NCAA DI Rankings Updated (1/21/2025)

Yesterday, we mentioned the 197 lb weight class in our rankings-related questions. In the preseason, without a returning national finalist, it made some sense to have AJ Ferrari ranked number one (some might even disagree with that). As of mid-January, both Stephen Buchanan and Jacob Cardenas have superior resumes for the 2024-25 season (by a long shot). Ferrari’s only ranked wins have come over the wrestlers currently ranked #24 and #25. Buchanan has four wins over higher ranked wrestlers than 25…..Cardenas has five. 

Ferrari does have some of his more difficult matches on the horizon with duals against All-Americans #5 Stephen Little and #10 Trey Munoz looming. 

The top of 133 lb has come into focus a bit after Drake Ayala got by Lucas Byrd and Jacob Van Dee knocked off Braeden Davis. The one to watch in this tier of the rankings is #6 Tyler Knox. Though he has losses to #5 Evan Frost and #10 Nic Bouzakis, he’s responsible for the only losses of #2 Romney and #3 Ayala. 

Taye Ghadiali has been lost for the year at heavyweight which led to wrestlers behind him getting bumped up. 

125 continues to be difficult. Luke Lilledahl had his breakout win over All-American Caleb Smith. At the same time, Troy Spratley was pinned by Jett Strickenberger. We’ve elected to hold Spratley in that position, for now, based on his overall resume. Strickenberger has been very good at 125 after some head-scratching results at 133. A week after losing to Joey Cruz, Nicolar Rivera got a big win over Dean Peterson. Rivera moves right back up after a sharp drop last week.