Most And Least Improved Weights Classes

Most And Least Improved Weights Classes

Which NCAA wrestling weight class is the most and least improved from 2017? We analyze each division to find out!

Sep 20, 2017 by Andrew Spey
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Now that all our preseason rankings have all been released, it's time to get down to the most important part of the 2017-18 wrestling season: wild and probably inaccurate speculation about the future.

One of the more enjoyable and hotly contested but ultimately useless debates is which weight class is the toughest. Last year, the general consensus was that 184 and 141 were the most brutal brackets in St. Louis. This year, several weights are in the running, with 125, 141, 157 and 165 all getting mentioned as contenders in no particular order.

To investigate, we took last year's final top 20 in each weight class and compared it to the the preseason top 20, highlighting all the ranked wrestlers who left the weight class after 2017 (either due to graduation, changing weights, or something else) and the ranked wrestlers who are new to the weight class in 2018 (due to coming off a redshirt, changing weight classes, or something else). Please note that newly ranked wrestlers who were eligible to wrestle last year and either didn't end up ranked or didn't start are not included.

Before we start the comparing and contrasting, a quick caveat: These numbers and rankings are to the best of our knowledge as of right now. They will inevitably change as wrestlers switch weight classes, suffer injuries, and jockey for starting spots in their respective lineups. For instance, Jason Tsirtsis is unranked for Arizona State right now, due to the Sun Devils having two returning national qualifiers ranked at 149 and 157 instead. Should Tsirtsis establish himself as a starter, that will surely change.

Prospective lineup looks: Oklahoma State | Virginia Tech | Ohio State | North Carolina | Iowa | Penn State

And now we're ready to look at the weight classes.

125 Pounds


Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Darian Cruz 7, 1 2018
Nathan Tomasello
1, 3, 3
2 2017
Thomas Gilman
4, 2, 3 2018 Darian Cruz 7, 1
3 2017 Nick Suriano 2018 Nick Suriano
4 2017 Ethan Lizak 2 2018 Ethan Lizak 2
5 2017
Joey Dance
5, 4 2018 Nick Piccininni 4
6 2017 Nick Piccininni 4 2018
Ryan Millhof
7
7 2017 Jack Mueller 6 2018 Jack Mueller 6
8 2017 Sean Russell 7 2018
Zeke Moisey
2
9 2017 Sean Fausz 2018 Sean Russell 7
10 2017
Tim Lambert
2018
Ronnie Bresser
11 2017
Nathan Kraisser
8 2018 Sean Fausz
12 2017
Joshua Rodriguez
2018
Dalton Macri
13 2017
Drew Templeman
2018 Gabe Townsell
14 2017 Gabe Townsell 2018 Brock Hudkins
15 2017 Josh Terao 2018 Josh Terao
16 2017
Conor Youtsey
6, 5 2018 Shakur Laney
17 2017 Shakur Laney 2018
Sebastian Rivera
18 2017
Freddie Rodriguez
2018 Travis Piotrowski
19 2017 Brock Hudkins 2018 Jake Gromacki
20 2017 Travis Piotrowski 2018 Johnny Jimenez
Dance and Gilman are big losses, but it's rare that a hammer like Tomasello changes weight for his senior campaign.

133 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017
Cory Clark
5, 2, 2, 1 2018 Seth Gross 2
2 2017
Nathan Tomasello
1, 3, 3 2018 Stevan Micic 4
3 2017 Seth Gross 2 2018 Kaid Brock 5
4 2017 Stevan Micic 4 2018 Scott Parker 8
5 2017 Kaid Brock 5 2018 Mitch McKee
6 2017
Eric Montoya
5, 6 2018 Bryan Lantry
7 2017
Zane Richards
4, 7 2018 Dom Forys
8 2017 Scott Parker 8 2018 John Erneste
9 2017 Bryan Lantry 2018
Luke Pletcher
10 2017 Mitch McKee 2018 Connor Schram 8
11 2017 Dom Forys 2018 Scott Delvecchio
12 2017
Joey Palmer
2018 Jamal Morris
13 2017 John Erneste 2018 Eli Stickley
14 2017 Scott Delvecchio 2018 Luke Welch
15 2017
Josh Alber
2018 Cameron Kelly
16 2017 Korbin Myers 2018 Austin Eicher
17 2017 Jamal Morris 2018
Dylan Duncan
18 2017 Connor Schram 8 2018
Emilio Saavedra
19 2017 Corey Keener 2018 Anthony Tutolo
20 2017
Kevin Devoy
2018 Phillip Laux
Losing Clark and Tomasello opens up 133, which gains no returning All-Americans.

