Below is a partial list of NCAA D1 middleweight wrestlers (149, 157, 165, 174) returning and will contest for a varsity spot after at least a one-year interval.

Lightweight Redshirt Report
Heavyweight Redshirt Report

149 Pounds

Shayne Van Ness, Penn State, Junior
2023-24 record: 3-0

Van Ness secured three falls last season as the Penn State starter before an injury sidelined his season. He finished third at the 2023 NCAA Championships and is expected to return as the starter. 

Kannon Webster, Illinois
2023-24 record: 20-1

Webster showed promise during his true freshman year by winning six varsity duals, including 4-1 wins over Ohio State’s Dylan D'Emilio and Iowa’s Caleb Rathjen. His lone loss was to West Virginia’s Ty Watters (4-2) at Midlands. 

Colin Realbuto, Northern Iowa, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Realbuto is a two-time national qualifier who took an Olympic redshirt. He competed for Italy at the 2021 and 2023 Senior World Championships. 

Carter Young, Oklahoma State, Junior
2023-24 record: 8-3

Young qualified for the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Championships at 141 pounds before redshirting last season. He moved to 149 and will battle Tagen Jamison — last season’s starter — for the spot. 

Sam Cartella, Northwestern, Freshman
2023-24 season record: 25-9

Cartella was 2-0 in varsity duals and steadily improved throughout the season. He fell to Penn State’s Connor Pierce, 5-1, on February 3 and won 9-0 on February 25. The Hudson, Ohio, native is expected to start this season. 

Dylan Gilcher, Michigan, Freshman
2023-24 record: 9-8

Gilcher went 1-1 in varsity duals and wrestled in four tournaments. He will battle a trio of incoming freshmen for the starting spot. 

Trae McDaniel, Army, Junior
2023-24 record: 2-1

McDaniel suffered an injury against Lock Haven’s Nicholas Stonecheck on November 11, 2023, and didn’t return to the line-up. He was 29-11 during his true freshman campaign but didn’t qualify for the 2023 NCAA Championships. 

Jeremiah Price, Appalachian State, Freshman
2023-24 record: 16-7

Price wrestled in five tournaments and lost a varsity dual to Cornell’s Ethan Fernandez, 11-5, on February 18. He is expected to start as a redshirt freshman. 

Andrew Clark, Rutgers, Senior
2023-24 record: 6-4

Clark started last season but was injured after a 4-1 loss to Rider’s Colton Washleski on January 7. He qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships at 157 pounds and is expected to start this year at 149.

Shayne Van Ness won his third-place match at the 2023 NCAA Championships

157 Pounds

Paniro Johnson, Iowa State, Sophomore
2023-24 record: 13-1

Johnson returns to the lineup after missing last season due to a gambling probe. He qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships at 149 pounds and dropped his lone match to South Dakota State’s Cael Swensen (4-1 SV) at Soldier Salute. 

Alex Facundo, Penn State, Sophomore
2023-24 record: 0-0

Facundo returns from a redshirt season after qualifying for the 2023 NCAA Championships at 165. He could see the line-up anywhere from 157 to 174, but 157 seems like his best spot. 

Luke Nichter, Drexel, Junior
2023-24 record: 12-6

Nichter qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championships at 149 pounds but missed the next two nationals. He moved up to 157 pounds for his redshirt season where he competed in five tournaments. 

Rafael Hipolito, Virginia Tech, Freshman
2023-24 record: 12-4

Hilpolito went 2-1 in varsity duals and 2-2 at Midlands last season. He dropped a 12-7 match to NC State’s All-American Ed Scott on February 23. 

Carter Schubert, Oklahoma, Freshman
2023-24 record: 3-1

Schubert went 3-1 in varsity duals for Cal Baptist before transferring to Oklahoma where he is expected to drop from 165 to 157. 

Watch Paniro Johnson's full run at the 2024 U23 Nationals

165 Pounds

Sammy Sasso, Ohio State, Senior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Sasso is among the most credentialed college wrestlers in the country. The former 149-pounder finished second, fifth, and second at the NCAA Championships from 2021 through 2023. He was the expected starter at 157 pounds last season but required extensive surgeries after he was shot during a carjacking on August 18, 2023. The Nazareth, Pennsylvania, native will battle Bryce Hepner for the starting spot. 

