The 149-pound weight class belonged to one man over the last three years. Penn State's Zain Retherford went undefeated over the course of three seasons, winning 94 matches and back-to-back-to-back NCAA titles. 

Next season, the prohibitive favorite is no longer eligible and all bets are off. 

Also gone next season is runner-up Ronnie Perry, as are Troy Heilmann, Brandon Sorensen and Jason Tsirtsis, the fourth-, fifth-, and seventh-placers respectively at the 2018 NCAA tournament. 

So who will be the top contenders at 149 next year? We take an extremely early look at next season’s 149 landscape.

Returning All-Americans

Matt Kolodzik, Princeton, 2018 NCAA 3rd

Kolodzik was never ranked higher than fourth all season but the sophomore from Bellbrook, Ohio, turned it on in Cleveland, making the podium for the second time in two tries. He'll be one of the favorites to win the weight class next season, although he will have plenty of competition as we shall soon discover.

Grant Leeth, Missouri, 2018 NCAA 6th

Respect the neck! Grant Leeth was a revelation this season, coming out of nowhere yet earning the #3 seed in Cleveland. Leeth slipped a bit from that number at the tournament but the quality wins he racked up all season were no fluke. The Missouri native should be in the mix for a title on his senior campaign.

Boo Lewallen, Oklahoma State, 2018 NCAA 8th

Lewallen emerged as the starter after a long season inside from a crowded Cowboys wrestling room. Lewallen made the most of his opportunity, reaching the podium at his first NCAA tournament. Oklahoma State remains as loaded as ever, and one possibility is that Lewallen cuts down to 141, a weight he's competed at in the past, now that two-time champ Dean Heil is out of eligibility. We'll know far more once next season gets here, such are the perils of way-too-early weight class previews. 

Watch Kolodzik squeak by Leeth in the quarterfinals of the 2018 NCAAs:

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Moving Up

Anthony Ashnault, Rutgers (8th, 4th, 6th)

It was big news when Ashnault, a redshirt senior, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA due to medical hardship. Ashnualt missed most of his true freshman season and all of this past season due to injury. As a three-time All-American who owns multiple wins over Matt Kolodzik (and vice versa), expect the New Jersey native to be in the hunt for Rutgers' first-ever national championship in 2019. 

Tommy Thorn, Minnesota (R16, 8th, R32)

All-American Tommy Thorn did not finish the season as he had planned at 141 pounds, so a change of weights may be exactly what he needed to get back on the podium. 

Watch Ashnault and Kolodzik wrestle in the 2017 NCAA tournament quarterfinals at 141 pounds:

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Moving Down

Micah Jordan, Ohio State (R12, 4th, 6th)

Micah has wrestled down at 141 and up at 157 during his career for the Buckeyes, but his best finish came sophomore year at 149 pounds, where he finished fourth. Expect Jordan to make his way back down to 149 next season and contend for an NCAA title.

Watch Jordan defeat Max Thomsen in the 2017 consolation semifinals at 149 pounds. 

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Previous All-Americans

Geo Martinez, Oklahoma State, 2016 NCAA 8th

Geo's reached the podium before. If he can find a spot in the Cowboys lineup, which is easier said than done, he'll be a contender to do it again. 

Justin Oliver, Free Agent, 2016 NCAA 7th

Oliver recently received his release to find a new wrestling room. The All-American has finished in the blood round in the two other NCAA tournaments in which he didn't place. He'll be a likely candidate to get back on the medal no matter where he ends up. 

Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa, 2017 NCAA 5th

Denied in the round of 12 by Grant Leeth in 2018, Thomsen will seek to reverse that results in 2019. 

Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech 2017 NCAA 6th

Despite two previous All-American honors, Chishko may have the toughest road back to the podium, with teammates Ryan Blees and BC LaPrade blocking his path at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively. 

Coming Off Redshirt

Pat Lugo, Iowa

A two-time NCAA qualifier, Lugo transferred from Edinboro to Iowa in time to redshirt last season behind senior and four-time All-American Brandon Sorensen. Expect Lugo to be in the lineup for the Hawkeyes next season and contending for a spot on the podium next March. 

Austin O’Connor, North Carolina

O'Connor had one of the most impressive true freshman seasons at 149, placing at the 2017 Midlands and beating multiple NCAA qualifiers along the way. 

Jarod Verkleeren, Penn State

The 2015 63kg Cadet world champion has been groomed to step into the Nittany Lions spot in the lineup vacated by Retherford, which is where you'll likely see him in the fall. 

Kaden Gfeller, Oklahoma State

It remains to be seen if Gfeller stays at 141 and attempt to take over for Dean Heil or if bumps up and tries to man the 149-pound spot in the Cowboys lineup. Expect the 2018 141-pound Southern Scuffle champ to contend no matter where he goes.  

Josh Maruca, Arizona State

A round of 16 finishers in 2017, Maruca just barely lost a wrestle-off to departing senior and 2018 seventh-placer Jason Tsirtsis. It should be Maruca's spot next season.

Josh Heil, Campbell

Heil will have sophomore eligibility when he comes off redshirt next season. Heil was particularly impressive at the 2018 Southern Scuffle, where he made the finals and beat All-American Max Thomsen in the quarterfinals.

Tanner Smith, Free Agent

Smith was one of the prize recruits from the now shamefully disbanded Eastern Michigan wrestling program. Smith went 19-0 as a true freshman and will, unfortunately, need to find a new home in order to achieve his NCAA goals. 

Others Contenders

And finally, a by-no-means-exhaustive list of other 149 pound competitors to keep an eye on next season. 

Jarrett Degen, Iowa State

Colton McCrystal, Nebraska

Ryan Blees, Virginia Tech

Cortlandt Schuyler, Lehigh

Jared Prince, Navy

Malik Amine, Michigan

Sam Krivus, Virginia

Baby J Bannister, Maryland

Khristian Olivas, Fresno State

Michael Sprague, American

Also of note: All-American contenders Steve Bleise of Minnesota and Ryan Deakin of Northwestern are rumored to be moving up to 157 next season, and thus, would not be competing for the 149-pound title. 

Insanely Early 2019 149-Pound All-American Predictions

Because why not?

1st: Micah Jordan, Ohio State

2nd: Anthony Ashnault, Rutgers

3rd: Matt Kolodzik, Princeton

4th: Grant Leeth, Missouri

5th: Pat Lugo, Iowa

6th: Geo Martinez, Oklahoma State

7th: Justin Oliver, TBD

8th: Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa