Ranking the #1s

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

[flyingcement]

1. Mesenbrink
2. Barr
3. Van Ness
4. Haines
5. Welsh
6. Mendez
7. Bastida
8. Cannon
9. Byrd
10. Lilledahl

[flyingcement]

I feel like slickness is usually talked about regarding offense.  Vega has some of the slickest defense I've ever seen.  I can't count him out even against Mendez

[JWC]

Lockett has a chance against the Cal Baptist product.

[Rassling]

11 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

nice job. You included a few names of those who may give most of your picks a challenge. Which 133lbr is next in line to Byrd in your opinion at this point? 

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

3 minutes ago, Rassling said:

nice job. You included a few names of those who may give most of your picks a challenge. Which 133lbr is next in line to Byrd in your opinion at this point? 

Davino

[mattramosjr]

11 hours ago, flyingcement said:

1. Mesenbrink
2. Barr
3. Van Ness
4. Haines
5. Welsh
6. Mendez
7. Bastida
8. Cannon
9. Byrd
10. Lilledahl

mendez 6 is insanity 

[Rassling]

2 minutes ago, mattramosjr said:

mendez 6 is insanity 

 next Hodge poll taken he’ll be on top

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

11 minutes ago, mattramosjr said:

mendez 6 is insanity 

Agreed.  He has to be 1a or 1b.

[Spladle]

23 minutes ago, mattramosjr said:

mendez 6 is insanity 

Definitely no PSU bias with those picks. 

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

8 minutes ago, Spladle said:

Definitely no PSU bias with those picks. 

For the record, I'm a huge PSU fan.  But I try to be realistic with my picks.

[happyvalet]

13 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

Good list, JC. I would make only small changes (swap Barr & Haines and swap SVN & Bastida based on their weak weight classes)

[MD152]

13 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

Well done, I can see you have done your homework!!!

[Simpleman424]

1 hour ago, Spladle said:

Definitely no PSU bias with those picks. 

After the first 5 I was waiting to see Lilledahl at 6…but he didn’t so clearly no bias.

[Gus]

1. Mesenbrink

2. Mendez

3. Haines

4. Barr

5. Van Ness

6. Lilledahl

7. Welsh

8. Bastida

9. Byrd

10. Cannon

[Dogbone]

15 minutes ago, Gus said:

1. Mesenbrink

2. Mendez

3. Haines

4. Barr

5. Van Ness

6. Lilledahl

7. Welsh

8. Bastida

9. Byrd

10. Cannon

This is my list as well except I would flip Barr and Van Ness. 

I would rank Barr higher on a P4P list, but I just think the rest of 149 field isn't as good as Elam, who might have a better shot against Barr than anyone else at 149 against SVN.  

[flyingcement]

2 hours ago, mattramosjr said:

mendez 6 is insanity 

It's because of Vega

[PortaJohn]

23 minutes ago, Gus said:

1. Mesenbrink

2. Mendez

3. Haines

4. Barr

5. Van Ness

6. Lilledahl

7. Welsh

8. Bastida

9. Byrd

10. Cannon

This is a great list.  Only change is maybe swapping Bastida and Welsh.  

[ionel]

1. Bastida

2. Byrd

3. Welsh

4. Mesenbrink

5. Lilledahl

6. Cannon

7. Barr

8. Haines

9. Van Ness

10. Mendez

[Gus]

11 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

This is a great list.  Only change is maybe swapping Bastida and Welsh.  

I would go either way with it. Bastida has not yet showed up how you would want him to at the end of the season. Welsh got second when he was a freshman at tOSU and it seems like Cael and Co always have the guys ready. Since 2013 when Ed Ruth won his first title at 184 (second title overall), PSU has won 8/12 NCAA titles at 184. 

[Simpleman424]

45 minutes ago, ionel said:

1. Bastida

2. Byrd

3. Welsh

4. Mesenbrink

5. Lilledahl

6. Cannon

7. Barr

8. Haines

9. Van Ness

10. Mendez

lol…now that’s a good troll job!

[RandolphTJones]

2 hours ago, flyingcement said:

It's because of Vega

Vega won't take a shot and Mendez with continuously attack. I'd be surprised if he doesn't at least major Vega. 

[ionel]

4 hours ago, Simpleman424 said:

lol…now that’s a good troll job!

Whoops ... I simply responded to the thread title and ranked by last letter of last name ... didn't read the jimmy fine print.  

[BAC]

21 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

Solid work.  I think I'm on the same page, except (1) swapping SVN and Bastida (I don't think SVN has any challengers as good as Bastida has in Trumble), and (2) swapping Cannon and Welsh (I don't think either wins but I give Welsh higher odds than Cannon).

[TAC]

23 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Ranking the #1s on Intermat as of 2/9/26 from Most Confident to Win NCAAs to least.

1. Mesenbrink 165 - Lockett is the only one who could possibly stop him.  He bonuses everyone else, including Caliendo.
2. Mendez 141 - He's already crushed everyone but Vega.  Could someone like Stanich knock him off?  Unlikely.
3. Haines 174 - He's beaten all other comers except Simon Ruiz. 
4. Barr 197 - Can Elam take him out?  He's crushing everyone else so far.
5. Bastida HWT - Kind of a weak weight this year but Yonger is the top dog by far if he can stay healthy.
6. SVN 149 - Shayne has actually been giving up lots of takedowns recently but the weight is pretty weak other than Jaxon Joy.
7. Lilledahl 125 - Lilledahl's upcoming scrap with Bouzakis will tell us a lot.  If he can beat Bouzakis my confidence in him will increase greatly.
8. Cannon 157 - If healthy I would have Cannon much higher but it's a mystery how healthy he is currently.
9. Welsh 184 - Rocco has been on fire so far this season but I think the weight is stacked with Ferrari, Sinclair, McEnelly and Conway who could all win.
10. Byrd 133 - Probably the deepest weight class I can remember in the last 15 years.  So many super stud freshman here.

Agree / disagree?

That is actually a pretty good list.  I am not sure I would change any of this.  Well done.