WS Top Ranked Freshman

[flyingcement]

Since these are wrestlestat rankings, these are based on the matches they wrestled as a redshirt last year.  Pretty good representation of teams

125
19. Ezekiel Witt, North Dakota State
26. Louie Gill, West Virginia
30. Beric Jordan, Oklahoma
33. Camren French, Northern Illinois
35. Mack Mauger, Missouri
39. Kael Laurisden, Nebraska
40. Cam Stinson, North Carolina
44. Isaiah Quintero, Purdue

133
7. Ben Davino, Ohio State
22. Omar Ayoub, Nebraska
35. Dillon Campbell, Virginia Tech
38. Logan Swensen, South Dakota State
39. JJ McComas, Oklahoma State
40. Jake Crapps, Army
41. Richard Murillo, Cal Baptist

141
16. Luke Simcox, North Carolina
31. Aden Valencia, Stanford
35. Osmany Diversent, Iowa State
50. Alex Braun, Oklahoma

149
18. August Hibler, Northwestern
19. EJ Parco, Stanford
23. Kade Brown, Pittsburgh
35. Pierson Manville, Arizona State
36. Kyrel Leavell, Citadel
43. Jack Myers, Virginia

157
11. Charlie Millard, Minnesota
22. TJ Langley, West Virginia
33. Laird Root, North Carolina
34. Cam Catrabone, Michigan
45. Ty Wilson, Northwestern
50. Jason Mara, Stanford

165
16. Andrew Barbosa, Rutgers
24. e'Than Birden, Ohio State
37. Gunnar Myers, Northwestern
39. Shawn Taylor, West Virginia
40. Tucker Cell, Gardner-Webb
45. Daishun Powe, Northern Colorado
48. Colin Young, Oklahoma State

174
9. Brock Mantanona, Michigan
22. LJ Araujo, Nebraska
31. Max Magayna, North Dakota State
36. Gage Wright, Virginia Tech
38. Ryan Ford, Rutgers
41. Hudson Rogers, Utah Valley
43. Kameron Phillips, Northern Colorado

184
1. Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
9. Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri
12. Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State
15. Sam Goin, Indiana
36. Jake Dailey, North Carolina
40. Sawyer Bartelt, Iowa State

197
7. Cody Merrill, Oklahoma State
20. Conor Mirasola, Penn State
24. Robert Platt, North Carolina
26. Rune Lawrence, West Virginia
27. Wyatt Ingham, Wisconsin
30 Max Shulaw, Virginia

285
18. Cole Mirasola, Penn State
29. Calvin Lachman, Lehigh
41. Nick Pavlechko, Indiana
47. Oscar Williams, Maryland
49. Brenan Morgan, Virginia
 

[BigRedFan]

Too bad they couldn't figure out how to correctly rank Ivy greyshirt freshmen.  For instance, at 149 Jaxon Joy (who went 29-1 last year) pinned Hibler.  At 165 Louis Cerchio (who went 29-6) beat Myers and majored Taylor.

[Husker_Du]

i think the guys at WresteStat put a factor in their algo to piss off BigRedFan of intermat message boards

[Gantry]

There's definitely something off with how WS ranked greyshirts from Cornell.  Joy is #218 and Cerchio is #188, basically near dead last, despite good seasons where they beat a bunch of top 100 D1 guys. 

I think it's because they don't get "credit" for last years D1 wins as they were competing for the non-D1 Spartan Combat RTC.  It shows Joy as 29-1 but only 3-0 in "real" matches against people in his division.  Basically he only gets "credit", and I think therefore ranking credit, for those 3 matches against unattached people who were in high school or not on any team. Cerchio was 0-0 

Don't know how it works deep down but it seems like they'd be ranked a ton higher based on last years matches if they "redshirted" for Cornell instead of Spartan Combat.  

