Mat Musings - March 7, 2025

Another wrestling season has come and nearly passed, with the only remaining dates left on the calendar Friday and Saturday at the Explore Asheville Southern Conference Wrestling Championships followed by those who qualify for NCAA’s March 20-22. That’s the big question this time of year, who’s punching their ticket to Philadelphia for the NCAA Tournament?    

Before diving into all the weights, a quick sidebar on how you qualify for NCAAs. There are 33 qualifiers for the NCAA tourney at each of the 10 weights. Eight of those are automatic qualifiers, earned by being a conference champ, so no matter what, the SoCon will take 10 conference champions to the NCAAs. That leaves 25 remaining spots that are distributed across all eight conferences on a sliding scale using three standards, win percentage, coach’s rank, and RPI. There is a minimum bar of .700 winning percentage, top 30 coaches ranking, and top 30 RPI ranking. A wrestler must meet the threshold in at least two of those standards to earn an allocation for their conference. At least four allocations are withheld for at-large bids that are awarded individually after the conference tournaments have concluded. It is important to note that because an individual earns the allocation, this does not guarantee they are going to NCAAs. They still must take care of business on the mat by placing high enough at the tournament, see SoCon 141 pounds for a good example of this.   

125 

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: None 
At Large’s Available: Four 

Anthony Molton from Campbell would be the favorite to win this weight and has really rounded into form lately. Molton took a 2-6 record into the second semester but since the first whistle of the Southern Scuffle he’s gone 13–1. Unfortunately for Molton, that rough start to the season has probably made him a bubble candidate for an at-large bid and he would want the rest of the conference tournaments to go chalk if he gets upset in Asheville this weekend. The Citadel’s Gylon Sims and App State’s Bryson Terrell would have the greatest chance of pulling the upset. 

133 

Allocations – Two 
Wrestlers who earned an Allocation – Blake Boarman (Chattanooga) & TK Davis (Gardner-Webb) 
At Large’s Available: Four 
Full disclosure, two years ago I was at the Black Knight Invitational and saw TK Davis lose 15–0 to a Penn State wrestler but I pointed him out to the person next to me and said this kid is going to win some matches that will surprise folks not paying attention to the small schools. Later that year he pinned a wrestler from Virginia (who coincidentally beat that Penn St wrestler at NCAAs) and earlier this season Davis beat the #11 ranked wrestler from Rutgers. The way he kept wrestling no matter the score and the way he moved, it caught my eye.  I share all this to say with absolutely no disrespect to Boarman and the Chattanooga staff, Davis is my pick to win the weight. 
Story time aside, both Davis and Boarman have a resume that is good enough to get an at large should they get upset this weekend and that’s a good thing because this weight is the one to watch. Dom Zaccone (Campbell) and Dyson Dunham (VMI) are both former NCAA qualifiers at this weight and App State has a fairly salty wrestler as well in Chad Bellis, who has wins over multiple former NCAA qualifiers.   

141 

Allocations – Two 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: Shannon Hanna (Campbell) & Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) 

At Large’s Available: Four 
I said 141 was a good example of a wrestler earning an allocation not a guarantee to NCAAs and here is why. Carter and Hanna both earned allocations but are both on the bubble for getting an at large if they slip up. The big question here is if AJ Rallo can steal a spot and get Bellarmine a qualifier. He's already beaten Hanna in January, so the threat is real.  If Rallo finishes top 2, he’s automatically going to Philadelphia and the wrestler he takes out will be left hoping for an at large, needing favorites to win across the country. 

149 
Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: None 
At Large’s Available: Four 

I don’t think anyone at this weight across the conference would earn an at large bid, so the only path is winning the tournament. Campbell’s Wynton Denkins is the most interesting wrestler. He’s shown volatility, losing in overtime to highly ranked wrestlers from Oklahoma and Little Rock, but also suffering some more puzzling losses. I’m not going to speculate on the cause of the roller coaster ride but if the right Denkins steps on the scale then he’s my pick to win it.  Carson DesRosier from The Citadel has somewhat quietly put up a stellar 22–5 record, including a win over Denkins.  He has not had the opportunity to face a wrestler as credentialed as those Denkins has faced, but I would not be surprised at all if he’s standing at the top of the podium on Sunday. Kaden Keiser (App State), Xavier McKnight (Davidson), and Zac Cowan (Bellarmine) are also in this bracket and won’t be an easy out for anyone.   

