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We are finished with the college regular season and there have been plenty of standout performances throughout the season. Each week, conference wrestlers of the week get announced and are honored. Here is the list of wrestlers of the week, per conference - along with the Big Ten who also identifies a Freshman of the Week. ACC Wrestler of the Week 2/25: Josh Ogunsanya (North Carolina)/Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) 2/18: Tyler Knox (Stanford) 2/11: Nolan Neves (North Carolina) 2/4: Vince Robinson (NC State) 1/28: Aidan Wallace (Duke)/Koy Buesgens (NC State) 1/21: EJ Parco (Stanford) 1/14: Spencer Moore (North Carolina)/Vince Robinson (NC State) 1/7: Dylan Cedeno (Virginia) 1/1: Lorenzo Norman (Stanford) 12/24: Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina) 12/17: Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) 12/10: Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) 11/26: Connor Barket (Duke) 11/19: Isaac Trumble (NC State) 11/12: Vince Robinson (NC State) 11/6: Spencer Moore (North Carolina) Big 12 Wrestler of the Week 2/19: Cody Chittum (Iowa State) 2/11: Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley) 2/5: Mosha Schwartz (Oklahoma) 1/29: Jacob Frost (Iowa State) 1/23: Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) 1/15: Cael Hughes (Oklahoma State) 1/8: Trever Anderson (Northern Iowa) 1/2: Jared Hill (Wyoming) 12/27: Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) 12/18: Eli Griffin (California Baptist) 12/12: Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) 12/4: Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) 11/27: Antonio Lorenzo (Oklahoma) 11/20: Colton Hawks (Missouri) 11/13: Christian Carroll (Iowa State) 11/6: Terrell Barraclough (Utah Valley) Big Ten Wrestler of the Week 2/26: Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) 2/20: Beau Bartlett (Penn State) 2/12: Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 2/5: Tyler Kasak (Penn State) 1/30: Lucas Byrd (Illinois)/Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 1/23: Drake Ayala (Iowa)/Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 1/16: Jaxon Smith (Maryland)/Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 1/9: Kyle Parco (Iowa) 12/27: Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) 12/19: Beau Bartlett (Penn State) 12/9: Matt Ramos (Purdue)/Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) 12/2: Max McEnelly (Minnesota) 11/27: Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 11/21: Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 11/14: Matt Ramos (Purdue) 11/7: Joseph Walker (Michigan) Big Ten Freshman of the Week 2/26: Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) 2/20: Max McEnelly (MInnesota) 2/12: Josh Barr (Penn State) 2/5: Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) 1/30: Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 1/23: Beau Mantanona (Michigan) 1/16: Christopher Minto (Nebraska) 1/9: Zack Ryder (Penn State) 12/27: Josh Barr (Penn State) 12/19: Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) 12/9: Josh Barr (Penn State) 12/2: Max McEnelly (Minnesota) 11/27: Brock Mantanona (Michigan) 11/21: Charlie Millard (Minnesota) 11/14: Kannon Webster (Illinois)/Max McEnelly (Minnesota) 11/7: Ben Davino (Ohio State) EIWA Wrestler of the Week 2/25: Owen Trephan (Lehigh) 2/17: Caden Rogers (Lehigh) 2/11: Matty Lopes (Lehigh) 2/4: Ivan Garcia (Binghamton) 1/27: Jordan Soriano (Drexel) 1/21: Giuseppe Hoose (Drexel) 1/14: Myles Takats (Bucknell) 1/7: Will Ebert (Binghamton) 12/31: Josh Koderhandt (Navy) 12/24: Kyle Mosher (Hofstra) 12/17: Anthony