BT preseeds?
- Thread starter loonhawk
- Start date
They generally come out this afternoon or tomorrow. Then coaches meeting on Friday to finalize.
They did change to a seeding matrix this year so it’s possible that the process is different.
They did change to a seeding matrix this year so it’s possible that the process is different.
Can someone share them when they come out? They rarely change anymore so that is what the Hawks most likely will be seeded at.
With the new points system and being able to challenge if within 15 points it will be interesting to see what changes
I believe 1 specifically is the ILL 125 vs Peterson. Peterson has a h2h win from Nat Duals, but ILL as a team wrestled nobody in conference while Peterson took a loss to Bouzakis and Lilledahl and missed some matches. So seeding matrix has Peterson behind.
Just started watching - Caliendo #2, Blaze #3
174 Minto #1, Haines #2 ??????
Kennedy #3
Kennedy #3
184 Welsh #1 - Ferrari #8
Mac #2, Allread #3, Fishback #6
Mac #2, Allread #3, Fishback #6
These seeds are historically bad, and embarrassing.
Peterson got the 8 seed. Lilledahl is the 1.
Ayala the 5 (Fugitt is the 4). Blaze is the 1.
Bailey is the 4 seed (Ragusin is the 5, Mendez obviously the 1).
Block is the 8 seed. SVN the 1.
Voinivich got the 10 seed (Cannon is his first round match as the 7, yeesh).
Caliendo got the 2 (???).
Kennedy the 3.
Ferrari the 8.
Arnold the 13 (Branson John first round matchup, then the winner of Geog and Connell if Gabe wins Rd. 1)
Kueter the 10 seed, Koy Hopke round 1, then Ferrari if Kueter wins that.
Ayala the 5 (Fugitt is the 4). Blaze is the 1.
Bailey is the 4 seed (Ragusin is the 5, Mendez obviously the 1).
Block is the 8 seed. SVN the 1.
Voinivich got the 10 seed (Cannon is his first round match as the 7, yeesh).
Caliendo got the 2 (???).
Kennedy the 3.
Ferrari the 8.
Arnold the 13 (Branson John first round matchup, then the winner of Geog and Connell if Gabe wins Rd. 1)
Kueter the 10 seed, Koy Hopke round 1, then Ferrari if Kueter wins that.
Yeah they are going out of the way to ignore common sense and prove a point about lack of matches. My guess is they know that and just trying to get big matchups in earlier sessions. To not give Haines the #1 seed is just comical. You created the schedule. Really screws over Kennedy but oh well.
I'm fine with Ferrari having the 8 seed. He was going to have to beat Welsh & McEnally both regardless. Might as well knock Welsh back early.
I'm fine with Ferrari having the 8 seed. He was going to have to beat Welsh & McEnally both regardless. Might as well knock Welsh back early.
Love seeing cannon and Ferrari punished. You don’t get to skip duals and get high seed
There is still some head scratchers
Minto a 1??
Cali over blaze?
Ferrari over Feldman?
There is still some head scratchers
Minto a 1??
Cali over blaze?
Ferrari over Feldman?
The 174 seeds are terrible, Minto lost to Karchla, Haines, PK, and Facundo (who PK beat twice). lol just a $h*t show, how did no one rebuttal this seeding for 174. This dooms PKs seeding at the big dance. We don’t want him 4-5 at Nationals… which will probably happen with him placing 3/4 at B1G Tens.
Holy hell. These are bad. That being said, you get what you earn.
I know we talked about this before but I don’t understand stand the logic or approach by the coaches for putting VV3 at 157… both not the best options but I would’ve chose Williams. He has more upside in my opinion.
VV3 must’ve won a wrestle off? Or Williams hurt? Just honestled shocked with this decision.
VV3 must’ve won a wrestle off? Or Williams hurt? Just honestled shocked with this decision.
Don’t get too attached to these.. There will be some changes for sure. 165 and 174 will change.
Weird seeding but it'll all shake out on the back side anyway. Going to be an interesting tournament, Hawks need to take advantage and get some bonus in the first round and some of those like Ferrari-Welsh could turn the thing on it's head as far as PSU being too heavy a favorite or at least running away with it in the first day.