 

 

[wrestlingfan22]

8 hours ago, flyingcement said:

Since these are wrestlestat rankings, these are based on the matches they wrestled as a redshirt last year.  Pretty good representation of teams

125
19. Ezekiel Witt, North Dakota State
26. Louie Gill, West Virginia
30. Beric Jordan, Oklahoma
33. Camren French, Northern Illinois
35. Mack Mauger, Missouri
39. Kael Laurisden, Nebraska
40. Cam Stinson, North Carolina
44. Isaiah Quintero, Purdue

133
7. Ben Davino, Ohio State
22. Omar Ayoub, Nebraska
35. Dillon Campbell, Virginia Tech
38. Logan Swensen, South Dakota State
39. JJ McComas, Oklahoma State
40. Jake Crapps, Army
41. Richard Murillo, Cal Baptist

141
16. Luke Simcox, North Carolina
31. Aden Valencia, Stanford
35. Osmany Diversent, Iowa State
50. Alex Braun, Oklahoma

149
18. August Hibler, Northwestern
19. EJ Parco, Stanford
23. Kade Brown, Pittsburgh
35. Pierson Manville, Arizona State
36. Kyrel Leavell, Citadel
43. Jack Myers, Virginia

157
11. Charlie Millard, Minnesota
22. TJ Langley, West Virginia
33. Laird Root, North Carolina
34. Cam Catrabone, Michigan
45. Ty Wilson, Northwestern
50. Jason Mara, Stanford

165
16. Andrew Barbosa, Rutgers
24. e'Than Birden, Ohio State
37. Gunnar Myers, Northwestern
39. Shawn Taylor, West Virginia
40. Tucker Cell, Gardner-Webb
45. Daishun Powe, Northern Colorado
48. Colin Young, Oklahoma State

174
9. Brock Mantanona, Michigan
22. LJ Araujo, Nebraska
31. Max Magayna, North Dakota State
36. Gage Wright, Virginia Tech
38. Ryan Ford, Rutgers
41. Hudson Rogers, Utah Valley
43. Kameron Phillips, Northern Colorado

184
1. Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
9. Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri
12. Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State
15. Sam Goin, Indiana
36. Jake Dailey, North Carolina
40. Sawyer Bartelt, Iowa State

197
7. Cody Merrill, Oklahoma State
20. Conor Mirasola, Penn State
24. Robert Platt, North Carolina
26. Rune Lawrence, West Virginia
27. Wyatt Ingham, Wisconsin
30 Max Shulaw, Virginia

285
18. Cole Mirasola, Penn State
29. Calvin Lachman, Lehigh
41. Nick Pavlechko, Indiana
47. Oscar Williams, Maryland
49. Brenan Morgan, Virginia
 

I know it is just the algo, but I am really curious what would cause it to spit out Parco > Brown at 149, when Brown had more wins and more wrestlestat ranked wins (and better losses)

[MNRodent]

11 hours ago, flyingcement said:

285
18. Cole Mirasola, Penn State
29. Calvin Lachman, Lehigh
41. Nick Pavlechko, Indiana
47. Oscar Williams, Maryland
49. Brenan Morgan, Virginia
 

WrestleStat's formula has Koy Hopke ridiculously low at #162.  Probably penalizing him for missing his entire true freshman year due to surgery.

He has freestyle wins over #5 Nathan Taylor, #21 Daniel Herrara, #36 Jarrett Stoner.

Minnesota teammate Bennett Tabor is at #19 and Hopke is probably the slight favorite to win the spot based on results/common opponents.

Edited Friday at 07:47 PM by MNRodent

[RawDog]

Any potential title threats in this group of freshman?  Obviously Ferrari, but what about davino, valencia and sinclair? Anyone think they have potential to win as freshman? Anyone else have a shot to win?

[flyingcement]

7 hours ago, MNRodent said:

WrestleStat's formula has Koy Hopke ridiculously low at #162.  Probably penalizing him for missing his entire true freshman year due to surgery.

He has freestyle wins over #5 Nathan Taylor, #21 Daniel Herrara, #36 Jarrett Stoner.

Minnesota teammate Bennett Tabor is at #19 and Hopke is probably the slight favorite to win the spot based on results/common opponents.

I wonder - does wrestlestat even take into account free style matches?  I would guess maybe not.  But maybe it gives you a little extra credit for having a world or olympic qualification or title.  I'm just guessing.  

[nhs67]

21 hours ago, wrestlingfan22 said:

I know it is just the algo, but I am really curious what would cause it to spit out Parco > Brown at 149, when Brown had more wins and more wrestlestat ranked wins (and better losses)

Does Brown have any ties to @BigRedFan?

That could be it.