D’Alesio (Long Island) 12/10: Brevin Cassella (Binghamton) 11/26: Danny Wask (Navy) 11/19: Myles Takats (Bucknell) 11/12: Will Ebert (Binghamton) 11/5: Ethan Berginc (Army West Point) Ivy League Wrestler of the Week 2/25: Max Gallagher (Penn) 2/18: Cross Wasilewski (Penn) 2/11: Simon Ruiz (Cornell) 2/4: Marc Anthony-McGowan (Princeton) 1/28: Eligh Rivera (Princeton) 1/21: Diego Sotelo (Harvard) 1/14: Ryan Miller (Penn) 1/7: Blake Saito (Brown) 12/31: CJ Composto (Penn) 12/24: Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) 12/10: Simon Ruiz (Cornell) 12/3: Justin Mayes (Cornell) 11/26: Jude Swisher (Penn) 11/19: Nick Fine (Columbia) 11/12: Nick Incontrera (Penn) 11/5: Cesar Alvan (Columbia) MAC Wrestler of the Week East Division 2/25: Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) 2/18: Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) 2/11: Nick Stampoulos (Lock Haven) 2/4: Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 1/28: Joey Lyons (Cleveland State) 1/21: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) 1/14: Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) 1/7: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) 12/31: DJ McGee (George Mason) 12/24: Scott Johnson (Clarion) 12/17: None 12/10: Logan Messer (George Mason)/Lucas Kapusta (Lock Haven) 11/26: Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven) 11/19: Isaac Dean (Rider) 11/12: Colin Fegley (Lock Haven) 11/5: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) West Division 2/25: Mason Shrader (Central Michigan) 2/18: Markel Baker (Northern Illinois) 2/11: Landen Johnson (Northern Illinois) 2/4: Garrett Thompson (Ohio) 1/28: Alex Cramer (Central Michigan) 1/21: Mason Shrader (Central Michigan) 1/14: Alex Cramer (Central Michigan) 1/7: Carson Miller (Kent State) 12/31: Blake West (Northern Illinois)/Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) 12/24: Jordan Greer (Ohio) 12/17: Billy Meiszner (Kent State) 12/10: Garrett Thompson (Ohio) 11/26: Chandler Amaker (Central Michigan)/Billy Meiszner (Kent State) 11/19: Bryan Caves (Central Michigan) 11/12: Peyten Kellar (Ohio) 11/5: Drew Davis (SIU Edwardsville) Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week 2/25: Ethan Stiles (Oregon State) 2/18: Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 2/11: Matty Bianchi (Little Rock) 2/4: Ethan Stiles (Oregon State) 1/28: Gerrit Nijenhuis (CSU Bakersfield) 1/21: Jordan Williams (Little Rock) 1/14: AJ Ferrari (CSU Bakersfield) 1/7: Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 12/31: Koda Holeman (Cal Poly) 12/24: AJ Ferrari (CSU Bakersfield) 12/17: Guillermo Escobedo (CSU Bakersfield) 12/10: Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) 11/26: Jake Andrews (CSU Bakersfield) 11/19: Ethan Stiles (Oregon State) 11/12: Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) 11/5: Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) SoCon Wrestler of the Week 2/26: Tyler-Xavier McKnight (Davidson) 2/19: Daulton Mayer (Bellarmine) 2/12: Daulton Mayer (Bellarmine) 2/5: Tanner Peake (Davidson) 1/29: AJ Rallo (Bellarmine) 1/22: Lucas Uliano (Appalachian State) 1/15: Wynton Denkins (Campbell) 1/8: Sergio Desiante (Chattanooga) 12/25: Shannon Hanna (Campbell) 12/18: TK Davis (Gardner-Webb) 12/11: Chad Bellis (Appalachian State) 11/27: Patrick Brophy (The Citadel) 11/20: Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) 11/13: Braxton Lewis (VMI) 11/6: Patrick Jordon (VMI)

