Takedown Report

Off-Season Transfers Will Fuel This Season’s NCAA Team Race

Here are the top transfers to keep an eye on as the 2023-24 college wrestling season begins

Several programs will benefit from the transfer portal this season. Most of the top teams look different thanks to key acquisitions. Below is a look at the top wrestlers who transferred during the off-season. 

Penn State

125: Kurt McHenry (Michigan)
133: Aaron Nagao (Minnesota)
157/165: Mitchell Mesenbrink (Cal Baptist)
184: Bernie Truax (Cal Poly)

The Nittany Lions bolstered their powerful lineup with three wrestlers who will be in title contention. Nagao placed fifth at the 2023 NCAA Championships and will replace two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist Roman Bravo-Young. 

Mesenbrink only wrestled two matches for Cal Baptist but won a U20 World title and will be a factor if he’s in the line-up, while Bernie Truax is a three-time fourth-place finisher at nationals at three different weights. 

McHenry, a two-time Cadet World champion, never saw the starting lineup at the end of the year for Michigan but be a factor at 125 for Penn State. He took undefeated Richie Figueroa of Arizona State to overtime and will compete with Robbie Howard for the spot. 

Iowa

125: Joey Cruz (Oklahoma)
149: Victor Voinovich (Oklahoma State)
157: Jared Franek (North Dakota State)
165: Michael Caliendo (North Dakota State)

Franek and Caliendo were All-Americans last season for North Dakota State and will factor heavily into Iowa’s success. Franek and Caliendo will take on a pair of returning Hawkeye national qualifiers Cobe Siebrecht (157) and Patrick Kennedy (165) for their respective spots. 

Voinovich replaces Max Murin who graduated following a sixth-place finish at nationals and three appearances in the Round of 12. Cruz could see time at 125 depending on when Drake Ayala is ready to go. 

Michigan

125: Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
133: Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
174: Shane Griffith (Stanford)
285: Lucas Davison (Northwestern)

A trio of Northwestern All-Americans and an NCAA champion from Stanford puts the Wolverines squarely in the trophy hunt. DeAugustino replaces Jack Medley, Chris Cannon takes over for Dylan Ragusin who is likely redshirting, … rest of story at … Flowrestling.org/Off-season-transfers-will-fuel-this-seasons-ncaa-team-race

October 26, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized