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2019-20 NCAA D1 Transfer Tracker

2019-20 NCAA D1 Transfer Tracker

Bratke takes a look at all of the former NCAA qualifiers that have entered the transfer portal since the beginning of the 2019-20 season.

Apr 13, 2020 by Kyle Bratke
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Since the transfer portal opened in October of 2018, it has been one of the hottest topics in college athletics. While the portal has not been utilized as much in wrestling as it has in football and basketball, there are still plenty of big-time transfers that have already gone down and talented wrestlers currently still looking for a new home.

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Since the transfer portal opened in October of 2018, it has been one of the hottest topics in college athletics. While the portal has not been utilized as much in wrestling as it has in football and basketball, there are still plenty of big-time transfers that have already gone down and talented wrestlers currently still looking for a new home.

For this article, we looked at every wrestler that has qualified for the NCAA Championships at least one time in their career that entered the transfer portal anytime after the first day of official practice on October 10, 2019. I planned on closing this article on the first day of practice for the 2020-21 season, but with the start of the season being pushed back and two more programs being cut, I'm going to leave it open until January 1, 2021 when I'll start a fresh transfer tracker for the new season. 

We'll keep this article updated daily as wrestlers join new programs and new wrestlers put their names into the portal. In case you want to learn all about the portal you can do that right here. 

125

Killian Cardinale, Old Dominion → West Virginia

2020 NCAA qualifier 

Entered Portal: April 3, 2020

When Michael McGee decided to redshirt that opened the door for Cardinale who made the most of his opportunity and put together a great season. Cardinale turned in a 25-9 record and finished the season ranked #15 in the country. Like his former teammate, Cardinale took to Twitter to announce he's headed to almost heaven, West Virginia to finish his college career. 

Liam Cronin, Indiana → Nebraska

2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: April 13, 2020

Liam Cronin also made the most of the opportunity he was given this season. Brock Hudkins was ranked in the top 10 when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Midlands semifinals. Cronin stepped up and immediately made waves picking up wins over Devin Schroder, Nic Aguilar, Eric Barnett, and Alex Thomsen on his way to earning a bid for the 2020 NCAA Championships. Now, Cronin will stay in the Big Ten to finish his college carer. Alex Thomsen did qualify for the NCAA Championships but he did have a losing record at 13-15. Cronin was 2-1 last season against Thomsen. 

133

Michael McGee, Old Dominion → Arizona State

2018, 2019 NCAA qualifier 

Entered Portal: April 3, 2020

Michael McGee began the season ranked in the top 10, but elected to use his redshirt this season after qualifying for the NCAA Championships his true freshman and sophomore seasons. A year ago in Pittsburgh, the former Monarch made it to the bloodround before falling to Pat Glory. Now, he's headed West. McGee announced on Twitter that he will be a Sun Devil next season. While McGee qualified twice at 125, we expect he will move up to 133 in Tempe where he will form a great 1-2 punch with Brandon Courtney who finished the season ranked #7 at 125. 

Matt Schmitt, West Virginia → Missouri (graduate transfer)

2018, 2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: December 17, 2019

West Virginia announced in early November that Schmitt would take an Olympic redshirt has he trained to make the Greco-Roman world team. However, a little over a month later Schmitt entered the portal and in late January his home state Missouri Tigers announced he would be returning home and eligible to finish his career off during the 2020-21 season.


Lawrence Saenz, Fresno State → Cal Poly

2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: October 19, 2020

Saenz wasted no time after the unfortunate news that Fresno State would no longer field a team after this season. However, it makes a ton of sense and can now compete for the Mustangs in the second semester when the season finally gets underway in January. Saenz began the year at 141 before making his way down to 133 where he finished sixth at the Big 12 Championship to earn his automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

141

Jaydin Eierman, Missouri → Iowa

2017, 2018, 2019 All-American

Entered Portal: November 6, 2019

Without a doubt the biggest transfer on this list, Jaydin Eierman announced before the 2019 NCAA Championships he would be taking an Olympic redshirt this season and no one had any reason to believe he wouldn't wrestle his senior season at Missouri. However, Eierman shocked the country in early November when he entered the portal and the next day announced he would finish his career at Iowa and then begin training at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. 

