It's finally here! The 2026 NCAA D1 Men's Wrestling Championship is going down in Cleveland, Ohio, and we've got the super king kong mega preview to provide everything you need to know about all ten weights, including our predictions!

More NCAA Championship Content!

• INTERACTIVE BRACKETS 
• SCHEDULE & HOW TO WATCH
• National Qualifier Hometowns 
• National Qualifier Maps 
• Most Surprising Seeds 
• Team Scores Based on Seeds

Team Specific Content

• Penn State: Seed Reactions | Insider | CP's Take | Odds of 6+ PSU Champs
• Iowa: Seed Reactions | Insider
• Oklahoma State: Jax Forrest's Season | Insider | CP's Take
• Nebraska: Insider
• Virginia Tech: Insider

125 Pounds

For the last several years, 125 lbs has become known as the most chaotic weight in all of NCAA wrestling. This year's results were relatively predictable, by 125 lbs standards, but now we have an NCAA bracket that seems poised to create all kinds of mayhem.

Six of last year's All-Americans are in this bracket, and five of them are on the top side. Four of those All-Americans, including three of the four semifinalists and both finalists, are in the same quarter. Between NCAA champ Vincent Robinson, runner-up Troy Spratley, sixth-place finisher Sheldon Seymour, and eighth-place finisher Stevo Poulin, only one can reach the semifinals.

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1st Place - Vincent Robinson, NC State

2nd Place - Troy Spratley, Oklahoma State

3rd Place - Luke Lilledahl, Penn State

4th Place - Matt Ramos, Purdue

5th Place - Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech

6th Place - Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

7th Place - Caleb Smith, Nebraska

8th Place - Stevo Poulin, Northern Colorado

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1) Luke Lilledahl, Penn State

2) Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech

3) Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State

4) Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

5) Troy Spratley, Oklahoma State

6) Jore Volk, Minnesota

7) Nico Provo, Stanford

8) Dean Peterson, Iowa

The Favorite

Luke Lilledahl, Penn State

After a 3rd place finish in his true freshman campaign, Lilledahl has gone undefeated (other than a loss to teammate Nate Desmond in November) and secured his second straight Big Ten title. He currently boasts a 61.9% bonus rate and has wins in his career over the #2, #3, #4, #6, #7, and #8 seeds in this bracket. That resume earns him the distinction of being the clear favorite to bring home his first NCAA title in Cleveland.

Lilledahl hasn't gone untested this season. Both Ohio State's Nic Bouzakis and Minnesota's Jore Volk have forced overtime against Lightning Luke, but Lilledahl secured match-winning takedowns in both contests.

Contenders

#2 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech

#3 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

#4 Troy Spratley, Oklahoma State

#5 Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State

#6 Nico Provo, Stanford

#7 Vincent Robinson, NC State

#8 Jore Volk, Minnesota

Two-time All-American Eddie Ventresca took two losses to Minnesota's Jore Volk at the National Duals Invitational but hasn't lost since. He's defeated both NCAA champ Vincent Robinson and ACC runner-up Nico Provo twice this season. He also took a sudden victory from Oklahoma State's Troy Spratley in a dual last month and defeated Lehigh's Sheldon Seymour at NCAAs last year. Ventresca appears poised to reach the quarterfinals where he may need to find a third win over Provo. Potential semifinal opponents for Ventresca include Volk, who has solved the Ventresca puzzle so far, and #3 seed Bouzakis.

Watch Jore Volk scramble for the win over #2 seed Ventresca at National Duals

Stanford's Provo earned his spot on the contender list by notching two victories this season against NCAA champ Vincent Robinson. Should he reach the quarterfinals, he'll need to find a way to get by Ventresca who has owned their series this season.

Former 133-pounder Bouzakis wrestles with a level of power rarely seen at 125 lbs. He put this year's field on notice early this season when he pinned Iowa's Dean Peterson in the finals of the National Duals Invitational. His losses this year have come against teammate Brendan McCrone on the first weekend of the season, to #1 seed Lilledahl in sudden victory, and by 8-1 decision against Volk at Big Tens. He also owns a sudden victory over Volk from earlier this season.

Bouzakis' National Duals Invitational PIN over Dean Peterson

The other three contenders, Seymour, Spratley, and Robinson, are all in the same quarter of the bracket. Robinson and Spratley will actuall meet in an NCAA finals rematch in round two (assuming they survive their first round bouts). That quarter also includes All-American Stevo Poulin. Whoever reaches the semi from that group will be battle tested for a likely showdown with #1 Lilledahl.

Spratley vs Robinson | 2025 National Duals Invitational

Sleepers & Landmines

#16 Ezekiel Witt, North Dakota State

#17 Jett Strickenberger, West Virginia

#21 Nicolar Rivera, Wisconsin

Two of the sleepers in this bracket, Witt and Strickenberger, will meet in the first round of the tournament with a probable round two match against Lilledahl on the line. Both would be big underdogs in that bout, but they're dangerous enough that they can't be ignored on the front or back side of this bracket.

Strickenberger is a senior and a 3x NCAA qualifier who reached the blood round last season. He has multiple wins in his career against NCAA finalist Troy Spratley and has defeated other All-Americans like Zan Fugitt and Stevo Poulin. He's definitely capable of turning this bracket on its head.

The problem for Strickenberger recently has been North Dakota State freshman Ezekiel Witt who defeated him twice at Big 12s. Witt's highest ranked victory on the season was a 7-2 decision against #6 Nico Provo at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. He also made noise in that event by securing the first takedown in a match against #1 Luke Lilledahl. He ultimately fell in that bout 6-5.

Early Matches to Watch

R32 - #16 Ezekiel Witt vs #17 Jett Strickenberger

Witt won this match twice at Big 12s. He ended their third place bout with a fall followed by an emotional celebration. Expect both guys to show up ready to scrap on Thursday morning.

R16 - #4 Troy Spratley vs #7 Vincent Robinson

This is an NCAA finals rematch that will go down in the second round of the tournament. Not much else needs to be said about this one. All eyes in Cleveland will be on this round of 16 contest on Thursday evening.

R16 - #3 Sheldon Seymour vs #10 Stevo Poulin

We'll have another showdown between All-Americans in the second round at 125 lbs. Both wrestlers earned their first All-American honors last season. These two have wrestled twice in their careers. Seymour won 9-6 earlier this season at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals, and Stevo won 4-2 back in 2022 at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open.

Sheldon Seymour vs Stevo Poulin at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals

Predictions

1st - Luke Lilledahl, Penn State

2nd - Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech

3rd - Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State

4th - Troy Spratley, Oklahoma State

5th - Jore Volk, Minnesota

6th - Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

7th - Vincent Robinson, NC State

8th - Dean Peterson, Iowa

R12 - Nicolar Rivera, Wisconsin

R12 - Jacob Moran, Indiana

R12 - Nico Provo, Stanford

R12 - Jett Strickenberger, West Virginia

Lilledahl and Ventresca have set themselves up nicely in terms of seeds. They appear to have the most navigable paths to the finals. In my bracket, I picked Bouzakis to win the rubber match against Volk which may prove foolish. If Volk wins that quarterfinal, Ventresca will have a tough matchup on his hands as he's 0-2 against Volk this season.

The wildest consolation match in my bracket is NCAA champ Vincent Robinson vs All-American Stevo Poulin in the back side round of 16. Other pre-bloodround matches for me include Witt vs Rivera, Klinsky vs Moran, and McGowan vs Strickenberger. These predictions are sure to get blown up.

133 Pounds

Intrigue is high at 133 pounds — especially with the second-semester addition of Oklahoma State star Jax Forrest. Forrest graduated from high school last semester and began his college career with a fall during the Bedlam dual on January 11. He is the top seed after a 13-0 true freshman campaign. 

Ohio State’s Ben Davino and Penn State’s Marcus Blaze split tiebreaker matches this year and have only one loss to each other. Neither has wrestled Forrest in college, but that could change soon. Virginia Tech’s Aaron Seidel scored three takedowns to one against Forrest in the dual, but dropped a 10-9 thriller on February 15. 

This weight has it all and is arguably the best and deepest weight at the 2026 NCAA Championships. If the seeds hold, the semifinals could be one for the ages. 

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Lucas Byrd (Illinois)
2. Drake Ayala (Iowa)
3. Zeth Romney (Cal Poly)
4. Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)
5. Braeden Davis (Penn State)
6. Connor McGonagle (Virginia Tech)
7. Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska)
8. Tyler Knox (Stanford)

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1. Jax Forrest, FR (Oklahoma State) — 14-0
2. Ben Davino, FR (Ohio State) — 27-1
3. Marcus Blaze, FR (Penn State) — 22-1
4. Aaron Seidel, FR (Virginia Tech) — 17-1
5. Kyler Larkin, FR (Arizona State), 17-2
6. Drake Ayala, SR (Iowa), 13-8
7. Lucas Byrd, SR (Illinois), 20-2
8. Markel Baker, JR (Northern Illinois), 26-4

The Favorites

#1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State)
#2 Ben Davino (Ohio State)
#3 Marcus Blaze (Penn State)

Most weights have a clear favorite. There are three at 133 — and they are all freshmen. 

Forrest dazzles with his dynamic offense, otherworldly scrambling, and showmanship. Of his 14 wins, 11 ended early (nine techs and two falls), one was a 15-2 major over #5 Kyler Larkin in the Big 12 finals, one was the 10-9 slugfest with #4 Seidel, and one was a 4-0 win over Cuba’s Reineri Andreu, a two-time U23 World champion. 

