There has been no shortage of freshmen who captured national titles on college wrestling's biggest stage.
And last year was no exception.
Vincenzo Joseph and Mark Hall won 2017 NCAA titles during their freshman seasons at Penn State.
Hall did it as a true freshman after winning numerous age-group world championships in freestyle wrestling.
Hall is a prime example of the recent trend where more freshmen have legitimate shots at climbing the top step of the medal podium on their first try.
With wrestlers excelling at even younger ages now, in large part because of having more opportunities to compete internationally, freshmen annually are contenders for NCAA championships each March.
There are 17 freshmen ranked in the nation's top 12 in their respective weight classes, including seven ranked in the top five.
So don't be surprised if a freshman wins it all again to end this season in Cleveland in 2018.
Here is a look at my list of the top 10 freshmen entering the NCAA postseason.
Spencer Lee gets his hand raised (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)1. Spencer Lee (Iowa, 125)
Iowa's decision to pull the ultra-talented Lee out of his redshirt has paid big dividends so far. Lee, a two-time Junior world champion and a Cadet world champion, has already earned his share of huge wins for the Hawkeyes. He knocked off 2015 NCAA champion and top-ranked Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State. He also teched 2017 NCAA runner-up Ethan Lizak of Minnesota. Lee is in a very tough 125-pound class, but he definitely should be in the mix to win his first national title. Lee, ranked third nationally, obviously knows how to deliver when the stakes are highest. He's an entertaining wrestler to watch and he has a dynamic, engaging personality as well.
Cornell true freshman Yianni Diakomihalis is ranked No. 3 at 141 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)2. Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell, 141)
Diakhomihalis came to Cornell with outstanding credentials, and he hasn't disappointed with his performance so far in college. He won four New York state high school titles and a pair of Cadet world titles before arriving on the Cornell campus in Ithaca. Diakhomihalis has made an immediate splash at the Division I level. He beat Wyoming All-American Bryce Meredith, who is now ranked No. 1, in overtime en route to winning the Cliff Keen title in Las Vegas. Diakhomihalis is ranked third at 141 pounds.
Alex Marinelli gets in on a shot against Minnesota's Nick Wanzek (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)3. Alex Marinelli (Iowa, 165)
It is understandable now why Iowa was so tempted to pull Marinelli out of his redshirt last season, but the decision not to has certainly paid off this season. Marinelli has jumped right into Iowa's lineup and wrestled like a seasoned veteran. His biggest win came when he knocked off No. 1 Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State. Joseph won the NCAA title as a freshman in 2017. The second-ranked Marinelli is in a loaded weight class that also includes two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez of Illinois. Marinelli has showed a toughness, composure and resolve where he hasn't become too rattled in big matches.
4. Ben Darmstadt (Cornell, 197)
Darmstadt has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, ascending to the No. 2 ranking in a weight class that is one of the most wide-open of any collegiate division this season. He burst onto the scene in late December at the South Beach Duals. Unranked at the time, Darmstadt scored two early takedowns and a near fall en route to a stunning 9-0 win over then-No. 2 Willie Miklus of Missouri. Darmstadt won two Ohio state high school titles before being named outstanding wrestler after rolling to a Junior Nationals crown in freestyle.
Hayden Hidlay is ranked No. 3 at 157 pounds (Photo/NC State Communications)5. Hayden Hidlay (North Carolina State, 157)
Hidlay is another newcomer who has made an immediate impact during his first collegiate season on the varsity. Hidlay, ranked No. 3 at 157, enters the postseason with a spotless 20-0 record. Hidlay earned a 3-1 overtime win over NCAA runner-up and second-ranked Joey LaVallee of Missouri early in the season. He capped his perfect regular season by downing No. 7 Micah Jordan of Ohio State 6-3. Hidlay is a physical, hard-nosed competitor.
6. Austin DeSanto (Drexel, 133)
There isn't a freshman, or any wrestler for that matter, more exciting to watch than the hard-charging DeSanto. The true freshman is on the attack from the first whistle until the last whistle. DeSanto caught everyone's attention early in the season when he routed highly ranked and past Junior world medalist Stevan Micic of Michigan by a 22-10 major decision in Las Vegas. Micic was fourth at the 2017 NCAAs. DeSanto is definitely a wrestler to keep an eye on in the postseason. He's a bonus-point scoring machine and his matches are never boring.
7. Ryan Deakin (Northwestern, 149)
Deakin has had a superb rookie season while more than holding his own in one of the Big Ten's toughest weight classes. Deakin nearly knocked off past NCAA runner-up and second-ranked Brandon Sorensen of Iowa in a late-season dual before falling 5-4 in overtime. Deakin, ranked fifth nationally at 149, has beaten past NCAA champion and former Northwestern wrestler Jason Tsirtsis this season. Tsirtsis is now at Arizona State. Deakin also beat No. 10 Colton McCrystal of Nebraska by major decision. Deakin, a Colorado state high school champion, has recorded eight falls this season. He was a Junior world silver medalist for the U.S. in freestyle in 2017.
8. Nick Lee (Penn State, 141)
Another true freshman named Lee is making plenty of noise for perennial powerhouse Penn State. Nick Lee jumped into the Nittany Lions' loaded lineup full-time in the second half of the season and is up to No. 8 in the national rankings. His performance will be important as Penn State tries to continue its dominance at the Big Ten and NCAA levels. Lee turned in an impressive 13-3 major decision win over returning All-American Tommy Thorn of Minnesota in late January. Lee enters Big Tens with a 22-4 record.
Taylor LaMont won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)9. Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley, 125)
Like Spencer Lee, LaMont is another wrestler who has extensive international experience while competing on numerous USA age-group world teams. LaMont has excelled in Greco-Roman wrestling and is a Junior world medalist. He caught everyone's attention early this season by winning the Cliff Keen title in Las Vegas. The No. 8 seed in Vegas, LaMont knocked off No. 1 Ethan Lizak of Minnesota, a returning NCAA runner-up, en route to capturing the title.
10. Montorie Bridges (Wyoming, 133)
Bridges earned a huge mid-season win, scoring six early points on a takedown and near fall en route to holding off All-American and then-No. 3 Kaid Brock of Oklahoma State in a wild 11-10 victory. Bridges has compiled a 29-3 record this season and is ranked No. 7 nationally at 133 pounds. Bridges has the potential to make a significant impact in March. He has benefited by training with teammate and top-ranked 141-pounder Bryce Meredith.
Other top freshmen to keep an eye on in Cleveland: Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern, 125), Mike Carr (Illinois, 141), Chad Red (Nebraska, 141), Evan Wick (Wisconsin, 165), Taylor Venz (Nebraska, 184), Max Dean (Cornell, 184), Jordan Wood (Lehigh, 285).
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now