The 2017-18 NCAA wrestling season is officially underway, which means it's time to start rolling out our weight class previews.

Few of last season's 157-pound hammers will not be back for this new season, while a clutch of quality competitors either return from redshirts or enter the division from other weight classes. No one will miss wrestling the dangerous and unpredictable Dylan Palacio, who has mercifully used up his eligibility. Two-time All-American Joseph Smith will also reportedly use his available redshirt and be absent from the NCAAs. Most of the other contenders are back, making for what is one of the most jam-packed weights in the country.

Other 2017-18 weight class previews: 125 Pounds | 133 Pounds | 141 Pounds | 149 Pounds

For our previews, we'll run down the top contenders, then make some way-too-early All-American and bloodround predictions and include an explanation.

Check out our 157 preview from last year.

Title Contenders

Jason Nolf, Penn State
Michael Kemerer, Iowa
Joey Lavallee, Missouri
Micah Jordan, Ohio State
Richie Lewis, Rutgers

Watch Nolf beat Lavallee by major decision in the NCAA finals last March.


This list is probably longer than it needs to be, as Jason Nolf is close to a lock to repeat as national champion. However, the high end of 157 is still very talented, and I wanted to include a few more wrestlers who hold outside shots of pulling off a long-shot upset. Tyler Berger and Alec Pantaelo are also on the same tier as the other contenders, but I arbitrarily drew the line at five.

Spey's Spredictions

1: Jason Nolf, Penn State
2: Michael Kemerer, Iowa
3: Joey Lavallee, Missouri
4: Micah Jordan, Ohio State
5: Richie Lewis, Rutgers
6: Tyler Berger, Nebraska
7: Alec Pantaleo, Michigan
8: BJ Clagon, Rider
R12: Mitch Finesilver, Duke
R12: Jake Short, Minnesota
R12: Collin Heffernan, Central Michigan
R12: Cole Walter, Lehigh

Little explanation is needed for the indefatigable Nolf. But for two losses to Isaiah Martinez his freshman year, Nolf's varsity record is flawless. The relentless takedown machine was rarely challenged last year, and Nolf should overwhelm everyone with his varied and creative attacks on his way to a third NCAA finals and second consecutive championship.

Except for two meetings with Nolf and a rogue peterson from Palacio in the NCAA quarterfinals, Michael Kemerer was unbeatable last year. Though he and Lavallee have yet to meet, I think Kemerer, last year's No. 2 seed, makes it to the finals in Cleveland.

Watch the rogue peterson in Palacio's upset of Kemerer in the video below.


You wouldn't say the three-seeded Lavallee's run to the finals in St. Louis last March was a surprise. And with wins over Palacio and Smith, Lavallee proved he belonged in the top tier of the 157-pound field. I also wouldn't be surprised if Kemerer and Lavallee switched places again at Cleveland, but for now I'm sticking with the Hawkeye sophomore by a smidgen.

The second half of the top tier of 157 was difficult to pick. I decided to slot Micah Jordan in at fourth based on his track record at 149 last year, when he only took losses to superstars Zain Retherford and Brandon Sorensen. Jordan is bumping up to 157 to make room for either Joey McKenna or Ke-Shawn Hayes. But I've seen Ohio State's weight room and I'm not concerned about his ability to muscle up.

I've got Richie Lewis up a few spots from his ranking based on his dominating performance at the recent U23 team trials. That was a freestyle event, so we can't credit Lewis for the victories in the rankings. However, by soundly beating Tyler Berger in two straight matches in the finals, Lewis cemented his status in my eyes as one of the top All-American contenders in the weight class.

Tyler Berger is one of the toughest wrestlers in the college ranks, which is saying a lot considering what goes into being an NCAA All-American. He could very well gut out a higher finish, but with Jordan and Lewis entering the field this year, I see Berger ending up one notch lower than his podium finish in St. Louis.

Alec Pantaleo is yet another stud who is showing up to wreck havoc at 157. He last competed varsity in 2016 down at 149 and spent last season wrestling exclusively freestyle and bulking up a weight class. He's deceptively quick for his size and will cause serious problems. I wouldn't count him out of any match.

Check out AA contenders Alec Pantaleo and Colin Heffernan in a freestyle match in Akron back in 2015 in the video below.


Rider's BJ Clagon placed fifth his freshman year but has been unable to find the podium since. He's still a deadly foe who I think finally puts it all back together for his final NCAA tournament.

Mitch Finesilver, one of four Finesilvers we might see in Duke's lineup this year, has shown he has the talent to contend for All-American honors, having beaten at least four All-Americans in his career.

Jake Short has had a consistent career, almost always beating opponents he's ranked above. He's yet to break through and become All-American, and though I have him losing in the bloodround, nothing would make me happier than to see him prove me wrong in his senior season.

Colin Heffernan has had a similar career to Short's, i.e. right on the cusp of the upper echelon. I would similarly be quite pleased to see Heff finally make the podium in his last season of eligibility.

I'm assuming Cole Walter will move down from 165, although Lehigh's lineup is currently in flux, and his final destination is unknown. Cole did not finish last season on a high note, but the stout redshirt sophomore has enough quality wins to make me believe a run to the round of 12 is in the cards this season.

Watch Cole Walter establish his bona fides with a win over All-American David McFadden in the finals of the 2017 Edinboro Open in the video below.


I'd like to include far more names in the top 12 but have unfortunately have run out of room. I know it's basically cheating, but to give you an idea of how stacked this weight is I'd like to mention a few more folks who could make my predictions look especially foolish.

Hayden Hidlay and Griffin Parriott are a pair of highly touted redshirt freshmen that I expect to make the rankings in short order. Paul Fox was an All-American last year for Stanford and Clay Ream, a three-time national qualifier for North Dakota State, earned the No. 6 seed in St. Louis. Finally, Jason Tsirtsis has yet to guarantee himself a spot in the Sun Devil lineup, but as a former national champion he undoubtedly has the talent to finish in the top eight in Cleveland.

I'm sure there are yet more contenders about whom I am being remiss, but that all speaks to why 157 has an early lead for being my favorite weight class of the season.

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