Of note, he teched returning two-time national finalist Drake Ayala, 19-3, in the dual, establishing the 19-year-old prodigy as a transcendent college star before winning a match at the NCAA Championships. 

Blaze and Davino survived a grueling Big Ten schedule and each other to earn spots on the opposite side of Forrest. Blaze achieved 17 bonus point victories, including tight wins against Ayala (twice) and Davino (once). The Nittany Lion star is nearly impossible to take down, and his square stance makes him a defensive puzzle that most can’t solve. 

Davino cracked the code with a win over Blaze in tiebreakers, but getting to his legs and scoring a takedown will be a challenge for every wrestler in the bracket. Davino has looked good all season and could be the next Buckeye superstar. He’ll earn legendary status if he can win this weight class in Cleveland. 

The Contenders

#4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech)
#5 Kyler Larkin, FR (Arizona State)
#6 Drake Ayala, SR (Iowa)
#7 Lucas Byrd, SR (Illinois)

If contender means challenging for a spot in the finals and possibly winning the NCAA tournament, then there are four. Seidel is a borderline favorite, but it would get crowded after three.

The Hokie freshman should not be overlooked, as he is capable of winning this weight. His lone loss was the 10-9 thriller with Forrest. Besides that, he has dismantled everyone. His 17 wins include two falls, 14 techs, one major, and ZERO decisions. Seidel posted an 18-3 tech over returning All-American Tyler Knox (Stanford) in the ACC finals — a barometer of his high ceiling. 

Larkin could meet Seidel in the quarters if the seeds hold. He, too, has a high ceiling, and his only contested loss was to Forrest, 15-2, in the Big 12 finals. Both Seidel and Larkin have loads of offense, and the national tournament is the perfect time to unleash it. 

Ayala and Byrd are the elder statesmen in a weight class filled with youth. Byrd and Ayala wrestled three times last season, with the Illinois star posting wins in the Big 10 and NCAA finals. Ayala got one back at this year’s Big 10 Championship consolation semis, earning a 4-1 win in sudden victory to eventually take third. 

The Hawkeye star is peaking at the right time after suffering eight losses. A 4-1 sudden victory setback to Blaze at Big 10s shows he can contend, even though Blaze is accustomed to winning tight matches. 

Byrd is the returning NCAA champion, but took a head-scratching 7-3 loss to Purdue’s under .500 Blake Boarman in the Big 10 quarterfinals. He rebounded for fifth, including a 5-2 win over Boarman in his final match of the tournament. Byrd’s gritty style and tough top game will need to be front and center if he wants to repeat as NCAA champion. 

Watch highlights from Byrd and Ayala's 2025 NCAA finals match

Sleepers & Landmines

#13 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska)
#15 Tyler Knox (Stanford)
#16 Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)

Van Dee is 17-6 on the season, but look at his fully contested losses.
— 12-6 to Ayala
— 7-2 to Davino
— 5-1 to Blaze
— 5-1 to Davino

We’ll throw out getting pinned against American’s Marcel Lopez at the Navy Classic early in the season as an aberration. 

Van Dee finished seventh at nationals in 2025, part of Nebraska’s second-place run. The Cornhusker star injury defaulted to Byrd at the Big 10s, so his status is uncertain. He should not be overlooked, and there’s no reason he can’t reach the second round against, presumably, Seidel. 

Knox finished eighth last year, falling to Van Dee in his final match of the season. His contested losses are to Seidel (twice), Blaze (once), and Larkin (once). He could face Davino in the Round of 16. 

Fugitt had an impressive run at the 2025 NCAA Championships, finishing fourth. He finished fourth at the Big 10 Championships, falling to Ayala twice, but he is dangerous as the 16-seed — even though he could meet Forrest in the second round. 

Watch highlights from the 2025 NCAA seventh-place match between Van Dee and Knox

Early Matches To Watch

R32: #9 Dominick Serrano (Northern Colorado) vs #24 Blake Boarman (Purdue)
Remember, Boarman defeated Byrd at the Big 10 Championships. He transferred from Chattanooga, where he posted a 20-8 record and qualified for nationals. Boarman is 12-15, but a Big 10 schedule skews everything. Serrano is 15-3, but fell to Missouri’s Gage Walker, 4-1 SV, at the Big 12s and injury defaulted to Oklahoma’s Carter Schmidt. 

R32: #8 Markel Baker (Northern Illinois) vs #25 Will Betancourt (Rider)
Baker is ranked #29 and Betancourt #30 in FloWrestling’s rankings, making this a dead heat. These two met in the MAC Championship finals, with Baker winning 2-1. 

R32: #13 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) vs #20 Julian Farber (Northern Iowa)
This is more than a rubber match. These two have met six times in college, with Farber winning the first two and Van Dee taking the last four. This is the third time they’ve wrestled at the NCAA Championships. 

Here’s their college history:
December 1, 2023: Farber over Van Dee, 9-5
January 6, 2024: Farber over Van Dee, 8-1
March 21, 2024: Van Dee over Farber, 5-1
January 5, 2025: Van Dee over Farber, 5-0
March 21, 2026: Van Dee over Farber, 4-2
January 3, 206: Van Dee over Farber, 5-0

R32: #7 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs #26 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)
Shawver is a 2024 All-American (7th) and 2025 Round of 12er who has wrestled Byrd tight in two college losses. He fell 3-1 and 6-5 in duals the past two seasons. Two All-Americans going head-to-head in the first round shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Byrd lost in the second round and wrestled back for fifth in 2021, and lost in the first round and finished fifth in 2022 -- so there's precedent. 

R16: #1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) vs #16 Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)
Forrest (if he wins) could face last year’s fourth-place finisher in the second round. 

R16: #4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) vs #13 Jacon Van Dee (Nebraska)
Like Forrest, Seidel (if he wins) could face a returning All-American in the second round.

R16: #2 Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs #15 Tyler Knox (Stanford)
Like Forrest and Seidel, Davino (if he wins) could face a returning All-American in the second round. 

Watch Van Dee and Farber at the 2023 CKLV

Predictions

1. Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State)
2. Marcus Blaze (Penn State)
3. Ben Davino (Ohio State)
4. Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech)
5. Drake Ayala (Iowa)
6. Lucas Byrd (Illinois)
7. Kyler Larkin (Arizona State)
8. Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)

141 Pounds

The 141-pound division at the NCAA Tournament is filled with talent, led by two-time NCAA Champion Jesse Mendez and freshman contender Sergio Vega. Beyond the top two at this weight, nine other past All-Americans add incredible depth to this field.

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
2. Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
3. Beau Bartlett (Penn State)
4. CJ Composto (Penn)
5. Cael Happel (Northern Iowa)
6. Josh Koderhandt (Navy)
7. Jacob Frost (Iowa State)
8. Vance VomBaur (Minnesota)

The Favorite

• Jesse Mendez, Ohio State

After winning the last two NCAA titles at 141 pounds, Jesse Mendez is the clear favorite to win this year. Mendez has put together the best season of his career with a perfect 22-0 record and an 86.4% bonus rate - 6 pins, 10 techs, and 3 majors. Mendez’s dominance is even more impressive considering the competition he’s faced this year. 13 of his 22 opponents are 2026 National Qualifiers. Beyond that, 11 of his victories this year are over past All-Americans. Mendez will face a deep field in Cleveland, but all signs point to the Buckeye reaching the top of the podium once again. 

Mendez's win over Anthony Echemendia at the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic:

The Contenders

• Sergio Vega, OK State
• Brock Hardy, Nebraska
• Anthony Echemendia, Iowa State
• Luke Stanich, Lehigh

This group of four wrestlers represents a very real challenge to Jesse Mendez. True freshman Sergio Vega leads this group with a 19-0 record and two victories apiece over Brock Hardy and Anthony Echemendia. Vega’s defense and scrambling have been the difference makers for him this year as he’s yet to surrender a takedown. Vega also has a great spot in the bracket, considering he’ll wrestle Nasir Bailey or Jack Consiglio in the quarters and then Brock Hardy in the semis. Vega is 4-0 combined against those wrestlers this year, making him a big favorite to reach the finals opposite Mendez.

Sergio Vega's win over Brock Hardy at the National Duals Invitational:

Brock Hardy comes in at the #3 seed with his only losses coming against Sergio Vega (2) and Jesse Mendez (3). Hardy is already a three-time All-American with 6th (2023), 3rd (2024), and 2nd (2025) place finishes. Even with the #3 seed, Hardy will have a difficult path to the finals, with likely a very tough Vince Cornella in the quarters and Vega in the semis. Because he has to go through Vega, Hardy might be a bit of an underdog to make the finals, but no one should underestimate Hardy’s skills if he’s wrestling his best. 

Brock Hardy's win over Vance VomBaur in the semifinals at the 2026 Big Ten Championships:

Anthony Echemendia is 19-3 on the year with his only losses coming against Sergio Vega (2-1 in overtime and 4-2) and Jesse Mendez (5-1). It’s also worth noting that Echemendia lost to Mendez at the All-Star Classic to kick off the season, 7-3. Beyond those matches, Echemendia has recorded ranked victories over Nasir Bailey, Jack Consiglio, Eli Griffin, Jordan Titus, Tyler Weels, and Carter Nogle. With as good as Echemendia has been, it’s still hard to imagine him in the finals because he has to get by Mendez. Still, Echemendia is ultra-dangerous on his feet, and if Mendez isn’t at his best, Echemendia is a threat.

