Every March the best college wrestlers in the country, get together for the NCAA Wrestling Championships! This tournament is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work for these young men, and only one (in each weight class) can be crowned champion.
This year’s tournament takes place March 20-22nd, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Wells Fargo Center.
In this article we will discuss last year’s 157 lb champion and who the top contenders are for this season.
2024 Champion: Levi Haines of Penn State entered as the number 1 seed and did not disappoint as he rolled through the tournament going 5-0 and capping a perfect 23-0 season. He dominated the bracket with two tech falls, a major, and a pin, before blanking Jacori Teemer in the finals 5-0.
This Year’s Contenders: Meyer Shapiro of Cornell is11-1, and Tyler Kasak is 18-1 on the year. Both of these wrestlers have looked outstanding this season. However both have also been dealing with a head injury as well. Despite being less than 100% they are still the two top contenders for the title.
Other Contenders: Jacori Teemer of Iowa is 8-4, Antrell Taylor of Nebraska is 22-4, and Brandon Cannon of Ohio State has been a surprise addition to this list. Cannon has a 21-3 record on the year.
Dark Horse Contenders: Cody Chittum of Iowa State is 18-6 and is capable of pulling an upset. Ryder Downey of Northern Iowa is 25-4 and is another wrestler capable of upsetting some of the top contenders.
2025 NCAA Champion Prediction: Meyer Shapiro of Cornell