2019-2020 DIVISION I 174 lbs Outlook

Eight returning All Americans from previous seasons.  Three of which are in route to becoming four time All Americans and two looking for their third.  Add in three more looking for their second and three more who have been the round of twelve twice, you're looking at a weight class where the fight for eighth place will be a knockdown, drag out slobberknocker.

MARK HALL
Senior
PENN STATE

After winning a national title as a freshman, Penn State's Mark Hall has had to settle for second place the last two seasons. Some may conclude that this year's path to a title may be a little easier now that Zahid Valencia has moved up to 184 lbs.  That may have some truth to it, although Hall will still have to wrestle at his very best to win a second title.

MYLES AMINE
Senior
MICHIGAN 

He's came close. Gawd has he came close.  He lost three times to Mark Hall last season and every match was by one point.  We talk about "greatest wrestlers to never win national titles" and the name Mark Hall might be the reason why the name Myles Amine gets added to the list.  4th-3rd-3rd thus far in his career, it's a high probability that he makes this year's finals.  It's also safe to wonder if at 3rd-2nd-2nd thus far at the BIG 10's, if he'll also be one of the best of all time to never win a BIG 10 title.  Not trying to be pessimistic, not my style, just a realistic question. He hasn't figured out how to beat Hall yet, but that doesn't mean that he can't.

MIKE KEMERER
Junior
IOWA 

Hawkeye fans are excited to welcome back Mike Kemerer who is back from a season ending injury last season.  At 157 lbs, Kemerer placed third as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore at the NCAA's.  Now up two weight classes, it'll be interesting to see how he competes against the top dogs at 174. 

Freshman Nelson Brands is also at 174 lbs as well.  He was 18-0 in his redshirt last season, his most impressive win a 3-1 victory over three time NCAA qualifier Joey Gunther of Illinois.

DAVID MCFADDEN
Senior
VIRGINIA TECH 

A three time All American at 6th-5th-5th, Virginia Tech's David McFadden has found his way onto the award stand in every trip he has made to the NCAA tournament.  A two time ACC champion that will look for his third conference title this season, he like Amine, has to figure out a way to defeat Hall if he wants a shot at the NCAA title.

JORDAN KUTLER
Senior
LEHIGH 

A two time EIWA champion, who with enough competition within the conference, will have to fight to earn a third.  Thus far 6th & 7th in two NCAA appearances, looks to cap his career off as a three time All American.

TAYLOR LUJAN
Senior
NORTHERN IOWA 

As good as Taylor Lujan is, it's difficult to believe that he hasn't been an All American yet. He's came close finishing one match shy twice, but has yet to make the award stand.  Last year he was third in Vegas, runner-up at the Midlands and he defeated All American Mikey LaBriola 10-5.  He looks to win a second BIG 12 title and secure his first All American medal this season.

DEVIN SKATZKA
Senior
MINNESOTA

The move from Indiana to Minnesota proved to be a wise choice for Skatzka last year as he looked great wrestling for the maroon and gold, especially towards the end of the season.  He finished an impressive third at the BIG 10's and then took that momentum into the NCAA's to walk out with an eighth place finish. 

MIKEY LABRIOLA
Sophomore
NEBRASKA 

Head coach Mark Manning has produced his fair share of four time All Americans and if Mikey Labriola keeps wrestling like he did last season, in 2022 he'll be another.  Labriola had an outstanding freshman campaign last season placing fourth at CKLV, fourth at the BIG 10's and sixth at the NCAA's.  A wrestler that wrestles all seven minutes of the match, you can never count Labriola out, even where there are mere seconds left on the clock. If a way to win can be found, Labriola will find it.

NEAL RICHARDS
Senior
VMI

On a team that otherwise has little to look forward to, the one glimmering light for the Keydets this season is Southern Conference champ Neal Richards.  A little surprised that he went 0-2 at last year's NCAA championships, he should have a better showing this season.

ANTHONY VALENCIA
Junior
ARIZONA STATE

Overshadowed by the massive success of brother Zahid, Anthony Valencia has had a good career thus far at Arizona State, but not near as good as some would have hoped.  With a redshirt under his belt and a new weight class, sundevil fans have a right to feel confident that his could be Valencia's year to breakthrough and have the success that he is capable of.

