As far as pre-season predictions are concerned, it seems likely that Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen and Penn State’s Bernie Truax will meet in the 2024 NCAA Championship finals. 

Northern Iowa has had a consistent five-year run at this weight. Drew Foster won the 2019 NCAA Championships before Taylor Lujan was seeded first for the 2020 tournament that was canceled due to Covid-19. Keckeisen has placed third, third, and second each of the past three seasons. 

Truax is a man of many weights. His college career began at 149 and reached its peak last season at 197. The former Cal Poly star transferred to Penn State and will move back down to 184 following fourth-place finishes at nationals each of the past three seasons. 

These two have a two-match history. Truax defeated Keckeisen, 6-5, during the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Championships with Keckeisen returning the favor, 6-4, during the consolation finals. 

Aaron Brooks (Penn State), Trent Hidlay (NC State), Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State), and John Poznanski (Rutgers) changed weights. Kaleb Romero (Ohio State), Marcus Coleman (Iowa State), Huter Bolen (Virginia Tech), and Matt Finesilver (Duke/Michigan) have graduated. 

Brooks had this weight on lockdown for three straight seasons, which means a new champion will emerge. A few established veterans and a handful of newcomers will vie for the top eight spots at nationals. 

Expect several breakout contenders here. There is plenty of opportunity for teams to make their marks. This weight is wide open past the top two. 

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Bernie Truax defeated Parker Keckeisen during the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Championships, 6-5

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Keckeisen returned the favor and won 6-4 during their third-place match

2023 NCAA Championships

1. Aaron Brooks (Penn State)
2. Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
3. Kaleb Romero (Ohio State)
4. Trent Hidlay (NC State)
5. Marcus Coleman (Iowa State)
6. Trey Munoz (Oregon State)
7. Will Feldkamp (Clarion)
8. Gavin Kane (North Carolina)

Returning 2023 All-Americans

Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) — 2nd
Trey Munoz (Oregon State) — 6th
Will Feldkamp (Iowa State) — 7th
Gavin Kane (North Carolina) — 8th
Bernie Truax (Penn State) — 4th at 197 for Cal Poly
Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) — 6th at 174

Past All-Americans

Jonathan Loew (Cornell) — 8th in 2022

Key Departures

Aaron Brooks (Penn State) — moving up to 197
Trent Hidlay (NC State) — moving up to 197
Travis Wittlake (Oregon State) — moving down to 174
John Poznanski (Rutgers) — moving up to 197
Kaleb Romero (Ohio State) — graduated
Marcus Coleman (Iowa State) — graduated
Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech) — graduated
Matt Finesilver (Duke/Michigan) — graduated

Returning From Redshirt

Rylan Rogers (Michigan)
Jonathan Loew (Cornell)
Bennett Berge (South Dakota State)
Dylan Fishback (NC State)
Seth Shumate (Ohio State)
James Rowley (Purdue)

The Favorites

Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
Bernie Truax (Penn State)

There’s every reason to believe these two will meet in the national finals. 

Following three fourth-place finishes, Truax will attempt to win his final match at nationals. Following three top-three finishes, Keckeisen will attempt to become UNI’s third NCAA champion since 2000. 

Truax has 21 career college losses compared to five for Keckeisen, but the storyline is how Truax develops at Penn State during his senior campaign. Three of Keckeisen’s five losses were to Brooks with another to national finalist Trent Hidlay. The Panther star doesn’t lose often, but when he does, it’s to high-caliber opponents. 

Bernie Truax At The NCAA Championships

Parker Keckeisen At The NCAA Championships

Title Contenders

Trey Munoz (Oregon State)
Will Feldkamp (Iowa State)
Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State)

Munoz is a solid pick for the top four following a sixth-place finish at nationals where he defaulted twice after losing to Keckeisen, 5-1, in the semis after defeating Coleman, 3-1, in sudden victory. A healthy Munoz is a dangerous Munoz. 

Feldkamp began his college career at Northern Illinois, transferred to Clarion, and will complete his seventh season at Iowa State. His move back down to 184 following two seasons at 197 proved successful. He fell by fall at the NCAA Championships to Brooks and Coleman but picked up wins over Jacob Nolan (Binghamton), Lenny Pinto (Nebraska), Colton Hawks (Missouri), Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota), and Gavin Kane (North Carolina). 

Iowa State hasn’t placed in the top 10 since 2010, so Feldkamp will factor heavily into the Cyclones’ final results. 

Plott moves up a weight following two sixth-place national finishes at 174. The Big 12 is congested with Keckeisen, Feldkamp, and Missouri’s Colton Hawks all ranked in the top 10. 

Trey Munoz earned a takedown in sudden victory over Marcus Coleman to reach the semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Championships

Sleepers And Dark Horses

Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota)
Jonathan Loew (Cornell)
Layne Malczewski (Michigan State)
Rylan Rogers (Michigan)

Salazar is flying under the radar but he could be the wildcard of the weight. He dropped 3-2 decisions to Keckeisen and Romero last season and reached the Round of 12. Look for him to have a breakout season. 

Loew is a returning All-American who caught the injury bug last season and had to forgo his junior campaign. He had three straight consolation wins at the 2022 NCAA Championships before falling to Keckeisen, 7-6. The Wantagh, New York, native should be a factor if he’s healthy. 

Malczewski is down to his final season after qualifying for four straight nationals. Now that the weight has cleared out, it seems like he’s due. Michigan needs Rogers to be competitive in the team race, and he has plenty of great training partners who will push him. 

Pre-season 184-pound Predictions

Keckeisen versus Truax is a good bet for the NCAA finals, but give Truax the nod for now since he defeated Keckeisen on the front side of the bracket at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Munoz will have a good season and Salazar should surprise a few people. Plott and Feldkamp will compete with Keckeisen multiple times while Truax gets his first taste of a Big Ten wrestling schedule. 

1. Bernie Truax (Penn State)
2. Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
3. Trey Munoz (Oregon State)
4. Will Feldkamp (Iowa State)
5. Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota)
6. Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State)
7. Gavin Kane (North Carolina)
8. Jonathan Loew (Cornell)