Most open weight class next year?

[mattramosjr]

My personal pick is heavyweight.

Not many returners at all. 

I think a lot of weight classes are going to look different next year. 

[mr.nonothingatall]

149

[Spladle]

I feel like there are a bunch. The list of guys I have a hard time picking against are 

125 - Lilledahl 

133 - Jax 

165 - Mesenbrink 

197 - Barr 

Could possibly put Vega in there too. 

Feels like everything else could shake out a few different ways. 

Edited April 6 by Spladle

[mattramosjr]

49 minutes ago, Spladle said:

I feel like there are a bunch. The list of guys I have a hard time picking against are 

125 - Lilledahl 

133 - Jax 

165 - Mesenbrink 

197 - Barr 

Could possibly put Vega in there too. 

Feels like everything else could shake out a few different ways. 

robinson or spark plug will challenge luke.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

9 minutes ago, mattramosjr said:

robinson or spark plug will challenge luke.

Yes.  It is not like Lilledahl seems unbeatable in the way Mesenbrink is.  Matches are often lower scoring.  He doesn't generate a lot of his own offense, etc.

Also, while he is pretty quick, no one is actually mistaking him for "lightning"- other than maybe the fact that he almost never strikes twice in the same match. Maybe a new nickname is in order?

Edited April 6 by Interviewed_at_Weehawken

[mattramosjr]

11 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Yes.  It is not like Lilledahl seems unbeatable in the way Mesenbrink is.  Matches are often lower scoring.  He doesn't generate a lot of his own offense, etc.

Also, while he is pretty quick, no one is actually mistaking him for "lightning"- other than maybe the fact that he almost never strikes twice in the same match. Maybe a new nickname is in order?

little luke!!!

[cl415]

125, 149, 174, 184, 285 are all very open in my opinion. Of them, I will say 174 is the most wide open. 
 

125 being on the list may surprise some people but it’s so tough to win that weight in back to back seasons. As others have noted, V-Rob is there. Plus some newcomers like Knox and Deluca. 

[cl415]

12 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Yes.  It is not like Lilledahl seems unbeatable in the way Mesenbrink is.  Matches are often lower scoring.  He doesn't generate a lot of his own offense, etc.

Also, while he is pretty quick, no one is actually mistaking him for "lightning"- other than maybe the fact that he almost never strikes twice in the same match. Maybe a new nickname is in order?

That is actually pretty funny regarding not striking twice in the same match. 

[JeanGuy]

39 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Yes.  It is not like Lilledahl seems unbeatable in the way Mesenbrink is.  Matches are often lower scoring.  He doesn't generate a lot of his own offense, etc.

Also, while he is pretty quick, no one is actually mistaking him for "lightning"- other than maybe the fact that he almost never strikes twice in the same match. Maybe a new nickname is in order?

I think he learned a lot in is freshman year. He was a guy that was probably a little reckless and thought is speed would always prevail. This year his attacks were much more measured. Whether you think that is good or bad you can argue but he was a much more mature wrestler in 2025/26 than he was in 20204/25.

[Le duke]

Just now, JeanGuy said:

I think he learned a lot in is freshman year. He was a guy that was probably a little reckless and thought is speed would always prevail. This year his attacks were much more measured. Whether you think that is good or bad you can argue but he was a much more mature wrestler in 2025/26 than he was in 20204/25.

He very, very rarely seemed to be in danger this year, other than a match against a teammate early in the season. 

He controlled Spratley the entire match in the semifinals. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

37 minutes ago, JeanGuy said:

I think he learned a lot in is freshman year. He was a guy that was probably a little reckless and thought is speed would always prevail. This year his attacks were much more measured. Whether you think that is good or bad you can argue but he was a much more mature wrestler in 2025/26 than he was in 20204/25.

He's a good wrestler and seems like a nice kid.  Would like to see him get his own attacks a bit more. Most of his folkstyle matches are a little too close for comfort; he is fast but is he even top 3 fastest in his weight class?  If there wasn't the easy alliteration, I don't think many would call him "lightning."

