InterMat's 2026 Recruiting Class Rankings: Part One (#1-12)

Recruiting class rankings are always unique in their own sort of way. This year, the number one spot seemed to be locked up early; however, classes #2-#4 all could probably make a case for the second spot. After that, it gets very interesting.  Then, as you made your way down to the 25 spot, there were a handful of teams that could’ve made a case for their inclusion.

Some of it came down to how you value quantity over quality. As you peruse the rankings, you’ll see plenty of classes that had both.

Recruiting rankings mark the end of the respective class and put a bow on the hard work of coaching staffs around the nation. The question you ask is, how are these rankings tabulated? First, we have used the big board rankings courtesy of our sister site, MatScouts. Willie Saylor has taken the arduous task of projecting the top-250 wrestlers in the Class of 2026, making calculating these rankings slightly easier.

Some of the factors that are taken into account when putting these rankings together include:

- Numbers: Where were the signees ranked? How many top-ten, top-50, top-100, top-250, etc., does a school have?

- Fit: After years of following these programs and their coaching staffs, does a particular recruit fit the "type" of kid that has success at their respective team? Or maybe a style of wrestling.

- Filling a need: In years past, I have weighed this very heavily. Signing two highly ranked 184 lb prospects doesn't appear to fit a need when you have a stud sophomore returning at the same weight.

- Impact on a program: This is subjective, but tends to favor teams that aren't consistent NCAA trophy contenders. If Iowa or Penn State signs the #80 overall recruit and he turns out to AA twice, taking seventh and eighth for them, it has a particular impact. But if Northwestern or Princeton signs the same prospect and he has the same career, it will have a much more significant impact on those two programs. Both Northwestern and Princeton may have benefited from this criterion in 2026.

So, with that out of the way, enjoy the second half of InterMat's 2026 Team Recruiting Rankings. 1-12. 13-25 were released earlier this week.

12. Lehigh

Top Recruits: #23 Dean Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts, PA), #29 Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic, PA), #56 Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian Academy, PA), #235 Tavio Hoose (Southwestern, NY)

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