2021 NCAA Champion Carter Starocci (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Yesterday, InterMat released our first set of NCAA Division One rankings for the 2021-22 season. As we compiled the rankings and even afterwards, one thing that stuck out was just how deep each and every weight will be this season. With the majority of elite seniors electing to utilize the additional year of eligibility handed out in conjunction with the 2021 season, there are virtually no weights hit hard by graduation.
To illustrate just how difficult each weight class will be in 2021-22, we have scoured through the rankings and tabulated how each group ranks in a variety of categories. These are based on the participants of that weight's past performance at NCAA tournaments.
125 lbs
1 National Champion (Lee)
2 NCAA Finalists (Courtney, Lee)
4 NCAA Semifinalists (Courtney, Hildebrandt, LaMont, Lee)
11 NCAA All-Americans (Arujau, Barnett, Cardinale, Courtney, Foley, Glory, Hildebrandt, LaMont, Latona, Lee, McKee)
16 Round of 12 or Better (Arujau, Barnett, Camacho, Cardinale, Courtney, DeAugustino, Foley, Glory, Hildebrandt, Hudkins, LaMont, Latona, Lee, McKee, Schroder, Teske)
12 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Arujau, Camacho, Courtney, DeAugustino, Foley, Glory, Hildebrandt, Latona, LaMont, Lee, Schroder, Teske)
3 Age-Group World Medalists (Arujau, Lee, LaMont)
133 lbs
1 National Champions (Bravo-Young)
2 NCAA Finalists (Bravo-Young, Fix)
5 NCAA Semifinalists (Bravo-Young, DeSanto, Fix, Myers, Rivera)
8 NCAA All-Americans (Bravo-Young, Byrd, Cannon, DeSanto, Fix, McGee, Myers, Rivera)
11 Round of 12 or Better (Bravo-Young, Byrd, Cannon, DeSanto, Fix, McGee, Myers, Philippi, Rich, Rivera, Schmitt)
10 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Bravo-Young, Byrd, Cannon, DeSanto, Fix, Myers, Paetzell, Philippi, Rivera, Schmitt)
2 Age-Group World Medalist (Fix---also Matt Ramos; though not in rankings)
141 lbs
1 National Champion (Lee)
2 NCAA Finalists (Eierman, Lee)
2 NCAA Semifinalists (Eierman, Lee)
7 NCAA All-Americans (Carlson, Demas, Duncan, Eierman, Lee, Red Jr, Sherman)
11 Round of 12 or Better (Carlson, Demas, Duncan, Eierman, Gomez, Hart, Lee, Red Jr, Sherman, Simon, Woods)
7 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Demas, Eierman, Hart, Lee, Parker, Red Jr, Woods)
149 lbs
1 National Champion (Diakomihalis)
2 NCAA Finalists (Diakomihalis, Sasso)
4 NCAA Semifinalists (Diakomihalis, Mauller, Sasso, Wilson)
9 NCAA All-Americans (Abas, Degen, Diakomihalis, Mauller, Millner, Parco, Sasso, Thomas, Wilson)
16 Round of 12 or Better (Abas, Andonian, Artalona, Carr, Degen, Diakomihalis, Finesilver, Mauller, Millner, Moore, Murin, Parco, Price, Sasso, Thomas, Wilson)
14 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Abas, Andonian, Carr, Degen, Diakomihalis, Gfeller, Heil, Lovett, Mauller, Millner, Murin, Sasso, Storr, Wilson)
3 Age-Group World Medalists (Andonian, Diakomihalis, Verkleeren---also Peyton Omania; though not in rankings)
157 lbs
2 National Champions (Carr, O'Connor)
2 NCAA Finalists (Carr, O'Connor)
4 NCAA Semifinalists (Carr, Deakin, O'Connor, Young)
7 NCAA All-Americans (Carr, Deakin, Lee, O'Connor, Sheets, Teemer, Young)
12 Round of 12 or Better (Carr, Deakin, Franek, Humphreys, Jacques, Lee, O'Connor, Sheets, Teemer, Thomas, Wright, Young)
10 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Carr, Coleman, Deakin, Franek, Humphreys, Jacques, Lee, Monday, O'Connor, Young)
