CKLV 2025 - HWT Preview!!

 

HWT

Looking over 197 and HWT it's clear why Iowa State is the heavy, pretty much unchallenged favorite to win the CKLV team title.  Of course upset is never out of the question & with some of the more prolific ones we've seen as of late, we know that anything is possible. 

#1
Yonger Bastida
Iowa State

The way Yonger Bastida has been wrestling as of late, it's hard to imagine anyone ever remotely challenging him for the CKLV title this weekend. His #1 ranking isn't hype or speculation, he has earned it. He'll demonstrate why in Sin City. 

#5
Taye Ghadiali
Michigan

One of the favorites to meet Bastida in the finals is Taye Ghadiali.  The Wolverine did not have a favorable outcome when he met the Cyclone in the NWCA All-Star Classic & it'll be interesting to see if he can give a more respectable showing this time around shall the two meet again.  Among the competition, Ghadiali owns a 17-2 technical fall over David Szuba. 

#9
Spencer Lanosga
Navy

I spoke earlier about how Danny Wask has the potential to be one of the best Midshipmen wrestlers of all time if his career keeps going the direction that it is.  With that said, Spencer Lanosga, only a freshman has already shown signs of greatness himself.  Looking to be place-winner for Navy this weekend, Lanosga owns a 1:17 fall over Stephan Moncherry. 

#15
Trevor Tinker
Cal Poly

A match shy of a top 8 showing in Vegas last year, I'd be very surprised if Trevor Tinker doesn't take home a medal this weekend.  Among the field has defeated Hayden Filipovich three times by scores of 9-3, 15-11 & a 5:18 fall. 

#19
Jimmy Mullen
Virginia Tech

A big, powerful heavyweight, Jim Mullen was 4th here a year ago.  Owns a 4:04 fall over Trevor Tinker, a 26-9 tech over Stephan Moncherry & a 5-4 decision over Christian Carroll. 

U.R.
Christian Carroll
Wyoming

Using TheOpenMat.com's rankings, there is a lot of really good, tough talent here at HWT that is currently unranked.  A former 197 lbs'er, Christian Carroll is at a new school & at a new weight class.  He was 8th here a year ago & this will be his first real test to see how he handles things closer to 300 lbs than they were 200 lbs.  

U.R.
Luke Rasmussen
South Dakota State

Luke Rasmussen not being within TheOpenMat.com's top twenty leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This guy has a lot of skills and ability & I'm anxious to see him demonstrate them this weekend.  A match shy of placing here a year ago, he owns a 14-11 decision over Juan Mora. 

U.R.
Juan Mora
Oklahoma

The Sooner is another tough wrestler among those unranked at HWT looking for a top 8 finish this season.  A guy that can be very difficult to score on at times, he owns a 10-3 victory over Luke Rasmussen. 

U.R.
David Szuba
Arizona State

David Szuba has shown at times in the past to have some fire in him & if you're going to wrestle really well, Vegas is the place to do it. 

===

Other place-winner candidates

STEPHEN MONCHERY of Appalachian State
HAYDEN FILIPOVICH of Purdue 

CKLV 2025 - 197 lbs Preview!!

 

197

Here at 197 lbs, I believe we have a pretty clear favorite for our CKLV champion, and I'd be very surprised if he ends up getting knocked off. Competition will be more fierce as we discuss possibilities for his finals opponent. 

#2
Rocky Elam
Iowa State

A recent dominating performance against Iowa's Massoma Endene  & the fact that he's already a four-time All-American, Rocky Elam is the clear favorite for a CKLV title this weekend at 197 lbs.  Among his wins, he's defeated Joey Novak (whom he could very well see in the semis or finals) by scores of 5-1 & 5-3. 

#4
Justin Rademacher
Oregon State

A high ranking & some notable wins suggest that Justin Rademacher could make the finals this weekend in Vegas.  Among those wins, a 7-3 decision over Ben Vanadia. 

