Here are 174 lbs, we have 15 ranked wrestlers and five of those 15 are within the top 10. All in all, 9 former CKLV place-winners are in this bracket, and two of those place-winners are looking to become four time CKLV medalists. This impressive lineup of talent includes last year's champion.
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| #3 Cade DeVos South Dakota State |
Last year's champion Cade DeVos is looking to become a rare four-time CKLV place-winner this tournament (also owns two 4th place finishes) & he once again plans on that medal being gold. Vegas gold. Against formidable challengers, DeVos owns both an 11-8 victory over Carson Kharchla & a 5-0 decisions over both Lennox Wolak and Danny Wask.
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| #4 Lennox Wolak Virginia Tech |
Hard to believe as long as Lennox Wolak has been around and as much as he has achieved in NCAA DI wrestling, that he has yet to pick up a medal from Cliff Keen Las Vegas. This weekend not only will he challenge for a top 8 finish, he will challenge for a CKLV title. The former Lion turned Hokie does own a 4-2 victory over last year's champion Cade DeVos.
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| #5 D.J. Hamiti Oklahoma State |
I was downright shocked when two time All American D.J. Hamiti came up short of a third All American honor at last year's NCAA DI championships. Anymore not much surprises me in the world of NCAA DI wrestling, but that did. Concerning 165 lbs, I thought Hamiti had the tools and ability to be a national champion. Now he's at 174 lbs. We haven't seen him against the top competition yet. I know that head Coach David Taylor is looking at coming into Vegas, making a statement, and walking out of here with both a team title & plenty of individual champions. I know he plans on Hamiti being one of them. That's the plan. Let's see how it unfolds.
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| #8 Norman Lorenzo Stanford |
Norman Lorenzo continues to impress as he career progresses. 7th at these championships a year ago, Lorenzo recently picked up an impressive victory over Iowa's Nelson Brands, inside of Carver Hawkeye Arena. If that doesn't show you how well Lorenzo can handle high pressure situations, little will. It'll be interesting to see if he can contend with DeVos, Wolak & Hamiti as a plausible title threat.
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| #10 Lenny Pinto Nebraska |
It's always a challenge to evaluate a wrestler's potential when they change weight classes. What I can tell you is that at 184 lbs, Pinto performed very well here last year, capturing a 4th place finish. Down a weight class, I would certainly think he's once again likely to place. It's not if he'll be on the podium again or not that I question. It's exactly where at on the podium that I do.
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| #11 Carson Kharchla Ohio State |
The only reason Carson Kharchla isn't ranked higher is because he was injured last season. If he competes this weekend, I'm very confident that he'll be more than happy to show the wrestling world he deserves a ranking much higher than #11. 3rd-8th-3rd at CKLV thus far, the Buckeye will be going for a rare achievement of four-time Vegas place-winner. And yes, he IS a title contender. Owns a 10-3 decision over Danny Wask.
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| #13 Simon Ruiz Cornell |
Long before he ever strapped on a collegiate singlet, Simon Ruiz was giving us previews and glimpses of what he was going to do once he entered the NCAA DI ranks. A freshman for the Big Red, big things lay ahead for the New Jersey native. Could very well start here in Vegas. Ruiz owns both a 5-1 win over Lennox Wolak and a 5-3 decision over Brevin Cassella.
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| #15 Brevin Cassella Binghamton |
A three time NCAA DI qualifier, who was 8th at CKLV last year competing at 165 lbs, Brevin Cassella is now throwing his hat into the field of 174. Thus far in his new weight class he demolished Danny Braunagel in a very impressive 14-1 major decision. Makes you wonder what else the Bearcat is capable of doing. We'll find out this weekend.
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| #18 Danny Wask Navy |
I would definitely keep an eye on Danny Wask this tournament. He looked solid and smooth picking up a Navy Classic title here recently with impressive victories over both Lenny Pinto (10-5) and Garrett Thompson (8-3). 4th here a year ago, Wask also owns a 5-0 win over Lorenzo Norman.
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| #19 Matty Singleton North Carolina State |
He competed at 165 two years ago, redshirted at 184 last year, and is now at 174 lbs. Thus far in '24-'25, Singleton has picked up a handful of notable victories. He'll need more of them here in Vegas, as he contends for a top 8 showing.
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| #21 Jared Simma Northern Iowa |
In past writings, I've spoken a lot about Coach Doug Schwab's ability to get inside of his wrestler's heads and have them drastically improve upon their performances. There has been a lot of example of this over the years, and within Jared Simma, I think we could witness it first hand here in Vegas. Simma has given some of these much higher ranked wrestlers a run for their money. Two Sundays ago, I watched him give Cade DeVos all he could handle in a 7-6 loss. He's also given Lennox Wolak a scare in a tight 6-5 match. You know as well as I do, there are going to be a handful of wrestlers that really let loose and wrestle their hearts out this tournament. Simma could very well be one of them.
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| #22 Adam Kemp Cal Poly |
In the same spirit, let's now talk about Adam Kemp. Another wrestler capable of having that, "wow" tournament. 6th here two seasons ago, Kemp came up one match short of a second medal last year. A career that has depressingly often been sidelined by injuries, it would be rewarding to see the Mustang, both for himself, as well as the Cal Poly program, have a good tournament. He's more than capable. Owns a 4-2 decision over Simma.
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| #23 Garrett Thompson Ohio |
Garrett Thompson will be the Bobcats starter here at CKLV, but I have to also include Sal Perrine (who is currently redshirting) in this write-up, simply to emphasize that as incredibly tough as this bracket is already going to be, it could be even tougher! Perrine placed 5th here last year, and owns both a 5-4 win over Lorenzo Norman as well as a 4-3 decision over Danny Wask.
As to Thompson....
He was 5th here a year ago himself! Competing at 165 lbs. How will he do at 174? Sit back and watch, we'll soon find out.
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| #27 Joseph Walker Michigan |
Here's a guy that has bided his time for a LONG time as one of the best backups in the NCAA DI nation. With everyone else and their dog transferring schools more often than they change their pants, Walker has remained loyal to the Wolverine program. There are pros and cons to everything, and one of the cons is that we really haven't had the opportunity of seeing what all he has to offer yet. That could very well change this weekend. The box office has its expectations, but sometimes a film comes along that is later labeled, "an unexpected hit." Walker owns a 5-2 victory over Lennox Wolak & he took DeVos into sudden victory.
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| #28 Brody Baumann Purdue |
An NCAA DI qualifier for the Boilermakers last year, Brody Baumann will look to have a good performance here in Vegas this weekend.
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| U.R. Michael Wilson Rider |
I my opinion, Michael Wilson is one of the best unranked wrestlers in the nation. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he were to showcase why I say that this weekend. For what it is worth, Wilson owns a 7-6 tiebreaker over Sal Perrine. He also owns an 8-6 win over Brody Baumann.
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| U.R. Gerrit Nijenhuis Cal State Bakersfield |
Sometimes this great sport can be painfully unforgiving. You can have a bad break, and suddenly it seems everyone everywhere forgets about you. Such is the case of Gerrit Nijenhuis. Not sure what's going on, but last year was not a good year in the career of the former Boilermaker, former Sooner, now Roadrunner. With that noted, I also keep in mind that Nijenhuis has known success in the past. He's a three time NCAA DI qualifier & two years ago he placed 8th at these championships.
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