2025 NCAA Wrestling March Madness

[Gellar]

The conference tournaments are done and all the qualifiers have been announced. Tomorrow they will seed the tournament and starting a week from Thursday the champion will have to win 5 matches to claim Gold. This year will be crazy as multiple weights have at least 2 NCAA champions vying to repeat: 141, 174, 184, and heavyweight plus other weights have past champions returning and looking to repeat: 125, 149 and 197. History could also be made as Carter Starrocci is going for his 5th NCAA title and would be the first and maybe only ever to do that feat.

My pre seed predictions:
125- Richard Figuero Arizona Stste
133- Nasir Bailey Little Rock
141- Jesse Mendez Ohio State
149- Caleb Henson Virginia tech
157- Meyer Shapiro Cornel
165- Mitch Messenbrink Penn State
174- Keegan Otoole Missouri
184 - Parker Keckeisen UNI
197 - Stephen Buchanan Iowa
HWT- Gable Steveson Minnesota

 

[warmer]

Very little love for the Big 10?

 

[Gellar]

Very little love for the Big 10?

The big ten is full of hammers. This is a very rare class with so many weight classes with multiple champions. Honestly, I’d be shocked if the big ten only had 4 champions, but at 125 Ramos is boom or bust, milled has showed he has the ability to win tournaments, but Figs is the returning champion. 133 as much as I’d like to pick Ayala or The Illinois kid I don’t think Ayala has the size and strength to hold up for 5 matches at 133. That Bailey has had a pretty impressive career and was a top recruit who snuffed all the big colleges for Little Rock. At 141 it seems like the big ten could have 4 of the top 5. At 149 the top 4 from the big ten have just as good of shot as any to make the finals, but Henson is the returning champ. 157 the big ten will have a finalist at least, who I don’t know but Kasak would be the favorite as of now. That Shapiro is a good Sophomore who kind of had a bad tournament last year. 165 the big ten should have 2 in the finals as they are head and shoulders above the rest. 174 Otoole already beat Haines once this year at the all star match and Haines didn’t look all impressive in some matches at Bigs. I think he’s in the same boat as Ayala, is he big enough up 2 weight classes to go 5 matches in a row against the best. 184 3 legitimate contenders. The Minnesota kid was a dumb move away from beating starrocci, which starrocci forced with his veteran experience and mindset. Keck has never finished less then 3rd in 4 Ncaas. 3,3,2,1 is pretty impressive and has dominated everyone not named Starrocci this year. 197 I’m an Iowa guy so I’m going for Buchanan even though he was beat at the Bigs. Cardenas won and has a solid chance to make the finals. Barr would rebound from his poor performance, but Ferrari is ever present. He hasn’t faced anyone except that Little Rock kid, who he beat on a riding time point. HWT, will anyone stop Gable from scoring bonus points.

I think the seeding tonight will be important for a lot of Championship hopes.

 

[Gellar]

Last year the BIG only had 2 weights with both wrestlers in the finals, this year they have the possibility to have a finalist in all 10 bouts and head to head in probably half of them.