Cannon didn’t skip the dual against Minnesota and beat there guy 2x so should definitely be ahead of him. Similar to Minto/Haines
Not wrestling or not performing well in conference is for sure weighted now.
Hope maybe we can get a challenge on Block and Ferrari.
The rest were either going to have to win early in wrestle backs or got a chance to reach semis. Cali and Blaze were going to most likely meet semis anyway but Im sure Purdue will challenge based on the path to semis.
Haines should be 1 and expect that challenged and hope Minto goes to 2 and gets semi with Kenedy.
Hope maybe we can get a challenge on Block and Ferrari.
The rest were either going to have to win early in wrestle backs or got a chance to reach semis. Cali and Blaze were going to most likely meet semis anyway but Im sure Purdue will challenge based on the path to semis.
Haines should be 1 and expect that challenged and hope Minto goes to 2 and gets semi with Kenedy.
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Seven University of Iowa wrestlers are seeded eighth or better in the pre-seeds for the 2026 Big Ten Championships, the league office announced Monday. The tournament is set for Saturday and Sunday in State College, Pennsylvania.
The Hawkeyes have a No. 2 seed in Michael Caliendo (165). Patrick Kennedy (174) is the No. 3 seed, while Nasir Bailey (141) is No. 4 and Drake Ayala (133) is No. 5. Iowa has three No. 8 seeds in Dean Peterson (125), Ryder Block (149) and Angelo Ferrari (184).
Victor Voinovich III and Ben Kueter are both seeded No. 10 at 157 and 285 pounds, respectively, and Gabe Arnold is the No. 13 seed at 197.
Block and Ferrari are making their postseason debuts, while Bailey and Voinovich are making their Big Ten postseason debuts.
The Hawkeyes have won 37 team conference titles, more than twice as many as the next closest school (Illinois, 17).
The complete tournament brackets and official seeds will be released Friday afternoon following the Big Ten Conference coaches meeting. For more information on the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, visit bigten.org.
Iowa Pre-Seeds | 2026 Big Ten Championships
125 – #8 Dean Peterson
133 – #5 Drake Ayala
141 – #4 Nasir Bailey
149 – #8 Ryder Block
157 – #10 Victor Voinovich III
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo
174 – #3 Patrick Kennedy
184 – #8 Angelo Ferrari
197 – #13 Gabe Arnold
285 – #10 Ben Kueter
125 lbs
1. Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
2. Spencer Moore (ILL)
3. Nic Bouzakis (OSU)
4. Jacob Moran (IND)
5. Jore Volk (MINN)
6. Ayden Smith (RU)
7. Nicolar Rivera (WIS)
8. Dean Peterson (IOWA)
9. Diego Sotelo (MICH)
10. Dedrick Navarro (NU)
11. Kael Lauridsen (NEB)
12. Nick Corday (MSU)
13. Ashton Jackson (PUR)
14. Abram Cline (MD)
133 lbs
1. Marcus Blaze (PSU)
2. Lucas Byrd (ILL)
3. Ben Davino (OSU)
4. Zan Fugitt (WIS)
5. Drake Ayala (IOWA)
6. Jacob Van Dee (NEB)
7. Sean Spidle (NU)
8. Braxton Brown (MD)
9. Dylan Shawver (RU)
10. Blake Boarman (PUR)
11. Caleb Weiand (MSU)
12. Blaine Frazier (IND)
13. Gauge Botero (MICH)
14. Jager Eisch (MINN)
141 lbs
1. Jesse Mendez (OSU)
2. Brock Hardy (NEB)
3. Vance VomBaur (MINN)
4. Nasir Bailey (IOWA)
5. Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
6. Greyson Clark (PUR)
7. Braeden Davis (PSU)
8. Billy Dekraker (NU)
9. Henry Porter (IND)
10. Joey Olivieri (RU)
11. Dario Lemus (MD)
12. Danny Pucino (ILL)
