Below is a partial list of NCAA D1 heavyweight wrestlers (184, 197, 285) who are returning and will contest for a varsity spot after a one-year interval. 

Lightweight Redshirt Report
Middleweight Redshirt Report

184 Pounds

Josh Barr, Penn State, Freshman
2023-24 record: 15-0

Barr is expected to start after an undefeated true freshman season. He won the Black Knight Invitational, Mat-Town Open, and Edinboro Open, and defeated Indiana’s Roman Rogotzke 13-4 in a dual. Sanderson-led Penn State teams have produced eight 184-pound NCAA champions. 

Max McEnelly, Minnesota, Freshman
2023-24 record: 15-0

McEnelly won the Bison Open, Daktronics Open, Cougar Clash, and Soldier Salute. He also defeated two-time national qualifier Brian Soldano of Rutgers, 4-2, during a dual on January 27. The Waconia, Minnesota, native is expected to start after a solid true freshman campaign. 

Nelson Brands, Iowa, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Brands missed last season due to a statewide gambling probe but returns for his seventh year. He is a two-time national qualifier who finished fifth at 174 pounds at the 2023 NCAA Championships. 

Deanthony Parker, Oklahoma, Junior
2023-24: 0-0

Parker redshirted last season after transferring from North Dakota State when Roger Kish took the Oklahoma job. He went 0-2 at the 2023 NCAA Championships. 

Brock Zurawski, Rider, Freshman
2023-24 record: 12-11

Zaurawski wrestled in six tournaments and went 0-2 in varsity duals, dropping matches to Wisconsin’s Shane Leigel and Michigan’s Bobby Striggow. 

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Josh Barr won the 2023 Black Knight Invite

197 Pounds

Zac Braunagel, Illinois, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Braunagel returns following an Olympic redshirt. He finished third in the 87 kg Greco-Roman division at the Olympic Trials mini-tournament. The Belleville, Illinois, native is a four-time national qualifier, reaching the Round of 12 twice. 

Gavin Nelson, Minnesota, Freshman
2023-24 record: 14-8

Nelson will contend with All-American Isaiah Salazar for the starting spot. He wrestled in five tournaments as a true freshman. 

Michael O'Malley, Drexel, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

O’Malley enters his seventh year as a four-time national qualifier at 174 pounds and a Round of 12 finisher in 2022. He moves up two weights for his season season. 

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Zac wrestled his brother Joe at the 2022 Tiger Style Invite

285 Pounds

Ben Kueter, Iowa, Freshman
2023-24 record: 3-1

Kueter is a two-time U20 World medalist, winning gold in 2022 and silver in 2024. He played football and wrestled as a true freshman but is only wrestling this season. He competed in four varsity duals this year, dropping his lone match to Penn State NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet, 9-1. 

Braxton Amos, Wisconsin, Junior
2023-24 season: 0-0

The timeline for Amos’s return following a medical redshirt is unknown, but the former 197-pounder will compete at heavyweight this season if he does. Amos is a three-style star who twice qualified for the NCAA Championships and has age-level World medals in freestyle and Greco. 

Isaac Trumble, NC State, Junior
2023-24 record: 7-0

Trumble reached the 2024 Olympic Trials finals at 97 kg, falling to four-time World/Olympic champion Kyle Snyder in straight matches. The two-time college national qualifier and U23 World champion won a 2023 Midlands title at heavyweight. 

Jim Mullen, Virginia Tech, Freshman
2023-24 record: 15-4

Mullen went 1-2 in varsity duals as a true freshman and will compete with returning two-time national qualifier Hunter Catka for the starting spot. Catka defeated Mullen, 4-1, at the Keystone Classic on November 19, 2023. 

Jacob Bullock, Indiana, Senior
2023-24 record: 9-2

Bullock is a 2023 national qualifier who redshirted last season. He fell to Trumble and Mullen at Midlands. 

Lance Runyon, Northern Iowa, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Runyon is a 2021 and 2022 national qualifier at 174 pounds who will wrestle at heavyweight following an injury-plagued college career. 

Watch scoring highlights from Kueter's 2022 U20 World Championship gold medal match