One the Sunday morning after NCAAs this year, an entire weight class let out a sigh of relief. For three years, Zain Retherford terrorized 149lbs, but now he and a slew of other All-Americans have vacated the weight, leaving the weight more open than it has been in years.

The highest returning placer will be Matthew Kolodzik of Princeton, and the potential preseason #1 is Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers. Considering Princeton last had a national champ in 1951 and Rutgers has never had an NCAA champ, it represents a major opportunity for the New Jersey based institutions.

Returning AAs By Weight

125 | 133 | 141

The gates opened for the likes of Kolodzik and Ashnault with the exodus of Retherford, Brandon Sorensen, and Jason Tsirtsis, as well as the graduation of Lavion Mayes in 2017. And even though they weren't dominant for their careers, Ronald Perry and Troy Heilmann also closed out their careers in 2018 as All-Americans. That makes 149 this year look like 141 in 2016 after Logan Stieber, Devin Carter, and Mitchell Port all graduated, although this 149 crop is a bit more accomplished.

Aside from Kolodzik and Ashnault, there are six other wrestlers in this weight who have previously placed at NCAAs. Including in that is Micah Jordan, who according to Eleven Warriors will have a wrestle-off with Ke-Shawn Hayes for the starting spot. Jordan was fourth at 149 at the 2017 NCAA tournament. On to the full list of returning AAs this year at 149lbs.

Matthew Kolodzik, Princeton: 7, 3, ?, ?

The junior is on pace to become the Tigers best wrestler in school history. He could become the first Princeton wrestler since Greg Parker in 2002 to make the NCAA finals, and the first since Brad Glass in 1951 to win a national title. There's no guarantees for the Ohio native, who beat Grant Leeth at NCAAs, has split four matches with Ashnault in his college career, was 1-1 against Justin Oliver last year, and got pinned by Pat Lugo at Midlands. However, Kolodzik is absolutely in the conversation of title favorites to start the season. Of note, as a 141 Kolodzik was the 4 seed and finished 7th, but as a 149 was the 11 seed and finished 3rd.

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Micah Jordan, Ohio State: R12, 4, 6, ?

This rumor started floating around right after NCAAs, but appeared to be quelled at the NWCA convention when Tom Ryan indicated Joey McKenna might move up from 141. But the reports are now that the loser of the Jordan vs Ke-Shawn Hayes wrestle-off will be going 157. We've yet to see Jordan against basically any of the guys on this list apart from Max Thomsen.

Anthony Ashnault, Rutgers: 8, 4, 6, ?

One of the the biggest stories of last season was the constant "Will he, Won't he" of Ashnault wrestling or not. He wound up missing the whole season due to injury and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The first 3x placer in school history, Ashnault is looking to add the program's first national title and break his streak of ending each season on a loss. He is perhaps the most important recruit of the Scott Goodale era, a four-time undefeated state champ in single class New Jersey that helped turn Rutgers into maybe the best team on campus and a legitimate draw for home duals.

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Grant Leeth, Missouri: 6, ?, ?, ?

It was great to see Leeth back on the mat last year, even with the neck brace. He entered the national tournament in Cleveland as the three seed and finished sixth in his first trip to the big dance. He has already been awarded eligibility through 2021, meaning Leeth has three more years to try to follow in the footsteps of Drake Houdashelt and Lavion Mayes, former Mizzou 149s who landed on the podium three times; Houdashelt was the national champ in 2015 (the Tigers' last NCAA titleist) and Mayes made the finals in 2017.

Boo Lewallen, Oklahoma State: DNQ, 8, ?, ?

In Stillwater, sometimes opportunity is more important than talent. During Lewallen's time at OSU, he's had to contend with the likes of Dean Heil, Anthony Collica, Tristan Moran, and Geo Martinez just to see the mat. Heil and Collica have both graduated, Moran is now at Wisconsin, and Martinez's career appears to be over due to injuries. This year, he might have to beat out Kaden Gfeller for the starting spot, but it's more likely G stays down at 141.

Tommy Thorn, Minnesota: DNP, 8, DNP, ?

Moving up are all the guys who started at the first four weights for the Gophers last year, which could potentially mitigate some of the potential performance concerns that may have been caused by weight cutting the previous couple years. Thorn has had double digit losses all three of his starting years, and closed out 2018 by losing his last five matches and seven of his last nine, tumbling from being 10th at the end of January to completely out of the final rankings. So despite being a returning AA he'll have a little chip on his shoulder.

Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa: 5, R12, ?, ?

Entering his junior year, Thomsen carries a 59-16 record and two runner-up finishes at his conference tournaments. Both Thomsen and 184 pounder Drew Foster stumbled a bit in Cleveland and did not place after landing on the podium at NCAAs in March of 2017. Both of his losses at the national tournament were to eventual AAs and higher seeds. After beating Lewallen in the dual to start February, he fell to the Cowboy in the Big 12 finals and the second round of NCAAs. He lost in the bloodround to Leeth, who he had beaten a month earlier in the dual against Missouri. So the key for Thomsen this season will be to notch consecutive wins against high level opponents.

Justin Oliver, NC State: 7, R12, R12, ?

The Wolfpack picked up Oliver in May, giving them a consistent presence at 149, and one that will be pushed by two-time qualifier Jamal Morris. Oliver is a perfect example of the vagaries of the NCAA tournament, in which he won his last two matches in 2016 to finish 7th, and then lost in the Round of 12 each of the past two seasons. As a freshman and sophomore he was the nine seed, and then this past season was the six seed. So his performance has consistently reflected that of someone who is a fringe AA contender, and his CKLV title run in December points to his ability to be a high level guy. He's also moving into a room at NC State that is coming off a team trophy and has outperformed his previous school in Central Michigan the whole time he's been in college.