In a change of pace before the college postseason gets underway, FloWrestling’s Night in America: Lee vs Ono freestyle event, pitted some of our country's top freestyle wrestlers against each other in a fun exhibition in Coralville, Iowa. Additionally, a pair of Japanese stars participated in the main event and co-main event against two of the best recent wrestlers from Iowa universities. The co-main event was an action-packed contest that saw Iowa State’s two-time national champion David Carr take on 2024 Olympic silver medalist Daichi Takatani at 76 kg. The pair started off with plenty of handfighting and fakes but no dedicated offensive attack through nearly the first two minutes of the bout. That led to the former Cyclone getting placed on the activity clock. With the :30 second clock about to expire, Carr struck with a low leg attack for a takedown and immediately transitioned into a leg lace. Carr was able to get a pair of turns from the leg lace and was suddenly ahead, 6-0. Takatani countered with less than :10 seconds remaining in the first period with a big double leg for two points. That narrowed Carr’s lead to 6-2 at the break. Carr showed no signs of slowing down in the second with a head fake and a snap down, followed by a spin and two more points with a takedown. Once again, Carr was able to take advantage on the mat and turned Takatani with a gut wrench. As he went for a second turn, his Japanese counterpart stepped over for a pair of exposure points of his own. Takatani was also able to work from par terre and got an additional two points from a gut wrench of his own. Even so, Carr held a 10-6 lead. Later in the final period, Takatani was able to shoot Carr outside of the activity circle and was rewarded with a step-out point. The 10-7 score was how the match would end as Carr evaded all offensive attacks from Takatani. In the main event 2024 Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee faced off with Masanosuke Ono, who was a U20 and Senior world champion last year at 61 kg. During his Senior title run, Ono outscored the competition 55-2 over the course of five matches, including a 12-0 tech over Vito Arujau in the semifinals. Despite having two of the most high-scoring lightweights in the world on the same mat, this bout was largely a defensive struggle. Ono’s three points all came from Lee step-outs. Lee received a pair of points for technical violations from Ono. One came from two hands locked on the American’s head while on their feet and the other came on a caution for failing to engage in the waning second of the match. Full Results Undercard 175 lbs - Lincoln Jipp over Riley Johnson 14-0 125 lbs - Jake Knight over Abdi Unle 12-11 115 lbs - Cruzer Dominquez over Ethan Humphrey 11-0 Main Card 62 kg - Nathan Tomasello over Daniel DeShazer 7-0 97 kg - Jay Aiello over Marcus Coleman 12-1 62 kg - Melanie Nahomi Jimenez over Xochitl Mota-Pettis 7-1 57 kg - Zeltzin Hernandez over Amanda Martinez 8-2 86 kg - Nate Jackson over Kennedy Monday 11-7 62 kg - Seth Gross over Austin DeSanto 10-0 72 kg - Austin Gomez over Bryce Andonian 11-0 88 kg - Zahid Valencia over Trent Hidlay 5-0 76 kg - David Carr over Daichi Takatani 10-7 59.5 kg - Masanosuke Ono over Spencer Lee 3-2

Highlights Lehigh’s Owen Trephan earns WOW with win over #5 Schultz of ASU #15 Takats of Bucknell notches another quality win over #9 Ruiz from Cornell Duals (2/21) Maryland 23 Drexel 13 125 - Desmond Pleasant (Drexel) maj Presden Sanchez (Maryland) 10-1 133 - Braxton Brown (Maryland) maj Kyle Waterman (Drexel) 13-4 141 - Dario Lemus (Maryland) dec John Hildebrandt (Drexel) 1-0 149 - Dominic Findora (Drexel) dec Michael Pizzuto (Maryland) 8-2 157 - Ethen Miller (Maryland) tech Aboubakare Diaby (Drexel) 19-4 165 - Cody Walsh (Drexel) dec Alex Uryniak (Maryland) 5-2SV 174 - Branson John (Maryland) dec Jack Janda (Drexel) 10-3 184 - Jaxon Smith (Maryland) maj