Anthony Echemendia's win in the finals of the 2025 CKLV:

Lehigh’s Luke Stanich marks the third undefeated wrestler in this bracket. Stanich is 13-0 on the year but received a low seed because he didn’t wrestle his first match until January 10. Beyond that, Stanich’s only ranked wins this year are over Vince Cornella, Caedyn Ricciardi, Matthew Martino, Braden Basile, and Dylan Chappell. Because of the lack of high-level competition, some might overlook Stanich in this bracket. Stanich had an outstanding summer, winning a U20 World title in Samokov, Bulgaria. Just to make Team USA, Stanich had to defeat Daniel Zepeda and Bo Bassett (3 times). Stanich is one of the best hand-fighters in the country and finishes his single-leg at an extremely high rate. Though he’s the #5 seed, Stanich might present the biggest threat to Mendez in this bracket.

Luke Stanich's win over Bo Bassett at the 2025 US Open:

Sleepers & Landmines

• Jack Consiglio, Stanford
• Luke Simcox, North Carolina
• Julian Tagg, SD State

There is a HOST of wrestlers that are capable of earning All-American honors in this bracket. Wrestlers like Nasir Bailey, Vance VomBaur, CJ Composto, Braeden Davis, and Ryan Jack are all past All-Americans who are threats to the contenders at 141. There are also non-All-Americans like Vince Cornella and Joey Olivieri who are having spectacular seasons. Those wrestlers are legitimate threats in this bracket, and no one should be surprised if they make a deep run. However, as past All-Americans, these wrestlers don’t quite fit the “Sleepers & Landmines” category quite like the above three wrestlers. 

ACC champ Jack Consiglio leads this group and is the highest-seeded wrestler at the #10 spot. Just a freshman, Consiglio is 14-5 this year with ranked victories over Luke Simcox (2), Gable Porter, Tom Crook, Lorenzo Frezza, Carter Nogle, Greyson Clark, and Tyler Wells. Consiglio is great in scramble positions and difficult to score on. As the #10 seed, he’ll likely have to beat Nasir Bailey to All-American, and no one should be surprised if this happens.

Jack Consiglio's win in the ACC finals over Luke Simcox:

Luke Simcox is another freshman from the ACC who has the potential to make a deep run in this bracket. Simcox is 13-6 on the year with notable victories over Tom Crook, Jordan Titus, Caedyn Ricciardi, Gable Porter, and Ryan Jack (two). Simcox has a tough draw as the #12 seed and will likely have to defeat either Luke Stanich, Nasir Bailey, or Jack Consiglio to reach the podium. That’s not an ideal draw, but if Simcox is wrestling his best, he’s capable of pulling off an upset or two in Cleveland.

Julian Tagg is 18-6 this year and likely would have received a higher seed at NCAAs if he hadn’t forfeited to Jordan Titus and Carter Nogle at Big 12s. Tagg has shown his potential over the past two years with victories over All-Americans Vance VomBaur, Cael Happel, and CJ Composto. Tagg is a dangerous wrestler and hasn’t yet been able to showcase his best wrestling when it matters most. As the #20 seed, I have Tagg defeating #13 Wyatt Henson in the first round and making a run to the round of 16, but he has the potential to reach the podium in Cleveland.

Who’s Winning The 141 Pound Bracket?

The potential finals match between Jesse Mendez and Sergio Vega is one of the most anticipated bouts in Cleveland. Can Vega knock off two-time champ Mendez? Or will Mendez cement his legacy as a three-time champion and go out on top? I have Mendez defeating Vega in the finals. In my opinion, Mendez is the more complete wrestler, and I believe his offensive ability will prove to be the difference over Vega. 

Full 141 Pound Predictions

1st - Jesse Mendez, Ohio State

2nd - Sergio Vega, OK State

3rd - Luke Stanich, Lehigh

4th - Brock Hardy, Nebraska

5th - Anthony Echemendia, Iowa State

6th - Jack Consiglio, Stanford

7th - Vance VomBaur, Minnesota

8th - Vince Cornella, Cornell

Rd of 12 - Nasir Bailey, Iowa

Rd of 12 - CJ Composto, Penn

Rd of 12 - Luke Simcox, North Carolina

Rd of 12 - Joey Olivieri, Rutgers

149 Pounds

The 149-pound weight class has been one of the most chaotic in the entire country this year. Shayne Van Ness has been the #1 ranked wrestler since week one, but 13 different wrestlers have been ranked in the top 5 at 149 throughout the season. Will the chaos continue in Cleveland?

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Ridge Lovett (Nebraska)
2. Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech)
3. Shayne Van Ness (Penn State)
4. Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State)
5. Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina)
6. Ethan Stiles (Oregon State)
7. Sammy Alvarez (Rider)
8. Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State)

The favorite

• Shayne Van Ness, Penn State

Van Ness enters the NCAA Tournament as the #1 seed and the lone undefeated wrestler in the field. Van Ness is currently 21-0 with a 77.3% bonus rate - 5 pins, 7 techs, and 4 majors. Van Ness also has ranked victories over Ethan Stiles, Lachlan McNeil (two), Ryder Block (two), Eligh Rivera, Chance Lamer, Carter Young, Aden Valencia, Max Petersen, and Gabe Willochell. With that kind of dominance against a tough schedule, it seems like Van Ness is a “lock” to win an NCAA title. However, Van Ness’ performance at the Big Ten Tournament may have brought that into question. Van Ness needed come-from-behind victories against both Ryder Block and Lachlan McNeil. That performance, combined with the fact that Van Ness has yet to win an NCAA title, leaves just enough doubt to keep him from being a “next topic” champion at 149 pounds this year.

Shayne Van Ness' win over Lachlan McNeil:

The Contenders

• Jaxon Joy, Cornell
• Cross Wasilewski, Penn
• Collin Gaj, Virginia Tech
• Koy Buesgens, NC State
• Caleb Tyus, SIUE
• Ethan Stiles, Ohio State
• Casey Swiderski, OK State
• David Evans, Utah Valley
• Aden Valencia, Stanford
• Lachlan McNeil, Michigan
• Carter Young, Maryland

The number of wrestlers in this category represents just how chaotic 149 pounds has been this year. There have been moments when the above ELEVEN wrestlers have looked like legitimate title contenders this year. However, they all have head-scratching blemishes on their records that make you wonder if they’ll even reach the podium in Cleveland. Check out a breakdown below of the relevant wins and losses for each wrestler in this category.

Jaxon Joy, Cornell

• Wins: Cross Wasilewski (twice), Eligh Rivera (twice), Collin Gaj, Kaleb Larkin, David Evans, Caleb Rathjen, Casey Swiderski, Ethan Stiles
• Losses: Koy Buesgens, Bo Bassett

Cross Wasilewski, Penn

• Wins: Eligh Rivera (twice), Eugene Harney, Max Petersen, Collin Gaj, Andrew Clark, Clayton Jones
• Losses: Jaxon Joy (twice), Carter Young

Collin Gaj, Virginia Tech

• Wins: Koy Buesgens (twice), Aden Valencia (twice), Kade Brown, Michael Gioffre
• Losses: Wynton Denkins, Jaxon Joy, Aden Valencia, Cross Wasilewski, Koy Buesgens

Koy Buesgens, NC State

• Wins: Kade Brown (twice), Jaxon Joy, Aden Valencia, Collin Gaj, Casey Swiderski, Caleb Rathjen
• Losses: Collin Gaj (twice), Ethan Stiles

Caleb Tyus, SIUE

• Wins: Casey Swiderski, Ethan Stiles, Dylan Layton, Ryan Michaels
• Losses: Lucas Kapusta, Bo Bassett

Ethan Stiles, Ohio State

• Wins: Joseph Zargo, Ryder Block (twice), Chance Lamer, Koy Buesgens
• Losses: Jaxon Joy, Caleb Tyus, Jacob Frost, Joseph Zargo, Shayne Van Ness

Casey Swiderski, OK State

• Wins: Lachlan McNeil, Chance Lamer, Caleb Rathjen (twice), Jacob Frost, Max Petersen
• Losses: Aden Valencia, Jaxon Joy, Ryder Block, Koy Buesgens, Caleb Tyus

David Evans, Utah Valley

• Wins: Max Petersen, Jacob Frost, Chance Lamer, Joseph Zargo, Aden Valencia
• Losses: Paniro Johnson, Jaxon Joy, Gabe Willochell, Caleb Rathjen

Aden Valencia, Stanford

• Wins: Kade Brown, Jacob Frost, Max Petersen, Collin Gaj, Casey Swiderski
• Losses: David Evans, Jacob Frost, Kaleb Larkin, Shayne Van Ness, Koy Buesgens, Collin Gaj (twice)

Lachlan McNeil, Michigan

• Wins: Carter Young (twice), Michael Gioffre (twice), Clayton Jones (twice), Ryder Block, Andrew Clark
• Losses: Casey Swiderski, Kaleb Larkin, Eligh Rivera, Collin Gaj, Shayne Van Ness (twice), Joseph Zargo

Carter Young, Maryland

• Wins: Cross Wasilewski, Joseph Zargo (twice), Andrew Clark (twice)
• Losses: Lachlan McNeil (twice), Shayne Van Ness

If you take a close look at the results, they’re all over the place! That makes this weight extremely difficult to predict, and why it has the potential to be the most chaotic bracket in Cleveland. I do think a few wrestlers from this group are trending in the right direction and worth highlighting heading into NCAAs.

The first is #11 seed, Lachlan McNeil. After a slow start with four losses in the first semester to Casey Swiderski, Kaleb Larkin, Eligh Rivera, and Collin Gaj, McNeil turned things around in the second semester, going 10-3 and placing third at the Big Ten Championships. McNeil’s most impressive match was in a loss to Shayne Van Ness in the Big Ten Semis. McNeil used two first-period takedowns to hold a 7-5 lead into the third period. He even led 9-8 with 50 seconds left in the match before Van Ness secured the match-winning takedown. That result closed the gap from a 9-1 loss to Van Ness a month prior. McNeil is peaking at the right time, and even though he’s the #11 seed, he has a great chance to make a deep run in Cleveland. 

