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| Antrell Taylor Nebraska |
Coach Mark Manning has a heck of a good thing going on in Lincoln & 2025 NCAA DI champion Antrell Taylor is a big part of it. 27-4 on the year, he helps to illustrate just how loaded the BIG 10 is, as he was 4th in the conference. A two-time Navy Classic champion, he also won the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
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| Tyler Kasak Penn State |
Twice 3rd in the past two NCAA DI championships, Tyler Kasak was the BIG 10 champion this past season. 24-2 on the year, had both a 1:18 fall over NCAA DI champ Antrell Taylor, as well as a 9-3 decision. One of the sextillion talents the state of Pennsylvania had produced, he'll challenge for the '26 title in '25-'26.
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| Meyer Shapiro Cornell |
I said a good sextillion talents from Pennsylvania, and while Meyer Shapiro is technically from Maryland, attending Wyoming Seminary, speaks for itself. Only a junior eligibility wise, Shapiro has 3rd & 5th place finishes thus far in the DI nation. 15-3 on the year, he also won an Ivy League title.
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| Vinny Zerban Iowa State |
Having the potential since day one, Vinny Zerban after placing 8th & 7th in the BIG 12 in his first two seasons, was able to stand atop the podium at conference in 2025. Remaining in the BIG 12, but transferring from Northern Colorado to Iowa State, he earned his fist All-American honor last year, placing 6th.
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| Matty Bianchi Little Rock |
Among the massive growth taking place in Arkansas' only DI collegiate wrestling program, Matty Bianchi sticks out as a highlight, as the Trojan went 27-6 on the year, winning a PAC-12 title & taking 7th place All American honors at the NCAA DI championships.
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| Jude Swisher Pennsylvania |
A two-time NWCA Scholar All American, Jude Swisher heads into his junior season of collegiate competition, having just missed being an NCAA DI All-American by one match. 26-9 on the year, he was a Keystone Champion & 3rd at the Midlands.
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| Sonny Santiago North Carolina |
Sonny Santiago heads into '25-'26 with ACC finishes of 2nd & 3rd, as he finished 4th at the Southeast Open last year.
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| D.J. McGee George Mason |
Relative of St. Louis Cardinal Willie McGee, D.J. McGee went 23-7 on the year, winning a title at the Citadel Open. 4th & 2nd thus far at the Midlands championships, he has been 2nd & 1st within the MidAmerican Conference.
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| J.T. Chance George Mason |
I think we could possibly have a good wrestle-off in the Patriot wrestling room here at 157 lbs. J.T. Chance won 16 matches last season, including a 14-6 major over Grigor Cholokyan. He was 6th at Midlands.
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| Jared Hill Wyoming |
Jared Hill heads into '25-'26, a three-time NCAA DI qualifier with BIG 12 finishes of 6th-6th-5th. A Soldier Salute runner-up & 5th at CKLV, he had both a 3-1 s.v. over All American Vinny Zerban & a 7-4 decision over R12'er Jude Swisher on the year.
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| Rafael Hipolito Oklahoma |
I don't know my history of international wrestling as well as I know my history of collegiate wrestling, so no, I can't name you a list of wrestling superstars from Brazil. Matter of fact, I'm not even sure if Brazil has ever crowned an Olympic medalist in wrestling. Yet, taking a good look at Rafael Hipolito, I can say I can see them having one in the near future. A master of Brazilian jiujitsu, Hipolito showed us that he has some serious skills on the mat as well. 18-5 on the year, he won an ACC title, placing 8th at the CKLV, and giving Cradlezone yet another reason to be excited about Sooner wrestling in '25-'26.
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| Brandon Cannon Ohio State |
Among the vast talent on the Ohio State team, Brandon Cannon went 24-5 last year, making the BIG 10 finals & finishing one match shy of DI All American honors.
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| Brock Herman Ohio State |
I wonder if Coach Tom Ryan enjoys exploring caves. I figure he would, considering how much he seems to be a fan of depth. Especially within his lineups. Brock Herman will without a doubt give Brandon Cannon all he can handle in the wrestle-off this year. Not only did Herman wrestle Cannon to a tight 7-6 decision last year, he handed All American Caleb Fish a 11-4 loss!
UPDATE: Herman will be competing for Little Rock this season & he has dropped down to 149 lbs.
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| Grigor Cholokyan Stanford |
Grigor Gregor Cholokyan. Is that a cool name or what? Sort of a tongue twister too, Peter Piper. A true-freshman last year, Cholokyan nearly placed at CKLV last year & did take a 7th place finish at Midlands. He will be redshirting in '25-'26.
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| Dan Cardenas Stanford |
Back off a redshirt for the Cardinal will be Dan Cardenas who was 4th in the DI nation in 2024, and a Soldier Salute champion last year.
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| Ty Watters West Virginia |
4th in the DI nation at 149 lbs in 2024, injury unfortunately got a hold of Ty Watters in '24-'25. He returns in '25-'26, ready for action at 157 lbs.
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| Jackson Arrington North Carolina State |
Twice the NCAA DI R12 in 2023 & 2024, Jackson Arrington redshirted this past season. A Lehman Open champion, he had a 7-3 decision over fellow R12'er Jude Swisher last year.
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| Logan Rozynski Lehigh |
20 wins on the season, Logan Rozynski a product of Blair Academy in New Jersey, won an EIWA title & finished 4th at the Midlands. Owned a 4-1 decision over R12'er Jude Swisher.