4 Age-Group World Medalists (Carr, Deakin, Lewan, Teemer)
165 lbs
1 National Champion (Griffith)
2 NCAA Finalists (Griffith, Wentzel)
6 NCAA Semifinalists (Griffith, Hartman, Marinelli, Romero, Wentzel, Wick)
10 NCAA All-Americans (Amine, Griffith, Hartman, Marinelli, O'Toole, Romero, Valencia, Wentzel, Wick, Wittlake)
12 Round of 12 or Better (Amine, Griffith, Hall, Hartman, Marinelli, O'Toole, Romero, Valencia, Weber, Wentzel, Wick, Wittlake)
9 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Griffith, Hartman, Marinelli, O'Toole, Romero, Valencia, Wentzel, Wick, Wittlake)
2 Age-Group World Medalists (O'Toole, Wittlake)
174 lbs
2 National Champions (Lewis, Starocci)
4 NCAA Finalists (Hidlay, Kemerer, Lewis, Starocci)
6 NCAA Semifinalists (Hidlay, Kemerer, Lewis, Massa, Smith, Starocci)
8 NCAA All-Americans (Hidlay, Kemerer, Labriola, Lewis, Massa, Smith, Starocci, Turley)
11 Round of 12 or Better (Hidlay, Kemerer, Labriola, Lautt, Lewis, Massa, McNally, Murphy, Smith, Starocci, Turley)
8 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Hidlay, Kemerer, Labriola, Lewis, Massa, McNally, Smith, Starocci)
1 Age-Group World Medalist (Lewis)
184 lbs
1 National Champion (Brooks)
2 National Finalists (Brooks, Hidlay)
6 NCAA Semifinalists (Amine, Brooks, Hidlay, Keckeisen, Poznanski, Truax)
11 NCAA All-Americans (Amine, Bolen, Brooks, DePrez, Geer, Hidlay, Keckeisen, Poznanski, Truax, Venz, Wilson)
13 Round of 12 or Better (Amine, Bolen, Brooks, DePrez, Geer, Hidlay, Keckeisen, Poznanski, Romero, Truax, Venz, Weiler, Wilson)
10 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Amine, Bolen, Brooks, DePrez, Hidlay, Keckeisen, Poznanski, Romero, Venz, Wilson)
3 Age-Group World Medalist (Amine, Brooks, Hidlay)
197 lbs
1 National Champion (Ferrari)
3 National Finalists (Bonaccorsi, Dean, Ferrari)
6 NCAA Semifinalists (Bonaccorsi, Brucki, Darmstadt, Dean, Ferrari, Woodley)
10 NCAA All-Americans (Bonaccorsi, Brucki, Buchanan, Darmstadt, Dean, Elam, Ferrari, Holschlag, Warner, Woodley)
16 Round of 12 or Better (Bonaccorsi, Brucki, Buchanan, Caffey, Darmstadt, Dean, Elam, Ferrari, Holschlag, Jordan, Norfleet, Penola, Schultz, Sloan, Warner, Woodley)
12 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Aiello, Bonaccorsi, Brucki, Buchanan, Caffey, Darmstadt, Dean, Elam, Ferrari, Norfleet, Schultz, Warner)
4 Age-Group World Medalists (Elam, Ferrari, Warner---Braxton Amos; though not in the rankings yet)
285 lbs
1 National Champion (Steveson)
2 National Finalists (Parris, Steveson)
4 NCAA Semifinalists (Cassioppi, Parris, Steveson, Wood)
9 NCAA All-Americans (Cassioppi, Hillger, Kerkvliet, Orndorff, Parris, Schultz, Stencel, Steveson, Wood)
13 Round of 12 or Better (Cassioppi, Elam, Hendrickson, Harris, Hillger, Kerkvliet, Orndorff, Parris, Schultz, Stencel, Steveson, Traxler, Wood)
8 Top-8 NCAA Seeds (Cassioppi, Hillger, Orndorff, Parris, Schultz, Stencel, Steveson, Wood)
7 Age-Group World Medalists (Davison, Elam, Kerkvliet, Parris, Schultz, Steveson, Wood)
Most by Weight Class
National Champions: 2 (157 and 174)
Most National Finalists: 4 (174)
Most NCAA Semifinalists: 6 (165, 174, 184)
Most NCAA All-Americans: 11 (125, and 184)
Most in the Round of 12 or better: 16 (125, 149, 197)
Most Top-8 NCAA Seeds: 14 (149)
Most Age-Group World Medalists: 7 (285)
As you can see, the final results are very inconclusive. 174 lbs shows up atop or tied for the lead in three separate categories. 125, 149, and 184 are featured twice.
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