BRANDON WOMACK
Senior
CORNELL 

Granted a sixth year of eligibility, Womack is given another crack at a shot to win both the EIWA title and All American honors that eluded his last season.  An All American as a sophomore in 2017 & runner-up at last year's EIWA championships.  His rivalry with Kutler should be entertaining.

ANDREW MCNALLY
Junior
KENT STATE 

The Golden Flashes' McNally was an NCAA qualifier last season and should be one once again this season.

BEN HARVEY
Senior
ARMY

Like Lujan, Ben Harvey of Army is another wrestler who has twice been the round of twelve in his career.  Thus far 4th & 5th at the EIWA championships, he may have difficulty contending with Kutler and Womack for a title, but is without a doubt capable of competing with Navy's Spencer Carey for third.  All things possible, Harvey did knock McFadden into the consolations at the NCAA's last season, defeating him 5-3 sudden victory.

CONNOR FLYNN
Senior
MISSOURI 

An up and down season last year at 165 lbs, Flynn's most notable win was a 8-6 victory over NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech.  This year, he'll test his luck out at 174 lbs.

DYLAN LUDY
Senior
PURDUE

Two time round of twelve finisher, Purdue's Dylan Lydy adds yet another senior at 174 lbs who makes the "best to yet All American" list of 2019-2020.  Lydy is thus far a two time CKLV place-winner going 8th & 6th the past two years. He also defeated All American Skatzka twice last season, both by 6-4 decisions.

DANIEL BULLARD
Junior
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 

Like brother Thomas, Bullard is a two time NCAA qualifier who looks to add a third qualification to his resume this season.

JOSEPH GRELLO
Junior
RUTGERS

The Scarlet Knights Joe Grello was an NCAA qualifier last season, although I'm not sold that he'll be the starter.  Will Scott finished fifth at last year's Midlands and defeated two time EWL champ Dean Sherry of Lock Haven 7-6.  Whoever Rutgers decides to go with, should qualify for the NCAA's.

KIMBALL BASTIAN
Senior
UTAH VALLEY 

Do believe this could be the Wolverines best season yet and Bastian adds another reason as to why. A two time NCAA qualifier Bastian has thus far been 7th & 8th at the prestigious CKLV tournament in Nevada.

TRAVIS STEFANIK
Sophomore
PRINCETON 

In talk of the EIWA conference, another name that could make some noise is Princeton's Travis Stefanik. An NCAA qualifier last season, he did defeat Harvey 11-7.

SPENCER CAREY
Junior
NAVY 

Like other Navy wrestlers, Spencer Carey has been overlooked more than once in his career. Not a wise move as he finished fifth at CKLV and he had an assortment of quality wins among his 25 victories last season.  He pinned Lydy at 6:41, majored Bastian 133, and defeated Harvey 8-4.

LORENZO DE LA RIVA
Senior
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 

A career full of ups and downs, De La Riva seemed to have found himself towards the end of last season.  Finished third at the BIG 12's and qualified for his second NCAA appearance. Looks to have his best season yet.

MICHAEL O'MALLEY
Freshman
DREXEL 

A rather impressive 23-6 redshirt season for O'Malley last season that included a 7th place finish at the Southern Scuffle. 

HAYDEN HASTINGS
Sophomore
WYOMING

An NCAA qualifier last season who defeated De La Riva twice 13-4 & 5-4, Harvey 3-1 and Lydy 3-2. A bit inconsistent has definitely proven that he can wrestle well when he needs to.

ETHAN SMITH
Sophomore
OHIO STATE 

Had a fairly decent season last year as a freshman that lead him to a 20-13 record, a sixth place finish at the BIG 10's and an NCAA qualification. Should improve this season.

DEAN SHERRY
Senior
RIDER 

Two time EWL champion Dean Sherry, looks to try and add a third conference title to his resume, this season in the MAC. He'll once again have to contend with rival Jacob Oliver of Edinboro, as well as Flynn and McNally.

JACOB OLIVER
Sophomore
EDINBORO

One of the few wrestlers to take full advantage of the NCAA's new beard rule, Oliver finished second to Sherry at last year's EWL championships. Like Sherry, he'll contend with Flynn and McNally for a MAC title this season.

