The 2023-24 NCAA D1 Middleweight Redshirt Report

Here are some of the middleweight wrestlers we didn't see last season to keep an eye on during the upcoming season.

Oct 3, 2023 by Kyle Klingman

The 2023-24 NCAA D1 Middleweight Redshirt Report

Below is a partial list of NCAA D1 middleweight wrestlers (149, 157, 165, 174) who are returning and will contest for a varsity spot after an interval of at least one year.

Lightweight Redshirt Report
Heavyweight Redshirt Report

149 Pounds

Ridge Lovett: Nebraska, Junior
2022-23 record: 4-0

Lovett only wrestled in the Cowboy Open last season, but he returns as the top-ranked 149-pounder in the land. The Husker star reached the 2022 NCAA tournament finals where he fell to Yianni Diakomihalis.

Michael Gioffre: Virginia, Freshman
2022-23 record: 12-5

Gioffre showed promise when he went 3-1 in varsity duals against Ohio, Navy, Kent State, and Maryland. He is a welcome addition to Steve Garland and his staff.

Willie McDougald: Oklahoma, Sophomore
2022-23 record: 3-1

McDougald — ranked #17 nationally — returns to the line-up after reaching the Round of 16 of the 2022 NCAA Championships following a 20-7 season. He wrestled four matches in one tournament in January.

Finn Solomon: Pittsburgh, Freshman
2022-23 record: 16-3

Solomon transferred from North Carolina State to Pittsburgh and had a nice redshirt season. He wrestled in five tournaments but went 0-2 at the prestigious Midlands tournament, dropping matches to Doug Zapf (12-4) and Vinnie Mannella (8-6) of Pennsylvania.

Kyle Dutton: Little Rock, Freshman
2022-23 record: 8-2

Dutton dropped matches to Oklahoma State’s Dusty Hone (18-10) and Michigan State’s Chase Saldate (8-2) but will be a nice addition to the line-up at Little Rock.

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Ridge Lovett secured a fall during his quarterfinal match at the 2022 NCAA Championships

157 Pounds

Jacori Teemer: Arizona State, Senior
2022-23 record: 0-0

Teemer is a welcome addition to the Arizona State line-up after missing last season due to injury. He is a three-time national qualifier and a two-time placer, finishing fourth in 2021 and sixth in 2022.

Jerrdon Fisher: Missouri, Freshman
2022-23 record: 10-6

Cam Steed: Missouri, Freshman
2022-23 record: 16-5

Steed and Fisher are quality options to replace Jarrett Jacques. Steed competed in one tournament at 157 last season and bumped up to 165 for the remainder of the year. O’Toole’s presence at 165 makes this the best option for Steed or Fisher to enter the line-up.

AJ Kovacs: North Carolina State, Sophomore
2022-23 record: 0-0

Kovacs was injured last year but went 18-8 during the 2021-22 season with one varsity dual. He will sit behind #5 Ed Scott.

Landon Johnson: North Dakota State, Freshman
2022-23 record: 13-3

Johnson wrestled in four tournaments last season and could be the starter this season.

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Jacori Teemer showed off his scrambling during the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Championships

165 Pounds

Hunter Garvin: Stanford, Freshman
2022-23 record: 10-7

Garvin was a top high school recruit who should see the starting line-up this year for Stanford. He defeated Lucas Revano, 11-9, during a varsity dual against Pennsylvania on January 15 and reached the best-of-three finals of the U20 World Team Trials.

Antrell Taylor: Nebraska, Freshman
2022-23 record: 10-5

Taylor will battle returning national qualifier Bubba Wilson for the starting spot after spending last season at 157. He wrestled in the Purdue dual, dropping a 6-3 bout to Kendall Coleman.

Bryce Hepner: Ohio State, Sophomore
2022-23 record: 4-0

Hepner could battle teammate Paddy Gallagher if Gallagher moves up from 157 to 165. The Avon, Ohio, native defeated All-American incumbent Carson Kharchla, 2-1, in the wrestle-off before knocking off three-time All-American Cam Amine at the Cleveland State Open.

Cole McComas: Rider, Sophomore
2022-23 record: 30-9

McComas was busy last season and will likely be the starter at 165. He was the 157-pound starter during the 2022 season where he posted a 4-12 record.

Nick Hamilton: Virginia, Freshman
2022-23 record: 13-2

The Virginia coaching staff should feel optimistic about Hamilton. He only dropped two matches and went 4-0 during varsity duals. He’s the expected starter with Justin McCoy moving up.

Nick Fea: North Carolina, Freshman
2022-23 record: 4-5

Fea got a taste of the varsity line-up as a true freshman. He went 2-3 and faced tough competition. His losses were to Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla (12-8), Penn State’s Alex Facundo (5-2), and Cornell’s Julian Ramirez (6-2). His 4-5 record is deceptive based on the competition he faced.

Aiden Riggins: Iowa, Freshman
2022-23 record: 11-5

Riggins went 1-1 in varsity duals and will have a tough time making the line-up with Patrick Kennedy and All-American Michael Caliendo in the way.

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Iowans Hunter Garvin and Aiden Riggins squared off at the 2023 U20 World Team Trials

174 Pounds

Austin Murphy: Campbell, Senior
2022-23 record: 0-0

Murphy is down to his super senior season after reaching the Round of 12 at the 2021 NCAA Championships. He didn’t qualify for nationals in 2022, so 2024 is his last time to make the magic happen.

MJ Gaitan: Iowa State, Freshman
2022-23 record: 8-6

Gaitan started five duals for the Cyclones as a true freshman and went 2-3 against solid competition. His biggest win was against Northern Iowa’s Lance Runyon on February 10.

Brody Baumann: Purdue, Freshman
2022-23 record: 17-5

Bauman redshirted last season but saw action in four tournaments and three varsity duals. He is the is the expected starter.

Brody Conley: West Virginia, Freshman
2022-23 record: 15-4

Optimism should be high at West Virginia for Conley. He went 3-2 during varsity duals as a true freshman and all four of his losses on the season were by two points or less.

Derek Matthews: Northern Colorado, Freshman
2022-23 record: 10-4

Matthews wrestled in four tournaments during his redshirt year and went 0-2 at the prestigious Southern Scuffle. He’s expected to start for the Bears this season.

Brennan Swafford: Iowa, Senior
2022-23 record: 2-0

Swafford, a 2021 NAIA champion for Graceland, might see the line-up this season. True freshman Gabe Arnold is an option and will likely get a few starts to test his readiness.