Willie's Crystal Ball/Weight-by-weight Preview for '25-'26

[Tom McAndrew]

seems worthy of its own thread. This should lead to some interesting discussions about various weight classes for the 2025-26 season.



0:00 - College Wrestling is BACK!
06:30 - 125lbs Crystal Ball
10:30 - Some of The Storylines for the Year
16:00 - 133lbs
21:50 - 141lbs
27:10 - Checking In with the Chat
30:30 - 149lbs
40:40 - 157lbs
49:45 - 165lbs
55:06 - 174lbs
01:01:00 - Checking in with the Chat
01:05:55 - 184lbs
01:14:00 - 197lbs
01:28:00 - 285lbs
01:35:20 - Team Scores & Finishes
1:49:45 - What’s Coming Up This Weekend

 

[Corby2]

Penn st and Husker Willie in full effect . Minto 3rd is wild. I don't see Nebraska repeating what they did last year. I could see Ohio st being this years Nebraska

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@ 125, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Lilledahl
2 – Vince Robinson (NC St.)
3 – Troy Spratley (Okla. St.)
4 - Eddie Ventresca (VT)
5 - Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh)
6 - Dean Peterson (Iowa)
7 – Jett Strickenberger (WVU)
8 - Jore Volk (Minny)

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@133, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Ryan Crookham (Lehigh)
2 – Marcus Blaze
3 – Drake Ayala (Iowa)
4 – Ben Davino (Ohio St.)
5 – Lucas Byrd (Illinois)
6 – Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)
7 – Evan Frost (Iowa St.)
8 – Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska)

He says it's one of the toughest weights to predict, and he indicates that his confidence on where the top 5 place (versus what he predicted) is not all that high. He does indicate that it sounds as though Ono is redshirting.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@141, @WillieTheBrain has:

1 – Jesse Mendez (Ohio St.)
2 – Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
3 – Luke Stanich (Lehigh)
4 – Anthony Echemendia (Iowa St.)
5 – Zeth Romney (Cal Poly)
6 – CJ Composto (Penn)
7 – Vance Vombaur (Minny)
8 – Seth Mendoza (Mizzou)

In his top 12, 7 of them are either up a weight from last year or freshmen, which makes for a whole lot of questions as to how they will actually perform. He has Braeden Davis making it to the blood round, but not AAing.

 

[BriantheLion]

@133, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Ryan Crookham (Lehigh)
2 – Marcus Blaze
3 – Drake Ayala (Iowa)
4 – Ben Davino (Ohio St.)
5 – Lucas Byrd (Illinois)
6 – Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)
7 – Evan Frost (Iowa St.)
8 – Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska)

He says it's one of the toughest weights to predict, and he indicates that his confidence on where the top 5 place (versus what he predicted) is not all that high. He does indicate that it sounds as though Ono is redshirting.

Thanks so much for listing these, for those of us who don’t have time to listen ourselves!

 

[Corby2]

Nevermind

 

[vhsalum1]

Penn st and Husker Willie in full effect . Minto 3rd is wild. I don't see Nebraska repeating what they did last year. I could see Ohio st being this years Nebraska

No shot Ohio St finishes runner-up. Consistently the most overtrained team in NCAAs. It's actually psychotic at this point.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@149, @WillieTheBrain has:

1 – SVN
2 – Lachlan McNeil (Michigan)
3 – Ethan Stiles (Ohio St.)
4 – Paniro Johnson (Iowa St.)
5 – Casey Swiderski (Okla. St.)
6 – Aden Valencia (Stanford)
7 – Chance Lamer (Nebraska)
8 – Kaleb Larkin (ASU)

Willie indicates that he hates this weight, as there is no sure thing (even SVN), and that after the top guys the talent level drops. He indicated (rightly, I feel), that SVN has a history of inconsistency, so even at #1 there are questions about him.

 

[AndEEss]

I thought Swiderski was going 141 for OkSt?

 

[vhsalum1]

@149, @WillieTheBrain has:

1 – SVN
2 – Lachlan McNeil (Michigan)
3 – Ethan Stiles (Ohio St.)
4 – Paniro Johnson (Iowa St.)
5 – Casey Swiderski (Okla. St.)
6 – Aden Valencia (Stanford)
7 – Chance Lamer (Nebraska)
8 – Kaleb Larkin (ASU)

Willie indicates that he hates this weight, as there is no sure thing (even SVN), and that after the top guys the talent level

Van Ness going to bonus through NCAAs with this field.