MARCUS COLEMAN
Sophomore
IOWA STATE 

An NCAA qualifier who also placed sixth at last year's Southern Scuffle, Iowa State's Marcus Coleman will make another qualifier for the Cyclones this season.

GREGG HARVEY
Junior
PITTSBURGH

Gregg Harvey probably isn't a name that comes to mind for many wrestling fans when they think of potential NCAA qualifiers at 174 lbs.  For good reason as his record as a freshman was 14-14 and his record last year as a sophomore was only 11-10.  However, for equally good reason maybe his name ought to come to mind. He defeated Bullard 6-4, De La Riva 7-5 and Hastings 4-3 last season.


As Steve Miller sings in JET AIRLINER, "You got to go through Hell before you can get to Heaven" and that is exactly what winning an NCAA title is most likely going to be like at 174 lbs in 2020.  First round might not be so bad, but second, quarterfinal, semifinal, final, Hell is exactly what it'll be.  Heaven to win that gold medal. 

A bit easier of a weight class to qualify in, I feel some conferences are more loaded than others and wonder if that'll lead to an assortment of allotments, more than usual in some conferences.

2019-2020 Division I 165 lbs Outlook

Three things stick out when looking over 165 lbs.  One of the toughest weight classes to win with an assortment of eligible title contenders. A weight class that was full of upsets, particularly end of the year upsets last season.  While tough to win, not as tough to qualify in. One of the toughest weight classes to call yourself #1 but a little easier than other weight classes to call yourself somewhere above #34. 

MEKHI LEWIS
sophomore
VIRGINIA TECH

He shocked the nation last year winning the NCAA title as a freshman.  Only two losses last season, one of which was in the CKLV finals. Will have to fight through an assortment of talent in order to defend his title.

VINCENZO JOSEPH
Senior
Penn State 

After winning two titles as a freshman and sophomore, Joseph was upset in his quest for a third last year.  In comparison to most Nittany Lion grapplers, it is never wise to bet against him. What will be most interesting, is to see if he can finally win a BIG 10 title. Ironically enough, that has been one of his biggest challenges thus far in his career.

Back up Mason Manville actually had a losing 7-9 record last season,but still pulled off a few noteworthy moments  He defeated EIWA champion Tanner Skidgel twice and managed to place seventh at the Southern Scuffle.

EVAN WICK
Junior
WISCONSIN 

Another title contender is Evan Wick of Wisconsin.  A methodical wrestler who tries to make every movement on the mat count.  He was second at last year's Midlands, fourth at the BIG 10 and fourth at the NCAA's. 

ALEX MARINELLI
Junior
IOWA 

After winning a Midland's Title and a BIG 10 title, Iowa's Alex Marinelli experienced first hand how the NCAA tournament can be a different world, when he slipped and fell to a seventh place finish.  Now with that out of the way, he should bounce back tougher and even more determined this season.

JOSH SHIELDS
Senior
ARIZONA STATE 

Maybe not everyone would, but I will.  I think Shields deserves mention as a plausible title contender. He's tough on top, difficult to get away from and all of the matches he lost last season were relatively close. He looks to join the short list of four time PAC-12 champions, and thus far has been 3rd-2nd-3rd at the Midlands.  Josh Shields adds yet another name to the list of title contenders.

LOGAN MASSA
Senior
MICHIGAN 

After placing third as a freshman it is difficult for me to believe that as good as Logan Massa is that he hasn't made it back to the award stand yet.  Health can explain some of it away, but even though Massa hasn't been able to recapture All American status the past two seasons, I still consider him to be a legitimate threat to the title.  He looked like his old self again at the BIG 10 championships defeating both Isaiah White of Nebraska and Wick in route to a third place finish.  He's still "right there" he just needs to make it happen at the NCAA's.

ISAIAH WHITE
Senior
NEBRASKA

One of two to defeat champion Lewis last season, White isn't as consistent as some of the other names already mentioned but he still poses a threat.  Champion at CKLV, he placed fifth at the NCAA's last season.

