What We've Learned: 125-Pound Rankings Changes And Updated Predictions
What We've Learned: 125-Pound Rankings Changes And Updated Predictions
What have we learned so far at 125 pounds this year in NCAA wrestling?
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Since we're in mid-January, I think it's a good time to look weight by weight and see all the changes each classification has gone through.
First, let's look at the rankings changes from the preseason until now. The differences are jarring.
The top 10 has been almost entirely revamped from the fall. Nick Suriano has gone from unranked to third overall. Former No. 4 Ryan Millhof transferred to Arizona State and is redshirting, and Stanford's Connor Schram moved up to 133. Ronnie Bresser and Zeke Moisey are also redshirting, and Barlow McGhee has wrestled his way out of the rankings entirely. Dylan Peters started the season ranked second and is now outside the top 10.
After briefly retiring, Conor Youtsey returned to the lineup for Michigan when the Wolverines' entire 125 depth chart was decimated by injuries. Jack Mueller has been outstanding as a true freshman for Virginia as has Gabe Townsell of Stanford.
Here were my NCAA All-American predictions from the preseason.
CP's Preseason Predictions
1. Thomas Gilman, Iowa
2. Nick Suriano, Penn State
3. Joey Dance, Virginia Tech
4. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
5. Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State
6. Barlow McGhee, Missouri
7. Connor Schram, Stanford
8. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
Round of 12: Ethan Lizak, Minnesota, Tim Lambert, Nebraska, Nathan Kraisser, Campbell, Joshua Rodriguez, North Dakota State
Looking back at these, there is more than a few changes I'd make. I still feel confident in my top three, though Joey Dance has been outstanding once again. That's a tight, tight top three that I don't see penetrated. Obviously, I'm rethinking the McGhee pick, and Schram is no longer in this weight. Minnesota's Ethan Lizak and Nebraska's Tim Lambert have emerged as likely AAs, so I'd slot them in moving forward. I think I need to walk back my Nick Piccininni expectations a smidge. The Oklahoma State Cowboy could place, but it won't be as high as fifth.
Before you check out my updated predictions, watch this wild one between Joey Dance and Thomas Gilman from NCAAs.
CP's Current Predictions
1. Thomas Gilman, Iowa
2. Nick Suriano, PSU
3. Joey Dance, Virginia Tech
4. Ethan Lizak, Minnesota
5. Tim Lambert, Nebraska
6. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
7. Conor Youtsey, Michigan
8. Nick Piccininni, Ok State
Round Of 12: Josh Rodriguez, NDSU; Jack Mueller, UVA; Josh Terao, American; Dylan Peters, UNI
These predictions could be off in that there are guys all over the place who could place in the No. 4 spot among this group. It's very liquid from the fourth position, and while Lizak, Lambert and Cruz have pulled away somewhat, they're not so far removed that a Youtsey, Josh Rodriguez or Jack Mueller couldn't pick them off.
I don't believe Dylan Peters is right, nor do I think he will be right by NCAAs. That's why I have him in the round of 12. If he guts out another high finish, nobody should be surprised.
Since we're in mid-January, I think it's a good time to look weight by weight and see all the changes each classification has gone through.
First, let's look at the rankings changes from the preseason until now. The differences are jarring.
