University of Michigan

Current Dual Record: 7-2 (3-0 in B1G)
Dual Ranking: 13th
Tournament Ranking: 18th

Notes: The University of Michigan wrestling team is off to a hot start this season, riding a 5-match winning streak, including 3 duals in conference. Most recently, the Wolverines upset the #11 Fighting Illini of Illinois at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines also took 2nd at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, highlighted by Brock Mantanona making a run to the finals at 184lbs. There are currently two Wolverines ranked in the top-10, including the aforementioned Mantanona, as well as All-American Taye Ghadiali at 285lbs.

Current Ranked Wrestlers
125 – Diego Sotelo, #19
141 – Dylan Ragusin, #27
149 – Lachlan McNeil, #13
157 – Cam Catrabone, #14
174 – Beau Mantanona, #11
184 – Brock Mantanona, #8
197 – Hayden Walters, #20
285 – Taye Ghadiali (Warren Fitzgerald HS), #8

Remaining Schedule
January 30th – Northwestern (Home)
February 1st – Ohio State (Away)
February 6th – Penn State (Home)
February 13th – Iowa (Away)
February 15th – Wisconsin (Away)
February 22nd – Central Michigan (Away)
March 7th & 8th – B1G Championships
March 19th – 21st – NCAA Championships

Central Michigan University

Current Record: 6-4 (0-1 in MAC)

Notes: The Chippewas have gone 6-4 in the first half of the season, winning duals over Harvard, Campbell, American, Ohio, Cal State Bakersfield, and Bellarmine. The wins over CSU Bakersfield and American gave them the championship in the annual Chippewa Challenge. Mason Shrader, an NCAA qualifier a year ago, has been the anchor of the team this year. In the most recent dual against Northern Illinois, Shrader picked up much needed bonus points, which kept CMU in the dual until the final whistle. Central will now wrestle a 5-dual stretch where they should be favored in all five duals.

Current Ranked Wrestlers
157 – Mason Shrader (Brighton HS), #23
285 – Bryan Caves, #31

Remaining Schedule
January 25th – SIUE (Away)
January 30th – Ohio (Home)
February 1st – Buffalo (Home)
February 13th – Kent State (Away)
February 15th – George Mason (Home)
February 20th – Michigan State (Away)
February 22nd – Michigan (Home)
March 6th & 7th – MAC Championships
March 19th – 21st – NCAA Championships

Michigan State University

Current Record: 3-4 (0-2 in B1G)

Notes: The Spartans have dual wins over Long Island, Gardner-Webb, and The Citadel this season with most of the B1G season still to go. MSU has been anchored by ranked wrestlers Wisler at 197lbs and Vanadia at 285lbs, although NCAA qualifier Caleb Weiand has been tough down low, and Freshman Darius Marines has been in-and-out of the rankings at 157lbs.

Current Ranked Wrestlers
197 – Kael Wisler, #29
285 – Max Vanadia, #26

Remaining Schedule
January 23rd – Purdue (Away)
January 25th – Indiana (Away)
February 1st – Northwestern (Home)
February 8th – Iowa (Home)
February 13th – Rutgers (Home)
February 15th – Minnesota (Away)
February 20th – Central Michigan (Home)
March 7th & 8th – B1G Championships
March 19th – 21st – NCAA Championships

Other Michigan Grapplers

Current Ranked Wrestlers
133 – Sean Spidle (Northwestern, Flint Powers HS), #24
133 – Brendan Ferretti (Navy, Dakota HS), #32
141 – Braeden Davis (Penn State, Dundee HS), #7
149 – Josh Edmond (Missouri, Detroit CC HS), #16
149 – Casey Swiderski (Iowa State, Dundee HS), #18
157 – Stoney Buell (Purdue, Dundee HS), #19
174 – Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State, Davison HS), #12
174 – Derek Gilcher (Indiana, Detroit CC HS), #31
197 – Josh Barr (Penn State, Davison HS), #1
197 – Remy Cotton (Rutgers, Davison HS), #18

