Here at 157 lbs we have 12 ranked wrestlers, with 6 of those wrestlers ranked in the top 10. Three returning place-winners including last year's champion.
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| #1 Gabe Johnson Central Oklahoma |
Last year's NCAA DII champ & last year's Midwest Classic Champ, Gabe Johnson will once again look to strike gold in Indianapolis this weekend. Among his possible challengers, he owns both a 4:51 fall as well as a 7-3 decision over Logan Bailey. He also owns four victories of Jaylon Otero (4-2, 8-1, 17-1 & 5-2).
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| #3 Keegan Roberson UNC-Pembroke |
35 wins in '23-'24, Keegan Roberson was 6th in the DII nation & 4th at the Midwest Classic. He will be among those looking for a spot in the finals to challenge Johnson for his throne. Among his victories, a 17-5 major decision over Jake Nicolosi.
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| #5 Ben Durocher UW-Parkside |
For the past two seasons Ben Durocher has been painfully close to a top 8 finish here at the Midwest Classic finishing twice in the R12. This season he looks to not only earn his first medal, but to challenge for a spot in the finals. Among his wins he owns a 9-1 major decision over Loranzo Rajaonarivelo, a 7-3 decision over Cale Hoskinson & a 2:46 fall over Casey Barnett. For what it is worth he also owns a 6-4 decision over 149 lbs NCAA DII finalist Cody Thompson.
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| #6 Ryan Wheeler Colorado Mesa |
I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Ryan Wheeler really come alive this tournament & show everyone that he's both a Midwest Classic title contender & a NCAA DII title contenders. A two time NCAA DII qualifier, he was 3rd back in 2022 & he looks to harness that type of success once again. A 1:16 fall over John Ridle & a 1:53 fall over Casey Barnett suggest we could also be looking at our most falls in the least amount of time winner.
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| #7 Casey Barnett Tiffin |
R12 at last year's NCAA DII championships, Casey Barnett looks to breathe fire in Indianapolis this weekend.
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| #10 Ethan Richner Gannon |
Another NCAA DII R12'er, Ethan Richner has a history of going back and forth with quite a few different wrestlers. Hasn't wrestled a lot of those he will see here. Will be interesting to see how he does.
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| #13 John Ridle Central Missouri |
I know at the end of last season John Ridle was thinking of possibly calling his collegiate wrestling days a career. I was saddened to hear this because I knew things didn't end for him the way he had wanted them to end. Between being at a weight class that didn't seem to suit him & end of the year illness, the story wasn't having the conclusion that it was capable of. When I saw that he ultimately decided to use his final year of eligibility, I was excited. I think he's going to do a lot of great things this season & I think we'll see that here at the Midwest Classic. 5th here two seasons ago, he was a match shy of earning medal number two last season. Among his wins a 4-2 decision over Jaylon Otero.
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| #15 Lane Ewing Mary |
Among the poised and seasoned veterans within this bracket, here we have a young sophomore looking to do some damage. He's 15-4 thus far on the season. For what it is worth, an 8-5 s.v. over 149 lbs NCAA DII finalist Cody Thompson.
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| #16 Cale Hoskinson McKendree |
Cale Hoskinson is relatively new to the 165 lbs weight class having competed at 174 lbs last year. However, he does own a 5-4 victory over Ben Durocher to suggest he will be a contender this weekend.
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| #12 Jake Nicolosi Mount Olive |
Here's a guy that reached a level of success back in 2022, making the NCAA DII bloodround & has been looking to reach such heights once again. A top 8 finish, which is well within his grasp would more than suffice. 14-2 so far on the season, he owns a 5-2 decision over Loranzo Rajaonarivelo.
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| #18 Loranzo Rajaonarivelo Glenville State |
A former George Mason Patriot, Loranzo Rajaonarivelo is looking to make a big splash in NCAA DII wrestling, now representing the Pioneers of Glenville State. So far he owns both a 4-2 as well as a 4-1 s.v. over Matt Kaufmann.
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| #20 Jaylon Otero Ouachita Baptist |
A match shy of earning a top 8 finish at last year's Midwest Classic, Jaylon Otero owns a 3-1 decision over Logan Bailey.
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| U.R. Jackson Hoover Indianapolis |
Once again I'm not 100% positive who the Greyhounds will send out to represent at their home tournament. I think Jackson Hoover would certainly been a good guess. He had an extremely impressive tournament last year, placing 3rd at 149 lbs.
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| U.R. Logan Bailey Indianapolis |
We haven't seen the two time NCAA DII All American since the '22-'23 season, but he's still on the roster. Knowing my luck, if I didn't include him in this write-up, he'd make his return & end up winning the whole thing! Among his wins a 1:13 fall over Ben Durocher & three victories over Jaylon Otero (7-4, 5-2 & 6-4).
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| U.R. Owen Zablocki Indianapolis |
It's also a very real possibility that the Greyhounds wrestle Owen Zablocki at 157 this tournament. He was 7th in the DII nation last season & he owns a 4-1 s.v. over Jaylon Otero.
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| U.R. Matt Kaufmann Notre Dame (OH) |
It never fails. There will be upsets this tournament. Trying to predict when and where they will happen is next to impossible, but I like to try regardless. Matt Kaufmann of The REAL Notre Dame strikes me as someone that is capable of pulling one off.
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