#7
Bennett Berge
South Dakota State

Ups and downs within the career of Bennett Berge, I would imagine that this weekend in Vegas will be among the ups.  Berge has shown he knows how to succeed at major tournaments before & it is likely that CKLV is no different.  Owns 4-2, 10-6 & 5-4 decisions over Colton Hawks. 

#8
Joey Novak
Wyoming

Depending upon his seed, I wouldn't be the least be surprised to see Joey Novak heading back to Laramie with either a 🥈 or🥉medal.  It really depends on when and where he'll face Rocky Elam.  Let me also add that if anyone upsets Elam this tournament, I think it'd be Novak.  8th in 2024, the Cowby was 4th here a year ago.  Owns a 7-2 decision over Justin Rademacher. 

#11
D.J. Parker
Oklahoma

Cradlezone is hoping for a lot of CKLV place-winners this weekend & I think he has one here in D.J. Parker.  The Sooner should have a pretty good seed & as long as he doesn't face early upset, should make the quarters without much worry. 

#19
Rune Lawrence
West Virginia

It hasn't been talked about much yet this season, but '25-'26 is shaping up to be one of West Virginia's best seasons in recent times.  I see them having potential for an individual CKLV champion & an even higher potential to put quite a few on the award stand.  Among the likely place-winners?  Rune Lawrence, who owns a 7-6 decision over Sonny Sasso. 

#20
Sonny Sasso
Virginia Tech

While I do have a lot of faith in Joey Novak to perform very well this tournament, it doesn't escape me that Sonny Sasso owns a 12-2 major decision over the Cowboy.  A tall, lanky wrestler, Sasso has used his reach to upend a variety of opponents over the years.  Could possibly pull off some big upsets this weekend. 

U.R.
Colton Hawks
Arizona State

Colton Hawks has shown us in the past that he's capable of having a great tournament this weekend.  A very strong & powerful wrestler, he owns both an 11-2 major as well as a 3-2 decision over D.J. Parker. 

U.R. 
Ben Vanadia
Purdue

Vanadia was one match shy of a top 8 showing at last year's CKLV tournament & will look to make the award stand this weekend. 

U.R.
Zayne Lehman
Ohio

If you want a darkhorse for 197 lbs, the answer is Ohio's Zayne Lehman.  A 2023 NCAA DI qualifier, coming up just a hair short in 2024 & then redshirting in 2025, the Bobcat is currently suffering from collegiate wrestling's greatest disease, "Out of sight, out of mind."   I'd imagine he's not getting much mention, if any mention from any other wrestling media sources heading into this weekend. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he shows up saying loud & clear, "remember me!?!?!" 

CKLV 2025 - 184 lbs Preview!!

 

184

A tournament like Cliff Keen Las Vegas can often be a "name maker" event & I think it's very plausible that we could see a few names made here at 184 lbs.  Not sure if the title hunt will be as competitive as what it should be at 174, but as far as a top 8 placement is concerned, I think we're looking at an all out war. 

#7
Brock Mantanona
Michigan

Coming in with the highest ranking of all who will be participating at CKLV this weekend, Brock Mantanona was 7th here a year ago competing at 165 lbs.  Thus far, he has an 8-7 decision over Aaron Ayzerov & that leads me to think that the R1, R2, QF, SF road to the finals will be a long and treacherous one for the Wolverine if he makes it that far. 

#10
Isaac Dean
Iowa State

As said many times throughout 125-184, I think the Cyclones should win CKLV without much issue.  They are absolutely loaded & I can't see anyone else challenging them for the team title.  They have a multitude of individuals looking to win CKLV gold & Isaac Dean is one of them.  A phenomenal defense, he was 5th here a year ago.  He owns a 12-4 major over Kole Mulhauser & also has victories over Ian Bush, Tomas Brooker & Jared McGill. 

#11
Eddie Neitenbach
Wyoming

A match shy of placing at last year's CKLV, it looks promising that Eddie Neitenbach will not go home empty handed this weekend.  The Cowboy should receive a favorable seed & owns a 1:48 fall over Nathan Haas. 