Lachlan McNeil on his transition to Michigan:

Casey Swiderksi is another wrestler who has wrestled better in the second half of the season compared to the first. After November, Swiderski was only 2-4 and then suffered another surprising loss in December to Caleb Tyus. However, since that loss, Swiderski has won 10 straight matches, highlighted by a Big 12 title. Swiderski has a tough draw as the #8 seed with a potential match against David Evans in round two and Shayne Van Ness. However, all signs point to Swiderski finishing on the podium this year. 

Casey Swiderski's win over Caleb Rathjen in the Big 12 finals:

Jaxon Joy is the conventional pick to make the finals opposite Van Ness. Joy put together a fantastic year with a 24-1 record and a 69.2% bonus rate - 3 pins, 9 techs, and 6 majors. Even with a surprising loss to Koy Buesgens in late February, we should still expect a high finish from Joy at the NCAA Tournament. He finishes his leg attacks quickly and might be the most dominant top wrestler at the weight. Joy’s skills make him a dangerous matchup for anyone at this weight, and many expect him to wrestle Saturday night in Cleveland.

Jaxon Joy's win over Kaleb Larkin in the 2025 CKLV finals:

Collin Gaj is the final wrestler in this category worth highlighting. Gaj started the year at 157 for the Hokies and then won the starting spot after finishing 7th at the Cliff Keen Invitational and winning the Midlands Championships. While he surprisingly dropped a match to non-qualifier Wynton Denkins last month, Gaj’s performance at the ACC Tournament proved he’ll be a contender at NCAAs. To win the ACC’s Gaj took out Koy Buesgens for the second time this year (2-1 in tiebreakers) and also defeated a tough Aden Valencia (5-4). Gaj, similar to Jaxon Joy, is dominant on top, and his riding ability can shut down some of the best wrestlers in the country. 

Collin Gaj's win over Koy Buesgens:

Sleepers & Landmines

• Caleb Rathjen, Northern Iowa
• Lucas Kapusta, Lock Haven
• Eugene Harney, Morgan State

Ryder Block, Jacob Frost, Chance Lamer, and Joseph Zargo are some of the more well-known names in this bracket. Because of that, they don’t fit the “Sleepers & Landmines” category like Rathjen, Kapusta, and Harney. Rathjen leads this pack as the Big 12 runner-up with ranked wins this year over Jacob Frost, David Evans, and Joseph Zargo. Rathjen didn’t compete at all in December and is only 9-6 on the year. Because of that, he’s only the #14 seed and will have to go through Brock Herman and Cross Wasilewski just to make the quarters. Still, with as chaotic as 149 has been this year, Rathjen is capable of reaching the podium and causing some chaos of his own in Cleveland.

Lock Haven’s Lucas Kapusta only received the #17 seed, but he’s put together a very impressive season. He’s 25-4 on the year and is riding a 12-match winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. Kapusta was likely off most of the country’s radar until he defeated Caleb Tyus in the MAC finals to spoil Tyus’ undefeated season. Kapusta has a tough path on the front side of the bracket with Jacob Frost in his opening round match and then top-seeded Shayne Van Ness. Still, I think Kapusta could be poised to make some noise in the consolation bracket and challenge for All-American honors. 

Morgan State’s Eugene Harney is the final “Sleeper” worth highlighting at 149 pounds. Harney, Morgan State’s first-ever EIWA champion, is 27-4 this year and is currently riding a 9-match winning streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. Harney’s only losses on the season are close ones to Anderson Heap (4-1 in overtime), Cross Wasilewski (5-4), Kaden Cassidey (10-7), and he was pinned by Riley Bower (which he went on to avenge). As the #18 seed, Harney doesn’t have an easy path with Iowa’s Ryder Block first, and then a potential match against #2 Jaxon Joy. However, that’s exactly why he’s a landmine to watch out for in Cleveland!

Who’s Winning The 149 Pound NCAA Title?

Maybe I’ve overreacted to Van Ness’ close matches against Ryder Block and Lachlan McNeil, but I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not I’m picking Van Ness to win an NCAA title this year. Do I believe he’s the best wrestler in the bracket? Absolutely! However, I’m not entirely confident he’ll string 5 matches together to win the tournament. At the end of the day, I’m still riding with Van Ness to come out on top, but won’t be surprised if we see a big upset and one of the many contenders walking away with the 149-pound title. 

Full 149 Pound Predictions

1. Shayne Van Ness, Penn State

2. Lachlan McNeil, Michigan

3. Casey Swiderski, OK State

4. Collin Gaj, Virginia Tech

5. Jaxon Joy, Cornell

6. Koy Buesgens, NC State

7. Carter Young, Maryland 

8. Cross Wasilewski, Penn

Rd of 12 - Ethan Stiles, Ohio State

Rd of 12 - Caleb Rathjen, Northern Iowa

Rd of 12 - Aden Valencia, Stanford

Rd of 12 - David Evans, Utah Valley

157 Pounds

Despite returning on three All-Americans from 2025, this year's field at 157 lbs just might be the deepest and most exciting collection of talent in any weight class at NCAAs. Before conference weekend, this weight lacked a clear front, but PJ Duke's dominance at Big Tens has put him at the front of the pack. Wrestling fans won't want to miss any of the action at 157 lbs this year.

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1st Place - Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

2nd Place - Joey Blaze, Purdue

3rd Place - Tyler Kasak, Penn State

4th Place - Trevor Chumbley, Northwestern

5th Place - Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

6th Place - Vinny Zerban, Iowa State

7th Place - Matty Bianchi, Little Rock

8th Place - Caleb Fish, Oklahoma State

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1) PJ Duke, Penn State

2) Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

3) Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

4) Kaleb Larkin, Arizona State

5) Landon Robideau, Oklahoma State

6) Jude Swisher, Penn

7) Kannon Webster, Illinois

8) Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

The Favorite

#1 PJ Duke, Penn State

For most of the season, this weight class lacked a true favorite, but after Big Tens, Penn State true freshman PJ Duke has emerged as the man to beat at 157 lbs. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Duke has ascended to that status after just four and a half months of NCAA wrestling. After all, he made a Senior World team before he graduated from high school and brought home U20 World gold and U23 World bronze during the off season.

Duke's lone loss on the year 2-1 tiebreaker defeat at the hands of 2025 NCAA champ Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, but Duke avenged that loss by 12-4 major decision in the Big Ten finals. He also majored #8 Brandon Cannon at Big Tens and defeated #7 Kannon Webster 4-2.

PJ Duke vs Antrell Taylor in the Big Ten Finals

Throughout the season, Duke has racked up a 19-1 record with a 71.43% bonus rate. His only regular season decision victories came over #11 Daniel Cardenas, Iowa's Jordan Williams, #17 Cam Catrabone, and teammate Joe Sealey.

Contenders

#2 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

#3 Kaleb Larkin, Arizona State

#4 Landon Robideau, Oklahoma State

#5 Vinny Zerban, Iowa State

#6 Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

#7 Kannon Webster, Illinois

#8 Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

#9 Ty Watters, West Virginia

#11 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford

Normally, it would be overkill to list nine contenders at a given weight class, but this 157 group is not normal. The list starts with 2025 NCAA champ Antrell Taylor who had a bumpy start at National Duals where he took losses to Cannon and Rozynski but has been consistent against the best guys since then. He defeated Duke, Robideau, Webster, Catrabone, and Millard during the season and reached the Big Ten finals where he fell to Duke in their rematch.

Highlights from Antrell Taylor & Meyer Shapiro's 2025 NCAA Semifinal

ASU freshman Kaleb Larkin started the season at 149 lbs where he burst on the scene with a major over All-American Lachlan McNeil at National Duals and just one loss at the weight against Cornell's Jaxon Joy. Since moving up to 157 lbs, Larkin has knocked off Ty Watters twice along with Zerban and Robideau. His lone loss at the weight was to Meyer Shapiro.

Oklahoma State true freshman Robideau started his season with a major decision against Daniel Cardenas before beating Jackson Arrington and Vinny Zerban later in the year. He has two losses: a one-point tie-breaker against Antrell Taylor and a 4-3 Big 12 final against Larkin.

Vinny Zerban moved to Iowa State after an All-American finish last year at Northern Colorado. He left the Big 12 Championships early after a victory against Daishun Powe in which he was in concussion protocol for an extended period of time. The only two contested matches he's lost this season were one-takedown bouts against Robideau and Larkin. He has defeated Cardenas and Watters this year.

Cornell's Meyer Shapiro enters NCAAs after 5th and 3rd place finishes the past two seasons. He nearly completed an undefeated season that might have given him the #1 seed but fell in the Ivy finals 8-3 to Jude Swisher who he had defeated 9-2 exactly one month earlier. He also has wins on the season against Webster and Larkin and boasts a 75% bonus rate.

Meyer Shapiro vs Kannon Webster at Journeymen Collegiate Duals

After a round of 12 finish at 149 lbs a season ago, Kannon Webster moved up to 157 lbs where he finished 3rd at Big Tens. His losses this season came at the hands of Duke, Taylor, and Shapiro. Both Duke and Taylor took one takedown victories from Webster while Shapiro won 2-1. Webster defeated Brandon Cannon 9-2 at Big Tens and majored Charlie Millard earlier this year.