BRYCE STEIERT
Senior
NORTHERN IOWA 

Had a very good season last year that included sixth at CKLV, fourth at Midlands and a breakout NCAA tournament full of upsets to capture an eighth place finish.  Will need to wrestle as well again in order to secure another medal this season.

JOE SMITH
Senior
OKLAHOMA STATE 

After placing seventh and fourth as a freshman and sophomore respectively, went 2-2 at last year's NCAA championships as a junior. I blame this in partial to wrestling nearly all of the season at 174 and then dropping down to 165 right before the BIG 12's. I think the cut was too much too soon, and Smith didn't have the proper time he needed to adjust to weight class.  Now that he'll most likely be at 165 the whole season, he should fare at lot better.  Want to see him compete against the likes of Joseph, Wick & Marinelli before deciding how much better.

SHANE GRIFFITH
Freshman
STANFORD 

The talent continues to pour in at Stanford University as head coach Jason Borrelli adds yet another sensational freshman to the line up.  As a redshirt last season Griffith defeated EIWA champ Skidgel 2-0, three time NCAA qualifier Andrew Fogarty of North Dakota State 8-1, NCAA qualifier Jesse Dellavecchia 7-2 and he wrestled Joseph to a 6-4 loss.  He also placed third at the Southern Scuffle.

DEMETRIUS ROMERO
Senior
UTAH VALLEY 

Making perhaps the best case for best senior yet to AA, is Utah Valley's Demetrius Romero.  Third in Vegas, he was the BIG 12 champ that finished one match shy of All American.  He's wrestled Smith twice and beat him twice. He's 3-0 against Steiert.  A wrestler of true grit and tenacity he lost 18-0 technical fall to Massa and then came back and beat Massa 9-6 at the same tournament. 

TANNER SKIDGEL
Junior
NAVY 

While not as celebrated as Lewis' NCAA title  it is safe to say that Navy's Tanner Skidgel came out of nowhere last season to win the EIWA title.  Especially considering that he had lost in not such close matches 10-6 to Lehigh's Gordon Wolf, 9-4 to Drexel's Ebed Jarrell and 14-0 to Brown's Jonathan Viruet. Just goes to show what can happen and how it can truly be anyone's day at any given time.  Skidgel also placed eighth at the Southern Scuffle.

TROY KELLER
Senior
BUFFALO 

Winner of last year's MAC tournament, Keller looks to become a two time champion.

EBED JARRELL
Senior
DREXEL

As noted prior Jarrell did defeat Skidgel last season 9-4 and should be a contender for this year's EIWA title.  Most impressive last year, was Jarrell's 6-3 upset of White. 

CAEL MCCORMICK
Senior
ARMY

In a weight class full of as many title contenders as 165 lbs is, it is easy to be overlooked and forgotten about. In terms of being under-ranked Cael McCormick of Army pleads an interesting case.  Pinned Wyoming's Branson Ashworth at 4:02, defeated Wolf twice 7-4 & 16-13, Jarrell 11-8 and pinned Romero at 2:28.  Last year's EIWA runner-up, he'll make a run for this year's title.

THOMAS BULLARD
Junior
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 

A two-time NCAA qualifier who will look for a third qualification this season.

QUENTIN PEREZ
Senior
CAMPBELL 

Living, breathing proof of what perseverance and hard work can over come.  A 6-20 record as a freshman was turned into two twenty plus win seasons and two NCAA qualifications.  Look for a third qualification this season as well as a Southern Conference championship.

DREW HUGHES
Junior
MICHIGAN STATE 

A two time NCAA qualifier at 174 lbs, Hughes moves down to test his luck at 165 this season. Anxious to see how he does at the new weight. I can see him pulling off an upset or two during the season.

KENNEDY MONDAY
Junior
NORTH CAROLINA 

I'm not exactly sure what happened to Monday last season but before disappearing had a victory over All American Christian Pagdilao & then a close loss to NCAA runner-up Tyler Berger of Nebraska at 157. His last match last season was a close loss to White at 165. He should prove himself All American worthy soon, if he hasn't already.

It's also important to point out that Josh McClure, a two time NCAA qualifier in his own right is also at 165 for the Tarheels. I think Monday wins this wrestle-off but throwing it out there just in case.