 

[vhsalum1]

I thought Swiderski was going 141 for OkSt?

You thought wrong.

He was going 141 last year for IaSt, but then got hurt. He's a 149.

 

[AndEEss]

You thought wrong.

He was going 141 last year for IaSt, but then got hurt. He's a 149.

Interesting. Not sure that it matters to SVN. None of these dudes are good/great on top, and he'll melt most of them.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@157, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – PJ Duke
2 – Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)
3 – Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)
4 – Daniel Cardenas (Stanford
5 – Landon Robideau (Okla. St.)
6 – Ty Watters (WVU)
7 – Brandon Cannon (Ohio St.)
8 – Jackson Arrington (NC St.)

He feels the top 4 are really strong.

 

[Twisterky]

@141, @WillieTheBrain has:

1 – Jesse Mendez (Ohio St.)
2 – Brock Hardy (Nebraska)
3 – Luke Stanich (Lehigh)
4 – Anthony Echemendia (Iowa St.)
5 – Zeth Romney (Cal Poly)
6 – CJ Composto (Penn)
7 – Vance Vombaur (Minny)
8 – Seth Mendoza (Mizzou)

In his top 12, 7 of them are either up a weight from last year or freshmen, which makes for a whole lot of questions as to how they will actually perform. He has Braeden Davis making it to the blood round, but not AAing.

Have to think Nagao is going here.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@165, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Mesenbrink
2 – Michael Caliendo (Iowa)
3 – Dee Lockett (Okla. St.)
4 – Joey Blaze (Purdue)
5 – Hunter Garvin (Stanford)
6 – Ryder Downey (UNI)
7 – Matty Blanchi (Little Rock)
8 – Peyten Kellar (Oklahoma)

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@ 174, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Levi Haines
2 – Simon Ruiz (Cornell)
3 – Chris Minto (Nebraska)
4 – Carson Kharchla (Ohio St.)
5 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa)
6 – Cam Steen (Mizzou)
7 – Alex Facundo (Okla. St.)
8 – Matty Singleton (NC St.)

Willie says Haines is probably the closest to a lock (possibly Mesenbrink, though Caliendo is probably tougher competition than what Haines will face) as there is for NCAAs. Basch points out that this is the first weight class that Willie doesn't have somebody coming off of injury predicted to AA.

 

[hohmadw1978]

Have to think Nagao is going here.

Should be a wrestle off between Nagao and Davis before we know who is going at 141.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@184, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Max McEnelly (Minny)
2 – Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
3 – Rocco Welsh
4 – Zack Ryder (Okla. St.)
5 – Aeoden Sinclair (Mizzou)
6 – Silas Alred (Nebraska)
7 – Jaxon Smith (Maryland)
8 – Brock Mantanona (Michigan)

5 of Willie's top 8 are freshman. 6 of the top 8 are sophs or freshman. Basch thinks it's the wildest/toughest/most fun weight in NCAAs. Willie feels the top guys, when they face each other, will have a lot of really close matches, in part because several of them are mostly defensive wrestlers.

 

[amattaro]

@149, @WillieTheBrain has:

1 – SVN
2 – Lachlan McNeil (Michigan)
3 – Ethan Stiles (Ohio St.)
4 – Paniro Johnson (Iowa St.)
5 – Casey Swiderski (Okla. St.)
6 – Aden Valencia (Stanford)
7 – Chance Lamer (Nebraska)
8 – Kaleb Larkin (ASU)

Willie indicates that he hates this weight, as there is no sure thing (even SVN), and that after the top guys the talent level drops. He indicated (rightly, I feel), that SVN has a history of inconsistency, so even at #1 there are questions about him.

SVN inconsistency, GTFO
Freshman year 12 seed finishes 3rd and take 4x champ to the wire in semis.
Sophomore year two losses to the champ and three overall.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@197, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Josh Barr
2 – Justin Rademacher (Oregon St.)
3 – Rocky Elam (Iowa St.)
4 – Joey Novak (Wyoming)
5 – Stephen Little (Little Rock)
6 – Max Stout (Pitt)
7 – Cam McDanel (Nebraska)
8 – DJ Parker (Oklahoma)

Willie says Elam could win it all, but he's coming off of injury so it's tough to know where he's at. I think the last 4 are basically the order (though at different places) where they finished at NCAAs last year. They kind of got off onto too many tangents during the discussion of this weight class.

