Does naming your son Kyle ensure wrestling greatness? Probably not, but it might be the sport’s greatest first name in American history.
Two Kyles — Kyle Dake and Kyle Snyder — are among the nation’s best (both are in the top 10 all-time in the United States), with at least one Kyle representing the United States at Worlds/Olympics since 2015, and two Kyles representing the United States at Worlds/Olympics for seven straight years (2018-2024).
But who is the greatest wrestler Kyle of all time? We’ll get to that soon enough, but here are eight other Kyles (along with a list of notable Kyles at the end of this article) before Kyle Dake and Kyle Snyder battle it out for Kyle supremacy.
10. Kyle Richards, Wisconsin
Richards lost to future UFC champion Mark Coleman in the 1988 NCAA Championship semifinals, 7-2, before bouncing back for fourth, falling to Iowa State’s two-time NCAA champion Eric Voelker in the consolation finals.
NCAA finishes
1987: DNP at 190
1988: 4th at 190
9. Kyle Blevins, Appalachian State
Blevins left Sapula, Oklahoma, for North Carolina, where he finished fourth at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
NCAA finishes
2011: DNP at 165
2012: 4th at 165
8. Kyle Crutchmer, Oklahoma State
Crutchmer was a key piece of the Cowboys' line-up under John Smith, placing twice at nationals and winning the 2012 Junior Nationals. He currently competes for Bellator and has a 10-2 MMA record.
NCAA finishes
2015: 5th at 174
2017: 7th at 174
7. Kyle Terry, Oklahoma
Terry qualified for nationals three times, finishing third at the 2010 NCAA Championships, defeating another Kyle (Ruschell) in the consolation finals.
NCAA finishes
2007: DNP at 141
2009: R12 at 149
2010: 3rd at 149
All-American Kyles: 2010 NCAA Championships at 149 Pounds
6. Kyle Conel, Kent State/Penn State
Unseeded Kyle Conel of Kent State took the nation by storm when he upset Ohio State’s top-seeded Kollin Moore in the 2018 NCAA Championship quarterfinals, then defeated him again for third. The wins were a key piece of Penn State’s seven-point win over the Buckeyes at nationals.
NCAA finishes
2016: DNP at 197
2018: 3rd at 197
Learn more about Kyle Conel's wrestling journey
5. Kyle Ruschell, Wisconsin
Before he was Tennessee Chattanooga’s head coach, Ruschell was a two-time All-American and four-time national qualifier for Wisconsin.
NCAA finishes
2007: R12 at 141
2008: DNP at 141
2009: 3rd at 149
2010: 4th at 149
4. Kyle Parco, Fresno State/Arizona State/Iowa
Parco was a four-time All-American (one season at Fresno State and three at Arizona State) before transferring to Iowa for his super-senior COVID season.
NCAA finishes
2021: 6th at 149
2022: 8th at 149
2023: 4th at 149
2024: 5th at 149
2025: DNP at 149
3. Kyle Ott, Illinois
Ott was a two-time national finalist for the Illini and a three-time national qualifier. He scored an overtime win over Michigan State’s Nick Simmons at the 2005 NCAA Championships before falling to Indiana’s Joe Dubuque in the finals, 2-0.
NCAA finishes
2004: 2nd at 125
2005: 2nd at 125
2006: R12 at 125
Who’s Number One? Kyle Dake or Kyle Snyder
It comes down to this: two incredible Kyles vying for Kyle supremacy. Either has a rightful claim to the top spot, and there’s no wrong answer, but there are no ties — only criteria.
Kyle Snyder
Snyder finished second at the 2015 NCAA Championships before winning the World Championships in Las Vegas at 19. His follow-up was gold at the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships, where he defeated Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulaev, 6-5, in the final match of the tournament, giving the United States its first World team title since 1995.
The Woodbine, Maryland, native won three NCAA titles at heavyweight, including a 7-5 sudden-victory thriller over NC State’s Nick Gwiazdowski in 2016. Snyder added two more World titles and a silver at the 2020 Olympics for 10 World and Olympic medals and 12 straight World teams.