| Preseason | Current Ranking | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Grade | Name | School | Rank | Grade | Name | School | |
| 1 | SR | Thomas Gilman | Iowa | 1 | SR | Thomas Gilman | Iowa | |
| 2 | SR | Dylan Peters | Northern Iowa | 2 | SR | Joey Dance | Virginia Tech | |
| 3 | SR | Joey Dance | Virginia Tech | 3 | FR | Nick Suriano | Penn State | |
| 4 | JR | Ryan Millhof | Oklahoma | 4 | SR | Tim Lambert | Nebraska | |
| 5 | JR | Connor Schram | Stanford | 5 | SO | Ethan Lizak | Minnesota | |
| 6 | JR | Ronnie Bresser | Oregon State | 6 | JR | Darian Cruz | Lehigh | |
| 7 | JR | Barlow McGhee | Missouri | 7 | SR | Conor Youtsey | Michigan | |
| 8 | JR | Darian Cruz | Lehigh | 8 | SR | Joshua Rodriguez | ND State | |
| 9 | SR | Joshua Rodriguez | ND State | 9 | FR | Jack Mueller | Virginia | |
| 10 | SR | Tim Lambert | Nebraska | 10 | SO | Sean Russell | Edinboro | |
| 11 | SO | Ethan Lizak | Minnesota | 11 | SR | Dylan Peters | UNI | |
| 12 | JR | Zeke Moisey | West Virginia | 12 | FR | Nick Piccininni | Ok State | |
| 13 | SR | Drew Templeman | Wyoming | 13 | SR | Nathan Kraisser | Campbell | |
| 14 | FR | Nick Piccininni | Ok State | 14 | SO | Josh Terao | American | |
| 15 | SO | Dalton Macri | Cornell | 15 | SR | Drew Templeman | Wyoming | |
| 16 | SO | Sean Fausz | NC State | 16 | FR | Gabe Townsell | Stanford | |
| 17 | SO | Elijah Oliver | Indiana | 17 | SO | Shakur Laney | Ohio | |
| 18 | SR | Freddy Rodriguez | SIUE | 18 | FR | Markus Simmons | Iowa State | |
| 19 | SO | Sean Russell | Edinboro | 19 | SO | Brent Fleetwood | Central Michigan | |
| 20 | SR | Brandon Jeske | Old Dominion | 20 | FR | Noah Gonser | Eastern Michigan |
The top 10 has been almost entirely revamped from the fall. Nick Suriano has gone from unranked to third overall. Former No. 4 Ryan Millhof transferred to Arizona State and is redshirting, and Stanford's Connor Schram moved up to 133. Ronnie Bresser and Zeke Moisey are also redshirting, and Barlow McGhee has wrestled his way out of the rankings entirely. Dylan Peters started the season ranked second and is now outside the top 10.
After briefly retiring, Conor Youtsey returned to the lineup for Michigan when the Wolverines' entire 125 depth chart was decimated by injuries. Jack Mueller has been outstanding as a true freshman for Virginia as has Gabe Townsell of Stanford.
Here were my NCAA All-American predictions from the preseason.
CP's Preseason Predictions
1. Thomas Gilman, Iowa
2. Nick Suriano, Penn State
3. Joey Dance, Virginia Tech
4. Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa
5. Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State
6. Barlow McGhee, Missouri
7. Connor Schram, Stanford
8. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
Round of 12: Ethan Lizak, Minnesota, Tim Lambert, Nebraska, Nathan Kraisser, Campbell, Joshua Rodriguez, North Dakota State
Looking back at these, there is more than a few changes I'd make. I still feel confident in my top three, though Joey Dance has been outstanding once again. That's a tight, tight top three that I don't see penetrated. Obviously, I'm rethinking the McGhee pick, and Schram is no longer in this weight. Minnesota's Ethan Lizak and Nebraska's Tim Lambert have emerged as likely AAs, so I'd slot them in moving forward. I think I need to walk back my Nick Piccininni expectations a smidge. The Oklahoma State Cowboy could place, but it won't be as high as fifth.
Before you check out my updated predictions, watch this wild one between Joey Dance and Thomas Gilman from NCAAs.
CP's Current Predictions
1. Thomas Gilman, Iowa
2. Nick Suriano, PSU
3. Joey Dance, Virginia Tech
4. Ethan Lizak, Minnesota
5. Tim Lambert, Nebraska
6. Darian Cruz, Lehigh
7. Conor Youtsey, Michigan
8. Nick Piccininni, Ok State
Round Of 12: Josh Rodriguez, NDSU; Jack Mueller, UVA; Josh Terao, American; Dylan Peters, UNI
These predictions could be off in that there are guys all over the place who could place in the No. 4 spot among this group. It's very liquid from the fourth position, and while Lizak, Lambert and Cruz have pulled away somewhat, they're not so far removed that a Youtsey, Josh Rodriguez or Jack Mueller couldn't pick them off.
I don't believe Dylan Peters is right, nor do I think he will be right by NCAAs. That's why I have him in the round of 12. If he guts out another high finish, nobody should be surprised.