2024-25 ACC Weight-by-Weight Preview Part One (125-157)

125 The lightest weight gives the ACC a solid base to start; it is a deep weight with significant experience across the board. Off the top, 2023 All-American Eddie Ventresca (7th) will be returning to the Hokie lineup after taking a redshirt year last season. Add into the mix a couple multiple-time NCAA qualifiers. Jakob Camacho (NCST) is a four-time qualifier (NQ, R12, R16, R16) who is looking to break through to the podium; Nico Provo (Stanford) has made the trip twice, falling in the round of 16 last year. Nick Babin comes to Pittsburgh from Columbia where he finished in the round of 16 in 2023. Spencer Moore (UNC) has been on the bubble of qualifying in both of his seasons as a starter and I expect a strong season from him as he continues to mature into the weight. Ethan Grimminger (Duke) is looking for a more competitive season for the Blue Devils in his second year in the starting spot. Virginia has a couple options they are deciding between; Kyle Montaperto held the starting spot last year and is being challenged by Keyveon Roller who is dropping down from 133. Preseason Rankings: #8 Jakob Camacho #11 Nico Provo #22 Eddie Ventresca #29 Spencer Moore #30 Nick Babin 133 This is one of the more wide-open weights in the conference. There is a lot of untested youth at this weight, with the most experienced wrestlers transferring into the conference this season. Ethan Oakley (UNC) was a two-time NCAA qualifier (NQ, R16) at Appalachian State and will be looking to make an immediate impact for the Tar Heels. The Hokies also have a talented transfer who is looking for a fresh start after a successful stint at Lehigh. Connor McGonagle was a two-time qualifier at 141 for the Mountain Hawks; he had his best season at 133 in 2022, but it was cut short by an injury in the EIWA tournament. Marlon Yarbrough (UVA) put himself on the national radar with multiple ranked wins last season in his first year as a starter for the Hoos and qualified for the NCAA tournament. Raymond Adams (Duke) enters his second season as a starter, as does a very dangerous Vinny Santaniello (Pittsburgh), while Tyler Knox (Stanford) will see the lineup for the first time after his redshirt season. The biggest change at the weight comes for the Wolfpack. It appears that two-time All-American Kai Orine will be making the move up a weight class to 141, leaving the 133 slot for a couple of talented young wrestlers to battle over. Vincent Robinson was 11-2 in his redshirt year while Jacob Cox was 11-3; both picked up dual wins for the Pack and will be solid options at the weight. Preseason Rankings: #8 Kai Orine* #10 Connor McGonagle #18 Marlon Yarbrough #19 Ethan Oakley #25 Tyler Knox 141 The strength of 133 is moving up to 141 and makes for a very top-heavy weight class with a lot of youth filling out the weight. Sam Latona (VT) is a two-time All-American and four-time qualifier (6, R12, 7, R16); he has always been huge for his weight both at 125 and 133, and will be at a more comfortable weight for his final season. Recently, it was revealed that Kai Orine (NCST) will also be making the move to 141. He is also a two-time All-American and three-time qualifier (R16, 8, 8). Ryan Jack, who was an All-American last season, will take a redshirt year for the Pack. Jason Miranda (Stanford) is another experienced starter who will be looking to make his first NCAA tournament. Anthony Santaniello will make his debut in the starting lineup for the Panthers after going 3-1 in his redshirt season. Christian Colman (Duke) and Jayden Scott (UNC) will both step into their second season in the starting role and are looking to make it to the big show for the first time. The Cavaliers have another weight they are still sorting out, with several options on the table. Jack Gioffre was 13-7 as the starter last season and could potentially get the nod this year, but also may go up to 149. Kyren Butler is another option, as is Dylan Cedeno who started at 157 last season--they are considering him at 141 and 149. I would expect to see several different lineup looks for the Hoos while they sort out their starters at the middleweights. Preseason Rankings: #5 Ryan Jack* #16 Sam Latona #30 Jason Miranda #33 Jack Gioffre 149 The Champ Is Here and will face stiff competition in what is likely the deepest weight in the conference. Reigning NCAA Champion Caleb Henson makes his return for the Hokies after an incredible run to the title last season. Henson is a two-time All-American, placing fifth as a true freshman prior to his NCAA title last year. Also in the mix is another two-time All-American; Lachlan McNeil will be making the move up to 149 after two very successful seasons at 141 where he placed fourth and sixth at the NCAA tournament. The addition of Stanford to the conference adds another All-American to the weight. Jaden Abas is a four-time NCAA qualifier (7, NQ, NQ, R12) who earned All-American honors in his first trip and fell in a tough match in the bloodround last year. Finn Solomon (Pittsburgh) will look to build on an up-and-down season last year that finished with a trip to the NCAA tournament. It looks like redshirt freshman Sean O’Donnell will get the nod for the Blue Devils. Just like 141 for the Hoos, 149 is a weight class in limbo. Michael Gioffre was the starter last season and ended the year with a 9-9 record. He is a potential option for the Hoos; as previously mentioned his twin brother Jack and Dylan Cedeno are also in the mix. Erik Roggie is also a wildcard at this weight. The move of Kai Orine to 141 reverberates up to 149 as well. Jackson Arrington, two-time NCAA qualifier (R12, R12) will take a redshirt year and the weight will likely be filled by redshirt freshman Koy Buesgens who had a stellar redshirt year last year, finishing at 12-2 overall with a 2-2 record in dual appearances. Preseason Rankings: #1 Caleb Henson #6 Lachlan McNeil #8 Jackson Arrington* #13 Jaden Abas #31 Finn Solomon 157 This is an incredibly young weight within the conference that is highlighted by the experience of Ed Scott (NCST), Sonny Santiago (UNC) and Logan Ferrero (Duke) as the only multi-year starters. Scott is an All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier (R12, 5, R12) who is looking to get back on the podium. Santiago made big strides last year and put himself on the national map with a dual win over Ed Scott on his way to his first NCAA appearance. Ferrero will enter his third year as a starter for the Blue Devils and is looking to make the postseason for the first time. Nick Sanko (UVA) will be the likely starter for the Hoos after being a late addition to the ACC tournament last season after an injury to Dylan Cedeno. Sanko has a lot of potential and has consistently improved in his time in Charlottesville. Zach Hanson will make his debut for Stanford after a 7-2 record in his redshirt year; Dylan Evans (Pittsburgh) is the presumptive starter for the Panthers after putting up a 15-11 record his freshman season. The biggest wildcard at the weight is Rafael Hipolito for Virginia Tech. The Hokies replace the unorthodox and dangerous Bryce Andonian with another equally dangerous redshirt freshman in Hipolito. I’m clearly biased as the ACC guy, but I have Hipolito high on the list of people to keep an eye on throughout the country. Preseason Rankings: #6 Ed Scott #22 Sonny Santiago #29 Rafael Hipolito

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2024-25 ACC Weight-by-Weight Preview Part One (125-157)

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