157 

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: None 
At Large’s Available: Six 

While no one earned an allocation despite the talent the SoCon has here and even though there are six at large’s available, this weight is a mess nationally. Across all conferences there's going to be deserving kids not making the 33 qualifiers. Noah Castillo (Chattanooga), Jeremiah Price (App St), Tanner Peake (Davidson) if he’s healthy, and Chris Earnest (Campbell) all have a real shot of getting the AQ spot.  None of them have ever been to NCAAs before so it’ll be a milestone for whomever comes out unscathed.  With limited confidence, I’ll predict Castillo over Price in the finals on Sunday. 

165 

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: Will Miller (App State) 
At Large’s Available: Four 

Miller has the resume for an at large and will be the favorite to win the conference title.  The Citadel’s Thomas Snipes dropped a 6–4 decision to Miller in early January and will be the biggest threat to pull an upset but don’t count out Domonic Baker from Campbell either.  He won a match at NCAA’s last year and knows what it takes.   

174 

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: Sergio Desiante (Chattanooga) 
At Large’s Available: Four 

Desiante may have earned the allocation, but Lucas Uliano (App State) also has the resume to get then an at large and owns a dominating 15–1 win over Desiante a month ago. The loss to Uliano is one of only two blemishes on Desiante’s stellar season which includes a win over former All-American Lennox Wolak (Virginia Tech but formerly of Columbia).  Both of these wrestlers will want the comfort of having a guaranteed ticket so this final should be excellent to watch.  If someone else from the bracket is going to make a name for themselves, Grant O’Dell (Bellarmine) is likely the best bet to do so.   

184  

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: None 
At Large’s Available: Five 

Braxton Lewis (VMI) didn't earn an allocation but has a resume that is on the bubble for an at large bid including a win over a former qualifier from Arizona State, Devan Hendricks (Bellarmine) has an inferior resume for a potential at large bid perspective but is the biggest threat to Lewis, and even beat Lewis earlier this year as well as having a win over a former qualifier at Long Island University. Only two other people nationally who didn't earn allocations have a clear better resume than Lewis or Hendricks, but if they don’t get the AQ they are really playing with fire. Kamdyn Munro (Campbell) would be the dark horse here, holding a pin over a former three-time qualifier from Cal State Bakersfield. 

197 

Allocations – Two 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: Levi Hopkins (Campbell) & Patrick Brophy (The Citadel) 
At Large’s Available: Four   

Outside of Hopkins and Brophy, Carson Floyd (App State) has also put together a really nice season and holds an at large level resume. Looking at the landscape nationally, I think all three will wind up in Philadelphia, but I know everyone would rather take the guaranteed spots.    

285 

Allocations – One 
Wrestlers who Earned an Allocation: None 
At Large’s Available: Four 

It is unfortunate to have a Ghadiali sized hole in the SoCon at this weight, and I would not anticipate anyone getting an at large bid. That does mean the heavyweights have nothing to hold back on going for the top spot on the podium. Daulton Mayer (Bellarmine) has the best hair in the conference and would be my choice for the favorite to get to Philadelphia, but it is not a secure position.  Ethan Vergara (Chattanooga) does not sport a gaudy record, but he did just beat Mayer 4–2 in late February. Adam Ortega (The Citadel) and Stephan Monchery (App State) are in the conversation as well. Morven Saint Jeans (Presbyterian) is the landmine here; fully capable of pulling an upset and blowing up the bracket.  

One last note, Bellarmine is in their first year of eligibility for the Division I postseason so if they punch anyone through, it would be their first ever NCAA qualifier. If Saint Jean does win heavyweight for Presbyterian, that would be their first ever NCAA qualifier as well. 

Good luck to all who lace’em up and toe the line!