Grappler Guide to NCAAs

2025 Tournament Schedule

Thursday, March 20

12pm EST - Session 1 (First Round) - ESPNU
7pm ESTSession 2 (Second Round and Consolation First Round) - ESPN

Friday, March 21‍

12pm EST Session 3 (Quarterfinals and Consolation Rounds) - ESPNU
8pm EST Session 4 (Semifinals and Consolation Rounds) - ESPN

Saturday, March 22‍

11am EST Session 5 (Consolation Semifinals and Placement Matches) - ESPNU
7pm EST Session 6 (Championship Matches) - ESPN

Tournament Preview Podcast

2025 NCAA Qualifiers

125 - #32 Marcello Milani (Cornell, Orchard Lake St Mary HS) - Milani is making an appearance at the NCAA tournament in his first season in the starting lineup for the Big Red. Milani will see fellow Michigan Grappler Caleb Weiand (MSU) in a rat tail, with the winner taking on #1 Lilledahl (Penn State). Milani locked up an automatic bid by taking 3rd at the Ivy League tournament, beating 2024 NCAA qualifier Sotelo (Harvard) to secure a qualifying bid. Milani became Orchard Lake St. Mary's first ever NCAA Qualifier.
125 - #33 Caleb Weiand (Michigan State, Dakota HS) - MHSAA state champ Weiand made it 6 straight NCAA tournaments with an appearance for Dakota High. Weiand will enter this tournament as the #33 seed at 125lbs, wrestling Milani in a rat tail. The Spartan put together an outstanding Big Ten tournament to each an automatic bid, beating top-20 Joey Cruz of Iowa to reach the podium and secure a trip to Philly.
133 - Sean Spidle (Central Michigan, Flint Powers Catholic HS) - Like Milani, Spidle will be the first ever from his high school to reach the NCAA tournament. Spidle was one of six Chippewas to reach the MAC tournament finals and punch his ticket to Philadelphia. Spidle earned the #23 seed, and he will see 2024 Big Ten Champ #10 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) in the first round.
133 - #33 Nolan Wertanen (Michigan, St. Joseph HS) - Yet another first time automatic qualifier here, as Weiand enters as the #33 seed at this year's NCAA tournament. Wertanen is just the second ever qualifier from St. Joseph, joining Andy Radenbaugh (Notre Dame), who qualified in 1988 amd 1989. The Wolverine will see Leake of Cal Baptist in the rat tail, with the winner taking on #1 Byrd of Illinois.
133 - Braeden Davis (Penn State, Dundee HS) - Davis is back at the NCAA tournament for his second trip in two years, and he is one of our best bets to reach the podium. Last year, Davis won the Big Ten tournament as a true freshman and entered the national tournament as a #1 seed, but he ultimately lost a heartbreaker in the blood round. This year, Davis is putting together another solid season, up one weight at 133lbs. After taking 4th at this year's B1G tournament, Davis enters as the #8 seed. He will see #25 Kurt Phipps of Bucknell in the first round.
141 - Josh Edmond (Missouri, Detroit CC HS) - The 3x MHSAA state champ is back for another NCAA tournament after qualifying in 2022 and 2024. Last year, Edmond reached the blood round, losing an extremely controversial match to place. Edmond is someone you don't want to see at the NCAA tournament, as he can beat anyone. The Mizzou Tiger earned a wildcard bid this year and enters the tournament as a #23 seed. He will see #10 Composto (Penn) in the first round, a match that Edmond won a season ago.
149 - Dylan Gilcher (Michigan, Detroit CC HS) - 4x MHSAA state champ Dylan Gilcher qualified for the Wolverines at 149lbs. Gilcher impressively reached the NCAA tournament in his freshman year after taking 8th in the Big Ten tournament. Along with Edmond and Amine, the three Detroit CC alum combined to make it 8 straight tournaments with a Shamrock competing. Gilcher enters as the #28 seed and will see All American #5 Kyle Parco (Iowa) in the first round.
149 - Mason Shrader (Central Michigan, Brighton HS) - Mason Shrader is putting together a spectacular season, capped off by being the first ever NCAA qualifier for Brighton High. Shrader's 2nd place finish in the MAC led him to a #24 seed at this year's tournament, giving him #9 Cross Wasilewski of Penn in the first round. As far as 23 seeds go, Shrader is not someone you want to see in the tournament, as he will bring a lot of pace and tough wrestling.
157 - Caleb Fish (Oklahoma State, Eaton Rapids HS) - Fish is back for his 4th NCAA tournament, looking for his first All American honors. The former D2 state champ enters this year as the #12 seed and will see #21 Rozynski (Lehigh) first round. We are caling a podium finish for Fish, who is in his first year at Oklahoma State after spending the beginning of his career in East Lansing.
165 - Cameron Amine (Oklahoma State, Detroit CC HS) - Amine joins his cousin Myles as a 5x NCAA qualifier, a feat that likely won't be done again, as 2021 was a "free year" due to Covid. Amine has reached the podium at the NCAA tournament 3 times in his career, and we like him to do it for a 4th time this season. Amine is a #8 seed, which means he is seeded for an All American spot. He will see #25 Hamilton (Virginia) in the first round before likely seeing #9 Steed (Missouri) in the second round. If Amine can rattle off those two wins, he should be in a great spot.
197 - Remy Cotton (Michigan State, Davison HS) - Like many other Michigan Grapplers, this is Cotton's first trip to the NCAA tournament, earning an automatic bid as a freshman. Cotton earned this bid with a solid Big Ten tournament, beating Ben Vanadia (Purdue) to qualify. He earned the #31 seed and will see All American #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) in the first round.
197 - Josh Barr (Penn State, Davison HS) - Josh Barr has been one of the most impressive wrestlers in the country this season, being ranked as high as #2 at 197lbs in his freshman campaign. At the Big Ten tournament, Barr tweaked his knee and defaulted to 6th, but Coach Sanderson has said he is ready to scrap this weekend. Barr enters as the #4 seed, and if the seeds hold, he will be on a collision course to see #1 Cardenas (Michigan) in the semis. Barr is one of the best bets the state has to All American and potentially win a national title.