Braeden Scoles, Illinois, Freshman
2023-24 record: 10-4

Scoles moves up from 157 and will battle Caden Ernd for the 165-pound spot. The Kewaskum, Wisconsin, native went 1-1 in varsity duals last season. 

Beau Mantanona, Michigan, Freshman
2024-24 record: 15-6

Mantanona finished third at 2023 Midlands with a 6-1 record. He was 1-2 in varsity duals, winning 4-2 over two-time national qualifier Tanner Cook (South Dakota State). 

Derek Gilcher, Indiana, Senior
2023-24 record: 7-1

Gilcher will battle with teammate Tyler Lillard for the starting 165-pound spot. He was undefeated to start last season but was injured at the Sheridan Invitational on December 22, 2023. The Novi, Michigan, native qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships at 157 pounds. 

Nicco Ruiz, Arizona State, Freshman
2023-24 record: 11-2

Ruiz fell to Iowa State’s David Carr and Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink but won the Reno Tournament of Champions and Firestorm Open. He went 1-1 in varsity duals and is expected to start. 

Enrique Munguia, Rider, Junior
2023-24: 5-1

Muguia competed at 165 and 174 during a redshirt season and is expected to start at 165. 

Nick Fea, North Carolina, Sophomore
Fea went 2-3 in varsity duals as a true freshman during the 2023 season. He was injured last season and is the likely starter. 

Luka Wick, Cal Poly, Junior
2023-24 record: 0-0

Wick started as a true freshman during the 2023 season and was injured last year. 

Grant MacKay, Pittsburgh, Freshman
2023-24 record: 15-8

MacKay wrestled in five tournaments and two varsity duals during his redshirt freshman year. 

Watch highlights of Sammy Sasso over the years

174 Pounds

Carson Kharchla, Ohio State, Senior
2023-24 season. 12-3

Karchla is a two-time national qualifier and seventh-place finisher at the 2022 NCAA Championships. He missed the last half of the 2024 season and could return at 165, 174, or 184 this year depending on need and what wrestlers redshirt. 

Gabe Arnold, Iowa
2023-24 season: 8-1

Arnold competed at 174 and 184 during his true freshman season. He came up big at 184 during the Iowa State dual, securing a 3-2 win over All-American Will Feldkamp. His lone loss was a 5-1 setback to Oklahoma State’s 184-pound national finalist Dustin Plott during a February 25 dual. 

Danny Braunagel, Illinois, Senior
2023-24 Record: 4-0

Braunagel won the Lindenwood Open but his primary focus was Greco-Roman during an Olympic redshirt. The three-time national qualifier seeks his first podium finish at the NCAA Championships. 

Matthew Singleton, NC State, Sophomore
2023-24 record: 3-0

Singleton competed at 165 as a true freshman, moved to 184 for his redshirt year, and will compete at 174 this season.

Simon Ruiz, Cornell, Freshman
2023-24 record: 14-1

Ruiz deferred eligibility for a year and will likely start for the Big Red. He won the Mat Town, Patriot, and Cleveland State Open. His lone setback was a 4-1 sudden victory loss to Ohio State's NCAA finalist Rocco Welsh at the Clarion Open. 

Lorenzo Norman, Stanford
2023-24 season record: 9-7

Norman went 2-2 in varsity duals as a true freshman and is the favorite to start this season. 

Joshua Ogunsanya, North Carolina, Senior
2023-24 record: 3-2

Ogunsanya transferred from Columbia to North Carolina following a 3-2 season where he was injured. He qualified for the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Championships at 165. 

Caleb Campos, American, Sophomore
2023-24 record: 16-5

Campos competed in five tournaments during his redshirt year after starting at 165 for the 2023 season. 

Jasiah Queen, Drexel, Freshman
2023-24 record: 6-6

Queen wrestled in two tournaments and went 1-3 in varsity duals as a true freshman. 

Watch Gabe Arnold's iconic finals win at the 2023 Iowa high school state wrestling championships