141 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Dean Heil 4, 1, 1 2018 Dean Heil 4, 1, 1
2 2017
George DiCamillo
2 2018 Kevin Jack 5, 3
3 2017 Kevin Jack 5, 3 2018 Bryce Meredith 2, 4
4 2017 Bryce Meredith 2, 4 2018 Jaydin Eierman 5
5 2017 Jaydin Eierman 5 2018 Anthony Ashnault 8, 4, 6
6 2017 Anthony Ashnault 8, 4, 6 2018 Joey McKenna 3
7 2017
Matt Kolodzik
7 2018 Tommy Thorn 8
8 2017 Tommy Thorn 8 2018 Jared Prince
9 2017 Joey McKenna 3 2018 Tyler Smith
10 2017
Colton McCrystal
2018 Javier Gasca
11 2017 Jared Prince 2018 Ryan Diehl
12 2017
Jimmy Gulibon
5 2018
Josh Alber
13 2017
Luke Pletcher
2018
Kanen Storr
14 2017
Randy Cruz
8 2018 Brock Zacherl
15 2017 Tyler Smith 2018 Michael Longo
16 2017
Joey Ward
7 2018
Chad Red
17 2017 Javier Gasca 2018 Russell Rohlfing
18 2017
Topher Carton
2018 Sal Profaci
19 2017
Ronnie Perry
2018 Cole Martin
20 2017 Ryan Diehl 2018 Jack Hathaway
A few young studs enter the weight class, but the real news is how many All-Americans DIDN'T graduate at the end of last season.

149 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Zain Retherford 5, 1, 1 2018 Zain Retherford 5, 1, 1
2 2017
Lavion Mayes
7, 3, 2 2018 Brandon Sorensen 4, 2, 3
3 2017 Brandon Sorensen 4, 2, 3 2018 Max Thomsen 5
4 2017
Micah Jordan
4 2018 Solomon Chishko 6, 6
5 2017 Max Thomsen 5 2018
Matt Kolodzik
7
6 2017 Solomon Chishko 6, 6 2018 Justin Oliver 7
7 2017
Ken Theobold
7 2018 Steve Bleise
8 2017
Anthony Collica
4 2018
Colton McCrystal
9 2017
Alex Kocer
8 2018
Ke-Shawn Hayes
10 2017
Laike Gardner
2018
Ryan Deakin
11 2017
Pat Lugo
2018 Josh Maruca
12 2017 Justin Oliver 7 2018 Davion Jeffries
13 2017 Steve Bleise 2018
Geo Martinez
8
14 2017 Josh Maruca 2018 Alfred Bannister
15 2017
Jordan Laster
2018 Matt Zovistoski
16 2017
Cole Mendenhall
2018
Ronnie Perry
17 2017
Matt Cimato
2018 Beau Donahue
18 2017 Matt Zovistoski 2018 Chris Vassar
19 2017
Andrew Crone
2018 Troy Heilmann
20 2017
Joey Delgado
2018 Brock Ervin
The 149 weight class loses a lot of depth and top tier talent but gains enough to keep it packed with plenty of excitement.

157 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Jason Nolf 2, 1 2018 Jason Nolf 2, 1
2 2017 Joey Lavallee 2 2018 Joey Lavallee 2
3 2017 Michael Kemerer 3 2018 Michael Kemerer 3
4 2017 Tyler Berger 5 2018
Micah Jordan
4
5 2017 Joe Smith 7, 4 2018 Tyler Berger 5
6 2017
Dylan Palacio
4, 6 2018 Joe Smith 7, 4
7 2017
Jordan Kutler
2018
Richie Lewis
8 2017
Brian Murphy
7 2018
Alec Pantaleo
6
9 2017 Paul Fox 7 2018 BJ Clagon 5
10 2017
Sal Mastriani
8 2018 Jake Short
11 2017 BJ Clagon 5 2018
Mitch Finesilver
12 2017 Jake Short 2018 Collin Heffernan
13 2017 Collin Heffernan 2018 Paul Fox 7
14 2017
Russell Parsons
2018 Clayton Ream
15 2017 Clayton Ream 2018 Joshua Shields
16 2017 Archie Colgan 2018
Cole Walter
17 2017 May Bethea 2018 Archie Colgan
18 2017
Kyle Langenderfer
2018
Luke Zilverberg
19 2017 Taleb Rahmani 2018
Andrew Crone
20 2017 Joshua Shields 2018 May Bethea
157 loses a good amount of depth but few weight classes add as many high podium placement contenders. 157 is a dark horse contender for best overall weight.

