2025-2026 NCAA DII Preview = 197 lbs

 

Max Ramberg
Augustana (SD)

A two-time NCAA DII All-American, Max Ramberg goes into his senior season with 4th & 5th place finishes in the D2 nation.  4th-3rd-2nd at Super Region V, he was 34-7 last year. 

Nick Johnson
Glenville State

A two-time Super Region III champion, Nick Johnson was 5th in the D2 nation this past season.  30-7 on the year, he also placed 3rd at the Midwest Classic. 

Marvelous Rutledge
Lander

26 wins on the season, Marvelous Rutledge was 2nd at Super Region II & 7th in the D2 nation. 

Wayne McIntyre
Kutztown

A two-time NCAA D2 qualifier with 3rd & 2nd place finishes at Super Region I, Wayne McIntyre was one match shy of D2 All-American honors last season. 

Eli Reese
Gannon 

13 wins on the year for Eli Reese who was 3rd at Super Region I. 

Austin Lewis
Frostburg State

12 wins on the year for Austin Lewis, one of which was a 2:39 fall over qualifier Kyler Pickard.  He finished 4th at Super Region I. 

Caleb Morgan
Belmont Abbey

15-4 on the year Caleb Moore finished one match shy of D2 qualification with a 4th place showing at Super Region II. 

Devon Bell
West Liberty

Devon Bell finished one match shy of D2 qualification with a 4th place finish at Super Region III. 

Diesel Koser
Shippensburg 

An NWCA Scholar All-American, Diesel Koser won 17 matches last season & placed 6th at Super Region I. 

Raife Smart
Mount Olive

19 wins on season for Raife Smart who was 5th at Super Region V. 

Lucas Salmon
Tiffin

Lucas Salmon has proven himself to be one of the best at 197 yet to make the NCAA D2 tournament.  Back-to-back 5th place showings at Super Region III, he was 6th at last year's Midwest Classic.  Among 19 wins, a 3-1 decision over R12'er Wayne McIntyre & a 4-0 win over qualifier Eli Reese. 

Evan Wakefield
Davenport

Evan Wakefield was 6th at Super Region III. 

Parker Henry
Ouachita Baptist

20 wins on the season, Parker Henry was 5th at Super Region IV. 

Geoff Freeman
Upper Iowa

When Geoff Freeman's NJCAA career came to an end two seasons ago, I called him the best of the time to never make NJCAA All-American honors.  In fact, I called him so good that I thought he may even be able to one day All-American at the next level, even though it never happened for him at the NJCAA level.  I still believe that.  Freeman was 6th at Super Region V last year, but what gives me merit, is a 13-12 win over R12'er Wayne McIntyre & a 13-7 decision over All-American Nick Johnson. 

Mason Villwok
Chadron State

16 wins on the season for Mason Villwok who was 5th at Super Region VI> 

Tyson Lien
Northern State

Tyson Lien won 17 matches this past season & was one match shy of a top 8 finish at the Midwest Classic. 

Jeff Tubbs
Montevallo

An Alabama native, Jeff Tubbs won 17 matches last season & had an impressive 7-2 decision over All-American Marvelous Rutledge. 

Marco Reyes
Mary

Batting .500 last season, Marco Reyes had a 9-3 decision over qualifier Eli Reese. 

John Parker Wilson
Newberry

Listed as a graduate student in '24-'25 & named by JT1Wrestle as one of the best in D2 not to All-American last season, imagine my surprise when I found out that John Parker Wilson, who I often refer to as JPW has another season of eligibility!  Very happy to hear this.  The two-time Super Region II champ, who also made the Midwest Classic finals last season, lost two heartbreaking 3-2 matches at nationals last season.  With the ability to reach that 100 win mark in '25-'26, he does own both a 4-0 & 5-4 decision over Marvelous Rutledge.