West Virginia's Ty Watters was 4th as a true freshman and has moved up to 157 lbs after redshirting last season. He has two losses this season to Larkin and one to Zerban, but his scrambling ability and feet to back potential make him dangerous at this weight.

2024 All-American Daniel Cardenas of Stanford is fresh off an ACC title. He's fallen to Duke, Robideau, and Zerban this year but has been largely dominant with a 65% bonus point rate. He sits at the #9 seed, but he's a less than ideal matchup for Cannon in the second round or Duke (who beat him in a one takedown match in December) in the quarters.

Sleepers & Landmines

#14 Cam Catrabone, Michigan (15th seed)

#15 Charlie Millard, Minnesota (21st seed)

#25 Gavin Drexler, North Dakota State (28th seed)

Cam Catrabone has earned the "must watch" designation throughout his freshman season. He's unpredictable with an unconventional style that gives opponents trouble and gives fans plenty to get excited about. His signature win on the season was a 5-3 come from behind thriller against Jordan Williams during Michigan's dual against Iowa. He also had a wild 12-10 match with PJ Duke in which he earned the first takedown of the match and actually held a 9-7 lead with less than a minute to go. He could have an electric tournament in Cleveland.

Cam Catrabone's Comeback Against Jordan Williams

Minnesota's Charlie Millard could also be dangerous from the #21 seed. He'll have Zerban in the first round whose health is questionable after defaulting after Big 12s, then he could see either Robideau or Drexler. Millard nearly knocked off Antrell Taylor earlier this season, and he may be poised to go on a run on either side of this bracket.

NDSU's Gavin Drexler can't be overlooked. He finished 8th a season ago from the #22 seed and knocked off Kannon Webster in the bloodround. Leaving him off the sleeper list would be a real "fool me twice" situation.

Early Matches to Watch

R32 - #15 Charlie Millard vs #5 Vinny Zerban

Minnesota's Millard has proven to be very tough this season, and he's starting his tournament against Zerban who had to injury default out of Big 12s after winning a first round match with an extended concussion protocol delay. Keep an eye on this one.

R32 - #4 Landon Robideau vs #25 Gavin Drexler

Drexler may not have a high ranking, but the NDSU Bison made the podium last season after falling in the first round. He locked up All-American status with a victory over a very tough Kannon Webster. Robideau will need to be ready.

R16 - #8 Brandon Cannon vs #9 Daniel Cardenas

If seeds hold, Cannon vs Cardenas in round two should be electric. Both guys have bonus rates over 65% and know how to put up points. This would be the first meeting between the two and will have major implications on the rest of the bracket. 

R16 - #4 Landon Robideau vs #5 Vinny Zerban

Robideau won round one of this matchup 4-1 in the Iowa State vs Oklahoma State dual. Big 12 fans expected a rematch in the semifinals, but Zerban had to pull out of the tournament due to injury. If seeds hold, we'll get the rematch with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

R16 - #9 Ty Watters vs #10 Jude Swisher

Conventional wisdom would say that Ty Watters is a big favorite in this matchup, but Jude Swisher is fresh off an Ivy championship in which he upset two-time All-American Meyer Shapiro who had defeated him earlier in the season. Swisher appears to be competing his best in the post season, so don't miss this showdown in the second round.

R16 - #7 Kannon Webster vs #13 Logan Rozynski

Webster defeated Rozynski 8-2 when they met at National Duals, but Rozynski has proven himself to be dangerous. Anyone who majors NCAA champ Antrell Taylor is dangerous, and that's what Rozynski did. Expect this to be much more competitive than their first contest.

R16 - #14 Cam Catrabone vs #2 Antrell Taylor

Antrell Taylor is 2-0 against Catrabone, and neither match has been particularly close. Their first contest was a tech for Taylor, and their Big Ten rematch was 7-1. Still, Catrabone is unpredictable, unconventional, and may dig into his bag of tricks for round three.

Predictions

1st Place - PJ Duke, Penn State

2nd Place - Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

3rd Place - Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

4th Place - Kaleb Larkin, Arizona State

5th Place - Landon Robideau, Oklahoma State

6th Place - Ty Watters, West Virginia

7th Place - Kannon Webster, Illinois

8th Place - Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

R12 - Cam Catrabone, Michigan

R12 - Charlie Millard, Minnesota

R12 - Vinny Zerban, Iowa State

R12 - Daniel Cardenas, Stanford

No matter what happens in Cleveland, some very good wrestlers will be going home without a trophy. Fans won't want to miss many of the matches in this bracket. We'll be talking about this weight for a long time.

165 Pounds

Can someone pull off the biggest upset of the year? Will Mesenbrink cement himself as the 2026 Hodge frontrunner? Who will get their revenge and who will show that they truly are the superior wrestler? Despite a bracket with a huge favorite, 165 will still be a weight with a lot of questions answered in Cleveland!

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)
2. Michael Caliendo (Iowa)
3. Peyton Hall (West Virginia)
4. Christopher Minto (Nebraska)
5. Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley)
6. Hunter Garvin (Stanford)
7. Cam Steed (Missouri)
8. Cameron Amine (Oklahoma State)

The Favorite

• Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State

165 is as much a “next topic” weight as any of them this - meaning that Mitchell Mesenbrink is a huge favorite. According to the gambling website DrafKings, the Nittany Lion is a -500 favorite to win. Mesenbrink is coming into this tournament with a 22-0, 100% bonus rate, and a good chance at winning the Dan Hodge Trophy Award. 

While Mesenbrink has never wrestled Joey Blaze in freestyle or folkstyle, he’s 8-0 against Caliendo in his college career, and 1-0 against LaDarion Lockett in his freestyle career (13-3 at the 2025 Olympic Trials). Mesenbrink has only lost one time in his college career - the 2024 NCAA finals to David Carr. It would be the upset of the tournament if Mesenbrink lost in Cleveland.

The Contenders

• Joey Blaze, Purdue
• Mikey Caliendo, Iowa
• LaDarion Lockett, Oklahoma State
• Nicco Ruiz, Arizona State

Joey Blaze, Purdue

• Wins: Mikey Caliendo, Nicco Ruiz, LJ Araujo, Braeden Scoles, Andrew Sparks
• Losses: Andrew Barbosa

Mikey Caliendo, Iowa

• Wins: LaDarion Lockett, LJ Aruajo, Andrew Sparks, Paddy Gallagher, Connor Euton, Braeden Scoles (twice) 
• Losses: LaDarion Lockett, Joey Blaze, Mitchell Mesenbrink (twice)

LaDarion Lockett, Oklahoma State

• Wins: Mikey Caliendo, Will Denny, LJ Araujo, Ryder Downey, Matty Bianchi, Conor Euton
• Losses: Nicco Ruiz, Mikey Caliendo

Nicco Ruiz, Arizona State

• Wins: LaDarion Lockett, Ryder Downey, Connor Euton
• Losses: Dylan Gilcher, Max Brignola, Joey Blaze, Ryder Downey, Cesar Alavan

Because Mesenbrink is such a favorite, it’s hard to actually call these four wrestlers 

“Contenders”, but they’re the next level of guys at the weight. After beating Mikey Caliendo soundly in the dual this year, Blaze was looking like the wrestler who would have the highest percentage chance of upsetting Mesenbrink. However, that storyline took a hit when Blaze was upset by Rutgers’ Andrew Barbosa 3-2 at Big Tens. Despite this, Blaze still received the #2 seed. He’ll likely have to go through Connor Euton, Will Denny or Max Brignola, and then Caliendo again just to make it to Mesenbrink. 

Caliendo is as steady as they come. His only losses this year came to Lockett, Blaze, and Mesenbrink, and he got the Lockett one back at the dual in February after losing at National Duals in November. He’s basically a lock to make the finals, where he’s likely to face Joey Blaze. There’s hope if you’re a Hawkeye fan. Although Blaze won handily and without controversy in the dual, FRL host Christian Pyles thinks Caliendo gets his revenge and makes the finals. 

Nicco Ruiz is a bit of the odd man out in this contenders tier, as he, without a doubt, had the worst regular season of the four. The Sun Devil suffered five regular-season losses. Despite this, he’s peaking when it matters. He hasn’t lost since January, got revenge for two of his losses (Brignola, and Downey), and defeated LaDarion Lockett in the Big 12 finals. 

I believe Lockett is more than capable of getting revenge against Ruiz. As the #4 and #5 seeds, that is a potential quarterfinal with the winner getting #1 Mesenbrink in the semis. Lockett can sometimes play it close and have trouble getting to his offense against the top guys at the weight. He was able to continue to find a way to win despite when this happened all year long until suffering losses to Caliendo in the final dual of the year and Ruiz in the conference finals. If he’s wrestling his best, however, I think he makes the semis.

Sleepers & Landmines

• Ty Whalen, Princeton
• Noah Mulvaney, Bucknell
• EJ Parco, Stanford

As a redshirt at 149 lbs at the Midlands in 2024, Ty Whalen defeated Ty Watters and Kyle Parco. The Princeton Tiger has been solid since, but hasn’t quite been able to replicate that level of win since. However, with a 21-5 record at 157 lbs last year and 20-7 going into the tournament this year, if he can unlock that level again somehow, he could put someone on upset alert.

Noah Mulvaney is a scrapper. His club coach, Ben Askren, calls him “The Junkyard Dog” because you don’t want to see him in an alley. If he loses, he’s going to go down swinging.

Competing at 149 while redshirting last year and the beginning of this year at 157, EJ Parco took a bit to get used to 165. He looked solid at ACCs, knocking off NC State’s Will Denny in the semis, and I’m as high as Denny as anyone.

