Here are 165 lbs we have twenty ranked individuals and eight of these twenty are ranked in the top 10. 6 place-winners return, including two former champions. From R1 on, every match here will be one worth watching. This war begins right from the start.
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| #3 Peyton Hall West Virginia |
I'm not sure when the last time West Virginia had a CKLV champion. I'm not even real sure they ever have. I've been keeping records since the '08-'09 season and all I can tell you, is that they haven't had a champion since that time. So if WVU has had a champ (maybe Greg Jones won titles back in the day? Idk) it's been a while. Quite the opportunity for Peyton Hall this weekend. Quite the opportunity.
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| #4 Julian Ramirez Cornell |
3rd-1st-2nd in CKLV thus far, the way I understand it, Julian Ramirez will actually not be participating in this year's championships because he is not currently enrolled at Cornell. I trust the source I received this information from, but I also don't want egg all over my face if for one reason or another, he does show up. I mean you can't leave off a guy that is most likely to get the *2 seed.....if of course he is here.
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| #5 Terrell Barraclough Utah Valley |
Terrell Barraclough is one of the coolest stories in all of collegiate wrestling at the moment. Spending a majority of his career as one of the best backups in the nation, he transferred to Utah Valley, and is now having an outstanding season, while helping the up & coming program to gain recognition & success. An 11-9 victory over Hunter Garvin, a 5-4 tiebreaker over Cam Amine & an 8-0 major decision over Bubba Wilson, Barraclough will contend for a CKLV title.
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| #6 Hunter Garvin Stanford |
Highs and lows thus far for Hunter Garvin at the start of '24-'25. The Iowan out enjoying the California sun still has the pedigree to suggest that he'll perform well this weekend. 6th here a year ago, he's proven he can beat the tougher competition. Owns a 4-2 victory over Cam Amine.
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| #7 Sammy Sasso Ohio State |
Ironic as it may be, another really awesome story, currently in development within collegiate wrestling is also taking place at 165 lbs in NCAA Division I. Sammy Sasso has overcome an assortment of issues, as he enters his final season of collegiate wrestling. This will also be his final CKLV performance. We haven't seen much of him at 165 yet, but here's what I can tell you about him concerning 149 lbs. Sasso is a two time CKLV champion. He carries an 88-12 career record. He's not laying his cards down for anything else other than the jackpot.
With that said....
I have to throw in a word for Bryce Hepner. The Buckeye lineup is intensively tough, and unfortunately there always seems to be an odd man out. This time it is Hepner. To emphasize how much depth he would add to this bracket, he owns both a 6-4 win over Cam Amine & a 4-0 win over Maxx Mayfield.
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| #8 M.J. Gaitan Or U.R. Connor Euton Iowa State |
I'd be extremely shocked if the Cyclones don't go with M.J. Gaitan here. While the Midlands and Southern Scuffle aren't treated with much dignity or respect anymore, CKLV is still held with the utmost honor. It's what I wish Midlands and Scuffle were treated like, seriously. Gaitan had an outstanding freshman season last year competing at 174 lbs. He placed 8th here in Vegas. Things look to be going just as good (if not better) for him here at 165.
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| #9 Cam Amine Oklahoma State |
Wrestling can often be about reestablishing yourself, making some noise and once again being heard. That's the situation that Cam Amine currently finds himself in and what better place to get loud and scream at the top of your lungs than Vegas? Thus far the Wolverine turned Cowboy has placed 5th & 4th in these championships. For what it is or isn't worth, he owns a 2:47 fall over Julian Ramirez.
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| #10 Will Miller Appalachian State |
Two time NCAA DI qualifier Will Miller has consistently been climbing his way up the ladder and garnering more and more accolades to his resume. A match shy of a medal here last season, earning a top 8 finish would a great addition to what Miller has already accomplished.
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| #12 Brock Mantanona Michigan |
What a brilliant start to the career it has been for Brock Mantanona at Michigan. The true-freshman really impressed recently with an 18-3 technical fall over Cesar Alvan. Anxious to see what else this youngster has up his sleeve. After all Vegas is also a place of Magic, right?
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| #17 Maxx Mayfield Northwestern |
The Wildcat is most certainly among those who will contend for place-winner status here in Vegas this weekend. A match shy of earning a top 8 finish last year, he does own a 9-8 victory over Will Miller. He also owns both a 7-2 as well as a 3-1 decision over Bubba Wilson.
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| #18 Nicco Ruiz Arizona State |
Another phenomenal young talent here in this bracket is Sun Devil Nicco Ruiz. Thus far he's shown us what he's capable of with a 4-1 sudden victory over Cam Amine. It should also be noted, because he's a darn good win that he also owns a 6-3 victory over Matt Olguin.