Out-of-State NCAA Qs Representing Michigan Schools

141 - Sergio Lemley (Michigan)
157 - Chase Saldate (Michigan)
157 - Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan)
165 - Beau Mantanona (Michigan)
165 - Chandler Amaker (Central Michigan)
175 - Alex Cramer (Central Michigan)
197 - Jacob Cardenas (Michigan)
285 - Josh Heindselman (Michigan)
285 - Max Vanadia (Michigan State)

Years with the Most Qualifiers

1. 1987 - 21 Qualifiers
    1988 - 21 Qualifiers
3. 1989 - 19 Qualifiers
     2019 - 19 Qualifiers
5. 1973 - 18 Qualifiers
     1974 - 18 Qualifiers
     2011 - 18 Qualifiers
     2017 - 18 Qualifiers

All Time NCAA Champs

Max Dean (Penn State, Lowell HS) - 2022
2x Gabe Dean (Cornell, Lowell HS) - 2015 and 2016
Cam Simaz (Cornell, Allegan HS) - 2012
Jon Reader (Iowa State, Davison HS) - 2011
2x Brent Metcalf (Iowa, Davison HS) - 2008 and 2010
Paul Donahoe (Nebraska, Davison HS) - 2007
Casey Cunningham (Central Michigan, Fulton HS) - 1999
2x Andre Metzger (Oklahoma, Cedar Springs HS) - 1981 and 1982
3x Mark Churella (Michigan, Farmington HS) - 1977, 1978, and 1979
3x Jimmy Jackson (Oklahoma State, Ottawa Hills HS) - 1976, 1977, and 1978
Doug Wyn (Western Michigan, Grandville) - 1974
2x Chris Taylor (Iowa State, Dowagiac) - 1972 and 1973
2x Greg Johnson (Michigan State, Lansing Everett) - 1971 and 1972

5x All American

Myles Amine (Michigan, Detroit CC HS) - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

4x All Americans

Max Dean (Cornell*, Lowell HS) - 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
      * 2022 and 2023 were at Penn State
Gabe Dean (Cornell, Lowell HS) - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Ben Bennett (Central Michigan, Rockford HS) - 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Cam Simaz (Cornell, Allegan HS) - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Nick Simmons (Michigan State, Williamston HS) - 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
John Fisher (Michigan, Flint Northern HS) - 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
Andre Metzger (Oklahoma, Cedar Springs) - 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
Mark Churella (Michigan, Farmington HS) - 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

3x All Americans

Cameron Amine (Michigan, Detroit CC HS) - 2021, 2022, 2023
Trent Hillger (Wisconsin, Lake Fenton HS) - 2019, 2021, 2023
Logan Massa (Michigan, St. Johns HS) - 2017, 2021, 2022
Alec Pantaleo (Michigan, Canton HS) - 2016, 2018, 2019
Adam Coon (Michigan, Fowlerville HS) - 2015, 2016, 2018
Jarod Trice (Central Michigan, Highland Park HS) - 2010, 2011, 2013
Jon Reader (Iowa State, Davison HS) - 2008, 2009, 2011
Brent Metcalf (Iowa, Davison HS) - 2008, 2009, 2010
Paul Donahoe (Nebraska*, Davison HS) - 2007, 2008, 2009
      *2009 was at Edinboro
Josh Churella (Michigan, Novi HS) - 2005, 2007, 2008
Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan, Caro HS) - 2005, 2006, 2008
Ryan Churella (Michigan, Novi HS) - 2004, 2005, 2006
Ryan Cunningham (Central Michigan, Fulton HS) - 1998, 1999, 2000
David Morgan (Michigan State, Ferndale HS) - 1996, 1997, 1998
Zeke Jones (Arizona State, Ann Arbor Huron HS) - 1988, 1989, 1990
Kevin Jackson (LSU*, Lansing Eastern HS) - 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987
     *1987 was at Iowa State
Rod Severn (Arizona State, Montrose) - 1985, 1987, 1988
Jimmy Jackson (Oklahoma State, Ottawa Hills HS) - 1976, 1977, 1978
Doug Wyn (Western Michigan, Grandville HS) - 1972, 1973, 1974
Jeff Callard (Oklahoma, East Lansing HS) - 1973, 1974, 1975

Most NCAA Qualifiers by High School

1. Detroit CC - 21
2. Davison - 14
3. Eaton Rapids - 7
     Lansing Eastern - 7
     Lowell - 7
6. Montrose - 6
     St. Johns - 6
8. Allegan - 5
    Ann Arbor Huron - 5
    Bay City Western - 5
    Clarkston - 5
    Durand - 5
    Flint Northern - 5
    Mt. Pleasant - 5
    Temperance Bedford - 5
    Warren Lincoln - 5

Most NCAA All Americans by High School

1. Detroit CC - 7 (C. Amine, M. Amine, Beazley, Hancock, Nadhir, Urso, Hagan)
2. Davison - 4 (Metcalf, Reader, Donahoe, Oliver)
    Lowell - 4 (M. Dean, G. Dean, Morse, Stouffer)
    Montrose - 4 (Dean, R. Severn, Dan Severn, Dave Severn)
5. Eaton Rapids - 3 (Judge, Whipp, Howe)
    Grandville - 3 (Gritter, Whitcomb, Wyn)
    Mt. Pleasant - 3 (Boyd, Mills, Hartupee)
8. 13 schools tied with 2