After a huge blow to the Wolverines in losing Cam Amine, some are asking, are they out this year? The team finishing 3rd in the NCAA’s seems like an unlikely repeat entering the 25 season, yet they have made some strategic moves bringing in Jacob Cardenas (Cornell) and Chase Saldate (Michigan State) and six freshman to help fill some of the void. Returning two AA’s and four NQ’s, Michigan will need to see big action at 33 and 97 to carry the team deep into the NCAA’s, let’s take a closer look. There is a lot to be excited about in Michigan, as they bring in a young and talented team. I’m pumped to see what Ragusin and Lemley can do this year. Both have the potential to make the finals, I could see Montanona reaching the podium as well.
125- Nolan Wertanen- this will be the year for Wertanen to really show up and establish a presence at the 25 for this team. Redshirting in 23, a better year in 24, carries a 9-7 overall record with a 56 percent win rate, he has improved over the last two years. A national qualification and a couple wins over higher ranked opponents would offer some deep credibility to this weight
133- Dylan Ragusin- Signed and sealed, there’s no one else to challenge this position for Michigan, pretty set in stone. More than just carrying bonus points this year, he probably wants to move beyond the mid top ten limitations that all of the preseason rankings have listed him as. Is he up to the task to get in the conversation with Crookham, Ayala and get revenge on Bailey from a 5-0 loss in the NCAA’s last year? A pretty illustrious career going 74-27 overall with a 73 percent win rate says so.
141- Sergio Lemley- Once again, pretty set in stone being one of the four NQ’s to return, Lesley has had some feature moments. Knocking off #4 Brock Hardy in the quarterfinals at the Big Ten’s avenging a dual loss earlier on. Also Majored our very own #1 Real Woods 14-2 the year prior tells us he’s dexterous enough to make a deeper run than a 1-2 last year at the NCAA’s. Posting an 18-9 overall with a 66 percent win rate, hopeful to crack the top 5.
149- Dylan Gilcher- little bit of a gap here at 49, four listed freshman so this is open to debate but Gilcher carrying experience at the CKLV and Midlands is the likely option. 10-8 record overall, Michigan fans hopeful for a cracking of the top 20 with a preseason rank at #35 coming off a redshirt year.
157- Chase Saldate- searching for a 5th straight NQ, the irony of filling the shoes of Lewan Will who beat him at the NCAA’s is looking to erase the past. Getting beyond a rivalry with #13 Johnny Lovett where Saldate is up 2-1 head to head and ranked #16. Wins against #6 Ryder Downey and #4 Jacori Teemer could but him in a championship situation.
165- Beau Montanona- An interesting case where flo and intermat can’t seem to agree on a preseason rank at all, how can you not rank this guy? Flo has a fat NR where intermat places him at #12, absolutely wild considering he’s beaten top 10 opponents. Last season taking out Michigan State’s #10 Caleb Fish and #18 Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern) placing 3rd at Midlands proves he deserves a top 20 rank. Holding a 14-6 record in his redsirt year, a 70 percent win rate, we are expecting an experience building year followed up next year with something big
174- Joseph Walker- Will have to swim through some heavy water to make podium this year, how many times have we talked about 74 and how loaded it is? Joseph walker is sitting at #38 with wrestlestat, they may be sleeping on him a little as he did take down #21 Donnell Washington (Indiana) but hasn’t really had a breakout season since 2022. He has a real opportunity in his final year of eligibility to help Ragusin and Cardenas this year.
184- Jaden Bullock- a little more hope here with Jaden Bullock, seems to have battled in the low teen rankings for a while dominating a rivalry with #19 ranked Brian Soldano (Rutgers) 3-0 all time, also up one match with #12 Dylan Fishback (NC State) who’s two ranks this preseason higher than himself. Bullock has had moments of greatness taking out #8 Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State) at the CKLV last year, along with payback to #16 Ryder Rogotzke (Ohio State) in the Big Tens. If he can pull off an upset against Edmond Ruth and stay consistent against Nelson Brands he could podium this year. Showcasing a 35-25 record overall at 58 percent, he needs a breakout year this year.
197- Jacob Cardenas- There is not a scenario outside of injury where Cardenas doesn’t start for Michigan, a true cornerstone piece here. 2X AA, 3X NQ and 2X 92 kg medalist his biggest challenge will be Stephen Buchanan, meeting his fate at the NCAA’s last year 9-4 by decision there’s probably a desire to remedy this. Buchanan preseason ranked #1 and Cardenas at #2, this would have been a a beautiful match for the NWCA this year, but we can’t always get what we want. With Cornell he went 70-22 at 76 percent, Michigan can’t ask for much more for a 97 in 2025.
285- Josh Heindselman- Josh is another exciting pick up from the transfer portal. Spending most of his career at Oklahoma. He has a career record of 82-46 and is already a 4x NCAA qualifier. He enters the season ranked 10th in the country. It would’t take much for him to out perform his preseason rank and reach the podium.
With Ragusin and Cardenas at the front, they could use some breakouts at the middleweights to carry the 25 and HWT for team points, if things go good they could probably place somewhere between 7th-10th place, pretty good considering losing Cam Amine, we’ll just say that things could be a lot worse for Michigan.