Sebastian Rivera, Northwestern → Rutgers (graduate transfer)

2018, 2019, 2020 All-American

Entered Portal: June 24, 2020

The worst kept secret in wrestling. Spey legit heard someone talking about this in the bathroom at the RAC during the Big Ten Championships. Three-time All-American Sebastian Rivera graduated from Northwestern earlier this spring and will now use his final year of eligibility has a grad transfer. Rutgers also dropped the coolest transfer announcement video I've ever seen.

Sea Bass is coming home ?

2x All-American & 2x Big Ten Champion Sebastian Rivera has enrolled at @RutgersU and will wrestle for us this season!#RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/SNNOf9BJuG

— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) June 26, 2020

Rivera could also move up to 141 which would allow Nick Suriano to return from Olympic redshirt at 133 or if he chooses to take another one, Sammy Alvarez, who had a great true freshman campaign. 


Real Woods, Stanford → Staying at Stanford

2020 All-American

Entered Portal: July 10, 2020

After all kinds of speculation about where he would land, Woods decided to remove his name from the portal and compete for the Cardinal in the potential final year of the program. The Cardinal coaching staff, wrestlers, alumni, and wrestling fans from around the country have been working hard since the announcement was made to reverse the University's decision. If the program is not reinstated, Woods will likely work to finish his degree by December 2021 and then move on as a graduate transfer and be eligible second semester of the 2021-22 season for his new school. 


Peter Lipari, Rutgers → Rider → Arizona State

2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: November 12, 2019

Lipari was another in-season transfer, but one of only two wrestlers to transfer during the season and compete for his new school. After losing to freshman JoJo Aragona in the wrestle-off, Lipari entered the portal and was able to wrestle the second semester for Rider, but was unable to qualify for the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row. 

It looked like Lipari's collegiate career was over, but the NJ hammer received a sixth year and has decided he will head West to Arizona State for his final year of eligibility. 141 was a weak spot for the Sun Devils a year ago has they failed to qualify a wrestler for the NCAA Championships and Cory Crooks and Navonte Demison combined to go 11-20 last season. 

Michael Blockhus, UNI → Minnesota

2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: November 16, 2020

This one came has a big surprise to me. Blockhus is an Iowa native and compiled a 42-14 during his time redshirt and redshirt freshman season in Cedar Falls. Blockhus debuted at #11 in our preseason rankings and had wins last year over Tariq Wilson, Dusty Hone, Parker Filius, and Tristan Moran. With all winter athletes being awarded an extra year of eligibility, Blockhus will have four years of eligibility remaining. 

149

Mitch Moore, Virginia Tech → Oklahoma

2019, 2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: April, 14, 2020

Moore started his first two years in Blacksburg and both seasons qualified for the NCAA Championships. The former St. Paris Graham (OH) product has a career record of 37-17 and owns wins over All-Americans Sa'Derian Perry and Tariq Wilson. He will now head to Norman to finish his collegiate career. The past two seasons Dom Demas has been an All-American for the Sooners at 141 and began the 2019-20 season as the nation's top-ranked wrestler. When Oklahoma announced the addition of Moore, they made it clear that Moore would be a 149-pounder. A year ago, Jacob Butler failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships after an 0-2 showing at the Big 12 Championships. 

?? ????? ????????.

Welcome to the OU family, @m1tchmoore!

? https://t.co/EVOoK8EVoQ#Sooners | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/0NvVR06cQL

— Oklahoma Wrestling (@OU_Wrestling) May 18, 2020


Sam Turner, Wyoming → Nebraska-Kearney

2018, 2019 NCAA qualifier 

Entered Portal: November 8, 2019

Turner was the second wrestler who transferred in season and was able to compete for his new school. Turner is also the only wrestler on this list to change divisions. Turner found a new home at DII power Nebraska-Kearney where he was 8-1 and the #7 seed for the NCAA Championships 


Mike D'Angelo, Princeton (graduate transfer) → ?

2017, 2018 NCAA qualifier 

Entered Portal: February 19, 2020

D'Angelo began the year ranked in the top 10, but suffered a season-ending injury in early January. D'Angelo is a graduate transfer so he will be eligible to compete immediately. 

157

Jacob Wright, Fresno State → Wyoming

2020 NCAA Qualifier

Entered Portal: October 19, 2020

Another former Bulldog found NCAA qualifier who quickly found a new home. Like Jackson Hemauer, who you will see a little farther down in the article, Wright will be staying in the Big 12. A season ago, Wright was 25-9 and earned the #25 seed at the NCAA Championships. Wright had notable wins over Peyton Robb and Justin McCoy. 

