Daton Fix is currently ranked No. 1 at 133 pounds by InterMat (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)Freshmen have made huge impacts in recent years at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Penn State's Vincenzo Joseph and Mark Hall won 2017 NCAA titles during their freshman seasons at Penn State.
Iowa's Spencer Lee and Cornell's Yianni Diakomihalis followed suit by winning championships as freshmen in 2018.
College newcomers continue to make big early splashes and much of that can be attributed to having more chances to wrestle internationally.
A number of this year's top college freshmen have already excelled on the world stage at the age-group levels. That experience is so valuable and important when dealing with the pressure of the three-day NCAA tournament.
There are numerous freshmen highly ranked again this year and don't be surprised to see the trend of freshman national champions continue at the 2019 NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh.
It wasn't easy ranking these with so much young talent in college now, but here is a look at my list of the top 10 freshmen entering the NCAA tournament.
1. Daton Fix (Oklahoma State, 133)
Fix won a Junior world title and was second to world silver medalist Thomas Gilman at last summer's Final X on the Senior level. And he hadn't even started college yet. Now a redshirt freshman for the Cowboys, Fix has lived up to the hype with a superb season. He's one of the top contenders to win a loaded and deep 133-pound weight class. Fix, highly ranked all season, certainly has the ability and the mindset to win an NCAA title on his first try.
2. Gable Steveson (Minnesota, 285)
Steveson is another young star who entered college with a sparkling resume after earning two Cadet world titles and a Junior world title. Steveson is a powerful, talented and explosive wrestler with a huge arsenal of moves and a tremendous upside. The key for Steveson will be to open up more and not let opponents slow him down. He was ranked No. 1 nationally before suffering his first loss against Penn State's Anthony Cassar in the Big Ten finals, but expect him to come back strong during his first trip to the NCAA tournament.
Jacob Warner is ranked in the top five at 197 pounds (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)3. Jacob Warner (Iowa, 197)
Warner is another wrestler who benefited from being on a Junior world team. He made an immediate early impact for the Hawkeyes by knocking off three-time All-American Willie Miklus of Iowa State. Warner is a wrestler with a big upside and he's coming off a strong third-place finish at Big Tens. He is ranked in the top five nationally and he's definitely a guy who could contend for high All-America honors at the NCAA tournament.
4. Dom Demas (Oklahoma, 141)
Demas turned in one of the most impressive performances this past weekend. He was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Big 12 Championships after locking up and throwing Oklahoma State's Kaid Brock to his back twice in the match's opening minute. Demas scored a dramatic fall on the second throw, ending the match just 56 seconds after it started. Demas will be a tough draw for whoever faces him in Pittsburgh.
Micky Phillippi is the lone wrestler to defeat Daton Fix this season (Photo/Pitt Athletics)5. Micky Phillippi (Pittsburgh, 133)
Phillippi is another young stud who has been a fixture near the top of the national rankings during his freshman season with the Panthers. Phillippi was named Outstanding Wrestler of the ACC tournament after downing All-American Tariq Wilson of North Carolina State 4-1 in the finals. He scored a key two-point near fall in the third period to prevail. He will receive another boost by wrestling at home with the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh.
6. Austin O'Connor (North Carolina, 149)
O'Connor has been ranked in the top five nationally during a strong rookie campaign with the Tar Heels. He placed second at the ACC tournament after falling to fourth-ranked senior Mitch Finesilver of Duke in the championship match. O'Connor knocked off All-American Justin Oliver of North Carolina State 4-2 in the semifinal round.
7. Patrick Glory (Princeton, 125)
Glory capped a superb showing at the EIWA Championships by earning a 10-8 finals win over top-seeded Vito Arujau of Cornell in the 125-pound title bout. Glory has been a consistent performer who has been highly ranked this season. He can put points on the board and he has the potential to make a strong run at the NCAA tournament this season.
8. Trent Hillger (Wisconsin, 285)
A fan favorite with his long hair and nickname of "Thor," Hillger has had a superb first season on the varsity for first-year coach Chris Bono at Wisconsin. Hillger has been ranked in the top 10 for much of the season and he placed fourth in a strong heavyweight class at the Big Ten tournament. Hillger is another determined, hard-nosed competitor who is going to keep battling.
9. Vito Arujau (Cornell, 125)
Arujau is another young star who has excelled internationally as a Cadet world silver medalist for the U.S. Arujau is a gifted and skilled wrestler who is a difficult matchup. He is another guy who can put a lot of points on the scoreboard in a hurry. He's another stud in a long line of freshman stars at Cornell. He could definitely be in contention at his first national tournament in college.
10. Mason Parris (Michigan, 285)
Parris made a big early splash, knocking off then-No. 1 Amar Dhesi of Oregon State during his first match after being pulled out of redshirt. Parris has continued to wrestle well. He finished seventh in a loaded bracket at Big Tens, but Parris is still a guy who can still win some big matches at nationals. He has shown he is capable of wrestling at a high level already in his young career.
Other top freshmen to keep an eye on in Pittsburgh:
Austin Gomez (Iowa State, 133)
Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State, 133)
Max Murin (Iowa, 141)
Brock Mauller (Missouri, 149)
Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma State, 149)
Anthony Artalona (Penn, 149)
Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech, 165)
Mikey Labriola (Nebraska, 174)
Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh, 184)
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