Takedown Report

The 25 most accomplished DI men’s wrestlers to watch this 2024-25 season

Every season, NCAA.com ranks the biggest names the watch in college wrestling. In 2021, the ranking criteria was “most exciting.” In 2022, the theme shifted to “most interesting,” and in 2023, the ranking was for the “most notable.” Now, the rankings are back, this time based purely on credentials.
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Former champs are ranked first, then national finalists, then All-Americans. There are more returning All-Americans than spots in the top 25 — the last six athletes on this list were thus chosen because of a combination of dominance, big wins, current ranking in their weight class and previous honors. These are the top 25 athletes you need to know heading into the 2024-2025 college wrestling season. 

1. Carter Starocci, Penn State, 184 pounds

Penn State’s Carter Starocci is the biggest name in college wrestling this year.  Not only has the Nittany Lion veteran won four national titles, three team titles and been a Hodge Trophy finalist, but he’s also built his brand as a hard-nosed, never-say-die warrior who wants to wrestle everyone and dominate every second.  He notably shared in 2023 that he likes to take his opponents to “deep waters” and “feel [their] soul leave [their body]” —  it’s this kind of mentality that has pushed him to a 77-4 varsity record with a 50%+ varsity career bonus rate. 
HISTORY MAKER: Here’s how Carter Starocci won his fourth national title 
Penn State fans love Starocci and his fierceness, but it wasn’t always guaranteed that they’d get to see their star wrestle back this season. After winning his fourth title in 2-0 fashion against Ohio State’s Rocco Welsh, Starocci shared in the post-match press conference that he might have wrestled his last folkstyle match. He had world and Olympic aspirations and had already proven himself on the national stage. Yet, less than two months later, Starocci announced that he would indeed be returning. He wanted to finish on his “terms.” He’s expected to go up a weight class to achieve that goal, bumping from 174 to 184. Winning a fifth national title and a Hodge Trophy at this new weight would certainly put an exclamation mark on a career that has been nothing if not historic. 

2. Keegan O’Toole, Missouri, 174 pounds

Keegan O’Toole, the two-time title winner from Missouri, is the only other multiple-time NCAA champion returning this season, making him the obvious choice for the No. 2 wrestler on this list. He is expected to move up a weight class too, though, taking his funk from 165 pounds to 174 pounds.  … more at … https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2024-10-01/25-most-accomplished-di-mens-wrestlers-watch-season

October 10, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | sports, wrestling | Leave a comment