Giuseppe Hoose (Drexel) 14-4 197 - Ethan Wilson (Drexel) dec Jack Darrah (Maryland) 8-2 285 - Seth Nevills (Maryland) maj Tanner Updegraff (Drexel) 10-1 Columbia 25 Bucknell 16 125 - Sulayman Bah (Columbia) fall Chris Nucifora (Bucknell) 3:50 133 - Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) maj Connor Smith (Columbia) 15-5 141 - Lorenzo Frezza (Columbia) dec Dylan Chappell (Bucknell) 4-1SV 149 - Kai Owen (Columbia) fall Aiden Davis (Bucknell) 5:51 157 - Richard Fedalen (Columbia) dec Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) 5-2 165 - Cesar Alvan (Columbia) dec Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) 8-7 174 - Myles Takats (Bucknell) maj Jack McGill (Columbia) 11-1 184 - Nick Fine (Columbia) maj Logan Deacetis (Bucknell) 9-0 197 - Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) tech Javen Jovero (Columbia) 20-4 285 - Logan Shephard (Bucknell) dec Vincent Mueller (Columbia) 10-7 Lehigh 25 Arizona State 11 125 - Richie Figueroa (Arizona State) dec Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) 7-3 133 - Damian Moreno (Arizona State) dec Mason Ziegler (Lehigh) 8-5 141 - Emilio Ysaguirre (Arizona State) dec Carter Bailey (Lehigh) 4-1 149 - Pierson Manville (Arizona State) dec Malyke Hines (Lehigh) 5-3 157 - Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) dec Michael Kilic (Arizona State) 10-4 165 - Richie Grungo (Lehigh) fall Austin Scott (Arizona State) 2:20 174 - Rylan Rogers (Lehigh) tech Arturo Anaya (Arizona State) 22-6 184 - Caden Rogers (Lehigh) dec Shay Addison (Arizona State) 3-2 197 - Michael Beard (Lehigh) tech Max Acciardi (Arizona State) 19-4 285 - Owen Trephan (Lehigh) dec Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) 4-2 Penn State 50 American 3 125 - Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) tech Coen Bainey (American) 20-3 133 - Raymond Lopez (American) dec Kyison Garcia (Penn State) 9-7 141 - Beau Barlett (Penn State) tech Elijah White (American) 21-5 149 - Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) tech Gage Owen (American) 16-1 157 - Tyler Kasak (Penn State) fall Devon Capato (American) 2:19 165 - Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) tech Kaden Milheim (American) 19-2 174 - Levi Haines (Penn State) fall Breon Phifer (American) 3:43 184 - Carter Starocci (Penn State) fall Lucas White (American) 2:22 197 - Josh Barr (Penn State) fall Liam Volk-Klos (American) 1:09 285 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) fall Emmanuel Ulrich (American) 2:47 (2/22) Cornell 27 Bucknell 18 125 - Marcello Milani (Cornell) FFT 133 - Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) tech Joseph Sciarrone (Cornell) 18-3 141 - Josh Saunders (Cornell) maj Dylan Chappell (Bucknell) 11-1 149 - Ethan Fernandez (Cornell) dec Braden Bower (Bucknell) 5-1 157 - Riley Bower (Bucknell) fall Owen Finn (Cornell) 1:109 165 - Julian Ramirez (Cornell) dec Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) 10-4 174 - Myles Takats (Bucknell) maj Simon Ruiz (Cornell) 11-3 184 - Chris Foca (Cornell) tech Logan Deacetis (Bucknell) 16-1 197 - Mikey Dellagatta (Cornell) fall Michael Bartush (Bucknell) 1:56 285 - Logan Shephard (Bucknell) dec Aiden Compton (Cornell) 11-4 Brown 43 Sacred Heart 3 125 - Jared Brunner (Brown) FFT 133 - Braxton Appello (Sacred Heart) dec Hunter Adrian (Brown) 9-8 141 - Ian Oswalt (Brown) dec Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) 5-2SV 149 - Joey Iamunno (Brown) fall Dakota Asuncion (Sacred Heart) 6:50 157 - Blake Saito (Brown) dec Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) 5-1 165 - Keegan Rothrock (Brown) fall Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart) 