Full 165 Pound Predictions

1. Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State

2. Joey Blaze, Purdue

3. Mikey Caliendo, Iowa

4. LaDarion Lockett, Oklahoma State

5. Nicco Ruiz, Arizona State

6. Ryder Downey, Northern Iowa

7. LJ Araujo, Nebraska

8. Will Denny, NC State

R12. Max Brignola, Lehigh

R12. Matty Bianchi, Little Rock

R12. Cesar Alvan, Cal Poly

R12. Bryce Hepner, North Carolina

174 Pounds

174 is going to be electric in Cleveland. We’ve got a clear favorite who is fighting to be kept in the Hodge Trophy race, an undefeated Ivy Leaguer who has some question marks on his full potential, a Big Ten trio who can all beat each other on any given day, and a handful of guys capable of making a deep run. Check out the article below for a complete preview with predictions for what should be an incredible bracket to watch unfold!

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State)
2. Keegan O'Toole (Missouri)
3. Levi Haines (Penn State)
4. Patrick Kennedy (Iowa)
5. Simon Ruiz (Cornell)
6. Cade DeVos (South Dakota State)
7. Matthew Singleton (NC State)
8. Danny Wask (Navy)

The Favorite

• Levi Haines, Penn State

Levi Haines is a huge favorite to win this bracket. He’s coming in with a 21-0 record, 77% bonus rate, and has never lost to anyone in the field in folkstyle. The only wrestlers that have been able to keep it to a decision with him this year have been Christopher Minto (2X), Carson Kharchla, Gabe Arnold, and teammate Will Henckel.

After putting up an undefeated national championship season two years ago at 157 lbs, Haines suffered two losses lost season and finished 3rd at NCAAs at 174. It felt like 157 might have been his best weight class and 2024 might have been his best collegiate year. However, Haines unlocked a new level this past offseason when he made the Senior World Team at 79 kg and then brought home a gold medal from the World Championships. While he might not be the frontrunner, Haines is putting together a season so far this year that has him in the Hodge talk.

The Contenders

• Simon Ruiz, Cornell
• Christopher Minto, Nebraska
• Carson Kharchla, Ohio State
• Patrick Kennedy, Iowa

Simon Ruiz, Cornell

• Wins: Alex Facundo, Matty Singleton
• Loses: none

Christopher Minto, Nebraska

• Wins: Carson Kharchla, Patrick Kennedy, Alex Facundo, Beau Mantanona
• Losses: Alex Facundo, Patrick Kennedy, Carson Kharchla, Levi Haines (twice)

Carson Kharchla, Ohio State

• Wins: Christopher Minto, Patrick Kennedy, Beau Mantanona (twice), Matty Singleton
• Losses: Levi Haines, Patrick Kennedy (twice), Christopher Minto

Patrick Kennedy, Iowa

• Wins: Christopher Minto, Carson Kharchla, Alex Facundo, Cam Steed, Beau Mantanona
• Losses: MJ Gaitan, Beau Mantanona, Christopher Minto, Carson Kharchla

Simon Ruiz is the only other guy at 174 coming into the national tournament with an unblemished record. That being said, he hasn’t been through the wringer like the Big Ten boys. His only top-10 wins are Alex Facundo and Matty Singleton. In fact, Ruiz has never wrestled Minto, Kharchla, or Kennedy. I’m not doubting him, however, as he took 5th at this weight last year as a freshman. I expect him to improve upon that finish this year.

The Minto, Kharchla, Kennedy group is interesting. They have all taken turns beating each other this season, and I would say they are capable of doing it again. Minto has separation from the other two due to the fact that he is the one who has kept it the closest with Levi Haines in their two meetings this season. In the dual, Minto took Levi down and led for a portion of the match.

In the Big Ten finals, Haines was unable to take Minto down and won 2-1 on an illegal hold call on Minto - a path to victory that would be hard to replicate.

Honorable mention contenders that could make a run: Matty Singleton, Cam Steed, Alex Facundo, Beau Mantanona

Sleepers & Landmines

• Cam Steed, Missouri
• Danny Wask, Navy
• Carter Schubert, Oklahoma
• Luca Augustine, Pitt

Alright, maybe it’s not fair to call a returning All-American and Big 12 champion a “sleeper”. But at the #7 seed, Cam Steed might be undervalued. And with a route through #2 Simon Ruiz and #3 Chris Minto, who aren’t untouchable, there is a world where Steed could make a finals run if he wrestles his best.

Another returning All-American, Danny Wask, isn’t a true a dark horse, but coming in with recent losses to Myles Takats and Carter Bear, that’s what Navy’s 174-pounder is. Sitting at the #15 seed, many people, myself included, don’t have the Midshipman returning to the podium this year. But if he wrestles his best, he is capable. 

Wask also took a loss to Oklahoma’s Carter Schubert at CKLV this year. At the #12 seed, Schubert isn’t a crazy sleeper, but I feel like he’s one of the more under-the-radar #12 seeds in this tournament. 

Watch Schubert and Wask’s CKLV final below

At the #23, Luca Augustine is my lowest seed with the ability to sneak on the podium. Augustine isn’t wrestling his best this year down the homestretch, but as a fifth-year senior and four-time NCAA qualifier, Augustine will be wrestling in his last tournament. Sometimes that’s when you see guys go crazy.

Full 174 Pound Predictions

1. Levi Haines, Penn State

2. Christopher Minto, Nebraska

3. Simon Ruiz, Cornell

4. Carson Kharchla, Ohio State

5. Patrick Kennedy, Iowa

6. Matty Singleton, NC State

7. Alex Facundo, Oklahoma State

8. Cam Steed, Missouri

R12. Danny Wask, Navy

R12. MJ Gaitan, Iowa State

R12. Carter Schubert, Oklahoma

R12. Beau Mantanona, Michigan

184 Pounds

A lot of 184lb talent from 2025 ran out of NCAA eligibility last season, including the only five-time D1 champ in college wrestling history, but that hasn't stopped this division from reloading with some of the biggest stars in the sport.

Blue chippers Angelo Ferarri, Aeoden Sinclar and Brock Mantanona made their much anticipated debuts this season. Additionally, Rocco Welsh returned from a redshirt season, having transferred from Ohio State to Big Ten rival Penn State. All that plus the return of Max McEnelly, among others, and you've got a recipe for an electric bracket this weekend in Cleveland.

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1st Place - Carter Starocci, Penn State

2nd Place - Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa

3rd Place - Max McEnelly, Minnesota

4th Place - Dustin Plott, Oklahoma State

5th Place - Chris Foca, Cornell

6th Place - Jaxon Smith, Maryland

7th Place - Silas Allred, Nebraska

8th Place - Donnell Washington, Indiana

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1) Rocco Welsh, Penn State

2) Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri

3) Max McEnelly, Minnesota

4) James Conway, Franklin & Marshall

5) Brock Mantanona, Michigan

6) Eddie Neitenbach, Wyoming

7) Angelo Ferrari, Iowa

8) Silas Allred, Nebraska

The Favorites

(FloWrestling national ranking listed)

#1 Rocco Welsh, Penn State

#2 Angelo Ferrari, Iowa

#3 Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri

#4 Max McEnelly, Minnesota

Three of the top four contenders are both ranked and seeded in the top four. The outlier is Angelo Ferrari, who missed some time this season due to injury and had to medically forfeit out of the Big Ten Championships. This resulted in him taking an 'official' loss to Chris Moore, which dragged his seed down to #7, though he remained ranked at #2.

Rocco Welsh is undefeated, earning his number one ranking and seed as the only person who has defeated Ferrari on the mat this season. Welsh did so twice: first in a January dual and then at Big Tens. Both of those wins were in tiebreakers, which would suggest that a rematch between the two would be closer to a coin toss than to Ferrari being a substantial underdog. 

In fact, all three of Welsh's Big Ten Championship bouts went into overtime. Ultimatley all that matters is getting your hand raised, however, Welsh's bonus rate is hovering at around 50%, which is low when considering undefeated #1 seeds. None of which is to say Rocco is vulnerable to an upset, just that the Pennsylvania is not invincible, and also that this field is very tough. 

Watch Welsh win a 2026 Big Ten title:

Case in point, Aeoden Sinclair, a Wisconsin native who trained with Ben Askren and then followed in his mentor's footsteps to the University of Missouri. The redshirt freshman has just one loss on the season, to Ferrari in tiebreakers at the National Duals Invitational last November. 

On the plus for Sinclair is a signature win over Max McEnelly, which also occurred at NDI. McEnelly had but one other loss on the season, another tiebreaker loss to Welsh in the Big Ten finals. The Minnesota native is also the highest returning placer from 2025, which he accomplished as a freshman.  

Contenders

#5 Silas Allred, Nebraska

#6 Brock Mantanona, Michigan

#7 Dylan Fishback, Ohio State

#8 Eddie Neitenbach, Wyoming

#9 James Conway, Franklin & Marshall

#10 Isaac Dean, Iowa State

#11 Shane Cartagena-Walsh, Rutgers

#12 Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State

The margin between the favorites and contenders is slim, but the Big Ten trio that follows directly behind McEnelly doesn't quite have the resumes to move into the top tier. 

Allred has been a stalwart for the Huskers, finishing in the bloodround in 2023 and 2024 before finally reaching the podium in 2025 with a 7th-place finish. He and Dylan Fishback, who joined the Big Ten Conference this offseason by way of NC State, split matches this season, with Fishback winning at NDI but Allred getting the dub in a January dual meet and at Big Tens. 

BrockMan has wins over both Allred (at National Duals) and Fishback (at a February 1 dual), however, the California native was stopped by James Conway in the finals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

Watch Conway win a 2025 CKLV title:

Conway has an opportunity to become Franklin and Marshall's first All-American since Richard Durso in 2014. The Diplomat had an inspiring CKLV but stumbled in the finals of the EIWA, falling to Caleb Campos of American. 

