2020 Title Contenders: 125 Pounds
2020 Title Contenders: 125 Pounds
Who will win an NCAA championship at 125 pounds in 2020? We take an early look at the contenders.
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A good amount of talent returns to the lightest NCAA weight class next season, as only a couple of All-Americans in Ronnie Bresser and Sean Russell have used up their eligibility.
Redshirts and weight bumps may change the landscape by the time November rolls around, and by next March things could change even further. But that won't stop us from speculating anyway. Below are our way too early picks to contend for a 125-pound NCAA title at the 2020 Championships.
Spencer Lee, Iowa
The reigning two-time titlist is the obvious pick to three-peat. Lee has two more years of eligibility to terrorize the 125-pound brackets in March. It also appears unlikely that Lee will use a redshirt that he still has available.
Jack Mueller, Virginia
It sounds like Jack Mueller will also forgo his opportunity to redshirt and take to the mats next season. Mueller stopped the #1 seeded Sebastian Rivera in the semis of the NCAAs before running into the buzzsaw that is Spencer Lee in the NCAA finals.
Sebastian Rivera, Northwestern
C-Bass was ranked #1 for much of last season, thanks to his victory over Spencer Lee in the 2018 Midlands finals. Rivera beat Lee a second time at Big Tens. His only losses on the season were to Stevan Micic up at 133-pounds and to Mueller in the semis of the NCAAs. The Lee-Mueller-Rivera tier is going to be one of the most competitive groups of any weight class next season.
Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma State
Last year's fifth-place finisher at NCAAs will still be in the hunt for a title during his senior year. Pich showed he is a title contender when he cradled and pinned Spencer Lee at last year's dual meet, one of the most electric moments in recent wrestling history.
Vito Arujau, Cornell
Things clicked for Arujau once he moved down to 125 after starting the season at 133. Still only a sophomore, Arujau has a high ceiling that keeps him on the short list of contenders.
Pat Glory, Princeton
Potential is what keeps the young Princetonian on this list. Glory went from high school senior to sixth at the NCAAs in less than a year. A similar jump could put him at the top of the podium next March.
Does someone belong on this list that we have left off? Let us know! Of course, we never intend to disrespect anyone with any piece of content here at Flo, but if someone not on this list does win an NCAA title at 125-pounds next year, we will indeed take credit for providing motivation.