165 Pounds
Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Vincenzo Joseph 1 2018 Vincenzo Joseph 1
2 2017 Isaiah Martinez 1, 1, 2 2018 Isaiah Martinez 1, 1, 2
3 2017 Logan Massa 3 2018 Logan Massa 3
4 2017
Isaac Jordan
2018 Chandler Rogers 5
5 2017 Chandler Rogers 5 2018 Chad Walsh 5, 7
6 2017
Daniel Lewis
4, 6 2018 Bryce Steiert
7 2017 Chad Walsh 5, 7 2018
Jordan Kutler
8 2017 Bryce Steiert 2018
David McFadden
6
9 2017
Brandon Womack
8 2018 Anthony Valencia
10 2017 Anthony Valencia 2018 Nick Wanzek
11 2017
Austin Matthews
2018 Drew Hughes
12 2017 Nick Wanzek 2018 Te'Shan Campbell
13 2017 Drew Hughes 2018 Keilan Torres
14 2017 Te'Shan Campbell 2018
Chance Marsteller
15 2017 Luke Zilverberg 2018 Yoanse Mejias
16 2017 Yoanse Mejias 2018
Jonathan Schleifer
17 2017
Dylan Cottrell
2018
Alex Marinelli
18 2017 Keilan Torres 2018
Evan Wick
19 2017 Joey Gunther 2018 Lorenzo De La Riva
20 2017 Lorenzo De La Riva 2018 Branson Ashworth
This weight class is going to be ridiculous. They should bring two podiums to Cleveland just for 165.

174 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Mark Hall 1 2018 Mark Hall 1
2 2017 Zahid Valencia 3 2018 Zahid Valencia 3
3 2017 Bo Jordan 3, 3, 2 2018 Bo Jordan 3, 3, 2
4 2017 Myles Amine 4 2018 Myles Amine 4
5 2017
Brian Realbuto
6, 2, 5 2018
Daniel Lewis
4, 6
6 2017
Zac Brunson
6 2018 Ryan Preisch
7 2017
Kyle Crutchmer
5, 7 2018 Ethan Ramos 6
8 2017
Jake Residori
8 2018
Brandon Womack
8
9 2017
Zach Epperly
7, 3 2018 Jadaen Bernstein
10 2017
Alex Meyer
8 2018 Taylor Lujan
11 2017 Ryan Preisch 2018 David Kocer
12 2017 Ethan Ramos 6 2018 Christian Brucki
13 2017 Jadaen Bernstein 2018
Jacobe Smith
14 2017
Casey Kent
4 2018 Jordan Pagano
15 2017 Taylor Lujan 2018 Devin Skatzka
16 2017 David Kocer 2018 Josef Johnson
17 2017
Trace Engelkes
2018 Kimball Bastian
18 2017 Christian Brucki 2018 Xavier Montalvo
19 2017 Jonathan Schleifer 2018 Jacob Morrissey
20 2017
Matt Reed
2018
Kaleb Young
The bottom half of 174 gets hollowed out but plenty of top tier talent returns. Two All-Americans in Daniel Lewis and Brandon Womack bump up to keep this a marquee weight class.

184 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Bo Nickal 2, 1 2018 Bo Nickal 2, 1
2 2017
Gabe Dean
3, 1, 1, 2 2018 Myles Martin 1, 5
3 2017
Tim Dudley
8, 2, 3 2018
Peter Renda
3
4 2017
Sammy Brooks
8, 4 2018 Drew Foster 7
5 2017 Myles Martin 1, 5 2018
Domenic Abounader
6 2017
Nolan Boyd
4, 6 2018 Emery Parker
7 2017 Drew Foster 7 2018 Zack Zavatsky
8 2017
Jack Dechow
4 2018 Jordan Ellingwood
9 2017
Nate Jackson
5, 8 2018 Dakota Geer
10 2017 Emery Parker 2018 Nick Gravina
11 2017 Zack Zavatsky 2018 Bryce Carr
12 2017
Michael Macchiavello
2018
Ricky Robertson
13 2017 Jordan Ellingwood 2018 Michael Coleman
14 2017 Dakota Geer 2018 Steven Schneider
15 2017 Nick Gravina 2018 Joe Heyob
16 2017
Hunter Gamble
2018 Ian Baker
17 2017 Bryce Carr 2018 Chip Ness
18 2017 Dylan Gabel 2018 Dylan Gabel
19 2017 Michael Coleman 2018 Nick Corba
20 2017 Joe Heyob 2018
Max Dean
Though it was a meat grinder last year, no bracket saw a bigger exodus of hammers than 184. Having Bo Nickal and Myles Martin return softens the blow, but this is definitely a depleted weight class.

