BEST OF THE UNRANKED: HWT

                                        

The NCAA Division I championships are approximately two months away.  Still a lot of wrestling to be conducted between now and then, but with all that can change between now and then, one thing is likely to stay the same. 

There are only 33 slots per weight class & there are more than 33 wrestlers per weight class who are eligible to get them.  

125 through 197 complete, we now take a look at those that could steal spots at 285 lbs!  

Jack Forbes
Utah Valley

What he has going against him:  In a 13-8 record, some of those 8 losses aren't good, and I would imagine are what is keeping him outside of a top 33 ranking. 

What he has going for him:  After two losing seasons & going a hard 0-2 at last year's BIG 12 championships, it has been rewarding to see how much improvement Jack Forbes has made in his final season as a Wolverine.  Never above a 10 win season in all of his time at Utah Valley, he's already at 13 wins for the year.  These aren't just against anybody either.  He owns a 13-8 decision over Jarret Stoner & an 8-2 decision over Luke Rasmussen.   I see the BIG 12 taking 7 to the NCAA DI championships this year, and yes I can see Forbes being one of those 7. 

Ashton Davis
Cornell

What he has going against him:  A 12-10 record & some of those 10 losses are real head scratchers. 

What he has going for him:  The 2025 NCAA DI qualifier as of right now is likely to receive the *3 seed at the Ivy League championships.  Putting Alex Semenenko as the *1 seed & Vincent Mueller as the *2 seed.  Against Semenenko, Davis is two & one.  Dropping a 3-2 decision, he's defeated Semenenko by 4-1 & 8-1 decisions, both contested in overtime.   He's two & zero against Mueller, defeating him twice by 6-1 decisions.   

    Daulton Mayer           Stephan Monchery
       Bellarmine                  Appalachian State

What they having going against them: Each other

What they have going for them:  The pin gawd of collegiate wrestling currently stands at a 13-8 record on the season, looking to make his first NCAA DI championships.  Among those 13 wins, a 0:39 fall over Monchery.  Was this a look at pure dominance, or did a really good pinner simply catch a tough Mountaineer offguard? 

Monchery is tough.  Currently 15-7 on the season in his own right, plus he owns an impressive 6-4 decision over Conner Barket.  

Whatever happens in a likely SOCON final, I don't see it being an under a minute fall again.  I think match #2 is going to be a much closer decided contest.   Whoever wins, will be packing their bags for Cleveland, Ohio.