 

[vhsalum1]

SVN inconsistency, GTFO
Freshman year 12 seed finishes 3rd and take 4x champ to the wire in semis.
Sophomore year two losses to the champ and three overall.

SVN is going to clear this weight. Going to look like MM. Well, as long as he doesn't get ride-happy like he does sometimes.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

@285, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Yonger Bastida (Iowa St.)
2 – AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)
3 – Taye Ghadiali (Michigan)
4 – Isaac Trumble (NC St.)
5 – Nathan Taylor (Lehigh)
6 – Ben Keuter (Iowa)
7 – Nick Feldman (Ohio St.)
8 – Cole Mirasola

3 or 4 of the top guys are coming off of injury, which always makes things interesting. Lot of discussion about how it's the first time in several years where it wasn't a foregone conclusion who would win, or who would be in the finals.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

For Team Scores, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Penn State (9 AAs) - 177 points
2 – Nebraska (8 AAs)
3 – Iowa
4 – Ohio St.
5 – Okla. St.
6 – Iowa St.
7 – Lehigh
8 – NC St.
9 – Michigan

 

[BriantheLion]

Have to think Nagao is going here.

Should be a wrestle off between Nagao and Davis before we know who is going at 141.

Right… it seems that most fans, as well as the ranking services, assume that if Ono doesn’t go, then Davis will, ignoring the possibility that Nagao might.

I don’t know who would win vs each other, or do better overall… I think they’re both very good but not elite, with Nagao being better on top but not as good on his feet (? on bottom?), while Davis looks more balanced with regard to positions, but seems to run more hot and cold overall.

 

[hohmadw1978]

Right… it seems that most fans, as well as the ranking services, assume that if Ono doesn’t go, then Davis will, ignoring the possibility that Nagao might.

I don’t know who would win vs each other, or do better overall… I think they’re both very good but not elite, with Nagao being better on top but not as good on his feet (? on bottom?), while Davis looks more balanced with regard to positions, but seems to run more hot and cold overall.

Accurate assessment @BriantheLion.

Aaron is fully recovered. Met him at a practice. Very polite and nice young man.

Same for Braeden. Very well spoken.

Will be rooting for both of them to be successful this year

 

[Wrestleknownothing]

For Team Scores, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Penn State (9 AAs) - 177 points
2 – Nebraska (8 AAs)
3 – Iowa
4 – Ohio St.
5 – Okla. St.
6 – Iowa St.
7 – Lehigh
8 – NC St.
9 – Michigan

Nebraska with 8 AAs seems aggressive. Yes, they hit that number last year and it was a huge outperformance, but I would expect some mean reversion as a result.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

@184, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – Max McEnelly (Minny)
2 – Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
3 – Rocco Welsh
4 – Zack Ryder (Okla. St.)
5 – Aeoden Sinclair (Mizzou)
6 – Silas Alred (Nebraska)
7 – Jaxon Smith (Maryland)
8 – Brock Mantanona (Michigan)

5 of Willie's top 8 are freshman. 6 of the top 8 are sophs or freshman. Basch thinks it's the wildest/toughest/most fun weight in NCAAs. Willie feels the top guys, when they face each other, will have a lot of really close matches, in part because several of them are mostly defensive wrestlers.

I see 4 non Freshman

 

[menu]

@157, @WillieTheBrain predicts:

1 – PJ Duke
2 – Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)
3 – Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)
4 – Daniel Cardenas (Stanford
5 – Landon Robideau (Okla. St.)
6 – Ty Watters (WVU)
7 – Brandon Cannon (Ohio St.)
8 – Jackson Arrington (NC St.)

He feels the top 4 are really strong.

Kasak?????

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I see 4 non Freshman

could be. Willie was listing them live, on the fly, and then I'm trying to remember what was said to put a little context to each weight class when I post a summary, so there's lots of room for mistakes in both situations.