Kyle Dake
Dake won four NCAA titles at four different weights (141, 149, 157, and 165) from 2010-13. For comparison, no wrestler has won more than two NCAA titles at two different weights. His final college match was a classic: a 5-4 win over David Taylor (another top 10 U.S. wrestler of all time).
The Ithaca, New York, native was behind eventual seven-time World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs from 2015 to 2017 before breaking through in 2018 when the United World Wrestling added two weights.
Dake won 79 kg World titles in 2018 and 2019, 2020 Olympic bronze at 74 kg before 2021 and 2022 World gold at the same weight. He won 2023 World silver and 2024 Olympic bronze — then moved up to 86 kg in 2025, falling to eventual World champion Zahid Valencia. The former Cornell star made the team this season with two wins over Valencia after losing the opening match to Valencia at Final X.
Kyle Dake and Kyle Snyder at the Worlds and Olympics
Kyle Dake and Kyle Snyder at the NCAA Championships
The Verdict
Either is worthy of the Kyle title, but Dake gets the nod for his multi-weight success. He won NCAA titles at 141, 149, 157, and 165, then made World teams at 74 kg (163 lbs), 79 kg (174 kg), and 86 kg (189 lbs). Dake has a singularly unique career that will likely never be replicated.
2. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State
1. Kyle Dake, Cornell
Other notable Kyles
Kyle Borschoff — Two-time All-American for American University (7th-8th) and head coach at Binghamton.
Kyle Springer — Associate head coach at Northern Illinois
Kyle Shoop — Assistant coach at Buffalo and four-time NCAA qualifier and All-American (7th) in 2019.
Kyle Nellis — All-American for Pittsburgh in 1986 (8th at 134)
Kyle Rackley — All-American for Cornell in 1993 (5th at 177)
Kyle Hansen — Two-time All-American for Northern Iowa (8th at 184 in 2001 and 2002)
Kyle Smith — Two-time All-American for Michigan (7th at 197 in 2002 and 2003)
Kyle Cerminara — All-American for Buffalo in 2004 (8th at 197).
Kyle Massey — All-American for Wisconsin in 2008 (8th at 197) and 2002 16U Freestyle National champion for Minnesota.
Kyle Bratke — Former FloWrestling content star and current Director of Operations at West Virginia University.
Kyle Burkle — Assistant at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and a starter for Division II Upper Iowa.
Kyle Sand — head women’s wrestling coach at Adams State, 2009 NCAA Division 2 NCAA champion, and 2007 NJCAA champion for North Idaho.
Kyle Evans — Four-time All-American and two-time NCAA D2 champion for Central Oklahoma (6th, 2nd, 1st, 1st) from 2005-08.
Kyle McCrite — 2012 NCAA D2 champion for Grand Canyon.
Kyle Kwiat — Four-time All-American and two-time NCAA D3 champion for Ohio Northern (4th, 5th, 1st, 1st) from 2010-13.
Kyle Fank — 2018 NCAA D3 champion for Wartburg.
Kyle Jahn — Four-time All-American and 2008 NAIA champion for McKendree (2nd, 2nd, 6th, 1st).
Kyle Fisher — Four-time All-American and 2004 NAIA champion for Montana State-Northern (4th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st).
Kyle Kirkham — 2021 NAIA champion for Southeastern.
Kyle Richards — 1983 Junior National Freestyle champion for Wisconsin.
Kyle Bounds — Six-time Fargo All-American and two-time champion for Washington (2nd, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 5th, 3rd).
Kyle Caylor — Four-time Fargo All-American and two-time champion for Kansas (1st, 1st, 8th, 7th).
Kyle Detmer — Five-time Fargo All-American and 16U National champion for Kansas (3rd, 1st, 8th, 4th, 3rd).
Kyle Norstrem — Two-time Fargo All-American and 2012 16U Greco National champion.
Kyle Dutton — Two-time Fargo All-American for Missouri and 2022 Freestyle Junior National champion.