125 Pound Preview: Western New England University Looks to claim their 2nd National Champion!
125: Brief Weight Class Outlook:
Until we actually see these wrestlers make weight and in action we are going to put them at the last weight class they wrestled, but will also make note of guys that could potentially move up. With that said we start this off with two guys that are most likely moving up…
Robbie Precin, of North Central College, was the 2nd seed at 125lbs in 2020 and finished as the Runner-up at the 2021 NWCA Nationals at 133lbs. It is most likely 133 will be Precin’s new home.
Carlos Champagne, of Wabash College, is the only returning NCAA All-American from the 125lb weight class. Carlos placed two years ago in 2019 finishing 7th. In 2020, Champagne failed to qualify for the National Championships despite being the #1 ranked wrestler in the country at the weight class. With that said, he is listed on Wabash College’s roster at 133lbs, and his 149 pound certification weight tells us 133 will most likely be his home at the beginning of the season.
Projected to stay at 125lbs is returning #3-Seed, Nick Arborio of Western New England University. Arborio made the descent down to 125lbs, where he went undefeated, knocking off former #1 Nationally Ranked, Peter Del Gallo of the University of Southern Maine… twice. Arborio took home the Northeast Regional crown and looks to be one of the top guys to beat to get to the top of the National Podium come March.
Despite Precin and Champaign likely moving up a weight class, there is still a large contingent of proven wrestlers at this weight. None have been NCAA All-Americans yet (mostly due to the 2020 NCAA Tournament being cancelled), but the 2021 NWCA Nationals was as competitive as ever. Look for some break through performances in 2021-22 from some of the guys we listed below:
Top Returners
Nick Arborio - Western New England University - Undefeated (at the weight) NCAA National Qualifier in 2020 and was the #3-Seed at the 2020 NCAA Championships.
Matt Caccamise - SUNY-Brockport - 2x NCAA National Qualifier and was the #5-Seed at the 2020 NCAA Championships.
Andrew Perelka - John Carroll - 1x NCAA National Qualifier and #6-Seed at 2020 NCAA Championships.
Samuel Braswell - Averett University - 2x NCAA National Qualifier (‘19, ‘20) and was the #7-Seed at 2020 NCAA Championships. Braswell also took home 3rd place at 2021 NWCA Nationals
Brady Kyner - Wartburg College - 1x NCAA National Qualifier (2019), who bounced back in 2021 as the NWCA National Runner-up
Alex Friddle - Coe College - 2021 NWCA National Champion
Sawyer Sarbacker - Wisc.-La Crosse - 2x NCAA National Qualifier (2020, 2019)
Nathan Rankin - University of the Ozarks - 2x NCAA National Qualifier (2020, 2018)
Notable Returners
Cole Kubesh - Concordia-Moorehead - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier who was the #2-Seed at 2021 NWCA Nationals
Jack Stanley - Mt. Union University - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier
Zac Blasioli - Millikin University - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier
Joey Manginelli -Springfield College - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier
Akhil Vega - Stevens Tech. - 2020 NCAA National Qualifier
2021 NWCA Nationals Placers
Alex Friddle - Coe College
Brady Kyner - Wartburg College
Samuel Braswell - Averett University
Bradley Rosen - North Central College
Dylan McChesney - Simpson College
Cristian Chavez - Luther College
Jared Hensley - Loras College
Chase Poston - Central College
Notable Transfers
Jacob Decatur - Baldwin Wallace University snags the brother of tOSU stand-out Jordan Decatur. Decatur’s eldest brother, Josh, also competed for Baldwin Wallace, graduating in 2017
Transferring from The Ohio State University (Div. I)
Justin Stanley - Stanley stays in state, as he heads to Mt. Union University
Transferring from Baldwin Wallace University (Div. III)
Notable Roster Omissions:
Logan Ninos - Ithaca College - After three seasons at 125lbs for the Bombers, it is curious we do not find Ninos on Ithaca’s roster for the 2021-22 season.