Let's examine the 10 most anticipated collegiate debuts next season.
Gable Steveson defeated Cadet world champion Daniel Kerkvliet this season (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)Gable Steveson (Minnesota, 285)
Steveson, the nation's No. 1 recruit, has already won three age-group world titles before graduating from high school. Last year the heavyweight from Apple Valley (Minn.) won his first Junior world title while still being a Cadet-eligible wrestler. Steveson recently finished his high school career with a 173-match winning streak and the best winning percentage in state history (212-3). He will join his older brother Bobby at the University of Minnesota later this year. He is expected to step in Minnesota's lineup immediately and contend for the NCAA title at heavyweight as a true freshman.
Daton Fix after winning the gold medal at 55 kilograms (Photo/Richard Immel)Daton Fix (Oklahoma State, 125)
Fix was one of the nation's top recruits in the Class of 2017, finishing his prep career as a four-time undefeated state champion in Oklahoma. As a redshirt, he won the Reno Tournament of Champions, which included victories over Oregon State's Ronnie Bresser and NC State's Sean Fausz. However, it's not just his success in folkstyle wrestling that has many people believing that he can contend for an NCAA title in 2019. His success in freestyle is even more eye-opening. Fix dominated his competition at the Junior World Championships in August, outscoring his opponents 53-1. It was third age-group medal. Three months later, Fix defeated Ohio State's Nathan Tomasello in two straight matches to make the U23 World Team. He topped Spencer Lee three years ago UWW Cadet Nationals. Bot have come a long way since then. Look for the Lee-Fix rivalry to continue at the college level and possibly beyond.
Vito Arujau (Photo/Josh Conklin)Vito Arujau (Cornell, 133)
Arujau, the son of two-time freestyle world champion and Olympic medalist Vogar Oroudjov, finished his high school wrestling career riding a massive winning streak. The 2017 high school graduate won his last 174 high school wrestling matches and finished his high school with a career record of 216-1. The lone blemish on his record came against Yianni Diakomihalis, who recently claimed an NCAA title as a true freshman at Cornell. After greyshirting this past season, Arujau will join Diakomihalis in the Big Red lineup next season.
Jacob Warner (Iowa, 197)
Warner, a three-time Illinois state champion and a 2016 Cadet world bronze medalist, compiled a record of 15-4 as a redshirt. The win that had the wrestling world buzzing was his 16-7 major decision over multiple-time All-American Willie Miklus of Missouri at the Lindenwood Open. He came back to earth at the Midlands in late December where he took three losses and placed sixth. One of those losses came to Hawkeye teammate Cash Wilcke. Next season Warner will likely step into the Hawkeye lineup at 197 pounds, while Wilcke slides down to 184 pounds. Spencer Lee, who lives with Warner, recently said he could see Warner making a title run as a redshirt freshman.
Mikey Labriola (Nebraska, 174)
The Pennsylvania native Labriola finished his high school career in 2017 as the nation's top-ranked 170-pounder. He had a dominant senior season at Bethlehem Catholic, going 44-0 and winning titles at the Walsh Ironman and Beast of the East. Labriola redshirted this season at Nebraska and compiled a record of 18-2. He had some notable wins during his redshirt season, beating All-Americans David Kocer of South Dakota State and Jacobe Smith of Oklahoma State. Labriola placed fourth at the Midlands where he took his only losses of the season, both to Purdue's Dylan Lydy, a round of 12 finisher.
Kaden Gfeller celebrates after winning the Southern Scuffle title (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma State, 141/149)
Gfeller, like Fix, arrived at Oklahoma State as a four-time undefeated state champion. He did not disappoint in his first year in Stillwater as a redshirt. Gfeller captured a Southern Scuffle title in early January with a victory over Penn State's Nick Lee. The Cowboys have a logjam in the first five weight classes next season, so it remains to be seen where Gfeller fits in, but it would be surprising if he's not in the lineup contending for a high finish on the podium in Pittsburgh.
Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech, 165/174)
Lewis, a two-time New Jersey state champion, was very impressive as a redshirt, winning 28 of 30 matches. His only losses came against All-American Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven at the Southern Scuffle. Lewis notched wins over multiple NCAA qualifiers as a redshirt. With two-time 165-pound All-American David McFadden returning to Blacksburg for his junior season, Lewis will likely have to move up a weight class to find a spot in Virginia Tech's lineup next season.
Austin Gomez (Iowa State, 133)
Coach Kevin Dresser's first year leading the Cyclones was filled with ups and downs, as expected. The Cyclones qualified just one wrestler for the NCAAs, Jarrett Degen, who finished 3-2 in Cleveland. Gomez, one of the nation's top recruits in 2017, is expected to play a key role in helping Iowa State's wrestling program return to national prominence. After sitting out the first half of the season, Gomez was a perfect 8-0 in three events as a redshirt. He won four Fargo titles -- two in freestyle and two in Greco-Roman -- before arriving in Ames.
Brady Berge gets in on a shot against Pat Lugo at the Junior World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Brady Berge (Penn State, 149)
With three-time NCAA champion Zain Retherford graduating, Berge is the likely starter at 149 pounds for the Nittany Lions. The No. 8 recruit in the Class of 2017, Berge was a four-time state champion in Minnesota, finishing his prep career with a career record of 282-5. He saw limited action as a redshirt in Happy Valley, competing only in the Princeton Open in November where he placed third at 157 pounds. Jarod Verkleeren, another highly ranked recruit from the Class of 2017, could battle Berge for the spot.
Chase Singletary (Ohio State, 285)
Like Berge, Singletary finds himself in the position of succeeding a three-time NCAA champion. He is expected to be Ohio State's starter at heavyweight next season with Olympic champion Kyle Snyder graduating. Singletary was the nation's No. 1-ranked 220-pounder as a senior. After a strong redshirt season in which he posted a 21-3 record, expectations are high for the former Blair Academy standout.
Others to watch: Brandon Courtney (Arizona State, 125), Austin O'Connor (North Carolina, 149), Jarod Verkleeren (Penn State, 149), Cam Coy (Virginia, 149/157), Anthony Mantanona (Oklahoma, 165/174), Louie DePrez (Binghamton, 184), Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt, 184), Jake Woodley (Oklahoma, 197)
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