[Truzzcat]

On 7/4/2025 at 3:53 AM, flyingcement said:

Since these are wrestlestat rankings, these are based on the matches they wrestled as a redshirt last year.  Pretty good representation of teams

125
19. Ezekiel Witt, North Dakota State
26. Louie Gill, West Virginia
30. Beric Jordan, Oklahoma
33. Camren French, Northern Illinois
35. Mack Mauger, Missouri
39. Kael Laurisden, Nebraska
40. Cam Stinson, North Carolina
44. Isaiah Quintero, Purdue

133
7. Ben Davino, Ohio State
22. Omar Ayoub, Nebraska
35. Dillon Campbell, Virginia Tech
38. Logan Swensen, South Dakota State
39. JJ McComas, Oklahoma State
40. Jake Crapps, Army
41. Richard Murillo, Cal Baptist

141
16. Luke Simcox, North Carolina
31. Aden Valencia, Stanford
35. Osmany Diversent, Iowa State
50. Alex Braun, Oklahoma

149
18. August Hibler, Northwestern
19. EJ Parco, Stanford
23. Kade Brown, Pittsburgh
35. Pierson Manville, Arizona State
36. Kyrel Leavell, Citadel
43. Jack Myers, Virginia

157
11. Charlie Millard, Minnesota
22. TJ Langley, West Virginia
33. Laird Root, North Carolina
34. Cam Catrabone, Michigan
45. Ty Wilson, Northwestern
50. Jason Mara, Stanford

165
16. Andrew Barbosa, Rutgers
24. e'Than Birden, Ohio State
37. Gunnar Myers, Northwestern
39. Shawn Taylor, West Virginia
40. Tucker Cell, Gardner-Webb
45. Daishun Powe, Northern Colorado
48. Colin Young, Oklahoma State

174
9. Brock Mantanona, Michigan
22. LJ Araujo, Nebraska
31. Max Magayna, North Dakota State
36. Gage Wright, Virginia Tech
38. Ryan Ford, Rutgers
41. Hudson Rogers, Utah Valley
43. Kameron Phillips, Northern Colorado

184
1. Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
9. Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri
12. Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State
15. Sam Goin, Indiana
36. Jake Dailey, North Carolina
40. Sawyer Bartelt, Iowa State

197
7. Cody Merrill, Oklahoma State
20. Conor Mirasola, Penn State
24. Robert Platt, North Carolina
26. Rune Lawrence, West Virginia
27. Wyatt Ingham, Wisconsin
30 Max Shulaw, Virginia

285
18. Cole Mirasola, Penn State
29. Calvin Lachman, Lehigh
41. Nick Pavlechko, Indiana
47. Oscar Williams, Maryland
49. Brenan Morgan, Virginia
 

Is Diversent actually going 141?

[ionel]

On 7/4/2025 at 9:12 PM, flyingcement said:

I wonder - does wrestlestat even take into account free style matches?  I would guess maybe not.  

Do they take into account off season pickleball results?    I would guess same answer.  

[MethaneMan]

On 7/4/2025 at 9:05 PM, RawDog said:

Any potential title threats in this group of freshman?  Obviously Ferrari, but what about davino, valencia and sinclair? Anyone think they have potential to win as freshman? Anyone else have a shot to win?

Davino is a DAWG. IMO he is a title threat. Angelo, Davino, PJ Duke and Lockett are your logical freshman title threats. The rest I wouldn't bet on but there's a reason why you wrestle the matches.

[nhs67]

8 hours ago, MethaneMan said:

Davino is a DAWG. IMO he is a title threat. Angelo, Davino, PJ Duke and Lockett are your logical freshman title threats. The rest I wouldn't bet on but there's a reason why you wrestle the matches.

He is not a logical title threat.

[flyingcement]

Worth mentioning that Vincent Robinson wasn't on many people's radars at this time last year and won a title. I expect Cody Merrill to win a title at some point.  I think Beric Jordan is an AA threat next year.  Other guys I like are Charlie Millard and Pierson Manville.  

[ionel]

49 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

He is not a logical title threat.

[BAC]

Some pretty crazy rankings in there.  