#12
Brian Soldano
Oklahoma

Oklahoma invested in some transfers this season & I know Brian Soldano is wanting to show Sooner nation that he was well worth the investment.  CKLV is the perfect opportunity to do so.  What really sticks out about Soldano heading into Sin City is that he owns a 7-1 decision over Isaac Dean.  

#13
James Conway
Franklin & Marshall

Diplomat wrestling has been around since the 1923-1924 season.  They've been around a LONG time & it's exciting to think that this could be one of their best years ever.  On & off since the preseason, F&M has had as many as five wrestlers ranked.  That's encouraging.  Could they crown a CKLV champion this weekend?  If any Diplomat can do it, it is James Conway.  Owns both a 4-1 s.v. & a 7-3 decision over Isaac Dean.  Has majored Aaron Azerov twice in identical 13-4 major decisions.  A 10-3 decision over Jared McGill, he also owns an 8-3 decision over Tomas Brooker. 

#15 
Jared McGill
Edinboro

It's not secret to anyone that Fighting Scot wrestling has been going through a very rough patch as of late.  Rumors and speculation that Edinboro might not even exist as a school within a few years, has left the team in a far cry from the glory days of yesteryear.  Nevertheless, there still remains reason to be positive and optimistic about the program.  One of those reasons is Jared McGill.  The senior has taken Isaac Dean into sudden victory three times! Granted they all ended in a final takedown for Dean, but if McGill could score those final points, what a shot of resurgence that'd be in the arm for Edinboro! 

#17
Aaron Ayzerov
Columbia

The Lions have some tough wrestlers on their team & I think they'll display that this weekend in Vegas. Among hopefuls to place, Aaon Ayzerov. 

#18
Ian Bush
West Virginia 

This is a very fun weight class in the sense that a lot of surprising things have great potential to happen.  Speaking of course from a ranking, as well as from a who's who standpoint of collegiate wrestling.  Ian Bush is a bit of a darkhorse.  Not sure if I can see the Mountaineer challenging for a title, but I do think he's capable of some pretty big things this tournament.  17-4 & 8-2 decisions over Tomas Brooker, as well as an 8-3 decision over Nathan Haas & an 8-5 decision over Kole Mulhauser.  He took Isaac Dean to a 4-2 decision & gave Brian Soldano a wild match, eventually losing 11-12. 

#19
Kole Mulhauser
Princeton

I know the coaching staff at Princeton has a lot of high expectations for their squad & displaying those expectations is what CKLV is all about.  Among their medal contenders, Kole Mulhauser, who owns a 13-8 victory over Tomas Brooker. 

U.R. 
Sal Perrine
Ohio

"Holy shit!! Where did he come from!?!!?"  A phrase that is uttered in every major tournament we have in this sport, season after season, year after year.   It'll be uttered this weekend, and probably more than once.  You want the guy likely to do that at 184 lbs?  Look no further than Sal Perrine of Ohio.  The Bobcat has proven to be dangerous before & he owns a 4-3 decision over Jared McGill. 

U.R. 
Nathan Haas
California Baptist

A match shy of being a CKLV place-winner last year, Nathan Haas stands among the potential.  Owns an impressive 7-2 decision over Ian Bush. 

U.R.
Tomas Brooker
Appalachian State

No significant wins among the competition.  In fact, has some pretty ugly losses.  I've already mentioned a heap of talent, in fact 11 wrestlers all fighting for a top 8 spot here in Vegas.  Why in the world would I include Tomas Brooker?  I'll tell you why.  Because this is the kind of guy that can lose to someone multiple times in a row, even by large, decisive scores, and then turn around and beat them! He's done it before, so I would think he could do it again! 

CKLV 2025 - 174 lbs Preview!!

 

174

125 through 165, I can narrow it down to two to four guys I think are capable of winning a title here in Vegas.  At 174 lbs, things aren't that simple. I think things at this weight class are much more open and this could end up anybody's ball game.  Anxious to see who does end up winning the title, who our top 8 place-winners end up being & in what order they end up standing. 