2:22 174 - Drew Clearie (Brown) fall Calum Price (Sacred Heart) 1:37 184 - Connor O’Donnell (Brown) tech Nicky Eboli (Sacred Heart) 19-3 197 - Thomas Sandoval (Brown) dec Chris DeLana (Sacred Heart) 5-3TB 285 - Alex Semenenko (Brown) tech Matt Walker (Sacred Heart) 18-3 (2/23) VMI 23 Sacred Heart 18 125 - Waylon Rogers (VMI) tech Michael Baker (Sacred Heart) 16-1 133 - Braxton Appello (Sacred Heart) maj Kyle Gibson (VMI) 10-1 141 - Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) dec Wayne Rold (VMI) 8-5SV 149 - Dakota Asuncion (Sacred Heart) tech Nate Shippey (VMI) 19-4 157 - Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) dec Raymond Cmil (VMI) 8-3 165 - Logan Chambers (VMI) dec Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart) 12-7 174 - Luke Hart (VMI) tech Calum Price (Sacred Heart) 16-1 184 - Braxton Lewis (VMI) tech Owen Ayoette (Sacred Heart) 17-1 197 - Toby Schoffstall (VMI) tech Chris DeLana (Sacred Heart) 17-0 285 - Brendan Gilchrist (Sacred Heart) dec Josh Evans (VMI) 7-2 Long Island 29 Sacred Heart 10 125 - Robbie Sagaris (Long Island) FFT 133 - Braxton Appello (Sacred Heart) dec Kaelen Francois (Long Island) 5-0 141 - Devin Matthews (Long Island) dec Andrew Fallon (Sacred Heart) 5-4 149 - Dakota Asuncion (Sacred Heart) dec Tommy Bonasera (Long Island) 6-2 157 - Brayden Roberts (Long Island) dec Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart) 3-1 165 - James Johnston (Long Island) tech Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart) 14-6 174 - Blake Bahna (Long Island) maj Calum Price (Sacred Heart) 17-4 184 - Owen Ayoette (Sacred Heart) tech Braden Brown (Long Island) 15-0 197 - Corey Connolly (Long Island) maj Chris DeLana (Sacred Heart) 13-3 285 - Chris Powell (Long Island) fall Connor White (Sacred Heart) 1:25 American 30 Morgan State 15 125 - JJ Peace (American) maj Julian Dawson (Morgan State) 10-0 133 - Raymond Lopez (American) fall Treshaun Tecson (Morgan State) 2:16 141 - Elijah White (American) tech Jimmie Jones (Morgan State) 16-0 149 - Gage Owen (American) dec Yannis Charles (Morgan State) 10-5 157 - Aaron Turner (Morgan State) dec Devon Capato (American) 8-5SV 165 - Kaden Milheim (American) fall Cooper Lockhart (Morgan State) 1:43 174 - Darrien Roberts (Morgan State) maj Breon Phifer (American) 11-2 184 - Kingsley Menifee (Morgan State) dec Lucas White (American) 10-3 197 - Liam Volk-Klos (American) fall Eric Washington (Morgan State) 4:41 285 - Xavier Doolin (Morgan State) tech Carston Rawls (American) 18-1 Army West Point 30 Binghamton 6 125 - Charlie Farmer (Army West Point) dec Carson Wagner (Binghamton) 8-6 133 - Ethan Berginc (Army West Point) dec Micah Roes (Binghamton) 5-4 141 - Richard Treanor (Army West Point) dec Nate Lucier (Binghamton) 4-2 149 - Mason Barvitskie (Army West Point) dec Caleb Sweet (Binghamton) 7-2 157 - Fin Nadeau (Binghamton) dec Dakota Morris (Army West Point) 4-3 165 - Gunner Filipowicz (Army West Point) dec Carter Baer (Binghamton) 5-2 174 - Brevin Cassella (Binghamton) dec Dalton Harkins (Army West Point) 3-1 184 - Jake Gilfoil (Army West Point) dec Will Ebert (Binghamton) 3-1 197 - Wolfgang Frable (Army West Point) fall Cayden Bevis (Binghamton) 2:56 285 - Brady Colbert (Army West Point) FFT Events (2/23) Patriot Last Chance Open – George Mason, VA American, Hofstra and Lehigh all competed with attached wrestlers. There were many unattached wrestlers as well. Below are results, by weight class. Each weight class was separated into an “A” and a “B” bracket. 