Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 125lbs
Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 125lbs
All of the Division 1 All-Americans returning at 125 pounds for the 2018-19 season.
It may still be summer, but with the start of school nearing, the offseason will soon give way to October and the official start of practice.
The beautiful thing about college wrestling is that all debates are settled at the end of the season with the NCAA tournament, and then arguments for next season begin all over again. Part of that conversation is always, who will place and win next year? Who will be back to place higher or defend their title?
We’re starting off the series of returning All-Americans, and in doing so will give our best guess on some pending weight changes. For example, here at 125 Nick Suriano will not be included. He very may well still wind up as a 125 again, but right now we’re operating on the assumption that he’ll be Rutgers 133-pounder.
125 pounds returns one national champ and eight All-American Honors, all of which you can see below. This tally excludes Ethan Lizak, who is for sure moving up to 133, and Suriano. In question are Nick Piccininni, who could also go 133 or even be on the bench for Oklahoma State, and Ryan Millhof, who will have to beat out Brandon Courtney for the starting spot.
Spencer Lee, Iowa: 1, ?, ?, ?
The one and only true freshman champ in the 20-year history of 125 still has three years of eligibility remaining. He also tied Matt McDonough’s 2012 tournament for most team points scored by a 125 at NCAAs. Both will feature heavily on our retrospective of the weight since 1999 (coming soon).
Zeke Moisey, Nebraska: 2, DNP, DNW, 7, ?
Moisey spent his first four years in college at West Virginia, but has since transferred to Nebraska to close out his career. If Suriano goes up to 133, he and Lee will be the only 125s with NCAA finals apperances, though Moisey's was all the way back in 2015. The newest Husker earned himself some redemption by placing seventh last year, removing a bit of the "one big tournament" stigma.
Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State: 4, DNP, ?, ?
After getting fourth as a freshman, Piccininni was bounced out in the Round of 12 last year. His losses at the national tournament were to eventual champ Lee and eventual fourth Ethan Lizak though, very understandable defeats. This season is still up in the air for Picc, who could go 125 again, or 133, or sit behind Kaid Brock and Daton Fix.
Sebastian Rivera, Northwestern: 6, ?, ?, ?
Rivera looked strong coming off his redshirt year and may end up being the highest returning placer from 2018 outside of Spencer Lee. Rivera was the Wildcats’ first AA at 125 since Brandon Precin in 2011, and he’s still got three years left to place again.
Ryan Millhof, Arizona State: DNQ, 7th, DNW, DNP, ?
What a long, strange trip it’s been for Ryan Millhof. Once a blue chip recruit out of Georgia, the former Who’s #1 competitor wound up in Oklahoma, where he placed seventh as a sophomore for the Sooners. After that year, however, he transferred to Tempe, sitting out the 2017 season. He started last year in the Top-10, but battled injuries all season. He still went 2-2 at NCAAs and may be back to All-American form after recovering this offseason.
Ronnie Bresser, Oregon State: DNP, DNP, DNW, 7th, ?
Heading into last season, not many expected Bresser to be an All-American in March. But he proved to be one of the hardest wrestlers in the country to take down, and upset Spencer Lee at Midlands. There are still multiple guys he hasn’t wrestled yet that he’ll have to go through to place again, but those potential wins will seem a little less surprising after last year.
Sean Russell, Minnesota: DNP, 7th, DNP, ?
Another blue chipper out of Georgia, Russell placed as a redshirt sophomore at Edinboro and wrestled there again last season. But after Tim Flynn left to take the head job at West Virginia, several starters from last year’s team transferred, including Russell. He’ll now finish out his career at Minnesota, allowing the Gophers to redshirt Patrick McKee.
Connor Schram, Lehigh: DNP, 8th, DNP, DNW, ?
Schram is back down to 125 again, and has a new home. The Pittsburgh native qualified for both the 2015 and 2017 NCAA tournaments up at 133, but did not place. With two-time AA Scotty Parker manning 133, Schram will have one final shot to place again at 125.