165

Nick Kiussis, West Virginia → ?

2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: April 9, 2020

Kiussis was a starter his first three years in Morgantown and qualified for the NCAA Championships a year ago in Pittsburgh. He'll have one year of eligibility remaining. 


Tyler Morland, Northwestern → ?

2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: March 21, 2020

Morland surprisingly punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships a year ago in Pittsburgh after knocking off Joey Gunther at the Big Ten Championships. Morland knocked off Gunther once again this year but had his season end short due to injury. He will have two years of eligibility remaining. 


Kennedy Monday, North Carolina → Staying at North Carolina

2018, 2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: June 22, 2020

Just about three days after putting his name in the portal, two-time NCAA qualifier, Kennedy Monday, decided to stay in Chapel Hill and finish out his career with the Tar Heels. 

Jackson Hemauer, Fresno State → Northern Colorado

2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: October 21, 2020

From what I understand, whether or not Fresno State made the decision to discontinue wrestling, Hemauer was going to put his name into the portal. During his time in Fresno, he was 23-10 as a redshirt freshman and was the #23 seed at the NCAA Championships at 184. Last season he dropped to 174 and was just 10-8 while battling injuries throughout the year. Hemauer appeared at #19 in our preseason rankings. Northern Colorado now could have seven wrestlers who have qualified for the NCAA Championships in their lineup next season.

184

Chris Weiler, Lehigh  → Wisconsin (graduate transfer)

2018, 2020 NCAA qualifier 

Entered Portal: April 7, 2020

Weiler is another graduate transfer on the list. The former Lehigh Mountain Hawk bounced between 184 and 197 during his career in Bethlehem and qualified for the NCAA Championships once at each weight. For the second straight year a transfer will man 184 for the Badgers. Last season it was Johnny Sebastian and this year it will be Weiler who will be trying to end his career by getting on the podium for the first time. 

197

Pat Brucki, Princeton → Michigan (graduate transfer)

2019, 2020 All-American

Entered Portal: July 23, 2020

During his time at Princeton, Brucki qualified for the NCAA Championships three times, was fourth at the 2019 NCAA Championships, and was named an All-American after the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA Championships. Brucki was injured late in the year in a match with Rutgers Jordan Pagano and still looked banged up a few weeks later at the EIWA Championships where he suffered an upset loss to Drew Phipps. Despite not being at full strength, Brucki finished third at EIWAs and was the eight seed at the NCAA Championships. Brucki will recover from the two surgeries he had after the season and join the Wolverines to use his final year of eligibility for the 2021-22 season.


Matt Correnti, Rutgers → Rider

2017 NCAA qualifier

Entered portal: April, 14, 2020

After qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a true freshman down at 197, Correnti has yet to qualify again, but holds a career record of 57-43. Correnti bounced back and forth between 197 and 285 throughout his career, but will be at 197 for his final year of eligibility. 

Garrett Hoffman, Bucknell → Indiana

2017 NCAA qualifier

Entered portal: January 23, 2019

Another 2017 NCAA qualifier will finish his career elsewhere. Garrett Hoffman qualified as a true freshman for the NCAA Championships at 184, but his next three seasons were interrupted by injury. In fact, the past two years Hoffman has wrestled just one match. Before his 2017-18 season was cut short due to injury, Hoffman picked up a win over Anthony Cassar at 197 inside Rec Hall. Hoffman was wrestled 184, 197, and 285 during his collegiate career, but told FloWrestling he plans to wrestle 197 in Bloomington. 

285

Tate Orndorff, Utah Valley → Ohio State

2019, 2020 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: April 1, 2020

I was surprised to hear that Orndorff had entered the portal and even more surprised to learn a few days later that he would be transferring to Ohio State. Orndorff was 1-2 at the NCAA Championships as a redshirt freshman and was seeded #8 for this year's tournament. 

AJ Nevills, Fresno State → South Dakota State (graduate transfer)

2018, 2019 NCAA qualifier

Entered Portal: October 19, 2020

Nevills was another Bulldog to jump ship once Fresno States made their decision to discontinue the wrestling program and wasted no time finding a new home in the Big 12. Nevills will actually finish his degree at Fresno State and then join the South Dakota State program for the 2021-22 season. He's previously qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, compiled a record of 50-19, and appears in the preseason rankings at #17.