13. Carson Exferd (WIS)
14. Jaden Crumpler (MSU)
149 lbs
1. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
2. Ethan Stiles (OSU)
3. Joseph Zargo (WIS)
4. Lachlan McNeil (MICH)
5. Carter Young (MD)
6. Chance Lamer (NEB)
7. Andrew Clark (RU)
8. Ryder Block (IOWA)
9. Michael Gioffre (ILL)
10. Drew Roberts (MINN)
11. Joey Buttler (IND)
12. Gavin Brown (PUR)
13. Clayton Jones (MSU)
14. August Hibler (NU)
157 lbs
1. Antrell Taylor (NEB)
2. PJ Duke (PSU)
3. Kannon Webster (ILL)
4. Anthony White (RU)
5. Cameron Cartabone (MICH)
6. Charlie Millard (MINN)
7. Brandon Cannon (OSU)
8. Luke Mechler (WIS)
9. Stoney Buell (PUR)
10. Victor Voinovich III (IOWA)
11. Bryce Lowery (IND)
12. Darius Marines (MSU)
13. Mekhi Neal (MD)
14. Ty Wilson (NU)
165 lbs
1. Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)
2. Michael Caliendo (IOWA)
3. Joey Blaze (PUR)
4. Andrew Sparks (MINN)
5. LJ Araujo (NEB)
6. Braeden Scoles (ILL)
7. Andrew Barbosa (RU)
8. Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
9. Tyler Lillard (IND)
10. Cody Goebel (WIS)
11. Jacob Bostelman (NU)
12. Justin Gates (MICH)
13. AJ Rodrigues (MD)
14. Jack Conley (MSU)
174 lbs
1. Christopher Minto (NEB)
2. Levi Haines (PSU)
3. Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
4. Beau Mantanona (MICH)
5. Carson Kharchla (OSU)
6. Derek Gilcher (IND)
7. Ethan Riddle (MINN)
8. Brody Baumann (PUR)
9. Colin Kelly (ILL)
10. Lenny Pinto (RU)
11. Eddie Enright (NU)
12. Luke Condon (WIS)
13. Connor O’Neil (MSU)
14. Seth Digby (MD)
184 lbs
1. Rocco Welsh (PSU)
2. Max McEnelly (MINN)
3. Silas Allred (NEB)
4. Brock Mantanona (MICH)
5. Chris Moore (ILL)
6. Dylan Fishback (OSU)
7. Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU)
8. Angelo Ferrari (IOWA)
9. Sam Goin (IND)
10. James Rowley (PUR)
11. J.D. Perez (NU)
12. Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (MD)
13. Ryan Boucher (MSU)
14. Cale Anderson (WIS)
197 lbs
1. Josh Barr (PSU)
2. Camden McDanel (NEB)
3. Remy Cotton (RU)
4. Branson John (MD)
5. Luke Geog (OSU)
6. Wyatt Ingham (WIS)
7. Kael Wisler (MSU)
8. Gabe Sollars (IND)
9. Ben Vanadia (PUR)
10. Hayden Walters (MICH)
11. Gavin Nelson (MINN)
12. Dylan Connell (ILL)
13. Gabe Arnold (IOWA)
14. Alex Smith (NU)
285 lbs
1. Taye Ghadiali (MICH)
2. AJ Ferrari (NEB)
3. Nick Feldman (OSU)
4. Cole Mirasola (PSU)
5. Braxton Amos (WIS)
6. Luke Luffman (ILL)
7. Koy Hopke (MINN)
8. Hunter Catka (RU)
9. Josh Terrill (MSU)
10. Ben Kueter (IOWA)
11. Hayden Filipovich (PUR)
12. Joey Schneck (MD)
13. Gabe Christenson (NU)
14. Caleb Marzolino (IND)
The Hawkeyes have a No. 2 seed in Michael Caliendo (165). Patrick Kennedy (174) is the No. 3 seed, while Nasir Bailey (141) is No. 4 and Drake Ayala (133) is No. 5. Iowa has three No. 8 seeds in Dean Peterson (125), Ryder Block (149) and Angelo Ferrari (184).
Victor Voinovich III and Ben Kueter are both seeded No. 10 at 157 and 285 pounds, respectively, and Gabe Arnold is the No. 13 seed at 197.
Block and Ferrari are making their postseason debuts, while Bailey and Voinovich are making their Big Ten postseason debuts.
The Hawkeyes have won 37 team conference titles, more than twice as many as the next closest school (Illinois, 17).
The complete tournament brackets and official seeds will be released Friday afternoon following the Big Ten Conference coaches meeting. For more information on the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, visit bigten.org.
