiate wrestling fan. Why do I say that? Because our sport is full of unsolved mysteries and here's a good one. Luke Luffman a two time NCAA qualifier, was 2nd at the Midlands last season. Then after the Midlands, he disappeared. Not a redshirt, he did that in '22-'23. So why did he miss the rest of the season? Don't know. In wrestling if you want to know something, too bad. We're cryptic around here.
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| Braxton Amos Wisconsin |
At the end of last season, I kept on wondering how Braxton Amos would match up with the 197 lbs class in '24'-25. I was thinking BIG 10 finalist? All American? Someone to challenge Starocci when he announced he was going 97? I was taken aback when I learned Amos was moving up to HWT this season. Anxious to see how it turns out. Thus far the Badger is a two time NCAA qualifier.
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| Ben Kueter Or Brad Hill Iowa |
I've been wrong before. Covering collegiate wrestling for the past 22 years, saying something that turns out to be a false premonition isn't anything new to me. I go with my gut and sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong. A lot of fans already have Ben Keuter figured in as the Hawkeyes' starter and Brad Hill to many of them has already been placed on the dusty part of the shelf. I don't think it's going to be that simple or that easy. There's plenty of reason to be excited about Keuter. In the four matches he did wrestle last season, a 5-3 win over Bennett Tabor & a 5-1 win over Konner Doucet say a lot.
I still think Hill's gonna give him a fight though. 21 wins on the season, he was 5th at the BIG 10's & did post an impressive 4-2 win over two time ACC champion Owen Trephan. It's a wrestle-off many have already dismissed, but one I look forward to.
UPDATE: Brad Hill is heading to Oklahoma. Looks like he'll Duke it out with Heindselman and Mora.
As stated in previous weights, Maryland is looking to crown their first All American since Youssiff Hemida earned back to back All American honors in 2018 & 2019. Seth Nevills on a good day, with a good run could be the man to do it. 17 wins last season, he did defeat Yaraslau Slavikouski 5-2. He was 8th at the BIG 10's.
The Trojans look to qualify a record number to the NCAA championships this season & Josiah Hill is among them. An NCAA qualifier last season, Hill had 24 wins on the season. 7th at the Southern Scuffle, he was 3rd at the PAC-12's.
23 wins on the season, David Szuba won the MAC title.
UPDATE: Szuba will be redshirting this season.
24 wins on the season for Daniel Bucknavich, he made the MAC finals. Also a finalist of the Navy Classic, he won the Cleveland State Open.
Trevor Tinker heads into the '24-'25 season now a two time NCAA qualifier. With PAC-12 finishes of 2nd & 4th, he was 6th at last year's Midlands.
Pretty good start to his career as Lucas Stoddard earned 23 wins last season & his first NCAA qualification with a 6th place finish at the EIWA championships. He was also 3rd at the Southern Scuffle.
Jordan Greer earned NCAA qualification last season with a 3rd place showing at the MAC championships.
Want a bold prediction? Here's one. Two time NCAA qualifier Michael Wolfgram didn't make the NCAA tournament last year. Nevertheless, I believe the Mountaineer could still end up an All American this year. He has the ability, and lawd knows he has the size and strength.
Bennett Tabor wrestled well enough to earn an At Large/Wildcard bid to the NCAA tournament last season. Among his accomplishments, he won the Soldier Salute.
An NCAA qualifier for the Hoosiers in '23, Jacob Bullock redshirted last season. 4th at the Midlands, he looks to once again return to the national tournament.
16 wins on the season, Luke Rasmussen barely missed out on NCAA qualification with a 7th place finish at the NCAA tournament. He was also the Soldier Salute runner-up.
19 wins on the season for William Jarrell, who had a very impressive 7-1 victory over All American Taye Ghadiali.
I tell you what....
Peter Ming has yet to have a winning season as he heads into his final year of collegiate wrestling. With that said, I do think that he has the talent to have stolen a spot at the PAC-12 championships. He did after all place 4th at the Southern Scuffle & he had an impressive 8-7 victory over Josiah Hill. Unfortunately for him, Stanford has moved into the ACC & the ACC at HWT is rather loaded. Nevertheless, I do think Ming will still do some notable things this season, even if one of them isn't earning qualification.
Catka is in a similar situation to Ming. He heads into his final season of competition still looking for his first NCAA DI qualification. 15 wins on the season, he was 4th at last year's ACC tournament.
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| Seth Nevills Maryland |
As stated in previous weights, Maryland is looking to crown their first All American since Youssiff Hemida earned back to back All American honors in 2018 & 2019. Seth Nevills on a good day, with a good run could be the man to do it. 17 wins last season, he did defeat Yaraslau Slavikouski 5-2. He was 8th at the BIG 10's.
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| Josiah Hill Little Rock |
The Trojans look to qualify a record number to the NCAA championships this season & Josiah Hill is among them. An NCAA qualifier last season, Hill had 24 wins on the season. 7th at the Southern Scuffle, he was 3rd at the PAC-12's.
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| David Szuba Rider |
23 wins on the season, David Szuba won the MAC title.
UPDATE: Szuba will be redshirting this season.
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| Daniel Bucknavich Cleveland State |
24 wins on the season for Daniel Bucknavich, he made the MAC finals. Also a finalist of the Navy Classic, he won the Cleveland State Open.
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| Trevor Tinker Cal Poly |
Trevor Tinker heads into the '24-'25 season now a two time NCAA qualifier. With PAC-12 finishes of 2nd & 4th, he was 6th at last year's Midlands.
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| Lucas Stoddard Army |
Pretty good start to his career as Lucas Stoddard earned 23 wins last season & his first NCAA qualification with a 6th place finish at the EIWA championships. He was also 3rd at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Jordan Greer Ohio |
Jordan Greer earned NCAA qualification last season with a 3rd place showing at the MAC championships.
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| Michael Wolfgram West Virginia |
Want a bold prediction? Here's one. Two time NCAA qualifier Michael Wolfgram didn't make the NCAA tournament last year. Nevertheless, I believe the Mountaineer could still end up an All American this year. He has the ability, and lawd knows he has the size and strength.
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| Bennett Tabor Minnesota |
Bennett Tabor wrestled well enough to earn an At Large/Wildcard bid to the NCAA tournament last season. Among his accomplishments, he won the Soldier Salute.
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| Jacob Bullock Indiana |
An NCAA qualifier for the Hoosiers in '23, Jacob Bullock redshirted last season. 4th at the Midlands, he looks to once again return to the national tournament.
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| Luke Rasmussen South Dakota State |
16 wins on the season, Luke Rasmussen barely missed out on NCAA qualification with a 7th place finish at the NCAA tournament. He was also the Soldier Salute runner-up.
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| William Jarrell American |
19 wins on the season for William Jarrell, who had a very impressive 7-1 victory over All American Taye Ghadiali.
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| Peter Ming Stanford |
I tell you what....
Peter Ming has yet to have a winning season as he heads into his final year of collegiate wrestling. With that said, I do think that he has the talent to have stolen a spot at the PAC-12 championships. He did after all place 4th at the Southern Scuffle & he had an impressive 8-7 victory over Josiah Hill. Unfortunately for him, Stanford has moved into the ACC & the ACC at HWT is rather loaded. Nevertheless, I do think Ming will still do some notable things this season, even if one of them isn't earning qualification.
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| Ryan Catka Virginia |
Catka is in a similar situation to Ming. He heads into his final season of competition still looking for his first NCAA DI qualification. 15 wins on the season, he was 4th at last year's ACC tournament.
