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| Vince Robinson North Carolina State |
At the beginning of last season we weren't even sure if Vince Robinson was going to be the Wolfpack's starter. Then Jakob Camacho for whatever reason was going through an extremely rough patch, Robinson became the official starter & by season's the redshirt freshman was our NCAA DI national champion. He was 2nd in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
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| Troy Spratley Oklahoma State |
A two-time BIG 12 finalist, Troy Spratley added some NCAA DI silver to his collection last season, as he made the NCAA DI finals sporting a 24-5 record. He was also 3rd at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
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| Luke Lilledahl Penn State |
One of the many that has come out of powerhouse Wyoming Seminary, true-freshman Luke Lilledahl has done what many Nittany Lions have done in their first season of collegiate wrestling. He kicked ass. 25-3 on the year, he saw titles won at both the Black Knight Invitational & the BIG 10. Finished with a bronze medal at the NCAA DI championships.
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| Eddie Ventresca Virginia Tech |
If Flo ever starts a series on redemption, they may want to start right here with Eddie Ventresca. 7th in the nation as a freshman, has a horrific sophomore season plagued in disappointment. It also reminds me of the scenes in the SUPERMAN films when Clark Kent finds himself again & then comes back stronger than ever. As a junior last season, Ventresca made the CKLV finals & won an ACC title. He was the only wrestler to hand national champ Vince Robinson a loss, which he did on two occasions by 4-1 scores, one of which was in sudden victory. Ventresca ended the season 5th in the DI nation.
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| Sheldon Seymour Lehigh |
An NWCA Scholar All-American, Sheldon Seymour also earned NCAA DI All-American honors last season as he finished 6th. An EIWA champion, Seymour also won the Princeton Open, with a 24-6 record.
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| Stevo Poulin Iowa State |
Twice the dreaded R12, Stevo Poulin finally broke through last season & won that bloodround match to call himself an All-American. 8th in the DI nation, he heads into his final season of competition now a two-time Southern Scuffle champion & 1st-7th-5th in the BIG 12. Was 24-6 on the year.
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| Dean Peterson Iowa |
In a world of constant transfers, Iowa has picked up two-time NCAA DI R12'er Dean Peterson with high hopes for the former Scarlet Knight, now Hawkeye. A Midlands champion last year, Peterson has BIG 10 finishes of 7th-5th-6th. He defeated Luke Lilledahl 4-1 last season among 22 wins.
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| Joey Cruz Iowa |
Iowa doesn't invest just for the heck of it. When they go out fishing, they're looking for something to mount on the wall & display. It's pretty safe to estimate that Dean Peterson will be the Hawkeye's starter come post season. Yet with that said, I wouldn't count on Joey Cruz going down lightly. We are talking about an NCAA DI qualifier here, and someone with both a 6-5 win over Brendan McCrone & an 8-2 decision over R12'er Nicolar Rivera.
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| Nicolar Rivera Wisconsin |
In a rather rebuilding stage for Badger wrestling, one of Wisconsin's biggest hopes this year rest in NCAA DI R12'er Nicolar Rivera. 4th in the BIG 10, Rivera won the Michigan State Open & finished with a record of 24-7. He was also an NWCA Scholar All-American.
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| Trever Anderson Northern Iowa |
Trever Anderson is an example to the testimony of how good head coach Doug Schwab is at getting inside the head of his athletes. At the beginning of the season Anderson was losing to NAIA & NCAA DII wrestlers. By the end of the year, he was one match shy of being an NCAA DI All-American. 7th in the BIG 12, he was 3rd at the Soldier Salute. An NWCA Scholar All-American.
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| Blake West Northern Illinois |
I attended the Northern Illinois Vs Purdue dual meet where not only did Blake West nearly knock off Matt Ramos in a 5-4 loss, I believe I saw something click within him. Something that told him, he could be among the best. A three-time NWCA Scholar All-American, West has been 3rd-2nd-1st in the Mid American Conference (MAC) & a Midlands runner-up.
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| Spencer Moore Illinois |
19 wins on the season for the Kentuckian, including a 4-1 s.v. over Eddie Ventresca. A Southeast Open Champion, he made the finals of the Southern Scuffle.
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| Charlie Farmer Army |
23-10 on the season, Charlie Farmer took 3rd at the Princeton Open, capturing runner-up finishes at the Black Knight Invite & the EIWA championships.