Iowa Pre-Seeds | 2026 Big Ten Championships
125 – #8 Dean Peterson
133 – #5 Drake Ayala
141 – #4 Nasir Bailey
149 – #8 Ryder Block
157 – #10 Victor Voinovich III
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo
174 – #3 Patrick Kennedy
184 – #8 Angelo Ferrari
197 – #13 Gabe Arnold
285 – #10 Ben Kueter
125 lbs
1. Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
2. Spencer Moore (ILL)
3. Nic Bouzakis (OSU)
4. Jacob Moran (IND)
5. Jore Volk (MINN)
6. Ayden Smith (RU)
7. Nicolar Rivera (WIS)
8. Dean Peterson (IOWA)
9. Diego Sotelo (MICH)
10. Dedrick Navarro (NU)
11. Kael Lauridsen (NEB)
12. Nick Corday (MSU)
13. Ashton Jackson (PUR)
14. Abram Cline (MD)
133 lbs
1. Marcus Blaze (PSU)
2. Lucas Byrd (ILL)
3. Ben Davino (OSU)
4. Zan Fugitt (WIS)
5. Drake Ayala (IOWA)
6. Jacob Van Dee (NEB)
7. Sean Spidle (NU)
8. Braxton Brown (MD)
9. Dylan Shawver (RU)
10. Blake Boarman (PUR)
11. Caleb Weiand (MSU)
12. Blaine Frazier (IND)
13. Gauge Botero (MICH)
14. Jager Eisch (MINN)
141 lbs
1. Jesse Mendez (OSU)
2. Brock Hardy (NEB)
3. Vance VomBaur (MINN)
4. Nasir Bailey (IOWA)
5. Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
6. Greyson Clark (PUR)
7. Braeden Davis (PSU)
8. Billy Dekraker (NU)
9. Henry Porter (IND)
10. Joey Olivieri (RU)
11. Dario Lemus (MD)
12. Danny Pucino (ILL)
13. Carson Exferd (WIS)
14. Jaden Crumpler (MSU)
149 lbs
1. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
2. Ethan Stiles (OSU)
3. Joseph Zargo (WIS)
4. Lachlan McNeil (MICH)
5. Carter Young (MD)
6. Chance Lamer (NEB)
7. Andrew Clark (RU)
8. Ryder Block (IOWA)
9. Michael Gioffre (ILL)
10. Drew Roberts (MINN)
11. Joey Buttler (IND)
12. Gavin Brown (PUR)
13. Clayton Jones (MSU)
14. August Hibler (NU)
157 lbs
1. Antrell Taylor (NEB)
2. PJ Duke (PSU)
3. Kannon Webster (ILL)
4. Anthony White (RU)
5. Cameron Cartabone (MICH)
6. Charlie Millard (MINN)
7. Brandon Cannon (OSU)
8. Luke Mechler (WIS)
9. Stoney Buell (PUR)
10. Victor Voinovich III (IOWA)
11. Bryce Lowery (IND)
12. Darius Marines (MSU)
13. Mekhi Neal (MD)
14. Ty Wilson (NU)
165 lbs
1. Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)
2. Michael Caliendo (IOWA)
3. Joey Blaze (PUR)
4. Andrew Sparks (MINN)
5. LJ Araujo (NEB)
6. Braeden Scoles (ILL)
7. Andrew Barbosa (RU)
8. Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
9. Tyler Lillard (IND)
10. Cody Goebel (WIS)
11. Jacob Bostelman (NU)
12. Justin Gates (MICH)
13. AJ Rodrigues (MD)
14. Jack Conley (MSU)
174 lbs
1. Christopher Minto (NEB)
2. Levi Haines (PSU)
3. Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
4. Beau Mantanona (MICH)
5. Carson Kharchla (OSU)
6. Derek Gilcher (IND)
7. Ethan Riddle (MINN)
8. Brody Baumann (PUR)
9. Colin Kelly (ILL)
10. Lenny Pinto (RU)
11. Eddie Enright (NU)
12. Luke Condon (WIS)
13. Connor O’Neil (MSU)
14. Seth Digby (MD)
184 lbs
1. Rocco Welsh (PSU)
2. Max McEnelly (MINN)
3. Silas Allred (NEB)
4. Brock Mantanona (MICH)
5. Chris Moore (ILL)
6. Dylan Fishback (OSU)
7. Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU)
8. Angelo Ferrari (IOWA)
9. Sam Goin (IND)
10. James Rowley (PUR)
11. J.D. Perez (NU)
12. Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (MD)
13. Ryan Boucher (MSU)
14. Cale Anderson (WIS)
197 lbs
1. Josh Barr (PSU)
2. Camden McDanel (NEB)
3. Remy Cotton (RU)
4. Branson John (MD)
5. Luke Geog (OSU)
6. Wyatt Ingham (WIS)
7. Kael Wisler (MSU)
8. Gabe Sollars (IND)
9. Ben Vanadia (PUR)
10. Hayden Walters (MICH)
11. Gavin Nelson (MINN)
12. Dylan Connell (ILL)
