True Freshmen to Watch for 2023-24

We’re only a couple days away from the start of the 2023-24 wrestling season. With every new season comes a new crop of freshmen who are eager to build upon their dreams of wrestling collegiately. Advances in training methods, RTC’s, more international opportunities, and plenty of other factors have made it more commonplace for true freshmen to have success immediately in college. From 1990 until 2003, only eight freshmen (true or redshirt) won national titles. Over the last 14 years, 15 freshmen have won national titles. Seven were true freshmen. 

So, who’s next? Which wrestlers from the Class of 2023 will jump in and contend for national titles and spots on the podium this season? 

Below we have 11 true freshmen that have the potential to win in bunches, right away. The ones we’ve listed have a path to a starting role or we’ve heard from their respective coaching staffs that they are in line to start. 

Next to each wrestler is their final Big Board ranking from MatScouts. 

#1 Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

The top prospect in the high school Class of 2023, Meyer Shapiro will immediately step into the Cornell lineup at 157 lbs. Shapiro wowed international fans over the summer with a U20 World Championship at 70 kg. It was his second world title in as many tries; he won a U17 title in 2021.

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