2020 Redshirt Report: 125 Pounds
2020 Redshirt Report: 125 Pounds
Who's coming off the bench and mixing it up in the 2019-20 NCAA wrestling season?
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With each new collegiate season comes the varsity debut of a new crop of redshirt freshman, as well as the reintroduction of a host of familiar faces who deferred eligibility for one reason or another.
To help prepare for the new season, we will conduct our annual review of wrestlers who didn't wrestle varsity for most or all of last season but are expected to make an impact on the 2019-20 season. We tried to be thorough and inclusive, stretching the definition of 'redshirt' to its limit. Below, please find our 125-pound Redshirt Report
Jakob Camacho, North Carolina State, Freshman
Coming to Raliegh by way of Danbury, Connecticut, Camacho had the most impressive redshirt campaign of any 125-pounder last season. The Nutmegger won The Hokie Open, the Wolfpack Open, the National Collegiate Open, and took third at that illustrious Southern Scuffle.
Camacho's only two losses in 28 matches were to Binghamton's Steve Bulzomi, which Camacho avenged twice, and to Oklahoma State's two-time All-American Nick Piccininni.
Watch Camacho over North Carolina's Joey Melendez in the 2019 125-pound NCO finals below:
Joey Melendez, North Carolina, Freshman
Another stellar redshirt freshman can be found just down Tobacco Road in Tar Heel Country. Melendez is a product of powerhouse Montini Catholic and hit the ground running when he got to Chapel Hill, winning the Pembroke Classic and the Franklin & Marshall Open. Melendez dropped just four matches over the course of the redshirt season.
And if he Melendez were to establish a half-decade long rivalry with his ACC rival in Raleigh, well, we certainly would not object.
Watch Melendez defeat Charles Lenox at the Wolfpack Open:
Brody Teske, Penn State, Freshman or Matt Parker, Penn State, Sophomore
The Nittany Lions have a couple of high caliber options to challenge incumbent Devin Schnupp in redshirt freshman Brody Teske and Lehigh transfer Matt Parker. Parker missed all of last season due to injury but was 13-2 as a true freshman. Teske's resume is similarly skimpy but blue-chip recruits tend to do pretty well after a year or two of tutlege in Happy Valley.
Watch Teske defeat two-time NCAA qualifier Shakur Laney of Ohio at the Scuffle:
Pat McKee, Minnesota
Unlike his older brother Mitch, Patrick was afforded the luxury of deferring eligibility for one season before being asked to jump into the D1 fray. Pat more than held his own while redshirting, placing in the top three of all five tournaments he entered. With the graduation of All-American Sean Russell, the Gophers' lead off spot is McKee's for the taking.
Watch McKee defeat Nebraska's future 125-pounder Alex Thomsen at the Daktronics Open.
Alex Thomsen, Nebraska, Freshman
Like Teske, Alex Thomsen is a native Iowan who decided to continue his athletic and academic career out of state. A four-time Iowa champ, Thomsen arrived in Lincoln with a solid high school pedigree. He'll be looked upon by the Husker faithful to take over for Zeke Moisey, an NCAA finalist who completed his final year of eligibility at Nebraska after transferring from West Virginia.
Jake Gromacki, Clarion, Senior
Gromacki had a win over Zeke Moisey and no bad losses before being felled by an injury that kept him out of action for the second half of the 2018 season and all of 2019. He was a national qualifier in 2017 however, and if healthy he should be able to pick up right where he left off for the Golden Eagles.
Brock Hudkins, Indiana, Junior
Hudkins qualified for two NCAA tournaments, making the round of 12 as a true freshman for Northern Illinois. Hudkins donned a redshirt before transferring back to his home state with two years of eligibility remaining to compete for the Hoosiers.
Kyle Biscoglia, Northern Iowa, Freshman
The Panthers have options at the lower weights, as starters Jay Schwarm and Jack Skudlarczyk return at 125 and 133 respectively. Redshirt freshman Drew Bennett is also an option at 133. It will be tough to keep Biscoglia out of the lineup, however, as he notched wins over four national qualifiers last season.
Cevion Severado, Missouri, Freshman
The Tigers return two other able-bodied 125ers in Cameron Valdiviez and national qualifier Dack Punke (not to mention welcome the arrival true frosh Noah Surtin), so 2017 Greco-Roman 50kg Junior World silver medalist Severado will have his work cut out for him if he wants to crack the Mizzou lineup.
Nic Aguilar, Rutgers, Freshman
A rare Californian on the Scarlet Knights' roster, Aguilar will challenge 2019's starter Shane Meltzer for the varsity job in New Brunswick.
Gio Disabato, Ohio, Freshman
Gio had a productive year of deferred eligibility, winning 12 of his 17 matches, though he will have stiff competition from Bobcat teammate Shakur Laney for the starting job at 125.
Brandon Kaylor, Oregon State FR
A native Washingtonian, Kaylor stayed in the Pacific Northwest when he chose to wrestle for the Beavers.
Jace Koelzer, Northern Colorado FR
Not a lot of the matches were against D1 competition, but Koelzar did rack up an impressive 20 wins last season while redshirting.
Did we miss anyone? It happens! Let us know and thanks for reading!