13. Gabe Arnold (IOWA)
14. Alex Smith (NU)
285 lbs
1. Taye Ghadiali (MICH)
2. AJ Ferrari (NEB)
3. Nick Feldman (OSU)
4. Cole Mirasola (PSU)
5. Braxton Amos (WIS)
6. Luke Luffman (ILL)
7. Koy Hopke (MINN)
8. Hunter Catka (RU)
9. Josh Terrill (MSU)
10. Ben Kueter (IOWA)
11. Hayden Filipovich (PUR)
12. Joey Schneck (MD)
13. Gabe Christenson (NU)
14. Caleb Marzolino (IND)
Ferrari #2 nationally, #8 seed in the conference tournament. 
They should have an emergency coaches meeting via zoom today, all agree to scrap this garbage and send in their rankings by tomorrow noon ET like it used to be. These are for the most part horrible.
A few additional thoughts after looking at them more.
I expect Byrd to get bumped to the #1. You can’t penalize a returning big ten/NCAA champ who wrestled his full dual schedule and went undefeated. The big ten creates the conference schedule so essentially you are penalizing him for your own schedule making.
Block should bump up past Lamer. Is Roberts going to wrestle for Minnesota? Heard he got hurt at the last chance.
165/174 will 100% change.
I am actually glad Angelo gets a chance at revenge on Rocco early. He could wrestle himself to the #1 seed at NCAAs if he wins that and against McEnelly.
125, 141, 157, 197, 285 - hard to complain about anything given the way the season progressed. Let’s hope they can buck up.
I expect Byrd to get bumped to the #1. You can’t penalize a returning big ten/NCAA champ who wrestled his full dual schedule and went undefeated. The big ten creates the conference schedule so essentially you are penalizing him for your own schedule making.
Block should bump up past Lamer. Is Roberts going to wrestle for Minnesota? Heard he got hurt at the last chance.
165/174 will 100% change.
I am actually glad Angelo gets a chance at revenge on Rocco early. He could wrestle himself to the #1 seed at NCAAs if he wins that and against McEnelly.
125, 141, 157, 197, 285 - hard to complain about anything given the way the season progressed. Let’s hope they can buck up.
Analytics should be a tool - hopefully some degree of common sense can be factored in. 174 should be the case for that all by itself.
Coaches can dispute seeding as long as the point differential between wrestlers is 15 points or lower.
I don't think it's obvious that Mendez would be the 1 under the absolute garbage system they used this year. LOL. They really need to say "just kidding, we'll do it the old way and get back to you tomorrow".
174 is clearly bonkers.
It would be trivial for them to post the scores for each wrestler and the values for each scoring category, in the interest of transparency. Why keep that a secret? I mean, make it make sense, literally.
Haines got punished for being ducked, not for ducking matches. He wrestled every B1G dual.
These seeds are comical. Be interesting to see how many get changed, or if they say f it and just roll with the shitshow?! 174 doesn't even make sense. What is the logic for Minto any higher than the 3??
Coaches have no one to blame but themselves. Carl said the coaches voted for this system.
How idiotic. Should have been a committee that STARTED with a matrix. Unbelievable.
How idiotic. Should have been a committee that STARTED with a matrix. Unbelievable.
I’m guessing they liked Flo’s ranking system where you move up because of quality losses
I don’t even care what these seeds present for the hawks. If you can’t beat someone early in the tourney you can’t beat them later on.