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| Brendan McCrone Ohio State |
Academic All BIG 10, Brendan McCrone went 23-11 on the season last year, including a 3:58 fall over Luke Lilledahl. A Clarion Open champion, he was 5th at CKLV.
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| Max Renteria Oregon State |
The Clovis, California native won at PAC-12 championship last season, taking runner-up honors at the Navy Classic & 6th place at CKLV.
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| Jacob Moran Indiana |
Sharing a name with a famous Hollywood actor, I'm not sure if Jacob Moran still has eligibility left of not. One of these days the COVID-19 ordeal will be a footnote in history books, but for right now, it is still a part of our lives. 26-11 last year, Moran has Midlands finishes of 8th & 4th, coming in 3rd at the Navy Classic & 5th at the BIG 10's.
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| Blaine Frazier Indiana |
If Moran is out of eligibility, the Hoosiers have a tough replacement in Blaine Frazier. 17-5 on the year, he wrestled Moran to a respectable 7-2 decision. Scored a 2:27 fall over multiple time NCAA DI qualifier Nick Babin.
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| Max Gallagher Pennsylvania |
Major changes at the University of Pennsylvania, with one of the largest donations ever made to a collegiate wrestling program. Max Gallagher, now a three-time Keystone Invitational champion, gets to be a part of it. 26-10 on the year, he also was the runner-up at the Ivy League championships & 6th at the Midlands.
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| Brady Pruett Pennsylvania |
A 9-1 loss to Gallagher last season suggest that once again Brady Pruett will be the Quaker's 125 lbs backup, but a tough backup nonetheless. Pruett had some highlights of his own last season, including an 8th place showing at Midlands.
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| Marcello Milani Cornell |
Father a Michigan Wolverine, brother a John Carroll Blue Streak, Marcello Milani had a successful season competing for the Big Red of Cornell. 16 wins in '24-'25, he was 8th at CKLV, taking 3rd in the Ivy League.
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| Greg Diakomihalis Cornell |
Like teammate Marcello Milani, Greg Diakomihalis has a touch of wrestling blood running through his veins himself. Younger brother of four-time champion Yianni, this will be Greg's final shot at having a run himself. As to the wrestle-off with Milani, he does own an official 4-1 s.v.
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| Marc-Anthony McGowan Princeton |
A product of Blair Academy, Marc-Anthony McGowan won an Ivy League title last season, on a 16-4 record, finishing 5th at the Midlands.
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| Ethan Rivera Princeton |
As teams progress & get better, the more depth per weight you'll see. As is the case with Princeton at 125 lbs. Ethan Rivera had some highlights in '24-'25, including nearly majoring qualifier Marcello Milani 8-1.
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| Koda Holeman Cal Poly |
Ironically enough, another Clovis, California native. 18 wins on the season & a 3rd place showing at the PAC-12 championships for Koda Holeman.
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| Keyveon Roller Virginia |
If the Volunteers still had a wrestling program, we could have very well seen Keyveon Roller in the orange & white of Tennessee. Nevertheless the Cavaliers of Virginia were more than happy to put him in the orange & navy blue. 3rd in the ACC, he took 6th at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Cooper Flynn Minnesota |
From Virginia Tech to Minnesota, Cooper Flynn is going to spend his final season of collegiate eligibility 2 & a half hours from where he grew up. The Tennessee native will be representing the Mocs of Chattanooga in '25-'26. The two-time NCAA DI qualifier was 7th in the BIG 10 & had a 7-1 decision over All-American Stevo Poulin.
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| Richard Castro-Sandoval Cal State Bakersfield |
The future chiropractor, the star of Lightning Luke Smith's 2025-2026 Road-Runners, RCS won 17 matches last season & made the PAC-12 finals.
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| Gaylon Sims The Citadel |
From the same high school as Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger (Joliet Catholic), only a freshman last season, Gaylon Sims won a SOCON title & finished the season with a 24-10 record.
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| Caleb Weiand Michigan State |
An NCAA DI qualifier for the Spartans last season, Caleb Weiand was 8th at the BIG 10's.
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| Dedrick Navarro Northwestern |
A touch short of NCAA DI qualification last season, there is plenty of reason to think that Dedrick Navarro will make the dance in 2026. One match shy of a top 8 finish at CKLV, he was 7th at the Midlands & had an impressive 7-6 win over Blake West. 20 wins overall.