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| Dylan Evans Pittsburgh |
22 wins on the year, Dylan Evans was 4th at the ACC & 5th at the Midlands.
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| C.J. Hamblin Oregon State |
The Vancouver, Washington native won 22 matches this past season, earning PAC-12 runner-up honors.
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| Landen Johnson Northern Illinois |
A Minnesota native, that originally started off at North Dakota State, Landen Johnson won 18 matches last year, earning NCAA DI qualification with a 3rd place showing in the MAC.
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| J Conway Missouri |
19 wins on the season for J Conway last year. A 4-1 s.v. over All-American Vinny Zerban, he was 7th at the BIG 12's.
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| Kannon Webster Illinois |
Only a sophomore, Kannon Webster heads into '25-'26, having nearly made NCAA DI All American honors last season, competing at 149 lbs. Now he'll test himself up at 157.
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| Jimmy Harrington Harvard |
Jimmy Harrington was an NCAA DI qualifier for the Crimson last season.
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| Charlie Millard Minnesota |
A redshirt this past season, Charlie Millard went 13-2 in '24-'25. Among his wins, a 13-4 major over Cobe Siebrecht, as well as a 10-3 decision.
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| Teague Travis Oklahoma State |
An NCAA DI qualifier at 157 lbs in 2024, Teague Travis returns to the 157 lbs weight class, after qualifying for the NCAA DI championships last year at 149. Evidence to suggest he'll be quite comfortable here comes in the form of a 5-0 win over All American Vinny Zerban, & both an 11-1, as well as a 7-2 decision over Jared Hill.
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| Cael Swensen South Dakota State |
A two-time NCAA DI qualifier for the Jackrabbits, Cael Swensen was injured last season. Among notable wins, they call came via 4-1 decisions, albeit some in sudden victory. These include Joey Blaze (NCAA DI finalist who is moving up to 165 this season), All American Vinny Zerban & BIG 12 champ Paniro Johnson.
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| Moses Epinoza-Owens South Dakota State |
He was an outstanding backup for Cobe Siebrecht last season & it looks like he'll be an outstanding backup for Cael Swensen this year. Ironically enough, while Charlie Millard seemed to own Siebrecht last year, MEO defeated Millard 8-7. MEO also had a 5-2 s.v. against five-time NCAA DI qualifier Johnny Lovett.
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| Tanner Peake Davidson |
I've been pretty vocal on my hope for a Wildcat NCAA DI qualifier & I see before me more than one on the Davidson squad capable of reaching that feat. One of them is Tanner Peake. 15-5 on the year, he was one match shy of a placing at the Southern Scuffle & he was the SOCON runner-up. Owned a 4-2 decision over Sonny Santiago.
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| Collin Gaj Virginia Tech |
You know how rare it is for me to include true freshmen in my preseason write-ups. It's just not something I do & when I do, it's for reasons outside of what happened in high school, among high school. I cannot ignore 4-1 decision over Sonny Santiago, nor can I ignore a 3rd place showing at the Southeast Open. To add to it, Gaj will be redshirting this year & won't even be a freshman until '26-'27.
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| Ethen Miller Virginia Tech |
When I wrote about Kal Miller earlier, I thought it was odd that I wasn't seeing the name Ethen on the roster at Maryland. I was almost positive they were the same eligibility wise and kept wondering if maybe I had missed a redshirt or something else funky along the way. Truth is, the three-time NCAA DI qualifier has simply transferred to Virginia Tech. Like brother Kal, may not be the first name you think of when contemplating who will finish top 8 this season, but a name that lingers in the back of your head because you know it is a possibility.
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| Cade Wirnsberger Bucknell |
8th at the Midlands last season, Cade Wirnsberger had a 6-4 decision over C.J. Hamblin & a 7-3 decision over Jimmy Harrington.
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| Jonathan Ley Navy |
The Miami, Florida native won 15 matches last season, one of which was a 7:00 fall over Jimmy Harrington.
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| Max Petersen North Dakota State |
19 wins on the season, Max Petersen took runner-up honors at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Brayden Roberts LIU |
27-7 on the season last year, Brayden Roberts scored a 6-5 decision over Trae McDaniel & placed 4th at the Southern Scuffle.
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| Luke Nichter Drexel |
The son of two NCAA DI basketball players, Luke Nichter qualified for the NCAA DI's in 2021 & is looking to make it back to the tournament in 2026. He came close in 2025 with an EIWA runner-up finish. Stuck R12'er Jude Swisher at the 1:57 mark.
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| Nick Stampolous Lock Haven |
An NCAA DI qualifier in 2024, Nick Stampolous came up a bit short in 2025. He won 29 matches, taking 3rd at the Lehman Open & scoring a 9-3 decision over Trae McDaniel.
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| Conner Harer Rutgers |
Life's not always fair & to give you an example, take a look at Conner Harer. Harer actually beat Trevor Chumbly 2-1 tiebreaker at the BIG 10's. Yet while Chumbly was awarded an At Large Wildcard bid to the NCAA's, where he had an outstanding tournament that ended in All American status, Harer was left at home. Has this season, plus two more to make up for it.
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| Cam Catrabone Michigan |
A Redshirt last year, Cam Catrabone won 11 matches for the Wolverines. One of which was a 16-14 decision over Sam Cartella.
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| Richard Fedalen Columbia |
An NCAA DI qualifier for the Lions last season, Richard Fedalen won 20 matches.
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