2020 Title Contenders: 141 Pounds
2020 Title Contenders: 141 Pounds
Who will win an NCAA championship at 141 pounds in 2020? We take an early look at the contenders.
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Ohio State's Three-time All-American Joey McKenna has exhausted his NCAA eligibility, but just about every other 141-pounder from last season has time left to earn an NCAA title. Four-time national qualifier Josh Alber of UNI is another noteworthy departure from the division.
2020 Contenders: 125 Pounds | 133 Pounds
It's extremely early to be speculating about the 2019-20 season, but it's fun, so who cares? We're going to do it anyway. Below is our run down of 2020 NCAA title contenders at 141-pounds.
Yianni Diakomihalis, Cornell
Already a two-time NCAA champ as a true sophomore, Yianni will be the favorite to three-peat. That is, if he does not take an Olympic redshirt year, which he is likely to do. Yianni very nearly made the 2019 freestyle world team at 65 kg, and will be in the hunt for the Olympic team spot and, should he earn that spot, a medal in Tokyo. [Note: as of the publication of this article, no ruling had yet been rendered regarding Yianni's protest of the outcome of his second Final X match with Zain Retherford.]
Jaydin Eierman, Missouri
The only man to have registered a collegiate win against Diakomihalis might also take an Olympic redshirt. Alternatively, the three-time All-American could try to make a run at the NCAA title that has so far eluded him. Eierman's NCCA Tournament finishes from freshman to junior year have gone fifth, fourth & third.
Dom Demas, Oklahoma
After Yianni and Eierman, the weight class begins to open up, and there are a clutch of competitors that could be in the mix come March. The Dangerous Dom Demas is the highest placing (fourth) returning wrestler of the bunch.
Nick Lee, Penn State
Wrestlers often make big jumps in their third full season in the NCAA. Two-time All-American (fifth twice) Nick Lee may be ready to make that jump next season. That also means Lee does have a redshirt to burn.
Chad Red, Nebraska
Kyle Shoop, Lock Haven
Kaid Brock, Oklahoma State
Mitch McKee, Minnesota
Tariq Wilson, North Carolina State
All five of these wrestlers have climbed the podium before. They'll be threats to climb to the top step next spring, especially if other contenders take those aforementioned redshirts.
Real Woods, Stanford
Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado
Woods, a redshirt freshman, and Alirez, a frosh of the true variety, have done impressive things in their pre-varsity careers to warrant a mention as title threats.
141 could end up being rather wide open by the end of next season, so apologies in advance to anyone we've failed to mention. We never mean any disrespect, but we will sheepishly claim credit for additional motivation we may provide with our omissions.