There are only 4 At Large/Wildcard Bids available at 133 lbs & the competition for this is FIERCE!! I did my best to narrow it down, but there is a lot of talent left at 133 lbs that has yet to punch a ticket for Cleveland. I mean we have BOTH a former BIG 10 Champ & a former BIG 12 champ in the running! Can you believe that!?!?!?
Like I did with 125 lbs, I've already eliminated a few names from the list. Very good wrestlers, but NCAA DI 133 lbs, is way beyond the 33, speaking to skills and ability.
Those Already Eliminated
Kyle Waterman of Drexel - My heart goes out to the Dragon. A reliable hand for Coach Azevedo, he finished 2nd at the EIWA championships last year, which was one match shy of Q. This year he finished 3rd at the EIWA championships, which was one match shy of Q. An 18-15 win over Blake Boarman sticks out, but with only 4 allocations available & everyone else having a # next to their name, I think Dragon has breathed his last fire.
#32 Ethan Rivera of Princeton - A 5-3 win over Evan Mougalian & a 2-1 tiebreaker over Gunnar Andrick are what everyone is going to point to, but again, we've only got 4 bids here. 13-13 on the year, I think the competition is just too stiff.
#33 Ethan Uhorchuk of UT-Chattanooga - I haven't heard a whole heck of a lot out of Moc Wrestling fanatic George McIntyre this season, but it is clear to me that quietly but surely Chattanooga is rebuilding their program. I'm not sure if we're ever going to see the total domination of the SOCON like we did in yesteryears, but I do think things are getting better in Chattanooga. I think Uhorchuk is proof of that. 2nd in the SOCON & 22-9 on the year I don't think it translates into qualification in 2026. However, I do think with three seasons of eligibility remaining, Uhorchuk can do good things for the Mocs.
#31 Richard Murillo California Baptist - I can't imagine the pressure & the anxiety that Richard Murillo was going through this season. To know that your athletic director, one of the individuals who is supposed to guide, aid & support you in your goals, wanted you to fail, had to be a very difficult thing to deal with. Why any athlete, in any sport would want to represent the Lancers with Dr. Micah Parker & Joey Logan at the helm, is beyond me. Riverside, California is probably one of the most beautiful places in the country, but those two would ruin it for me. I digress on that. The freshman had a rough go of it & again the competition here is too stiff. I sure hope wherever he ends up for his sophomore, junior & senior seasons, the A.D. appreciates & supports him.
I said I narrowed it down right???
Well....
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| #11 Dom Serrano Northern Colorado |
3rd in the BIG 12 in 2024 & a BIG 12 champion last season, one bad loss & an injury led to Dom Serrano failing to place in the top 8 in his final showing in the conference championships. Nonetheless, I still think the Bear can be an All-American this year & I'd think with his ranking, and the wins he has on his resume, he's shoe-in for a wildcard.
4-1 over Zach Redding
8-5 s.v. over Max Leete
9-8 & 13-12 over Evan Mougalian.
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| #24 Dylan Shawver Rutgers |
A three-time NCAA DI qualifier & the 2024 BIG 10 champ with over 100 career wins, I'd be shocked if Dylan Shawver was left home this season. I get that we're talking '25-'26 & '25-'26 only, and we'll get to that right now.
13-3 over Carter Schmidt
12-9 S.v. over Markel Baker
15-4 over Andrew Austin
4-1 S.V. over Will Betancourt
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| #17 Braxton Brown Maryland |
Shawver defeated Brown twice at the BIG 10's, including for 9th place, so that has to give Shawver the nod over Brown. However, Brown earned a top 20 ranking this season & he's a three-time NCAA DI qualifier. 19-2 tech over Blake Boarman & a 4:38 fall over Max Leete.
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| #26 Ethan Oakley North Carolina |
Another three-time NCAA DI qualifier who is going to need the graces of the selection committee to call himself a four-time. 92 career wins, what the Tarheel has going for him is this...
4-2 over Gunnar Andrick
4-2 over Gage Walker
What he has going against him....
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| #25 Evan Tallmadge Pittsburgh |
The Panther not only defeated Oakley at the ACC championships, but he defeated him earlier on the year as well. Head-to-head if it comes down to either taking Tallmadge or Oakley, I would think the selection committee has no other choice other than to go with Tallmadge. Hate that 133 only has 4 spots open.
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| #29 Marcel Lopez SIUE |
The MAC took the top 4 this season & Lopez finished in 5th place. While is ranking is lower & the MAC isn't going to get the approbation of the BIG 10, BIG 12 or ACC, what Lopez has going for him are many quality wins on the season.
Garrett Grice 2-1
Julian Farber 4-3
Carter Schmidt 4-2
Sean Spidle 3-1
Gabe Whisenhunt 3-1
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| #30 Luke Willochell Wyoming |
Again only 4 spots left, and I've already named 6 worthy candidates. Gotta name one more because Luke Willochell I believe deserves mention.
9-3 over Sean Spidle
13-5 over Gabe Whisenhunt
8-1 over Carter Schmidt
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