JAKE WENTZEL
Junior
PITTSBURGH 

One match shy of placing at CKLV last season, Wentzel should capture a medal this year.  Had a 9-2 win over EIWA champ Skidgel.

CHASE STRAW
Senior
IOWA STATE 

Even more shocking that Skidgel's EIWA championship was Chase Straw of Iowa State winning the BIG 12 last season.  I think he finds 165 lbs to be a bit more of a challenge.  With Smith and Romero among others in the bracket, he wins it this year, it'll be even more shocking.

COLT YINGER
Sophomore
OHIO 

His upset over Connor Flynn of Missouri at last year's MAC championships sticks out the most but Yinger had some other highlights that point towards plausible NCAA qualification this season.  He finished one match shy of a medal at the Southern Scuffle.

EMIL SOEHNLEN
Freshman
PURDUE 

A great recruit for head coach Tony Ersland, Soehnlen had a fairly solid redshirt last season that included being one match shy of placing at the Midlands and a 3-2 win over McCormick.  He also took Illinois' Joey Gunther into the tiebreakers.

JOEY GUNTHER
Senior
ILLINOIS 

Never has all that impressive of a record as each season his wins barely outnumber his losses, but when it comes down to do or die time, Illinois' Joey Gunther always "do".  I think it is his gas tank that wins him matches. He had five matches last season that went into overtime or tiebreakers and he won every one of them. He's like the energizer bunny, he doesn't wear out and that has lead him to three NCAA qualifications.  A place-winner at both CKLV and the Midlands last season, Gunther should again medal at both. 

CAM COY
Sophomore
VIRGINIA 

Had two wins over Duke's Zach Finesilver last season and had a win over Bullard as well.  Is in a rather tough ACC conference but should wrestle well enough to qualify for the 2020 NCAA tournament.

NICK KIUSSIS
Junior
WEST VIRGINIA 

A wildcard entry to last year's NCAA tournament Kiussis defeated Fogarty 13-3 major decision and Gardner Webb SoCon champ Tyler Marinelli 3-1 sudden victory.

AUSTIN MATTHEWS
Senior
NORTHERN COLORADO 

It's not often you see someone compete at three different schools during their collegiate careers, but the list does grow by one this season.  Austin Matthews who qualified once for Clarion and twice for Edinboro, looks to qualify for his final NCAA championship appearance this time wrestling for Northern Colorado.

CADEN McWHIRTER
Senior
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 

McWhirter has yet to make the NCAA tournament but there is reason to think that he will break through and go to the dance in his final year of eligibility.  He placed sixth at last years Midlands and owns a 9-6 victory over Perez.

DAZJON CASTO
Sophomore
THE CITADEL 

I'll get a couple of raised eyebrows on this one, but here me out.  Casto may have had 19 losses last season but he also had 27 wins.  Not many wrestlers had 46 matches last season and I think the willingness to go out and compete that much will pay off for Casto.  In my opinion many of his losses last season were due to rookie mistakes.  Watching him last year, being a it overaggressive and not setting up opportunities is what cost him the most. I don't see him beating Perez for a SOCON championship, but I do think he makes the finals against him.

TYLER MORLAND
Sophomore
NORTHWESTERN 

Only a 7-11 record last season, Morland had to upset Gunther in route to an eighth place finish in order to get into the NCAA's.  He'll most likely have to upset his way into the tournament again but if he did it once, he can do it again. He also defeated George Mason's Colston DiBlasi 5-1.

ANDREW FOGARTY
Senior
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 

A three time NCAA qualifier, Fogarty defeated EIWA champion Skidgel 10-7 and most impressively took out Southern Conference champion Marinelli 17-2 technical fall last season.


Insanely tough to win, nearly as equally tough to All American, yet at only 31 names, don't feel as tough to qualify.  I'm sure there are names I'm not thinking of right now that I probably should.  As I have the past 17 years of writing these, I never include true-freshman in anything pre-season.  Maybe some of them will be the answer here.  There were a few names like Isaiah Hokit of Fresno State and Dewey Krueger of Wyoming I thought of adding but I didn't.  I think Quarter-finals and Semi-finals at this weight will be every bit as competitive and nail-biting as the finals itself.