This isn’t the wild and wacky 197-pound division from three or four years ago — or even last season — but this is still a compelling weight class.

Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan, a four-time All-American and 2025 NCAA champion, graduated — as did Michigan’s three-time All-American Jacob Cardenas. 

Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari, a 2021 NCAA champion who finished third in 2025 for Cal State-Bakersfield, is moving up to 285 pounds. 

That leaves 2025 national finalist Josh Barr of Penn State as the highest returning All-American in a field with a few additions. Barr had an impressive freshman campaign, going 22-4 and notching 18 bonus point wins, including 12 falls or techs. 

Rocky Elam, a four-time All-American for Missouri, transferred to Iowa State after missing the 2025 season with an injury. South Dakota State’s Bennett Berge is moving up from 184 pounds after finishing fourth at nationals in 2024. 

Stephen Little (Little Rock), Joey Novak (Wyoming), Mac Stout (Pittsburgh), and Camden McDanel (Nebraska) were on the podium at the 2025 NCAA Championships and will have their say in 2026. 

Massoma Endene transferred to Iowa after winning three D3 NCAA titles for Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Endene is the presumed starter, but incoming freshman Harvey Ludington could challenge for the spot if he develops quickly. 

Ohio State has a similar situation. National qualifiers Seth Shumate and Luke Geog are in a roster battle for the 197-pound spot, and one will ultimately factor into the final national placings. 

Oregon State’s Justin Rademacher should make noise after winning the 97 kg U20 World Championships this summer and bronze in 2024. He redshirted last season following a 19-11 freshman year where he went 1-2 at the 2024 NCAA Championships. 

Colton Hawks and Evan Bates played do-si-do, with Hawks transferring from Missouri to Arizona State, and Bates transferring from Northwestern to Missouri.

Oklahoma State’s Cody Merrill posted a 12-2 true freshman season, dropping 2-0 and 4-2 matches to Buchanan and Rademacher. His 4-2 folkstyle win over Bates is an early indication of his upside. 

NCAA Weight Class Preview

125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184 | 197 | 285 

Returning 2025 All-Americans

Josh Barr (Penn State), SO — 2nd
Joey Novak (Wyoming), JR — 5th
Stephen Little (Little Rock), JR — 6th
Mac Stout (Pittsburgh), JR — 7th
Camden McDanel (Nebraska), SO — 8th

Past All-Americans

Rocky Elam (Iowa State), SR — (5th-4th-3rd-6th, 2021-24)
Bennett Berge (SDSU), JR — 4th in 2024 at 184

Key Departures

Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) — 4x All-American (8th-3rd-3rd-1st)
AJ Ferrari, JR (Nebraska) — 2x All-American (3rd-1st), moving to 285
Jacob Cardenas (Michigan) — 3x All-American (8th-4th-4th)
Michael Beard (Lehigh) — 2x All-American (7th-8th)
Trey Munoz (Oregon State — 2x All-American (6th-3rd)
Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa) — R12, moving to 285

Entering From Redshirt/Injury/Transfer

Rocky Elam (Iowa State), SR — from Missouri
Justin Rademacher (Oregon State), SO
Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State), FR
Gavin Nelson (Minnesota), SO
Massoma Endene, SR — from Wartburg
Colton Hawks (Arizona State), SR — from Missouri
Evan Bates (Missouri), SR — from Northwestern

The Favorite: Josh Barr (Penn State)

It’s hard to pick against Barr given his freshman season. He fell to Buchanan twice, but was 2-1 against Cardenas and dominant against virtually everyone else. Buchanan and Cardenas graduated, leaving Barr as the favorite. 

The Davison, Michigan, native had close wins against All-Americans Trey Munoz (Oregon State) and Little, but there’s every reason to believe Barr has improved. His pace is high, and he is always looking to end matches early. A win over Barr won’t be easy, and there’s a strong chance no one in the field gets one. 

Barr Exam: Cael Sanderson's 197-Pound All-Americans

The Contenders

Rocky Elam (Iowa State)
Joey Novak (Wyoming)
Stephen Little (Little Rock)
Justin Rademacher (Oregon State)

A healthy Elam is a dangerous Elam. The 2021 Junior World champion has consistent results, including a 4-2 record over his now teammate, Yonger Bastida, who is a contender at 285 pounds. He has a nice hit list and is 1-0 against Stout and 2-0 against Novak. 

Besides a 16-1 setback against Buchanan, Novak was a consistent force at 197 pounds last season. That won’t change in 2026. He finished fourth at the 2025 NCAA Championships, only losing to Buchanan and Ferrari — both NCAA champions. He notched wins over Little and McDanel, but victories over Barr and Elam will be difficult. 

Little is the only wrestler in this year’s field who gave Barr a competitive college folkstyle match. His 4-1 sudden victory loss to the Nittany Lion star on Dec. 22, 2024, is an indicator, but he’ll have to win big matches down the stretch after finishing seventh and sixth at the NCAA Championships. 

Rademacher enters as a title threat following his 2025 U20 World Championship run. However, he has something to prove in folkstyle. His 19-11 freshman season — including 17-5 and 10-3 losses to Little, and a 7-2 setback against Novak — means he has to make big jumps to compete with Barr and others. 

Watch Rademacher's gold medal match at the 2025 U20 World Championships

All-American Threats

Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
Camden McDanel (Nebraska)
Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)
Colton Hawks (Arizona State)
Massoma Endene (Iowa)
Bennett Berge (South Dakota State)

Stout finished seventh at the 2025 NCAA Championships with a 27-4 season, including a memorable 4-2 win over his brother, Luke, in the second round. McDanel finished eighth, falling to Stout, 11-3. 

Merrill, a 2022 Greco U17 World bronze medalist, will play a factor all season. He has the close losses to Buchanan and Rademacher as a redshirt freshman, and wins over All-American Isaiah Salazar and Bates. 

Hawks is a three-time national qualifier who reached the Round of 12 in 2024 but is recovering from a torn ACL. Endene won the 2024 U23 National Championships, eventually finishing seventh at the U23 Worlds, but hasn’t faced a season-long Division I slate — let alone a Big Ten schedule. The former Wartburg star had a brief stint at Wisconsin before transferring back to Wartburg early last season. It will be interesting to see how Iowa uses Ludington’s five varsity dates. 

Berge makes his move to 197 pounds after a fourth-place national finish in 2024 and a 1-2 record in 2025.

Endene's wrist snap was the talk of the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic.

Sleepers And Dark Horses

Deontay Parker (Oklahoma)
Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech)
Gabe Sollars (Indiana)

Parker reached the Round of 12 last season at 184 pounds and is 1-2 against Berge. Sasso was 10-1 last season, and Sollars reached the national quarterfinals as the 24-seed.

What About Ohio State?

Shumate and Geog are in a roster battle, and both could factor into the final national placing. It will be fun to see how Ohio State coach Tom Ryan uses each as the season progresses. Shumate reached the 2025 NCAA tournament quarterfinals but was teched in his next two matches, and Geog went 0-2 at the 2024 national championships. 

Pre-season 197-pound Predictions

1. Josh Barr (Penn State)
2. Rocky Elam (Iowa State)
3. Stephen Little (Little Rock)
4. Joey Novak (Wyoming)
5. Justin Rademacher (Oregon State)
6. Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
7. Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)
8. Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech)