Pay attention to 141 pounds if you like a good mystery. The on-the-mat action could take a back seat to the twists and turns of this weight. 

Ohio State lost Jesse Mendez, a two-time NCAA champion, three-time finalist, and four-time All-American, to graduation. The former Buckeye star is a perennial winner who put up big points for his team.

Hold on! 

With the new five-for-five ruling, could we see Mendez back for a final college season? Head coach Tom Ryan hopes so, and it adds to the intrigue of this wide-open weight. 

Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State won the 2026 NCAA Championships as a true freshman without surrendering a takedown, but he’s expected to move up to 149, clearing the way for a new Cowboy star. 

Will incoming freshman Jayden Raney be David Taylor’s 141-pound starter? Or is there a percentage chance that returning 133-pound champion Jax Forrest competes at 141 to prepare for the 65 kg (143 pounds) spot at the Olympic Trials?

Then there’s Penn State! 

Cael Sanderson has four viable options. Braeden Davis was last year’s starter, reaching the Round of 16, after finishing 5th at 133 in 2025 and the Round of 12 in 2024 at 125 as the top seed. 

The Nittany Lions also have Nate Desmond, who was undefeated last season at 125 and 141, including a win over teammate and 125-pound NCAA champion at the Black Knight Invite. 

Excitement for Japan’s 2024 World champion Masa Ono is high, but will he compete at 133 or 141, and how will he adapt to folkstyle? Either way, he’s an exceptional talent. 

And there’s always a chance that Marcus Blaze moves up to 141 from 133 for the same reason as Forrest: to prepare for the 2028 Olympic Trials. 

Luke Stanich from Lehigh is the highest returning placer. He was 18-1 last season with a 4-1 sudden-victory setback against Mendez in the NCAA Championship semis, before finishing third. 

Then there’s Virginia Tech’s Bo Bassett! He won four college opens during high school. 

Bassett is the most popular high school wrestler ever, and he’s still in contention for the 65 kg Senior World Team spot after winning gold at the 2026 U20 World Championships. His maniacal pace and relentless pressure make him a favorite at this weight.  

Stanich is 3-1 against Bassett in freestyle, winning the 2025 U20 US Open, 5-2, before dropping a 3-2 match against the Bishop McCort star in the best-of-three series at the U20 World Team Trials, then winning 3-2 and 10-0 to make the team, where he won a World title. 

Carter Nogle of Air Force finished fifth at the 2026 NCAA Championships and is the only expected returning All-American at this weight from last season besides Stanich.

Assuming Davis is the starter for Penn State, five previous All-Americans are vying for podium spots. Zeth Romney (Cal Poly), Nasir Bailey (Iowa), Zan Fugitt (Missouri), Evan Frost (Iowa State), and Vance VomBaur (Minnesota) have placed at nationals. 

The plot will most surely thicken as the season progresses.

Stanich finished third at the 2026 NCAA Championships

2026 NCAA Placewinners

1. Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State)
2. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
3. Luke Stanich (Lehigh)
4. Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
5. Carter Nogle (Air Force)
6. Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)
7. CJ Composto (Penn)
8. Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven)

Returning 2026 All-Americans

Luke Stanich (Lehigh) — 3rd
Carter Nogle (Air Force) — 5th

Past All-Americans

Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) — 3rd in 2025 at 133
Nasir Bailey (Iowa) — 4th in 2024 at 133
Zan Fugitt (Missouri) — 4th in 2025 at 133
Braeden Davis (Penn State) — 5th in 2025 at 133
Evan Frost (Iowa State) — 6th in 2024 at 133
Vance VomBaur (Minnesota) — 8th in 2024-25 at 141

Key Departures

Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) — moving up to 149
Brock Hardy (Nebraska) — graduated
Anthony Echemendia (Nebraska) —moving up to 149
CJ Composto (Penn) — graduated
Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) — graduated

Entering From Injury/Transfer/New Weight

Zan Fugitt (Missouri) — from Wisconsin
Anthony Echemendia (Nebraska) — from Iowa State

Pending

Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) — 4x All-American (6th, 1st, 1st, 2nd)

Penn State’s 141-Pound Dilemma

Marcus Blaze or Nate Desmond or Braeden Davis or Masa Ono

Masa Ono looked like he entered The Matrix at the 2024 World Championships

The Favorite: Luke Stanich (Lehigh)

Stanich brings loads of credentials into his fourth season with the Mountain Hawks. He finished third at nationals after finishing fifth at 125 in 2024. The Roxbury, New Jersey, native has only two losses at 141 in the past two seasons: both to Mendez. 