Wyoming Eddie Neitenbach has been on a tear in 2026, going undefeated on the mat until he was felled in the Big 12 finals by Sinclair. 

Two other 2026 Big 12 Tournament participants were Isaac Dean and Zack Ryder, and both have an opportunity to make a deep run at NCAAs. Seeds for both wrestlers took a hit after their conference tournament (especially Ryder's) but a season's worth of data shows that, if healthy, both are podium threats. 

Lastly, Shane Cartegena-Walsh earned an inclusion in the contenders list thanks to a strong Big Ten Tournament that saw him notch a victory over Dylan Fishback. 

Sleepers & Landmines

Sam Goin, Indiana

Malachi DuVall, George Mason

Brian Soldano, Rutgers

Caleb Campos, American

Goin had his seed throttled by a brutal Big Ten schedule and a countable medical forfeit at the Patriot Last Chance Open, but evidence suggests he is far superior than his #33 seed suggests. 

DuVall has been a leader of the George Mason program for years, now qualifying for his third NCAA tournament in a row. His win over Edinboro's Jared McGill (who has a win over Cartegna-Walsh) at the MAC Championship shows this senior is not an opponent to be taken lightly. 

Brian Soldano has been confounding opponents (and often fans too) with a risk-taking, scrambling, and pinning style that makes for exciting wrestling and a dangerous opponent. 

Finally, Caleb Campos showed what he is capable of in the EIWA finals, where he used his blast doubles to devastating effect against James Conway. 

Watch Campos win a 2026 EIWA title:

Early Matches to Watch

Any match from the quarterfinals is going to be must-see, but here are some early round matchups that shouldn't slip past your radar.

Round 1 - Ian Bush, West Virginia vs Rylan Rogers, Lehigh

Few #17 vs #16 seed bouts will feature a matchup as talented as this one. 

Round 1 - Shan Cartegena-Walsh, Rutgers vs Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State

You know a Zack Ryder matchup was going to show up here when he received the #22 seed. This could just as easily be a quarterfinal bout. 

Round 2 - Isaac Dean, Iowa State vs James Conway, F&M

Both of these wrestlers have long frames and excellent takedown defenses. The scrambles alone could feed families. 

Round 2 - Angelo Ferrari, Iowa vs Caleb Campos, American

Blast doubles vs blast doubles. Ferrari will be the favorite but Campos has the talent to make this interesting. 

Round 2 - Brock Mantanona, Michigan vs Dylan Fishback, Ohio State

A rematch between two of college sports' most historic rivals. Fishback won in the dual meet by a takedown. Can BrockMan get revenge in Cleveland? 

Spey's Spredictions

1st - Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri

2nd - Rocco Welsh, Penn State

3rd - Angelo Ferrari, Iowa

4th - Max McEnelly, Minnesota

5th - James Conway, F&M

6th - Silas Allred, Nebraska

7th - Eddie Neitenbach, Wyoming

8th - Brock Mantanona, Michigan

R12 - Sal Perrine, Ohio

R12 - Jaden Bullock, Virginia Tech

R12 - Dylan Fishback, Ohio State

R12 - Chris Moore, Illinois

I'm riding with Aeoden at 184. I think he's got the most diverse arsenal, which gives him a path to victory over everyone in the field. 

Of course, things don't always go as planned, and I'm making no guarantees with regard to any of my picks, but Sinclair is who I felt best about going into the weekend. 

I like Welsh's path to the finals, certainly more than I like Sinclair's, as Aeoden will have to get by Ferrari in the quarters. Assuming that happens, I like Ferrari to bounce back and storm through the consis to claim third. That said, if McEnelly, who Sinclair will likely have to beat in the semifinals, is indeed Ferrari's opponent in the third-place bout, I would not be surprised in the least if it's McEnelly instead on the third-place podium step. 

It gets foggier from there, so I'm sticking with the seeds and saying all of the top 8 end up on the podium. The chances of that actually happening are quite slim, but that's the fun of predictions: seeing just how differently things play out in reality!

197 Pounds

Penn State’s Josh Barr (19-0) reached the 2025 NCAA tournament finals as a freshman and has earned bonus point wins in all of his matches this season (5 falls, 10 TF, 4 MD). If the Nittany Lions break the NCAA Championships scoring record, Barr will be a big reason why. 

Iowa State’s Rocky Elam is also undefeated, and he’d like to win a national title during his super senior season. He was a four-time All-American for Missouri (5th, 4th, 3rd, 6th) from 2021-24, took an injury redshirt, then moved to Ames. 

AJ Ferrari moved up to 285 pounds, and Jacob Cardenas graduated, leaving Joey Novak (Wyoming), Stephen Little (Little Rock), Mac Stout (Pittsburgh), and Camden McDanel (Nebraska) as All-Americans from a year ago. 

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1. Stephen Buchanan (Iowa)
2. Josh Barr (Penn State)
3. AJ Ferrari (Cal State-Bakersfield)
4. Jacob Cardenas (Michigan)
5. Joey Novak (Wyoming)
6. Stephen Little (Little Rock)
7. Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
8. Camden McDanel (Nebraska)

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1. Josh Barr, SO (Penn State), 19-0
2. Rocky Elam, SR (Iowa State), 18-0
3. Stephen Little, JR (Little Rock), 15-2
4. Sonny Sasso, SO (Virginia Tech), 25-5
5. Joey Novak, JR (Wyoming), 17-3
6. Justin Rademacher, SO (Oregon State), 23-3
7. Cody Merrill, FR (Oklahoma State) 17-4
8. DJ Parker, JR (Oklahoma), 19-8

The Favorite

#1 Josh Barr (Penn State)

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Barr does not win the 197-pound title. His sophomore campaign has been nothing short of jaw-dropping after a 22-4 redshirt freshman year. 

His season numbers speak for themselves:
— 100 percent bonus point rate (5 falls, 10 TF, 4 MD).
— Three techs at the Big Ten Championships, including a 19-4 win over returning All-American Camden McDanel (Nebraska) in the finals after a 21-9 major in the dual.
— A 9-1 win over returning All-American Stephen Little (Little Rock) at the Southern Scuffle.
— An 18-3 tech over Luke Geog (Ohio State) in the Big Ten semis after an 11-2 win in the dual. 

This indicates that Barr is peaking and is improving at the right time. His relentless pace might be too much for the rest of the field to handle. There’s a good chance that the Davison, Michigan, native will get his hand raised on Saturday night. 

Watch Barr's finals match against Stephen Little in the Southern Scuffle finals

The Contenders

#2 Rocky Elam (Iowa State)
#3 Stephen Little (Little Rock)
#4 Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech)
#5 Joey Novak (Wyoming)
#6 Justin Rademacher (Oregon State)
#7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State)

Elam is on the opposite side of Barr, and his extended body of work gives him an edge in a grueling three-day tournament. The Kansas City, Missouri, native is seeking his first trip to the NCAA Championship finals after four podium finishes and a 2021 Junior World title. His ability to ride and secure a clutch takedown will serve Elam well as he works through the rounds. 

Speaking of riding, Cody Merrill has three tools that make him dangerous. He’s nearly impossible to take down; he can escape from (almost) anybody; he can ride like a Cowboy. Most of Merrill’s scores against top competition are close, and if he gets a first-period takedown, he’ll be tough to beat. 

Wyoming’s Joey Novak is also a Cowboy, and he should be riding high after defeating Merrill 5-2 in sudden victory at the Big 12s, then dropping a 5-4 match to Elam in the finals after a 7-3 loss at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invite. His only other loss was a 12-2 setback to Virginia Tech’s Sonny Sasso early in the season. If the seeds hold, Novak and Sasso will meet in the quarters. 

Sasso took a couple of early-season losses but is trending upward when it matters most. He topped Merril in the dual, 2-1, and avenged an 11-4 loss to Pittsburgh’s Mac Stout at the ACC Championships. Sasso and Novak are on the same side as Barr, so their potential quarterfinal match is a big step toward getting on the podium. 

Rademacher entered the season fresh off a 97 kg U20 World gold medal. Freestyle success does not directly correlate with folkstyle success, but it indicates that the star from Oregon State has potential. All his losses were close (4-3 to Elam, 6-4 SV to Colton Hawks, and 4-3 Little), so it’s a takedown game for West Linn, Oregon, native. 

Little has a real shot at reaching the finals. He took a head-scratching 6-5 loss to Binghamton’s Mikey Squires on February 22, but has a win over Rademacher and is one of four wrestlers not to get teched or pinned by Barr. The Sturgis, Kentucky, native is the linchpin of a Little Rock program on the rise. He might have to beat Rademacher and Elam, but reaching the finals would be the next step in his team's success. 

Watch Elam and Novak go head-to-head in the 2025 CKLV finals.

Sleepers and Landmines

#10 Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)
#11 Camden McDanel (Nebraska)
#12 Luke Geog (Ohio State)
#13 Bennett Berge (South Dakota State)
#27 Gabe Arnold (Iowa)

This weight is full of sleepers and landmines, but here are five you shouldn’t overlook.

Stout, McDanel, and Berge are returning All-Americans capable of reaching the podium again.

Stout defeated Sasso 11-4, but lost 4-3 at the ACC Championships. His college career, including a seventh-place finish last year, makes him a tough out, and the potential second-round match with Merrill is one you should circle.