Here is the entirety of Luke Simcox's resume to be ranked #16 (per WrestlStat):

#74 Navida, Elias (14 - 5)    #17 North Carolina    02/23    Wildcat Open    141    W    DEC    7 - 0
#154 Sly, Charlie (8 - 11)    #61 Gardner-Webb    02/23    Wildcat Open    141    W    FALL    6:28
#92 Reihner, Blake (10 - 7)    #78 Davidson    02/23    Wildcat Open    141    W    DEC    5 - 0
#65 Sherlock, Tyson (13 - 7)    #78 Davidson    02/23    Wildcat Open    141    W    FALL    1:57
#38 Basile, Braden (11 - 6)    #25 Army West Point    01/04    Southern Scuffle    141    L    MD    18 - 4
#154 Sly, Charlie (8 - 11)    #61 Gardner-Webb    01/04    Southern Scuffle    141    W    FALL    1:46
#68 Iamunno, Joey (14 - 13)    #55 Brown    01/04    Southern Scuffle    141    W    DEC    10 - 3
#77 Oswalt, Ian (17 - 7)    #55 Brown    01/04    Southern Scuffle    141    L    DEC    10 - 5
#151 Matthews, Devin (11 - 14)    #65 LIU    01/04    Southern Scuffle    141    W    DEC    6 - 1
#6 Frost, Jacob (28 - 9)    #13 Iowa State    12/21    Iowa State - North Carolina Dual    141    L    MD    10 - 1
#3 Wilson, Josh    (D3) #101 Greensboro    11/25    Greensboro - North Carolina Dual    141    L    DEC    4 - 1

In sum:  Highest ranked win is vs. #65 (a back-up at Davidson), with losses to #6, 38, 77 and a D3 kid.  I know it's all algorithm based but what kind for formula would make a computer say "yeah he's 16th"?

[juniorvarsity]

14 hours ago, nhs67 said:

He is not a logical title threat.

Because it is Messenbrink next topic? Do you think Locket can beat Caliendo?

[nhs67]

Just now, juniorvarsity said:

Because it is Messenbrink next topic? Do you think Locket can beat Caliendo?

I think Locket CAN beat Caliendo in MFS.

I don't think he WILL beat him in CFS.

Also, yes.  It is Messenbrink - NEXT TOPIC.  To be a logical title threat, he must have more than a fart's chance in a $HlT storm to win the title.  I would love to see a proper contender emerge at 165lbs, but I don't see it happening unless someone makes a leap and Messenbrink does not.  The most likely candidates to make that leap would be guys coming up from 157 or current 157lbers such as Blaze, Duke (who is same team, so they would not be going against one another at a competition), or Shapiro.  I don't think anyone else could make that jump to compete with him next season.  Facundo might be able to keep it close. 

[Gantry]

There was some talk about Lockett at 157, not sure if that has any legs though.  

[wrestlingfan22]

38 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

I think Locket CAN beat Caliendo in MFS.

I don't think he WILL beat him in CFS.

Also, yes.  It is Messenbrink - NEXT TOPIC.  To be a logical title threat, he must have more than a fart's chance in a $HlT storm to win the title.  I would love to see a proper contender emerge at 165lbs, but I don't see it happening unless someone makes a leap and Messenbrink does not.  The most likely candidates to make that leap would be guys coming up from 157 or current 157lbers such as Blaze, Duke (who is same team, so they would not be going against one another at a competition), or Shapiro.  I don't think anyone else could make that jump to compete with him next season.  Facundo might be able to keep it close. 

Lockett teched Shapiro last time they wrestled- I don't think he is beating Messenbrink, but he has the same long shot as anyone else around that weight range IMO

[wrestlingfan22]

23 hours ago, MethaneMan said:

Davino is a DAWG. IMO he is a title threat. Angelo, Davino, PJ Duke and Lockett are your logical freshman title threats. The rest I wouldn't bet on but there's a reason why you wrestle the matches.

Aden Valencia at 149 is someone I could see being a title threat. I would favor SVN and Henson over him, but I think anyone else at 149 is a toss-up

[nhs67]

54 minutes ago, wrestlingfan22 said:

Aden Valencia at 149 is someone I could see being a title threat. I would favor SVN and Henson over him, but I think anyone else at 149 is a toss-up

Valencia’s freestyle résumé far outshines his folkstyle record. At 141 lbs, his folkstyle results aren’t exceptional: he dropped two razor-thin decisions to All-American–caliber opponents, and while he notched a 5-4 win over Rivera (Round of 16) and an 11-6 victory against Iowa’s JV Ryder Block, those wins alone don’t yet peg him as a title contender at that weight.