[LoserJucoMan]

1 hour ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

He's a good wrestler and seems like a nice kid.  Would like to see him get his own attacks a bit more. Most of his folkstyle matches are a little too close for comfort; he is fast but is he even top 3 fastest in his weight class?  If there wasn't the easy alliteration, I don't think many would call him "lightning."

Who cares about nicknames? Do you think Jordan Burroughs can only see the color gold or that Kyle snyder is really Captain America?

Call him Lackluster Lilledahl that's an another alliteration that might be more to your liking

[LoserJucoMan]

I'm going heavy weight. 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,7th and 8th are all graduating. All that's left is Keuter and Ferrari, who might cut down to 197 next year wherever he ends up.

 

Another one is 174, a very dominant 1st, 3rd, 4th, are gone. Minto is definitely a contender next year but I can't say he runs away with it.

Those two weight classes are going to have a bunch of new blood on the podium next year

[mksioszk2]

4 minutes ago, LoserJucoMan said:

I'm going heavy weight. 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,7th and 8th are all graduating. All that's left is Keuter and Ferrari, who might cut down to 197 next year wherever he ends up.

 

Another one is 174, a very dominant 1st, 3rd, 4th, are gone. Minto is definitely a contender next year but I can't say he runs away with it.

Those two weight classes are going to have a bunch of new blood on the podium next year

Carroll was listed as a R-Fr on Wyomings roster and SO on wrestlestat. Not sure which is correct but he's not out of eligibility.

[LoserJucoMan]

10 minutes ago, mksioszk2 said:

Carroll was listed as a R-Fr on Wyomings roster and SO on wrestlestat. Not sure which is correct but he's not out of eligibility.

Really? intermat has him as a senior in the rankings. That's my bad. 

[ragnardinho]

125, 149, 174, 184, 285 are all very open in my opinion. Of them, I will say 174 is the most wide open. 
 
125 being on the list may surprise some people but it’s so tough to win that weight in back to back seasons. As others have noted, V-Rob is there. Plus some newcomers like Knox and Deluca. 

I think this depends on definition of open. I think for 184 anyone in the top tier could win, but it is not an ‘open weight’ without favorites. No one is walking into a title that isn’t already in the field. I think heavyweight is the weakest field which would be more to my definition of ‘open’

[MPhillips]

@ragnardinho Welcome. We don't get many Viking footballers...

[ionel]

1 hour ago, LoserJucoMan said:

I'm going heavy weight. 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,7th and 8th are all graduating.

Are you thinking The Focus could mf his way to a NC?  

[ragnardinho]

[mention=3391]ragnardinho[/mention] Welcome. We don't get many Viking footballers...[emoji123]

Haha. So few people have ever gotten that. Haaland seems to be carrying the torch for Vikings well these days.

[MPhillips]

3 minutes ago, ragnardinho said:

 Haaland seems to be carrying the torch for Vikings well these days.

Don't remind me. I'm a Liverpool supporter...

[Caveira]

2 hours ago, LoserJucoMan said:

Lackluster Lilledahl

Is this the winner. ?

[Caveira]

38 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

Don't remind me. I'm a Liverpool supporter...

Ynwa

[MPhillips]

3 minutes ago, Caveira said:

Ynwa

I did Saturday...

[LoserJucoMan]

44 minutes ago, Caveira said:

Is this the winner. ?

I think it's got a good ring to it

[scourge165]

7 hours ago, Spladle said:

I feel like there are a bunch. The list of guys I have a hard time picking against are 

125 - Lilledahl 

133 - Jax 

165 - Mesenbrink 

197 - Barr 

Could possibly put Vega in there too. 

Feels like everything else could shake out a few different ways. 

Yeah... Jax is tough but next year I might put Vega ahead of him with Ono at '33. 
Though, Jax looked SO good, it's hard to imagine anyone beating him, even Ono given he's adjusting to Folkstyle.