#3
Simon Ruiz
Cornell

In a tournament that will be fought between Cyclones & Cowboys, the Big Red looks to try and nab a title here at 174 lbs.  4th in Vegas a year ago, Ruiz owns a 4-1 decision over Danny Wask, who is a title contenders in his own right.

#8
Danny Wask
Navy

I've said it before & I'm going to keep saying it for the next two seasons.  I truly think Danny Wask has the ability to go down as one of the best Navy wrestlers of all time.  Everyone has different standards and benchmarks for evaluating "the best" but he's already an All-American.  If he can achieve that status two more times, he'll be only the second three time All-American in Navy history, alongside John Reich ('80-4th, '82-3rd, '83-2nd).   Peter Blair who won NCAA DI titles in 1954 & 1955 would also be hard to surpass, but I think Wask would then make the case for #3.  

You know what else would help Wask to make the case?  Winning a CKLV title, and there is certainly reason to think that he can do so.  A guy that's gonna 100% all 7 minutes, he has a 12-4 major decision over M.J. Gaitan, an 8-3 decision over Garrett Thompson & a 5-0 decision over Lorenzo Norman.   Thus far he's been 4th & 6th in these championships. 

#10 
Garrett Thompson
Ohio 

5th & 3rd the past two CKLV championships, add the name Garrett Thompson to the list for potential CKLV champions here at 174 lbs.  The uncertainty of this weight highly favors the house.  Ruiz likely to be our *1 seed, Thompson owns a 10-7 s.v. over the Big Red. 

#11
Lorenzo Norman
Stanford

Want yet another CKLV title contender? Here you go.  A CKLV finalist last year (& 7th the year prior) Lorenzo Norman gives us plenty of reasons to think he'll be back in the finals again this year.  11-8 over Gaitan, 12-7 over Danny Wask & 10-6 over Garrett Thompson. 

#13
Beau Mantanona
Michigan

As said in previous weights, I don't see Michigan contending with Iowa State for the team title this year.  I really think the team trophy is going home with the Clones, but I can see Michigan having a good team showing.  Maybe even contending for third place & if they are to do that, they're going to need some big performances.  Beau Mantanona is capable of a big performance. 

#14
M.J. Gaitan
Iowa State

Are we done with possible CKLV title contenders yet? Uh...no.  M.J. Gaitan is yet another name to consider.  Owns a 0:37 fall over Brody Conley.   (Also wrestled the best he's EVER wrestled recently Vs Iowa's Patrick Kennedy.) 

#18
Brody Conley
West Virginia

Surely we're doing talking about 174 lbs CKLV title contenders, right? Ha ha...think again.  Brody Conley owns a 14-2 major over M.J. Gaitan & a 3-1 decision over Danny Wask. 


=== 

Well, already mentioned eight wrestlers & they're all title contenders as far as I'm concerned.  

Any other wrestlers in the mix to possibly pull off upsets & find themselves on the award stand?  

U.R.
Daschle Lamer
Oregon State

Lamer was one match from placing here last year and definitely strikes me as the type to be in the R12 match once again.  

U.R.
Nick Fine
Columbia

There's a lot of super tough talent in this bracket, & for a guy like Nick Fine to find his way onto the award stand would take some high-profile upsets.  I wouldn't list him if he wasn't capable of doing just that. 

U.R. 
Cael Valencia
Arizona State

Pinned by Brody Conley in 4:46. 

Pinned in 0:50 by Beau Mantanona

Lost an 8-4 dec to M.J. Gaitan

Is there any logical reason I put Cael Valencia's name on the list of plausible CKLV place-winner candidates?  No, there isn't. 

And that's the point. 

That's the kind of wrestler he is.  

Cael Valencia will give you every reason in the world to bet against him.  He'll make sure in any given situation that the odds are so far stacked against him anyone would be a fool to bet on him.  Then like he did at the PAC-12's in both 2023 & 2024, he'll win matches you never thought he'd win.  


Now that I said this he'll go 0-2.  