Add in a 2025 U20 World title and three wins over Bassett, and you have a solid favorite. He didn’t compete the first semester, but found his stride in January, notching 13 of 18 bonus-point wins. 

Who knows if we’ll see Stanich on the mats during the first semester, but if we do, expect a championship-caliber wrestler capable of winning nationals.

The Contenders

Bo Bassett (Virginia Tech)
Possibly Penn State
Possibly Jesse Mendez

Until we get clarity on Mendez and Penn State’s line-up, this is a two-man race between Stanich and Bassett.

Could Mendez win if he gets another season? Goodness yes.

Does Penn State have an option who will contend? Of course, but who will it be?

Bassett has a 0-0 college record, but his track record speaks for itself. The Hokie star thrives under the spotlight, and he’ll get plenty of shine during his true freshman year. Watch any of his matches from the U20 World Championships for a glimpse of what he will do. 

Folkstyle will serve him well. He might give up a takedown or two, eliciting gasps from the crowd. Don’t worry, Bassett can storm back with the best of them, and he’s never out for long — even if he takes a setback along the way. 

All-American Threats

Carter Nogle (Air Force)
Zeth Romney (Cal Poly)
Nasir Bailey (Iowa)
Zan Fugitt (Missouri)
Braeden Davis (Penn State)
Evan Frost (Iowa State)
Vance VomBaur (Minnesota)
Vince Cornella (Cornell)

This weight is filled with threats. That’s what makes 141 pounds fun. 

Nogle fell in the first round as the 18-seed, then wrestled back for fifth, an indication that reaching the podium again will be difficult, but he gives rookie head coach Joe Johnston a building block as the Falcons take flight. 

Bailey has a big upside if he pulls the trigger. He was competitive in two matches against Vega, and lost 1-0 against returning national finalist Brock Hardy of Nebraska. He also took some lopsided losses, indicating that season-long consistency is the name of the game for the Hawkeye star. 

Frost has a motor and will be a factor at 141 following three seasons and an All-American finish at 133 in 2024. He was injured late in the season, so health is the name of the game for the Cyclone star. And it’s never too early to get excited about this toss-up match during the CyHawk dual. 

Fugitt will don a new singlet after three seasons with Wisconsin. He finished fourth at 133 in 2025, but went 1-2 at nationals in 2026. Can Missouri coach Brian Smith help him find the podium at a new weight? 

VomBaur has been a consistent threat for the Golden Gophers, finishing eighth twice and reaching the Round of 12 last season. Will he find new real estate during his final year?

Romney is ranked 16th entering the season, but he’s a returning third-place finisher at 133 in 2025. Will he find the magic again this season?

Cornella was the sixth seed last season with a lone loss to Stanich entering nationals. He can absolutely right the ship and place. 

Watch Vince Cornella win the 2026 EIWA Championships

Sleepers & Dark Horses

Jack Consiglio (Stanford)

Look out for Consiglio. He reached the Round of 16 last season, but the Cardinal star won’t want to get left out on a team that can win a trophy. His points could determine how high Stanford places at nationals.

Pre-season 141-pound Predictions

Predicting outcomes with limited information is a fool’s errand, but here goes. Let’s assume Mendez doesn’t return, leaving Ohio State a mystery 141-pounder. Let’s also assume that Davis is the starter for Penn State. And we still don't know who Oklahoma State's starter will be. 

1. Bo Bassett (Virginia Tech)
2. Luke Stanich (Lehigh)
3. Evan Frost (Iowa State)
4. Nasir Bailey (Iowa)
5. Braeden Davis (Penn State)
6. Vince Cornella (Cornell)
7. Vance VomBaur (Minnesota)
8. Zan Fugitt (Missouri)