A quick look, going on eligibility:

1. McEnelly (RS Soph)
2. Ferrari (RS Fresh)
3. Welsh (RS Soph)
4. Ryder (RS Fresh)
5. Sinclair (RS Fresh)
6. Allred (Senior)
7. Smith (RS Senior)
8. Mantanona (RS Fresh)

If I recall correctly from the show, Willie started off with X of the top 12, and then switched it to 5 of the top 8. If that's accurate, he may well have been changing too many criteria on the fly, and messed things up a bit. He is correct that 6 of 8 are sophs or fresh.

 

[wrestlingfan22]

Kasak?????

Duke

 

[wrestlingfan22]

could be. Willie's was listing them live, on the fly, and then I'm trying to remember what was said to put a little context to each weight class when I post a summary, so there's lots of room for mistakes in both situations.

A quick look, going on eligibility:

1. McEnelly (RS Soph)
2. Ferrari (RS Fresh)
3. Welsh (RS Soph)
4. Ryder (RS Fresh)
5. Sinclair (RS Fresh)
6. Allred (Senior)
7. Smith (RS Senior)
8. Mantanona (RS Soph)

If I recall correctly from the show, Willie started off with X of the top 12, and then switched it to 5 of the top 8. If that's accurate, he may well have been changing too many criteria on the fly, and messed things up a bit. He is correct that 6 of 8 are sophs or fresh.

Brock is a RSFR, Beau is the RSSO

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Brock is a RSFR, Beau is the RSSO

smh. I was looking up all of the eligibilities from the wrestler's respective university posting, but was also on the phone while doing so. I should know by now to NEVER post something while I'm on the phone, as I almost always make mistakes when I do so. smh

I'll correct it

 

[FrankTanks]

When does Cael hold his preseason press conference? Thx.

 

[Corby2]

When does Cael hold his preseason press conference? Thx.

Next week. And hopefully they update the roster. Every team has it updated but penn st it's odd. Official season starts Saturday

 

[jack66]

Right… it seems that most fans, as well as the ranking services, assume that if Ono doesn’t go, then Davis will, ignoring the possibility that Nagao might.

I don’t know who would win vs each other, or do better overall… I think they’re both very good but not elite, with Nagao being better on top but not as good on his feet (? on bottom?), while Davis looks more balanced with regard to positions, but seems to run more hot and cold overall.

Another factor that could come into play.

Davis has an RS available; Nagao does not.

 

[o_BruceK-PSU83]

Nebraska with 8 AAs seems aggressive. Yes, they hit that number last year and it was a huge outperformance, but I would expect some mean reversion as a result.

Of those eight, only McDanel might be a reach to AA. Yes, he finished 7th in 2025, but caught a couple real nice matchups against guys seeded in the 20s.

Maybe Lamer at 149 is on the fence to AA, but hardly an unreasonable prediction.

The other six guys (Van Dee, Hardy, Taylor, Minto, Alred, and Ferrari) all make a lot of sense to AA. Though Minto seems a bit high at #3, as stated by another poster.

 

[Nitlion1986]

When does Cael hold his preseason press conference? Thx.

On his deck at home. The coaching staff, their wives and a couple neighbors are invited.

 

[El_Jefe]

Another factor that could come into play.

Davis has an RS available; Nagao does not.

Nagao still has the Guns Olympic Shirt available in non-Olympic years.

 

[Wrestleknownothing]

Of those eight, only McDanel might be a reach to AA. Yes, he finished 7th in 2025, but caught a couple real nice matchups against guys seeded in the 20s.

Maybe Lamer at 149 is on the fence to AA, but hardly an unreasonable prediction.

The other six guys (Van Dee, Hardy, Taylor, Minto, Alred, and Ferrari) all make a lot of sense to AA. Though Minto seems a bit high at #3, as stated by another poster.

I agree that none of them are a reach, but by the same token none of them are a lock.

Yes, you have two near locks with Taylor and Ferrari, but you also have Lamer with some work to do to get to be a 50/50 proposition.

And it isn't like he is saying there are ten guys who can do it, but only eight will. As it stands only eight have a reasonable shot and predicting all eight will do it is a reach.

That said almost all predictions are too rosy, especially when built from the bottom up. That is just the nature of it. You can always talk yourself into best case scenarios. And it is just really hard to pick a specific wrestler and say he is the guy who will fail. Makes you look like a jerk.