What do we know of the 2019-20 NCAA D1 174-pound weight class? Our means of receiving impressions are absurdly few, and our notions of surrounding objects infinitely narrow. We see things only as we are constructed to see them, and can gain no idea of their absolute nature. With five feeble senses we pretend to comprehend the boundlessly complex cosmos, yet other beings with wider, stronger, or different range of senses might not only see very differently the things we see, but might see and study whole worlds of matter, energy, and life which lie close at hand yet can never be detected with the senses we have.

Today, we will use our feeble senses to comprehend the complex cosmos that is the 174-pound weight class. And if we're feeling strong, perhaps we study whole worlds of matter, energy, and life as well!

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The most notable change from last season is the cessation of one of college wrestling's greatest rivalries. Mark Hall is expected to return at 174 pounds, but the man who stopped him in the last two championship finals, Zahid Valencia, is likely to be up at 184 pounds.  

Myles Amine, the pride of San Marino, is also out of the mix. Amine qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games by finishing fifth at the 2019 World Championships and will take this folkstyle season off as he prepares to represent the Appinine microstate in Tokyo next summer. 

Additionally, Duke's Matt Finesilver, who spent most of last season in the top 20, will also be taking a redshirt. Taylor Lujan of Northern Iowa made the round of 12 from the #8 seed at in Pittsburgh. He will try to break through the bloodround this season up at 184. And David McFadden, a fixture of the All-American podium, will drop back down to 165 after spending last season at 174. 

Contenders

#1 Mark Hall, Penn State

#3 Michael Kemerer, Iowa

With some of the familiar boldface names no longer in the 174-pound title hunt, Mark Hall's path to a fourth NCAA finals is cleared of a few roadblocks. The 2017 NCAA champion could be considered a prohibitive favorite, but we're keeping the door open for Michael Kemerer to wheedle his way into the 2020 championship conversation.

Kemerer had two stellar campaigns before injuries forced him to miss all of the 2018-19 season. Before he was forced to take a medical redshirt, Kemerer had planned on making the jump up two weight classes from 157 to 174. While Mark Hall has proven himself to be a cut above the rest of the division (his two losses in the last two years were both to Zahid Valencia in the NCAA Finals), he's yet to face the new and embulkened Hawkeye. 

Hall has three lifetime wins over #2 Jordan Kutler in three matchups, and one over #4 Mikey Labriola and #5 Joseph Smith in their only respective bouts. However, Hall has never faced Kemerer, so for now, we have Kemerer as a preseason contender. 

Get to know the KemDawg in his walk-and-talk with Bader:

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Other Contenders

#2 Jordan Kutler, Lehigh

#4 Mikey Labriola, Nebraska

#6 Joseph Smith, Oklahoma State

#7 Devin Skatzka, Minnesota

It was a fairly straightforward process drawing a line after the next five contenders. Kutler, Labriola, Steiert, and Skatzka all climbed podium steps last March — Steiert down at 165, the others at 174. Joseph Smith was stopped in the Round of 16 at 165 pounds last season but earned All-American honors in two prior appearances at the NCAA Championships. 

Kutler has the strongest resume of the group, despite finishing seventh, one place below Labriola. Kutler only took losses to wrestlers who finished in the top five last season, whereas Labriola was felled by a few non-All-Americans.

Joseph Smith wrestled a season's worth of matches at 174 before dropping down to 165 specifically for the postseason. Smith qualified for NCAAs, but his lack of matches at 165 meant he entered the tournament as the 33rd seed. With the graduation of both Jacobe Smith and Chandler Rogers, the Cowboy roster composition is better suited for Smith staying at 174 for the entire season, although it is still October and nothing is set in stone. 

Watch Smith beat three-time All-American David McFadden in the semifinals of the 2019 Southern Scuffle:

Deven Skatzka had a breakout season in 2019, his first with the Gophers after transferring from Big Ten rival Indiana. Skatzka placed eighth, earning All-American honors for the first time in three trips to nationals. It will be interesting to see how his rivalry with Dylan Lydy or Purdue progress, as the Boilermaker holds a 4-0 advantage in their lifetime series. 

The Rest of the Best of the Rest

You've seen the best of the rest, now check out the rest of the best. 

#8 Connor Flynn, Missouri

#9 Ben Harvey, Army

#10 Anthony Valencia, Arizona State

#11 Kimball Bastian, Utah Valley

#12 Dylan Lydy, Purdue

#13 Brandon Womack, Cornell

Connor Flynn has one of the best wins of anyone in the weight class with his victory over Mekhi Lewis in a dual meet last November. Ben Harvey is a two-time bloodrounder. He leads a very stout and balanced Black Knight lineup.

Anthony Valencia has shown many flashes of brilliance over his career. His best results, however, have been in freestyle and down at 74kg (approximately 163 pounds). For instance, Valencia placed third at the 2019 Senior US Open. He's yet to put together a similar performance in folkstyle, but the potential is clearly there.

Lydy and Bastian split matches last year. As previously mentioned, Lydy owns four wins over All-American Devin Skatkza, so both wrestlers are capable of making a podium run in March. So is Brandon Womack, as evidenced by his All-American run in 2017, which he accomplished by beating Anthony Valencia in the bloodround. 

Watch Lydy over Skatzka in the consolation rounds of the 2018 CKLV:

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Sneaky Blinders & Landmines

Nomad calls them "sleepers," CP and Bratke call them "sneakers," we call them "sneaky blinders" because it sounds like the show Peaky Blinders and that show rules and everyone should watch it. 