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| #20 Bubba Wilson Or U.R. Chris Minto Nebraska |
If I could wave a magic wand and have Bubba Wilson walk into these championships 100%, I would do that. Why? Cause if I had it my way, physically, mentally & emotionally, every single wrestler would be entering CKLV 100% & I am not convinced that we've ever seen Wilson 100% during his time as a Husker. This is such a rough sport & does it ever take a toll on your whole being. Mind, body, spirit, wrestling is extraordinarily taxing. A healthy Wilson is a tough wrestler. A healthy Wilson owns victories like a 5-3 decision over Cam Amine & a 3-1 s.v. over Matt Olguin. A healthy Wilson has collected medals of 8th & 4th at these prestigious championships in the past.
With that said, it doesn't escape me that a very talented Chris Minto could get the nod here for Nebraska. He's had some notable wins thus far in his collegiate career & Coach Manning could want to see him against some stiffer competition in a high pressure situation.
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| #21 Luka Wick Cal Poly |
I sometimes feel that Cal Poly could call their wrestling program, "The Lamer & Wick Show" because it seems nearly everyone on the team either has the last name Lamer or the last name Wick. Like Wilson I spoke about above, Luka's career has unfortunately been hampered by injuries. It's also a fact that he hasn't wrestled much at 165 lbs. So what exactly to expect? Who knows?
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| #22 Stoney Buell Purdue |
A match shy of picking up a top 8 finish here last season, Stoney Buell will be among the talent here at 165 lbs looking to pick up a medal.
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| #25 Drake Rhodes South Dakota State |
Here's a guy that I think is very capable of outwrestling both his ranking & his seed this weekend. Drake Rhodes from my estimation has made some vast improvements. Last year he was unable to figure out Jack Thomsen in three matches & earlier this year avenged those three losses with a 12-7 victory. The wrestle all 7 minutes, don't stop until the final whistle is blown style can often serve someone very well in a grueling two day tournament like this one.
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| #27 Cesar Alvan Columbia |
Been a few setbacks as Cesar Alvan continues to adjust to the 165 lbs weight class. A wrestler who embraces the grind, I could see him pulling off an upset or two this tournament.
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| #28 Derek Fields North Carolina State |
I'm 99.9% positive that the Wolfpack will be entering Derek Fields here. This is a situation where I really wish that teams could enter more than one wrestler per weight class. When A.J. Kovacs collegiate career first got started, I thought by now he'd be a 1-2 punch, sharing the same types of success that teammate Ed Scott has thus far enjoyed. Unfortunately, Kovacs' career has been bombarded with injuries and we haven't gotten out of him what we otherwise would have.
To be honest, I don't know if he's even healthy as of right now. What I do know is that here's a guy that I would love to see really given an opportunity to run. A wild wolf, locked in a cage, ready to be let loose and tear through the competition. A 5-4 win over Will Miller, is suggestion enough for me. With all that said, I know how tough Fields can be. He'll contend for a medal in his own right.
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| #30 Jack Thomsen Or U.R. R.J. Weston Northern Iowa |
Doug Schwab isn't someone that I'd want to play poker against. Has one heck of a bluff. Hard to tell what kind of hand he holds or what exactly he's going to lay down on the table. Here at 165 lbs, he has two extremely good wrestlers. Jack Thomsen and R.J. Weston.
Thomsen as mentioned before owns three wins over Drake Rhodes (4-1, 9-8 & 12-9). He also owns a 9-3 decision over Chris Minto. Weston owns a 12-4 major over Drake Rhodes himself.
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| #32 Enrique Munguia Rider |
I've said it about every weight class, so of course I'm going to say it about 165 lbs too. There will be upsets. Someone capable of making those upsets? Enrique Munguia. The former Golden Flash turned Bronco has 10-6 victories over both Stoney Buell & Bubba Wilson.
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| #33 Mac Church Virginia Tech |
Yet another guy looking to pull off some big wins and make a name for himself here in Vegas. Doesn't really have that "big" win yet at 165, but he did hold likely *1 seed Peyton Hall to a 1-0 decision.
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| Injured Matt Olguin Oregon State |
It should be noted that Matt Olguin is currently injured and while it isn't fact, it's close enough, that his absence does make an extra spot on the CKLV podium that otherwise wouldn't be there. Thus far the Beaver has been 3rd & 7th in these illustrious championships. Among the competition he owns a 12-4 major over Enrique Munguia, an 11-4 decision over Stoney Buell & a 7:41 fall over Bubba Wilson.
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