Mid-American Conference schools have welcomed 14 transfers since the beginning of 2020. Most are eligible to wrestle for their new squads next season. 

Their ranks include a pair of NCAA qualifiers, two others who started for their former teams last season, and the nation's top-ranked 182-pounder of 2019. 

Here is a closer look at the MAC's most noteworthy transfers for 2020-21:

MATT SCHMITT, MISSOURI

The two-time NCAA qualifier for West Virginia, a redshirt junior next season, announced his transfer to Missouri on Jan. 20.

"Excited to represent Mizzou Wrestling and accomplish great things," he tweeted.

Schmitt, who went 42-24 at 133 pounds in two seasons with the Mountaineers, reached the round of 16 at the 2018 NCAA Championships before an elbow injury slowed him the next year and he went 1-2. He followed that by placing sixth in the 2019 U.S. Open 60kg Greco-Roman competition. 

Schmitt held Daton Fix to a decision at the 2019 Big 12 Championships:

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The former West Virginia captain, who took an Olympic redshirt last season, is 14th in the current Division 1 rankings. Nobody else in the MAC is ranked higher than 18th. 

Arguably, Schmitt's most notable win during his time at West Virginia came against Iowa State's Ian Parker, a two-time NCAA qualifier and 2020 Big 12 champion, who is currently ranked No. 4 at 141. 

Schmitt also knocked off four-time NCAA qualifier Cameron Skykora (North Dakota State) and three-time qualifiers Sean Nickell (California State-Bakersfield), Rico Montoya (Northern Colorado), D.J. Fehlman (Lock Haven) and Gage Curry (American). Curry is ranked No. 13 at 125 while the others have graduated.

Schmitt returns to the state where he captured three state championships and was named Missouri's 2015 Class 3 Wrestler of the Year. He was an eight-time Fargo All-American as well.

MATT CORRENTI, RIDER

The 2017 NCAA qualifier as a true freshman, Correnti revealed he was leaving Rutgers on April 15 while emphasizing there were no hard feelings.

"To a place that brought in an 18-year-old kid and turned him into a man, thank you," he wrote in an Instagram post. "I couldn’t have asked for a better team and family that I’ve had these past 4 years."

Correnti, a redshirt senior 197-pounder, will allow Rider coach Joe Hangey to redshirt two-year starter Ethan Laird next season. Laird, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was 16th in the final 2020 rankings. Training together will undoubtedly make Correnti and Laird better. They have split their two lifetime meetings. 

Correnti's familiarity with Rider was a major reason he transferred there, especially because the coronavirus pandemic prevented him from visiting other schools. The New Jersey state champion spent time on campus and got to know Rider's coaching staff during high school when his brother Mauro wrestled there.

After going 16-15 while qualifying for the NCAA Championships and finishing sixth in the Big Ten his first year at Rutghers, Correnti redshirted the next season. He was back in the starting lineup in 2018-19, but finished just 12-15. 

Last season, Correnti went 12-5 while splitting time between 197 and 285, but lost his spot in the starting lineup. 

Correnti's most noteworthy collegiate win thus far came against 2019 All-American heavyweight and two-time NCAA heavyweight qualifier Trent Hillger of Wisconsin. 

He has beaten now-graduated four-time NCAA qualifiers Billy Miller (Edinboro, Purdue), Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin), and Christian Brunner (Purdue) and three-time qualifier Corey Griego (Oregon State). 

ALEX CRAMER, CENTRAL MICHIGAN

After starting as a true freshman last season, Cramer was among those left scrambling when Old Dominion dropped its wrestling program after 60 years on April 2. 

Just 20 days later, he announced his transfer to Central Michigan. 

"Excited to announce I’ll be transferring to Central Michigan University to continue my academic and athletic career," Cramer tweeted on April 22. 

The Illinois state champion was one of only 35 Division 1 true freshman starters (out of 316) at 174 pounds or above this season. Cramer finished 19-20, including an eighth-place showing at the MAC Tournament. 

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None of those 35 wrestled more matches than Cramer, whose biggest win came against Lock Haven's Austin Bell, who finished 21-14 and was seventh at the MAC tourney at 165.

Just hours after learning of the program's fate, Cramer posted his athletic and academic resume along with contact information on Twitter. The post was retweeted 759 times and generated numerous conversations with coaches.

At CMU, Cramer will be part of what should be a keenly competitive race for the 174-pound spot. 

Jake Lowell, last season's starter, was just 7-18, but finished on a very high note while building momentum for the future. He shocked top seed and two-time NCAA Qualifier Jacob Oliver of Edinboro on the way to a sixth-place showing at the MAC Tournament. 

Also in the mix will be two-time Michigan state champion Ryan Ringler, a redshirt freshman. He was 12-4 in open competition last season.

DEVIN WINSTON, SIUE

The redshirt freshman hopes he has finally found a permanent college home after announcing he was transferring from Minnesota to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in January. 

Winston, the nation's top-ranked Class of 2019 182-pounder, first committed to North Carolina in March of 2018 before committing to the Golden Gophers just 10 months later. Winston also considered offers from Arizona State, Illinois, Nebraska, and Michigan.

The Missouri state champion was 4-1 wrestling unattached while redshirting last season. Only one of his matches was against a Division 1 wrestler -- Missouri's Cordell Duhart -- whom he decisioned. Duhart, who also redshirted last season, finished 24-8. 

Winston also defeated Iowa's Abe Assad, currently ranked ninth at 184, during a national tournament when both were in high school. 

Winston will challenge incumbent 184-pound starter Luke Yarnell, who was 11-11 last season, for a place in the starting lineup. 

AUSTIN STITH, GEORGE MASON

The redshirt sophomore posted a 13-12 record while starting for Presbyterian at 184 pounds last season, including a 1-2 mark at the Southern Conference Tournament. 

Stith will attempt to bump returning starter Paul Pierce from the lineup next season. Pierce was 11-17 last season. 

Stith pinned Kyonte Hamilton for the 195-pound 2018 Maryland Class B state championship. Hamilton, No. 4 in the latest Class of 2021 recruiting rankings, recently committed to Rutgers.

Mark Spezia is a freelance writer based in Lapeer, Michigan. He has written for ESPNW, Flohockey, Flint, Michigan-based My City Magazine, the Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit Magazine and Troy, Michigan-based Oakland Press. He previously worked for the Flint Journal, Lapeer (Michigan) County Press and Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, Michigan.