Had I not written anything & not called it...."Cael Valencia with the upset of the tournament!!" 

Seems to never fail...

CKLV 2025 - 165 lbs Preview!!

 

165

A lot of youthful talent will be displayed in Vegas this weekend & here at 165 we may very well get to see one of last year's best freshmen against one of this year's best freshmen.  Lots of talent though, so it's not a guarantee.  We'll see what happens.

#4
Joey Blaze 
Purdue

An NCAA DI finalist last year at 157, Joey Blaze was also 6th at last year's CKLV championships.  Many have been wondering if he can capture the same magic at 165 lbs this year.  This Weekend in Vegas will be a good indicator.  Thus far, owns a 2-0 decision over Peyten Kellar. 

#5
Hunter Garvin
Stanford

Back to back 6th place finishes the past two CKLV's, Hunter Garvin is our likely *2 seed, who will have to go through  Blaze if he wants to win a title this weekend.  Susceptible to upset himself, Garvin owns a 10-3 decision over Connor Euton & he's majored Mac Church twice 11-1 & 11-3. 

#14
Ty Whalen
Princeton

The Tigers of Princeton will be looking to put some on the award stand this tournament & Ty Whalen seems to be one of their best shots. Hasn't faced much of the competition he's likely to see here yet, but he's #14 for good reason. 

#17
Peyten Kellar
Oklahoma

I've said it many times in the past & I'm saying it again.  There are times when CKLV can be just as tough or even at times tougher than NCAA DI's.  Peyten Keller is an example of it.  He failed to place the last two tournaments, and by failed to place, I mean he got beat out.  We're not talking Vince Robinson who medical forfeited in the quarters & then medical forfeited in the R12.  We're talking Peyten Kellar who lost an opening round match to Joey Blaze & then was eliminated from competition by Rafael Hipolito.  He's a for sure place-winner candidate, but history shows just how competitive this tournament can be. 

#18
Ryan Burton
Virginia Tech

Ryan Burton is still another tough freshman who may not be in the hunt for a CKLV title but who is more than capable of finding himself somewhere in the top 8. 

#20
Connor Euton
Iowa State

Considering that Connor Euton has the ranking & that he's been the one getting the starts, I'd say we're likely to see him in action here in Vegas.  He owns a 15-5 major decision over Marcus Espinoza-Owens.  If Aiden Riggins is to get the start, he owns a 9-3 decision over Drake Rhodes. 

U.R. 
Drake Rhodes
South Dakota State

Hard to tell who will be the starter for the Jackrabbits this weekend. Marcus Espinoza-Owens has already wrestled 8 matches, whereas Drake Rhodes has yet to compete.  With that said, Rhodes was 5th here a year ago & he owns an 8-4 win over Hunter Garvin.  He also owns a 5-4 decision over Nicco Ruiz, and both 5-2 & 2-0 decisions over Aiden Riggins. 

U.R. 
Nicco Ruiz
Arizona State

A match shy of being a CKLV place-winner last year, Nicco Ruiz owns a 6-3 victory over Matt Olguin. 

U.R. 
Matt Olguin
Oregon State

Here's a guy that I'm really excited to see compete this weekend.  If 100%, I think he's capable of doing some very big things and opening up a lot of eyes.  Thus far in his career he has CKLV finishes of 3rd & 7th. 

U.R. 
Cesar Alvan
Columbia

I can visualize the top half of the podium here pretty well.  I'd be shocked if Joey Blaze & Hunter Garvin aren't on the podium, & I'm pretty confident that Peyten Kellar breaks through and finds a spot as well.  As to the other 5 spots on the podium? I think things are more up for grabs here.  A lot of tough matches that will be wrestled through R1, R2 & the Quarters, and then through the backside.  Cesar Alvan has a 3-1 win over Ty Whalen & a 5-4 win over Dylan Gilcher. 

U.R.
Dylan Gilcher
Michigan

Last but not least among the place-winner candidates, Dylan Gilcher owns a 4-1 decision over Nicco Ruiz.