125 Dylan Acevedo, Hofstra – 3rd Dyson Gould, American – 6th Logan Waddle, Lehigh – 5th 133 Gauge Shipp, Hofstra – 2nd Chase Liardi, Hofstra – 3rd Matty Lopes, Lehigh-unattached – 3rd Max Leete, American-unattached – 5th James Garcia, F&M – 5th 141 Justin Hoyle, Hofstra – 5th 149 Noah Tapia, Hofstra – Champion 157 Jurius Clark, Hofstra – 6th Seth Weaver, F&M – 6th 165 Kyle Mosher, Hofstra – 2nd 174 Caleb Campos, American – Champion Matt Waddell, Hofstra – 2nd Eric Shindel, Hofstra – 6th 184 Ross McFarland, Hofstra – 2nd 197 Nikolas Miller, Hofstra – 6th 285 William Jarrell, American – Champion Danny Church, Hofstra – 4th (2/23) F&M Invitational – Franklin & Marshall, PA Army West Point, Lehigh, Drexel, and Franklin & Marshall all had competitors in this event. Below are the place winners at each weight class. 125 Luke Sirianni, Army – 2nd 133 Vincent Gioffre, F&M – 2nd 141 John Hildebrandt, Drexel – 2nd Seamus Mack, Lehigh – 3rd Eric Howe, F&M – 4th 149 Kelvin Griffin, Lehigh – Champion Aidan O’Shea, F&M – 2nd Brandon Sauter, F&M – 3rd 157 Jadon Skellenger, Lehigh – Champion Micah Hanau, Army – 2nd Jayden Iznaga, Drexel – 3rd Aboubakare Diaby, Drexel – 4th 165 Domenic D`Agostino, Drexel – 3rd Makoa Niebel, F&M – 4th 174 Rylan Rogers, Lehigh – Champion Cooper Haase, Army – 2nd Nick Alvarez, F&M – 3rd Dominic Wheatley, F&M – 4th 184 Andrew Christie, Army – Champion George Rhodes, Drexel – 2nd Noah Bash, F&M – 3rd Jared Schoppe, Lehigh – 4th 197 Reid Schroeder, Army – Champion Ethan Wilson, Drexel – 2nd Dontae Hoose, Lehigh – 3rd 285 Ibrahim Ameer, Drexel - Champion Dominic Petracci, Drexel – 2nd Austin Kohlhofer, Army – 3rd Quincy Long, Franklin & Marshall – 4th

Now that we’ve finished the DI regular season, it seems like the year is just about over. Right? Only two more tournaments for each team. With about four full months of data points, we’ve figured out how March will play out. Right? Maybe not. We’ve used last year as an example. What did the landscape look like in the final week of February? How did it change from February to mid-March? There were some huge chances. At this time last year, there was some uncertainty about the availability of two of the sport’s biggest stars (Both ended up winning titles. Congrats Vito and Carter). Two tournaments shouldn’t change THAT much right? You might be surprised how much opinion can be formed or changed over the next couple of weeks. They always say that hindsight is 20/20, so let’s try to avoid looking at last season through the lens of what we know now. We’re getting into our DeLorean’s and traveling back to February 26th of 2024 to check the pulse of college wrestling fans. The eventual national champion at 125 lbs, Richie Figueroa, finished the regular season ranked #19th in the country. He hit a skid at the beginning of February that saw him lose three of four matches. He did show hints of righting the ship as he defeated Luke Stanich and Caleb Smith during the final weekend. Braeden Davis, the eventual Big Ten champion at 125 lbs, was ninth in the nation. In his final Big Ten dual of the season, Davis was majored by Caleb Smith. He later won the Big Ten tournament with wins over three straight past All-Americans. At this point, we were wondering if Vito Arujau would be able to get healthy or if he’d run out of time. Before the postseason, Arujau was 10-1 with a loss to Lehigh freshman Ryan Crookham. He would make the EIWA finals, but suffered a second loss to Crookham. A year ago, Little Rock’s NCAA wrestling history consisted of one win by one NCAA qualifier. That changed in March with two All-American finishes and a 19th-place showing as a team. One of the controversial or head-scratching moments in the weeks between the regular season and the conference tournaments was Iowa’s uncertainty at 133 lbs. We had Cullan Schriever listed