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| Diego Sotelo Michigan |
Is it possible to be really happy about something, while also being kinda sad at the same time? The answer is yes, and that is my exact sentiment concerning Diego Sotelo. Happy to see him at Michigan. I've said for 25 years that the Wolverines were a 'wrestling school' that often doesn't get the credit or recognition that they deserve for being a wrestling school. They aren't knocking off Penn State & Oklahoma State will be a tall order too. Finishing top 4 & taking home a team trophy? I think that's a very realistic goal. Diego Sotelo will help to achieve it.
Why I'm sad? It wasn't all that long ago that Harvard had a very respectable wrestling program. Producing All-Americans, I even got to see members of the Crimson bring home NCAA DI individual national titles. Unfortunately Harvard wrestling slipped into some down years, BUT in more recent times they've shown glimpses of a comeback. Diego Sotelo was a very large part of that comeback. I think the guy if he wrestles his best is AA material. Again glad to see Michigan benefiting, but would have liked to have seen Harvard as well.
Sotelo is a two-time NCAA DI qualifier who unfortunately had a really bad Ivy League tournament last year. 3rd-5th-3rd at the Midlands, he did have a 5-4 decision over Max Gallagher on the season.
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| Kysen Terukina North Carolina |
Such an emotional sport, wrestling is full of stories that lift you up & stories that bring you down. Sometimes it even does both in the same story. A three-time NCAA DI qualifier for Iowa State, Kysen Terukina missed out on qualification #4 this past season. A Soldier Salute champion, he will have a chance to redeem himself competing for North Carolina this season. We haven't had many wrestlers from Hawaii among the collegiate ranks, so may I add in his home state.
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| Mack Mauger Missouri |
Finishing 2nd at the Soldier Salute last season, Mack Mauger heads into his redshirt freshman year having posted 19 wins last season.
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| Beric Jordan Oklahoma |
One of two tough Sooners who will be going for the starting spot at 125 lbs. Beric Jordan was 14-3 on the season last year, taking 7th at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Conrad Hendricksen Oklahoma |
There to challenge Jordan for the starting spot for the cream & crimson will be Conrad Hendricksen, fresh off of a redshirt. In 2024 Hendrickson had some pretty impressive wins. 6-4 over R12'er Jett Strickenberger & 7-6 over R12'er Trever Anderson.
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| Tyson Lane Gardner Webb |
The Runnin' Bulldogs will have a good wrestle-off here at 125 lbs. Up first we have Tyson Lane, who scored a huge upset over Anthony Molton 8-2 to make the SOCON finals.
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| Jeff Jacome Gardner Webb |
Injuries have hampered Jeff Jacome for most of his collegiate career, but he was healthy enough last season to place 8th at the Southern Scuffle & pick up a 4-2 decision over SOCON champion Gaylon Sims.
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| Sulayman Bah Columbia |
Sulayman Bah actually defeated Marcello Milani at the Ivy League tournament, but while Milani came back to qualify for the NCAA DI championships, unfortunately Bah did not. 18 wins on the season.
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| Jack Parker Bellarmine |
The Knights earned their first NCAA DI qualifier last season & Jack Parker gives them a shot at earning another in '25-'26. 15 wins on the season, Parker defeated R12'er Trever Anderson 3-2 & SOCON champ Gaylon Sims 20-10.
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| Desmond Pleasant Drexel |
16 wins on the season for Desmond Pleasant, including a 4-1 decision over Richard Castro-Sandoval.
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| Cooper Shore Campbell |
A backup to Anthony Molton last season, Cooper Shore went 22-4 on the season, scoring a 4-2 victory over Richard Castro-Sandoval, and both a 4-2, as well as a 7-2 win over Charlie Farmer.
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| Ezekiel Witt North Dakota State |
The redshirt freshman might very well be competing for the Wildcats of Kansas State if KSU still had a wrestling program. Considering the two-time state champion is from Manhattan, I'd at least consider it a possibility. 14-4 last year, had an impressive 5:13 fall over Anthony Molton.
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| Carson Wagner Binghamton |
Finishing 3rd at the EIWA championships, Carson Wagner heads into '25-'25 posting 23 wins last season. One of which was nearly majoring Diego Sotelo by a 10-3 score.
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| Jeremiah Reno Little Rock |
Jeremiah Reno heads into his final season of collegiate competition having yet to make the NCAA DI tournament. Wins such as a 4:20 fall over four-time NCAA DI qualifier Brandon Kaylor, as well as a 4-3 win over Richard Castro-Sandoval, suggest he could break through this season.
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