McDanel has six losses, but take that with a grain of salt. He wrestled a tough schedule, falling to Barr and Merril twice, and Stout and Evan Bates (Missouri) once. The Circleville, Ohio, native could face Rademacher in the second round, an opponent he lost to 8-5 in sudden victory two seasons ago. 

Berge took losses to Oklahoma’s DJ Parker and Merrill at the Big 12 Championships, but finished fourth at the 2024 NCAA Championships when he was at 184. He is competitive with nearly everyone in the bracket and can defeat Sasso in the Round of 16.

Arnold is Iowa’s utility man, competing at 174, 184, and 197 this season. Many of his matches are won or lost in sudden victory or late in the match. This is a tough first-round draw for Rademacher. 

Ohio State needs Geog to score points as the team fights for second place. His brutal schedule included losses to Barr, McDanel, Rademacher, Elam, Novak, and John Branson (Maryland). 

Watch highlights from Stout and McDanel in their seventh-place match at the 2025 NCAA Championships

Tiger-Style Bracket

Transferring is the name of the game in college athletics, but three wrestlers in this bracket have ties to the University of Missouri.

No. 2 Elam was a four-time All-American for the Tigers before transferring to Iowa State, #25 Evan Bates transferred from Northwestern to Missouri, and #29 Colton Hawks transferred from Missouri to Arizona State. 

Early Matches To Watch

#6 Justin Rademacher (Oregon State) vs #27 Gabe Arnold (Iowa)
Arnold was the late starter for Iowa at 197, but Rademacher could have his hands full. Whoever scores the first offensive points will probably win.

#8 DJ Parker (Oklahoma) vs #29 Colton Hawks (Arizona State)
Yes, Hawks is 7-9 this season, but he has a 6-4 win over Rademacher, and took Parker to sudden victory at the Big 12 Championships. 

#12 Luke Geog (Ohio State) vs #21 Rune Lawrence (West Virginia)
Lawrence fell to Novak 7-6 at the Big 12s, has a fall over Parker this season, and lost 2-1 to Merrill. This isn’t a gimme for Geog. 

#10 Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) vs #23 Mike Squires (Binghamton)
Squires’s 6-5 win over Little — a title contender — should not be overlooked as Stout, a returning All-American, attempts to reach the podium again. 

Predictions

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

285 Pounds

A lot of big names are gone from last season's biggest division at NCAAs, but that just opened the door for a new generation of heavies to make their mark in college wrestling. 

Gone are wrestling royalty and Hodge Trophy winners Wyatt Hendrickson and Gable Steveson. Three other All-Americans from 2025 also ran out of eligibility, leaving just Isaac Trumble and Ben Kueter back in the field from last year's podium. 

But that is a deceptive stat, as four other All-Americans from earlier seasons -- or in the case of AJ Ferrari, a lower weight class -- have returned to make for a heavyweight field as deep as it's ever been. 

Will Yonger Bastida or Taye Ghadalia make a triumphant senior season return after losing a year to injury? Will Trumble complete his career with an undefeated season? Will Mr. Fast Twitch get back to number one status? Or will we see some other party crasher in this year's heavyweight field? 

CP's Take

2025 All-Americans

1st Place - Wyatt Hendrickson, Oklahoma State

2nd Place - Gable Steveson, Minnesota

3rd Place - Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State

4th Place - Isaac Trumble, NC State

5th Place - Owen Trephan, Lehigh

6th Place - Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State

7th Place - Joshua Heindselman, Oklahoma

8th Place - Ben Kueter, Iowa

2026 Top 8 Seeds

1) Yonger Bastida, Iowa State

2) Isaac Trumble, NC State

3) Taye Ghadiali, Michigan

4) AJ Ferrari, Nebraska

5) Nick Feldman, Ohio State

6) Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

7) Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State

8) Ben Kueter, Iowa

The Favorites

(FloWrestling national ranking listed)

#1 Yonger Bastida, Iowa State

#2 Isaac Trumble, NC State

The top five seeds lineup on target with Flo's rankings, though only two of them are undefeated with top 5 wins this season, and they're both on our short list of favorites. 

That's not to say that they are the only two heavyweights capable of winning, just that they have the most proven track records this season. 

Bastida is 25-0 on the season, which includes a CKLV title. The Cuban native also has a Cyclone Invitational title to his name that featured a win over Braxton Amos. The senior Cyclone also has wins over Kueter, Carroll, Feldman, Taylor, Szuba, and two wins over Doucet, one of which was in the Big 12 Championships finals. 

Watch Bastida win a CKLV title: 

Trumble has a shorter resume, with only one tournament title this season, that being the ACC Championships, which he won handily in two straight bouts. Isaac's season only started in December, but his second match was a marquee bout against Nick Feldman, which Trumble won 5-1. 

Contenders

#3 Taye Ghadiali, Michigan

#4 AJ Ferrari, Nebraska

#5 Nick Feldman, Ohio State

#6 Ben Kueter, Iowa

#7 Cole Mirasola, Penn State

#8 Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State

#9 Braxton Amos, Wisconsin

#10 David Szuba, Arizona State

#11 Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

Ghadiali, Ferrari, Feldman and Kueter have all found the podium at least once in their careers. Ferrari has taken a circuitous route to Nebraska after winning a national title for Oklahoma State back in 2021, but he's proven to be a force at heavyweight with recent wins at Big Tens over Feldman and Kueter. 

It was Ghadiai, however, who emerged victorious at the Big Ten Championships, besting Ferrari 5-2 and establishing himself as the next most likely title contender after the two undefeated favorites. The transfer from Campbell avenged an early-season loss to Ferrari, which occurred at the National Duals Invitational. The only blemish on the senior's record is an 11-2 loss to Christian Carroll at the CKLV. 

Feldman, Kueter, and Mirasola had one battle after another in the Big Ten. Feldman has wins over Kueter (twice), while Kueter split matches with Mirasola, and Mirasola has a win over Feldman. That makes for some difficult rankings, though out-of-conference results have them settled in their current order. Amos falls just behind that trio, though the U20 world gold medalist has proven he has the potential to contend with all of them.

Watch Feldman and Kueter wrestling in a late-season dual: 

Doucet and Szuba had Bastida to contend with in the Big 12. A win by Szuba over fellow contender and 2025 bloodrounder Nathan Taylor in the last dual meet of the season for both teams helped elevate both of their seeds just before tournament time. 

Sleepers & Landmines

#13 Christian Carroll, Wyoming

#14 Luke Luffman, Illinois

#19 Jimmy Mullen, Virginia Tech

#20 Nate Schon, Drexel

Christian Carroll took two surprising losses at the Big 12 tournament that hurt his seed, as he fell all the way to #18 despite being ranked #13. Carroll had an excellent CKLV tournament, where he beat Ghadiali and gave Bastida a very tough bout in the finals. 

Luffman is also ranked much lower (#26) than his ranking. The 2025 bloodrounder had a hellacious strength of schedule and is capable of going on a run at NCAAs. 

Redshirt sophomore Jimmy Mullen is also poised for a breakout performance. The New Jersey native was a blue-chip recruit and has the size to give any heavyweight problems. 

Nate Schon, an Iowa State transfer, may not have the size, but he has the tenacity and fearlessness to take on any 285-pounder. He also gave Mullen all he could handle at the Keystone Classic, falling in a tight, 8-7 bout. 

Watch Schon win in the EIWA semifinals:

Early Matches to Watch

Any match from the quarterfinals is going to be must-see, but here are some early round matchups that shouldn't slip past your radar.

Round 1 - Koy Hopke, Minnesota vs Nate Schon, Drexel

Hopke comes from a heavyweight university, a school known for producing All-American 285-pounders, while Schon is coming on strong for the Dragons after a command performance at EIWAs. This is a high quality match up for the #14 vs #19 seeds. 

Round 1 - Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs Connor Barket, Duke

Connor Barket has been a bright spot for the Blue Devils this season. Mirasola will be favored, but the Duke heavy is not to be underestimated. 

Round 1 - Christian Carroll, Wyoming vs Brady Colbert, Army

Colbert did not have the EIWA tournament he was hoping for, but the Army heavyweight has an impressive resume that includes a win over Nathan Taylor. Carroll is also looking to change his momentum after conference weekend. The winner here could be a bracket disruptor. 

Round 2 - Nick Feldman, Ohio State vs Braxton Amos, Wisconsin

Assuming this matchup happens, we're looking at a premier Big Ten bout between the #5 seed vs #12 seed. 

Round 2 - Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State vs David Szuba, Arizona State

Round 2 - Ben Kueter, Iowa vs Cole Mirasola, Penn State

The final two bouts to watch in the second round will likely see matchups between two intraconference All-American contenders. Assuming no upsets, we've got some fire heavyweight bouts to look forward to on Thursday night. 

Spey's Spredictions

1st - Yonger Bastida, Iowa State

2nd - Isaac Trumble, NC State

3rd - Nick Feldman, Ohio State

4th - Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

5th - Taye Ghadiali, Michigan

6th - AJ Ferrari, Nebraska

7th - Braxton Amos, Wisconsin

8th - Cole Mirasola, Penn State

R12 - Christian Carroll, Wyoming

R12 - Koy Hopke, Minnesota

R12 - Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State

R12 - Ben Kueter, Iowa

I'm picking the favorites to finish in the top two, but then I get a little more adventurous. Ghadiali and Ferrari have earned their seeds, but I think Feldman goes on a hot streak in Cleveland, which is just a short road trip from his home base in Columbus. 

I'm also assuming Taylor finds a new level and has career performance. He's got a coach in Zack Rey that knows a thing or two about NCAA performances. 

Higher seeds make up most of the rest of the picks, with the outlier being Carroll, who I think is better than his seed suggests. We'll see how these picks look in a few days!