Noah Adams won the Southern Scuffle and was named Outstanding Wrestler (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)A college wrestling season never goes according to script.
It wouldn't be much fun if it did.
This season has been no exception. There have been plenty of significant twists and turns during the 2019-20 NCAA campaign.
And there will be many more as we move closer to March's NCAA Championships in Minneapolis.
Here are some of the top surprises we've witnessed already during an entertaining collegiate season:
Reversal of fortune for Noah Adams
West Virginia's Noah Adams posted a 19-15 record last season. He's looked like a different wrestler this season while winning all 24 of his matches. Adams is now ranked No. 2 nationally at 197 pounds. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Southern Scuffle. It's always fun to see hard work and persistence pay off for wrestlers like Adams.
Hawkeyes pulling away
Iowa and Penn State entered this season expected to wage a close battle for the NCAA team title, but the Hawkeyes appear to have the clear edge right now. Iowa is loaded in all 10 weight classes with the capability of putting every guy in its lineup on the medal podium in March. All 10 Hawkeyes are ranked in the top nine nationally. Penn State is still very strong, but the loss of returning national champion heavyweight Anthony Cassar to an injury was a significant setback. The Nittany Lions have been bolstered by true freshman Aaron Brooks at 184 and Shakur Rasheed's move to 197. Iowa also has a star true freshman at 184 in Abe Assad. The Hawkeyes haven't won a team title in 10 years and they are hungry to knock off Big Ten rival Penn State, winners of eight of the last nine national titles. It will be exciting to see how it plays out.
Sun Devils stun Penn State
Top-ranked Penn State's remarkable run of 60 straight dual meet victories came to a surprising end with a 19-18 early season loss at No. 5 Arizona State. Coach Zeke Jones and a boisterous home crowd saw the Sun Devils earn a huge victory for their program. It's great to see ASU, the 1988 NCAA team champions under legendary coach Bobby Douglas, back in the national conversation. Jones wrestled on that title team. The Sun Devils feature arguably the nation's best wrestler in two-time NCAA champion Zahid Valencia, a top contender to make the Olympic team this year. Valencia is ranked No. 1 at 184 after bumping up a weight class this season. Kudos to Penn State for its impressive run of dual meet wins - that's an impressive streak.
Ohio State's Luke Pletcher is undefeated this season at 141 pounds (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Up a weight, looking great
Ohio State All-American Luke Pletcher has had a superb career, but his move up to 141 pounds this season has paid huge dividends. The top-ranked senior has been dominating most of his opponents and has emerged as the favorite to end his career with a national title. Pletcher is a powerful wrestler with a superb arsenal on his feet. He's fun to watch.
Princeton power
The Princeton wrestling team has put together a superb season and has cracked the top 10 in the national team rankings. The Ivy League school has three highly ranked wrestlers in Patrick Glory (No. 3 at 125), Quincy Monday (No. 5 at 157) and Patrick Brucki (No. 3 at 197). The Tigers could definitely score their share of points at the national tournament.
Jaydin Eierman after winning bronze at the Pan American Games (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Eierman leaves Missouri for Iowa
In a move many people may not have expected, All-American Jaydin Eierman left Missouri and transferred to the University of Iowa. Eierman is taking an Olympic redshirt this season and will join a loaded Hawkeye lineup for his senior season in the 2020-21 school year. He is expected to bump up from 141 to 149 next season. Eierman is an excellent freestyle wrestler who has already made a Senior National Team. He's also made age-group world teams and is a dynamic, exciting wrestler.
Kerkvliet changes course
One of the biggest stories of the season was when big man Greg Kerkvliet transferred from Ohio State to Penn State. The Cadet world champion changed schools shortly after Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder announced he was leaving Ohio State to train at Penn State. Kerkvliet is an elite wrestler with a huge upside. He will make a big splash in State College.
Ryan Deakin defeated Hayden Hidlay to win the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)From contender to favorite
Northwestern's Ryan Deakin is another wrestler who continues to progress. Deakin, who also excels in freestyle, has had a strong season in folkstyle for the Wildcats. He's unbeaten this season. Deakin looks like the favorite now at 157 after ascending to the No. 1 national ranking. Deakin likely will have to go through NCAA runner-up Hayden Hidlay of North Carolina State again to prevail in March.
Kudos to Big Ten Network
Big Ten Network has really stepped up this season and is showing much more wrestling than it has in the past. The sport deserves the recognition with the Big Ten once again being the nation's premier wrestling conference. It's great to have more wrestling to watch, but having it on television can grow the sport and attract new viewers. Kudos to BTN for showcasing a sport the league excels in. It's always good to see Shane Sparks, Jim Gibbons and Tim Johnson on my TV screen.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
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