Transfer Portal Update (5/9/2024)

With the conclusion of the NCAA wrestling tournament and the calendar changing over to May, you’d think that it means it’s the offseason for college wrestling and all focus should turn to the Olympic styles, right? Maybe in the past, but in a new era of collegiate athletics, once the final whistle has blown on a particular postseason, it means it’s time to turn your attention to the transfer portal. 

Love it or hate it, it’s the reality. Student-athletes have the ability to transfer much more freely than past generations. Couple that with the extra year of eligibility doled out by the NCAA in the aftermath of the COVID years and you have a wild combination. There was lots of movement last “offseason” and I don’t foresee that changing this year. 

In just a week and a half since the NCAA finals, there have already been some huge names that have gone into the portal. Some have already announced their new homes, while others are still being courted. 

The first list of wrestlers we’ve listed have already publicly committed to a new transfer destination. That new school is listed first, along with their projected weight, followed by their former school. 

Below them are notable wrestlers that have gone into the transfer portal. It is not a comprehensive list. Some (like Jacob Cardenas and Lennox Wolak) knew they were graduating and were unable to continue competing at their Ivy League schools and went into the portal before the season started. Others have just submitted their names. 

Expect many updates to this feature in the coming weeks and months. 

Cal Poly: Korbin Shepherd (133/141) - Missouri

Edinboro: Colton Camacho (125/133) - Pittsburgh

Edinboro: Ryan Michaels (149) - Pittsburgh

Illinois: Ramazan Attasauov (125/133) - Iowa State

Indiana: Angelo Rini (133) - Columbia

Iowa State: Evan Bockman (197) - Utah Valley

Little Rock: Brock DelSignore (184) - NC State

Lock Haven: Max Elton (125) - Buffalo

Lock Haven: Nick Stampoulos (157) - Buffalo

Michigan: Jacob Cardenas (197) - Cornell

Michigan: Chase Saldate (157) - Michigan State

Minnesota: Tommy Askey (157) - Appalachian State

Minnesota: Cooper Flynn (125) - Virginia Tech

Minnesota: Clayton Whiting (174/184) - Missouri

Morgan State: Xavier Doolin (285) - Northern Colorado

Nebraska: Sam Ewing (141) - Buffalo

North Carolina: Ryan Boersma (285) - Missouri

North Carolina: Ethan Oakley (133) - Appalachian State

North Carolina: Josh Ogunsanya (174) - North Carolina

Northern Colorado: Clayton Ulrey (157/165) - Virginia Tech

Northern Illinois: Markel Baker (125/133) - George Mason

Northern Illinois: Spencer Mooberry (197) - North Dakota State

Oklahoma: Gaven Sax (174) - North Dakota State

Oklahoma: Carter Schubert (165) - California Baptist

Oklahoma State: Caleb Fish (165) - Michigan State

Oklahoma State: Dean Hamiti (165/174) - Wisconsin

Oregon State: Sean Harman (174) - Missouri

Pittsburgh: Nick Babin (125) - Columbia

Pittsburgh: Chase Kranitz (184) - Buffalo

Pittsburgh: Evan Tallmadge (125) - Navy

Rider: Sammy Alvarez (149) - Oklahoma State

Rutgers: Dagen Condomitti (157) - Oregon State

SIU Edwardsville: Ben Lunn (141) - Minnesota

SIU Edwardsville: Luke Odom (157) - Illinois

SIU Edwardsville: Griffin Ray (165) - Nebraska

Virginia Tech: Connor McGonagle (133) - Lehigh

Virginia Tech: Lennox Wolak (174) - Columbia

West Virginia: Tommy Maddox (133) - Buffalo

Wyoming: Sam Mitchell (197) - Buffalo
 

Although some huge names are still in the portal, there hasn’t been much portal-related news since the deadline to enter passed (Friday, May 3rd). With the coaching change at Oklahoma State, wrestlers there will have time to enter if they’d like. 

One of the more interesting names to commit to a transfer is Cooper Flynn, who announced yesterday that he will be attending Minnesota for the 2024-25 school year. Flynn was the #20 overall recruit in the Class of 2021 and the Tennessee native initially stayed in the south to attend Virginia Tech. After a redshirt season, Flynn was embroiled in an almost season-long battle with Eddie Ventresca over the starting role at 125 lbs. Ventresca won out and eventually got on the NCAA podium. 

Flynn appeared to be taking an Olympic redshirt for the 2023-24 season, but after Ventresca’s early-season struggles and subsequent injury, Flynn was pulled. In his first bout of the season, Flynn defeated Cliff Keen Las Vegas champion Nico Provo (Stanford), who was undefeated at the time and ranked #4 in the nation. 

At one point during the 2023-24 season, Flynn was ranked as high as second in the country; however, he was unable to topple NC State’s Jakob Camacho - losing in their highly anticipated dual and in the ACC finals. Flynn ended up with the #11 seed at his first national tournament, but bowed out after going 1-2, with losses to both Big 12 finalists. 

Flynn’s addition is yet another from the portal that has solidified the Minnesota lineup. They’ve added Tommy Askey (157/Appalachian State) and Clayton Whiting (174/184/Missouri) since the NCAA Tournament. With the departure of longtime starter and Big Ten finalist, Patrick McKee, 125 appeared to be an issue for the Gophers in 2024-25. No more with Flynn aboard. There’s a way that Minnesota head coach Brandon Eggum could send out a lineup that includes nine returning national qualifiers. 

125 lbs in the Big Ten (and nationally) was quite chaotic and one of the talking points all year. A couple of the wrestlers that made the weight so unpredictable are gone; however, it still looks up for grabs. Flynn won’t initially be viewed as a conference title favorite, at the same time, he can’t be ruled out. 
 

Portal

Andrew Alirez (141) - Northern Colorado

Cam Amine (165) - Michigan

Cade Balestrini (149) - Bloomsburg

Fernando Barreto (133) - North Dakota State

Kaleb Burgess (149) - Buffalo

Charlie Darracott (165) - Stanford

Devon Dawson (285) - North Dakota State

Massoma Endene (197) - Wartburg

Logan Frazier (133) - Virginia Tech

Max Hale (184) - Penn 

Wyatt Hendrickson (285) - Air Force

Nathan Higley (149) - George Mason

Jared Hill (157) - Oklahoma

Jacob Joyce (125) - Stanford

Jason Kraisser (157) - Iowa State

Hunter Mays (165) - Lehigh

Peter Ming (285) - Stanford

Peyton Moore (133) - Missouri

Kyle Mosher (165) - Columbia

Jack Nies (149) - American

Danny Nini (157) - North Carolina

Kyle Parco (149)  - Arizona State

Isaiah Powe (141) - Chattanooga

Bretli Reyna (149) - Iowa

Chris Rivera (141) - Campbell

Justin Rivera (149) - Campbell

Rylan Rogers (184) - Michigan

Cheaney Schoeff (133) - Indiana

Tyler Stewart (285) - Morgan State

Ethan Stiles (157) - Nebraska