2022-23 NCAA 184-Pound Preseason Preview: All Roads Go Through Brooks

Prepare for the upcoming NCAA D1 wrestling season with our 184-pound preview.

Sep 7, 2022 by JD Rader

2022-23 NCAA 184-Pound Preseason Preview: All Roads Go Through Brooks

With six of eight All-Americans returning, including the champ, 184 is going to look very similar to last season. The big question is: can anyone catch Penn State’s Aaron Brooks? The fourth-year senior is 35-1 in the past two seasons and the only man to defeat him in that time has left.

Preseason Previews:125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 197 | 285

Departed

Myles Amine, Michigan

Bernie Truax, Cal Poly (moving up)

Zac Braunagel, Illinois (moving up)

John Poznanski, Rutgers (redshirting)

Dakota Geer, Oklahoma State

Taylor Venz, Nebraska

Brit Wilson, NIU

Max Lyon, Purdue

Kyle Cochran, Maryland

Myles Amine is the big name leaving. The Olympic bronze medalist was the only person able to defeat Brooks in the past two seasons. Luckily we still get to watch him compete on the international scene, just not in a Michigan singlet. It has not yet been confirmed whether or not John Pozananski will officially be redshirting, but that is the rumor coming out of New Jersey.

Returning 2022 184 lb All-Americans

#1 Aaron Brooks, Penn State

#3 Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa

#5 Trent Hidlay, NC State

#6 Kaleb Romero, Ohio State

#7 Marcus Coleman, Iowa State

#8 Jonathan Loew, Cornell

Representing four different conferences, ¾ of last year’s AAs will be returning this season. Cracking the podium for the first time won’t be an easy task for anyone. Parker Keckeisen will be ranked #2 with his last-second OT win over Trent Hidlay in the NCAA consi semis.

Watch Parker Keckeisen’s OT win over Trent Hidlay from NCAAs below.

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Moving Up From 174

Adam Kemp, Cal Poly

Matt Finesilver, Michigan

Bernie Truax might be leaving the weight class, but another Cal Poly stud is moving in. Adam Kemp went 13 - 6 and was a national qualifier last year at 174 for the Mustangs. Another national 174 lb national qualifier, Matt Finsilver, will be moving into the weight class as well, but this time representing Michigan instead of Duke, his home for the past five years.

Healed

Anthony Montalvo, Arizona State

After four years at Oklahoma State, Anthony Montalvo entered the transfer portal in April and announced he was going to Arizona State in May. Montalvo’s last season in Stillwater he stayed sidelined while recovering from a knee injury. Prior to that, he was a national qualifier in 2020.

Watch Anthony Montalvo beat Marcus Coleman at their 2020 dual below.

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Coming Off Of Redshirt

Nathan Haas, Nebraska

Kyle Haas, Oklahoma State

Although there is no relation, the two Haases might be some guys to keep an eye on this season. Kyle was the #18 overall recruit in the class of 2021 and went 11-0 last season while competing at three open tournaments. Nathan was the #29 overall recruit in the class of 2020 and went 9-0 while competing in two open tournaments last season.

True Freshman Who Could Be In The Mix

Brian Soldano, Rutgers

We’ll only see Brian Soldano if indeed John Poznanski decides to redshirt. If Poz wants the spot, I think it will be his, but Soldano isn’t a bad option. A 3X New Jersey state champion, Soldano was the #8 overall recruit in the class of 2022. He’s a bit of a wild man on the mat who isn’t afraid to give up some points to get some points.

Watch Brian Soldano square off against Bennett Berge at the US Open below.

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The Favorite

Aaron Brooks, Penn State

With Myles Amine gone, Aaron Brooks has separated himself into his own tier at 184 lbs. While the two main contenders aren’t far behind him, Brooks has proven they’ll need to make some adjustments to beat him.

Watch Aaron Brooks 2022 NCAA semifinal with Trent Hidlay below.

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Contenders

Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa

Trent Hidlay, NC State

While Keckeisen will be ranked #2 and got the better of Hidlay at NCAAs, Hidlay has arguably given Brooks tougher matches. Brooks only beat Keckeisen by two points at 2022 NCAAs and one point in the dual, but it doesn’t get much closer than Brooks and Hidlay’s 2021 NCAA final or their sudden victory 2022 NCAA semifinal.

Watch Brooks and Hidlay’s controversial 2021 NCAA final below.

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All-American Threats

Kaleb Romero, Ohio State

Marcus Coleman, Iowa State

Trey Munoz, Oregon State

Jonathan Loew, Cornell

Keegan Moore, Oklahoma

Gavin Kane, North Carolina

Hunter Bolen, Virginia Tech

Abe Assad, Iowa

Matt Finesilver, Michigan

Tate Samuelson, Lehigh

Anthony Montalvo, Arizona State

This is a long group of solid wrestlers but can be separated into two groups: the returning AAs and the trying to AAers. Romero, Coleman, Munoz, and Loew have already proven they can make the podium while the rest are a notch below and still have yet to do it.

Landmines

Layne Malczewski, Michigan State

Donnell Washington, Indiana

Travis Stefanik, Princeton

With a win over Carter Starocci, Donnell Washington might have the best win of anyone in this preview. His headlock is deadly and if Starocci can get thrown with it, anyone can.

Layne Malczewski is a 3X NCAA qualifier that has yet to reach the podium. His past two post-seasons have been hampered slightly by injuries. He’s got some decent wins like John Poznanski and Max Lyon, but has yet to put it together when it counts.

Travis Stefanik is another 3X NCAA qualifier yet to AA. He was looking really good going into the postseason last year but got a tough draw at NCAAs. His one win at NCAAs did come over Donnell Washington, however.