He’s only stepped above 143.3 lbs once in recent years - an outing at 157 lbs against HEW Ed Scott that ended in a 13-3 major-decision defeat.  Still, I believe he has a tremendous amount of upside beyond his current #26 ranking at 141 lbs on Wrestlestat, which would translate to roughly #22 at 149 lbs.

Projecting to 149 lbs, I could see him matching up with the likes of Andrew Clark, Josh Edmond, and Jack Gioffre, which puts him in the Round-of-12/16 conversation.  Back down at 141 lbs, similar R12/R16 matchups against Ryan Jack, Danny Pucino, and Julian Tagg seem realistic.  Cracking the top 5–8 at 141 lbs feels slightly more attainable, especially since we haven’t yet seen how he adapts to 149 lbs.  Stanich, Lemley, and Bailey seem more doable than McNeil, Stiles, and Williams.

One more question: could Valencia wrestle EJ Parco for the starting spot? I’d favor Valencia in that matchup - but would the coaches put Parco out, who if I understand correctly the coaching staff loves?  Hell, after last season, I would prefer a lineup bump from 141 - 174.  That puts Monteiro out, but I don't think Monteiro is the answer for them at 184lbs (I did last year, but felt proven wrong).

Ramblings of an old man... sorry.

[nhs67]

1 hour ago, wrestlingfan22 said:

Lockett teched Shapiro last time they wrestled- I don't think he is beating Messenbrink, but he has the same long shot as anyone else around that weight range IMO

I don't think we have seen peak-form Shapiro yet.  I don't typically side with tinfoil hat wearing softies, but I fully believe that concussions have given us a Shapiro that is considerably lower-peak than we have been able to witness in college (yet).

Also, it was MFS and not folkstyle.  That would make a huge difference in a Folkstyle match for these two.

[wrestlingfan22]

13 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

I don't think we have seen peak-form Shapiro yet.  I don't typically side with tinfoil hat wearing softies, but I fully believe that concussions have given us a Shapiro that is considerably lower-peak than we have been able to witness in college (yet).

Also, it was MFS and not folkstyle.  That would make a huge difference in a Folkstyle match for these two.

I agree Shapiro has untapped potential. I also think Lockett is just too big for him at the moment. I don't feel like Shapiro is even a big 157 yet. 

[wrestlingfan22]

17 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

Valencia’s freestyle résumé far outshines his folkstyle record. At 141 lbs, his folkstyle results aren’t exceptional: he dropped two razor-thin decisions to All-American–caliber opponents, and while he notched a 5-4 win over Rivera (Round of 16) and an 11-6 victory against Iowa’s JV Ryder Block, those wins alone don’t yet peg him as a title contender at that weight.

He’s only stepped above 143.3 lbs once in recent years - an outing at 157 lbs against HEW Ed Scott that ended in a 13-3 major-decision defeat.  Still, I believe he has a tremendous amount of upside beyond his current #26 ranking at 141 lbs on Wrestlestat, which would translate to roughly #22 at 149 lbs.

Projecting to 149 lbs, I could see him matching up with the likes of Andrew Clark, Josh Edmond, and Jack Gioffre, which puts him in the Round-of-12/16 conversation.  Back down at 141 lbs, similar R12/R16 matchups against Ryan Jack, Danny Pucino, and Julian Tagg seem realistic.  Cracking the top 5–8 at 141 lbs feels slightly more attainable, especially since we haven’t yet seen how he adapts to 149 lbs.  Stanich, Lemley, and Bailey seem more doable than McNeil, Stiles, and Williams.

One more question: could Valencia wrestle EJ Parco for the starting spot? I’d favor Valencia in that matchup - but would the coaches put Parco out, who if I understand correctly the coaching staff loves?  Hell, after last season, I would prefer a lineup bump from 141 - 174.  That puts Monteiro out, but I don't think Monteiro is the answer for them at 184lbs (I did last year, but felt proven wrong).

Ramblings of an old man... sorry.

Willie said Valencia is going 149 as of right now- I don't know if that means a lineup bump or Parco sucking down/getting benched. 

 

I agree his folk record is middling right now- but looking at 149, I agree that Stiles, McNeil, Williams, and whoever ISU throws out there seem like tough matches, but Valencia's FS accomplishments make me think he could beat them if he adjusts to 149 well (and if his FS game is accurate to his folk potential)