NCAA All American Best Bets

1. #1 Josh Barr (Penn State, Davison HS), 197lbs – Barr is already an NCAA finalist, and in his Sophomore season, he is in a great spot to take that final step to the top of the podium. Barr got a late start to the season after injury, but he is already 9-0 with a first-place finish at the Southern Scuffle. He has only seen one match go the distance, and that was a 9-1 major decision over top-10 ranked Stephen Little (Little Rock).
2. #7 Braeden Davis (Penn State, Dundee HS, 141lbs – We were not sure if we would see the All American this year in the Nittany Lion lineup, as he does have a redshirt available, but it does look now like Braeden Davis is here to stay. Davis has followed up last year’s All American effort by winning the the Bobby Kauffman open with all bonus point victories. Most recently, Davis split his dual matches on the weekend, losing a nailbiter to All American Nasir Bailey (Iowa). However, if there’s one thing we know about Penn State, it’s that they are nearly impossible to beat at the NCAA tournament, and we’d take Davis to reverse that result come March.
3. #8 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan, Warren Fitzgerald HS), 285lbs – Ghadiali is one of three current Michigan Grapplers that has reached the podium at the NCAA tournament previously (Barr and Swiderski). This year, he’s set up to repeat that accomplishment, already ranked inside the top-8, and heavyweight is wide open this year. There is no one like Gable Steveson or Wyatt Hendrickson this year, although 285lbs has more depth than prior years. Taye is now 13-2 on the year and has a lot of momentum heading into the heart of the B1G season.
4. #12 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State, Dundee HS), 149lbs – Swiderski was an All American while with Iowa State, and now he is in a great spot for a repeat trip to the podium come March. This season, Swiderski has wrestled a brutal schedule in the first half, going 7-5. He has tough wins over ranked wrestlers Mendoza (Missouri) and Lamer (Nebraska). We expect to see Casey turn it up a notch in the second half and reach the NCAA podium for the second time.
5. #7 Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State, Davison HS), 174lbs – Facundo was one of the biggest recruits in MHSAA history and was an NCAA qualifier for Penn State before transferring to Stillwater. With that much talent, and working with David Taylor and Jimmy Kennedy every day, I would never bet against Facundo. After a tough 1-3 start where he saw three consecutive top-10 opponents at the National Duals, Facundo has settled in nicely, improving his record to 9-4. Most recently, Facundo won a top-10 match over Schubert of Oklahoma, and he is now looking like a high podium contender.
6. #8 Brock Mantanona (Michigan), 184lbs – The bigger of the Mantanona brothers is 10-3 on the season, with his biggest win coming at the National Duals over All American Silas Allred (Nebraska). He also has wins over top-20 ranked Garza (Cal Poly) and Soldano (Oklahoma). Mantanona is a great combination of having good attacks on his feet, is tough to score on, and is a hammer on top. He will be tough to beat come postseason.
7. #13 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan), 149lbs – McNeil was one of two All American transfers to Michigan this year (along with Taye Ghadiali), coming to Ann Arbor by way of UNC. McNeil has not quite been in All American form yet this year, going 2-2 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, but he does have some solid wins on the year. Most recently, he had a top-25 win over Gioffre (Illinois), and is showing signs of getting back to his All American form.
8. #12 Beau Mantanona (Michigan), 174lbs – Last year, Mantanona finished one match away from the podium at the NCAA tournament. This year, he started off the season 2-2 at the National Duals, dropping two close matches to top-10 ranked Steed (Mizzou) and Minto (Nebraska). Since then, he’s been on a tear, taking third at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite. His only loss at the tournament was avenged in the consolation rounds. He will be a tough out at the B1G and NCAA tournaments come March.
9. #18 Josh Edmond (Missouri, Detroit CC HS), 149lbs – Josh Edmond has reached the blood round previously, falling in overtime, coming as close to placing as you can get. Now a Senior, Edmond will look to All American up at 149lbs. Edmond is off to a fantastic 18-3 start this year and is looking like he’s building toward another outstanding postseason.
10. #22 Stoney Buell (Purdue, Dundee HS), 157lbs – Not many guys in the country at 157lbs have a better training situation than Buell, as he works out with NCAA finalist Joey Blaze. Purdue has a history of Cinderella stories at the NCAA tournament, and Buell could add to that list of Boilermakers.
11. #18 Remy Cotton (Rutgers, Davison HS), 197lbs – An NCAA qualifier last year for Michigan State, Cotton is already off to an impressive start this year for Rutgers. Most recently, Cotton beat Michigan’s Hayden Walters 4-1 in the dual, which was a big top-20 win. After Josh Barr and Rocky Elam (Mizzou), 197lbs is really wide open to reach the podium, and Cotton has all the tools to make it happen.
12. #23 Mason Shrader (Central Michigan, Brighton HS), 157lbs – The former MHSAA state champion now has a taste of the NCAA tournament, qualifying a year ago in Philadelphia. Now as a leader of a tough CMU team, Shrader has a lot of momentum heading into the second half of the season. He’s now 16-5 on the year and is riding a 3-match win streak. Last week, Shrader had a big ranked win over Harrington (Harvard), showing he’s already in form to make a postseason run.