#18 Joseph Gunther, Illinois

#23 Marcus Coleman, Iowa State

Anthony Mantanona, Oklahoma

Cody Hughes, Virginia Tech

Joey Gunther is a three-time qualifier. He very well could grind his way into the top eight this season, and is worth a late-round pick up if you are participating in a fantasy wrestling league.

Marcus Coleman has tremendous upside potential as the 22nd ranked 174-pounder. Kevin Dresser knows how to get the most out of his wrestlers, so don't be surprised if Coleman makes a big jump in his third collegiate season. 

Anthony Mantanona has a high-flying arsenal who isn't afraid to go big at any time. His big-move proclivities mean he is the definition of a landmine: someone capable of blowing up a bracket from any seed.

Watch Mantanona and Wyoming's Hayden Hastings put up nearly 30 points in their wild bout from November of 2018:

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Cody Hughes will step into the void left by David McFadden, who is moving down to 165 to fill the void left by Mekhi Lewis' Olympic Redshirt. Having those two, plus a not-too-shabby Hunter Bolen at 184 as work out partners, is a reason to be high on this Hokie's potential.

New Blood

There are zero freshmen in the preseason top 25 at 174. The rankings will eventually be populated with first-year varsity wrestlers, however, perhaps by the following competitors. 

Michael O'Malley, Dexel

Tyler Dow, Wisconsin

Victor Marcelli, Virginia

Rocky Jordan, Ohio State

Layne Malczewski, Michigan State

Caleb Hopkins, Campbell

Nelson Brands, Iowa

O'Malley and Dow were #43 and #50 on the final Class of 2018 Big Board. Marcelli was #77 though he showed tremendous potential after a promising summer in freestyle and is ready to contribute to the Cavaliers at a lighter weight than originally planned.

Rocky Jordan just beat Kaleb Romero in their wrestle-off for Ohio State, which you can watch here.

Malczewski and Hopkins are two under-the-radar redshirt freshman who will be looking to make an impact at their respective programs next season. 

It's unlikely we'll see Nelson Brands in the postseason, not when the Hawkeyes will be rolling out three title contenders at 157, 165, and 174. That might make Brands the most talented wrestler in the NCAA who doesn't wrestle in the postseason. 

Key Dates

Saturday, November 16: Oklahoma State at Lehigh

A fantastic early-season tilt and a huge potential matched between Joe Smith and Jordan Kutler. 

Sunday, November 17: Black Knight Invitational

Mark Hall will be the favorite but look for West Point's own Ben Harvey to make him earn it in his home gym. 

Friday, December 6: Penn State at Lehigh

#1 Hall vs #2 Kutler. Last season it was 6-2 in favor of Mark. Can Jordan close the gap, or perhaps notch an upset?

Friday-Saturday, December 6-7: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational

This tourney should appear as a key date in every weight class preview, as this event is a veritable beast, likely to feature more All-Americans than any other tournaments save the NCAAs and maybe Big Tens. Slated to participate in Vegas are #4 Labriola, #5 Steiert, #7 Skatzka, #10 Valencia, #11 Bastian, #12 Lydy, #13 Womack, #15 Hastings, #21 Bullard, #22 McNally, #23 Coleman, #25 Oliver, Mantanona, Marcelli, Hughes, and more. 

Monday-Tuesday, December 30-31: The 57th Midlands Championships

We might see an all Iowa final with Kemerer and Steiert, but look for Harvey and Lydy to try and crash that finals party.

Saturday, January 18: Nebraska at Iowa

Calamity in the cornstalks as Labriola and Kemerer are slated to lock horns. 

Friday, February 21: Arizona State at Lehigh

Yet another big home dual for the Mountain Hawks and another big match for Kutler, who could see #10 Anthony Valencia.

Spey's Spredictions

1) Mark Hall, Penn State

2) Michael Kemerer, Iowa

3) Jordan Kutler, Lehigh

4) Joseph Smith, Oklahoma State

5) Mikey Labriola, Nebraska

6) Bryce Steiert, Northern Iowa

7) Devin Skatzka, Minnesota

8) Ben Harvey, Army

R12) Dylan Lydy, Purdue

R12) Anthony Valencia, Arizona State

R12) Connor Flynn, Missouri

R12) Brandon Womack, Cornell

Unlike the coward Daniel Nomad, we predict bloodrounders in these previews. We're also predicting Hall to finish his career with a second NCAA title in his fourth trip to the NCAA finals. Considering his domination of the field thus far, the 174-pound newcomer Michael Kemerer is the only credible threat, and unfortunately for Kemdawg, his high shot rate doesn't bode well for his chances against a superior counter-wrestler like Hall. That being said, we're very much looking forward to their three potential matchups this season: in a late January dual, at Big Tens, and at NCAAs.

We see previous All-Americans Kutler, Smith, Labriola, Steiert and Skatzka once again climbing the podium steps in March. We picked Harvey to be the only first-time AA of the bunch, but he's basically a toss-up with Lydy to break through the bloodround at this point in the year. 

The Round of 12er we'd be least shocked to prove us wrong and place in the final eight is Anthony Valencia. We picked conservatively based on past folkstyle results, but we hear good things from Tempe and would not be surprised in the slightest if Anthony has a strong performance in Minneapolis. 

We hope you've gleaned some insight about the absolute nature of the impending NCAA season at 174-pounds. Nomad keeps things humming along tomorrow with 184. We will see you Wednesday for 197!