197 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017
J'Den Cox
1, 5, 1, 1 2018 Kollin Moore 3
2 2017
Brett Pfarr
3, 2 2018 Jared Haught 6, 4
3 2017 Kollin Moore 3 2018
Willie Miklus
7, 6
4 2017 Jared Haught 6, 4 2018 Matt McCutcheon
5 2017
Aaron Studebaker
5 2018 Preston Weigel 6
6 2017 Matt McCutcheon 2018 Kevin Beazley 8
7 2017 Preston Weigel 6 2018 Jake Smith
8 2017 Jake Smith 2018 Daniel Chaid
9 2017
Ryan Wolfe
7 2018 Nathan Rotert
10 2017 Kevin Beazley 8 2018
Michael Macchiavello
11 2017 Shawn Scott 2018 Matt Williams
12 2017
Brad Johnson
2018 Cash Wilcke
13 2017 Daniel Chaid 2018 Steban Cervantes
14 2017 Nathan Rotert 2018 Frank Mattiace
15 2017
Brett Harner
8 2018 Tom Sleigh
16 2017 Matt Williams 2018 Corey Griego
17 2017 Cash Wilcke 2018 Hunter Ritter
18 2017 Steban Cervantes 2018 Christian Brunner
19 2017 Frank Mattiace 2018 Kyle Conel
20 2017 Tom Sleigh 2018 Jeric Kasunic
Two finalists and three other All-Americans graduate from 197, keeping it among the less stacked brackets. Though Willie Miklus adds some star power after bumping up from 184.

285 Pounds

Rank Year Name AAs Year Name AAs
1 2017 Kyle Snyder 2, 1, 1 2018 Kyle Snyder 2, 1, 1
2 2017
Connor Medbery
4, 2 2018
Adam Coon
2, 3
3 2017 Tanner Hall 3 2018 Tanner Hall 3
4 2017
Ty Walz
7, 4, 4 2018 Nick Nevills 5
5 2017 Nick Nevills 5 2018
Amar Dhesi
5
6 2017 Jacob Kasper 6 2018 Jacob Kasper 6
7 2017
Michael Kroells
8, 7, 7 2018
Sam Stoll
8 2017
Denzel Dejournette
8 2018
Mike Hughes
9 2017
Doug Vollaro
2018 Ryan Solomon
10 2017 Conan Jennings 2018 Conan Jennings
11 2017
Austin Schafer
2018 Thomas Haines
12 2017 Thomas Haines 2018 Jere Heino
13 2017 Jere Heino 2018 Billy Miller
14 2017 Billy Miller 2018 Nathan Butler
15 2017
Jared Johnson
2018 Garrett Ryan
16 2017 Ryan Solomon 2018 Joey Goodhart
17 2017 Cody Crawford 2018 Youssif Hemida
18 2017
Collin Jensen
2018
Jordan Wood
19 2017 Nathan Butler 2018 Gage Hutchison
20 2017
Ross Larson
2018 Brooks Black
Heavyweight looks as healthy as ever, as four top eight wrestlers rumble back into the division.

On deciding which is the most and least improved divisions, ideally one would wait until tournament time to make a verdict. But this is the preseason, so we'll just wing it as usual.

165 is the most impressive from top to bottom, but based just on improvement, I'd have to say Tomasello dropping to 125 gives the lightweights the biggest boost.

Least improved would have to be 133 or 184, and again, due to NaTo's drop I'd give the edge to 133 for now.

As far as just personal favorites, I think I'm most looking forward to the bloodround bloodbaths awaiting us in Cleveland when 157 and 285 NCAA tournament brackets make it to the consolation round of 12.

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