as the starter. From what we understand, Brody Teske’s name was given to the Big Ten seeding committee - but it was done so after the deadline, which relegated Teskes to the 14th seed. Even so, he pulled a first-round upset over Nic Bouzakis and finished fifth, earning an automatic qualifying bid to nationals. Future All-American Vance Vombaur finished the regular season ranked #25 after compiling a 14-6 record. He started his NCAA tournament with an upset over #7 Cael Happel and took eighth. We all remember Tyler Kasak’s magical consolation run at NCAA’s. At this point, Kasak was ranked 9th and had a 13-3 record. He’ll start his second postseason ranked #1 in the country. Not all of these are about wrestlers outperforming their pre-postseason rankings. In fact, Northern Colorado’s Vince Zerban was undefeated and ranked second in the country at 157 lbs. The Big 12 Championships were not kind to Zerban, who suffered losses to Jared Hill and Brock Mauller on his way to seventh place. Casual college fans were still probably in the dark about just who Ohio’s Peyten Kellar is. At the time, he was ranked 17th in the nation. There were some signs as Kellar was riding a 10-match winning streak and his only two regular-season losses came at the CKLV to Will Lewan and Paddy Gallagher. Stud freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink finished the regular season undefeated but was still only ranked fifth in the country. The combination of the strength atop the 165 lb weight class (O’Toole/Carr/Julian Ramirez/Hamiti) and the fact that Mesenbrink didn’t hit any top contenders held him back from advancing past any of that big four. Perhaps the biggest story this pre-postseason period was the status of Carter Starocci. Anyone watching his season finale against Edinboro knew that he probably suffered a serious knee injury during his win via tech fall. But just how serious would it be? All of the amateur detectives looked for clues in the footage of the injury and any bit of information given by Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson. Of course, Starocci injury defaulted twice at the Big Ten Championships (was angry about doing so) and ended up winning nationals as the ninth seed after going through a gauntlet that included Mekhi Lewis/Shane Griffith/Rocco Welsh. Speaking of Welsh, he along with two other 174 lb All-Americans, Lennox Wolak, and Ben Pasiuk were ranked outside of the top ten. Welsh, the eventual runner-up, was 11th. Wolak, a national semifinalist, was 13th, and Pasiuk was 14th. Aaron Ayzerov had a confounding regular season that saw him lose seven times before the calendar turned to 2024 and nine times before March. But, he did have two wins over returning NCAA third-place finisher Chris Foca. That resulted in a #26 ranking. Ayzerov beat Foca again at the EIWA Championships, but lost to him in Kansas City. The Big 12 had a pair of undefeated big men in Yonger Bastida and Wyatt Hendrickson. Based on 2023 NCAA performance and Bastida coming up from 215 lbs, Hendrickson started the year ranked higher and kept that ranking until after the Big 12 Championships. At the Big 12’s, Bastida bested Hendrickson, 10-7. At Nationals, Bastida did not place and Hendrickson finished third. From a team standpoint, Penn State was the clear-cut #1 and it was evident that they would probably threaten the team scoring mark. After Penn State though, it was anyone’s guess. Iowa looked like a decent choice for runner-up. It ended up being Cornell who was fifth in our tournament rankings. Third place Michigan was ranked eighth.

Millard

Little Falls

Montville

Liberty

DeSoto

Springdale

Strasburg

Mainland