A brief intro of what this is (and what it isn’t) before we get to our thoughts on who’s the next AA for each program in the Big 12.
What this is … A light-hearted look at who could be the next All American for each program.
What is not … An overly serious discussion of the merits of every qualifier that could be considered. That doesn’t mean we didn’t take time to offer our reasons for why we picked who we picked … it just means we didn’t get into the weeds in dissecting the small details between two very similar candidates.
A few rules for our picks:
Only 1 All American for each team (yes, we realize that not every team will have an All American in 2024 (and many will have more than 1) … in fact just 33 schools had someone on the podium in 2023 - in case you are wondering that is out of 66 schools - so 50% of the schools left without an All American).
If a wrestler has been on the podium previously - he is not considered for the “next spot” on the graphic. We aren’t going to get into whether Carter Starocci or Aaron Brooks is most likely the be on the podium for Penn State - it would be a surprise if both weren’t on top of the podium much less on the podium. And this is designed to highlight someone that may have qualified previously, but has yet to break through and be an All American.
Not sure there was a better finals this past weekend than what we saw in the Big 12. Just some outstanding wrestling and there are a number of these athletes that will certainly make a run for the podium in Kansas City.
Let’s take a quick look at each school and our picks for who makes the podium in 2024:
Air Force - Wyatt Hendrickson is the easy pick for Air Force, but we have set our rules up that you can’t pick someone that has made the podium previously (and Hendrickson was 3rd a year ago). Air Force hasn’t had an NCAA Champ since 1967 … it would be cool to see Hendrickson smash that and claim a title in Kansas City. But this article is focused on the next AA … and that will be Sam Wolf at 184. Wolf was 3rd in the Big 12 last weekend with his only loss coming to Plott in the semis. Wolf is ranked #11 for WrestleStat and has two wins over Bennett Berge of South Dakota State (as well as a loss earlier in the season to Berge). Wolf looks to have the hot hand and that’s something to take into account as we head to KC. When was the last time Air Force had 2 All Americans in the same season?
Cal Baptist - Cal Baptist brings two to the big dance in Hunter Leake and Elijah Griffin. Leake finished 6th at Big 12 after being injured in his consi semi to Derrick Cardinal of South Dakota State. Obviously if Leake is unable to compete our pick changes to Griffin who was an at-large selection at 125. Both Leake and Griffin have solid wins and some tough losses. It will be tough to make the podium at either weight, but both have a shot by making the field.
Iowa State - After watching Downey and Chittum go back and forth … the sexy pick is probably Chittum. We certainly will be pulling for him given his ties to the #dirtysouth. But we are going with Yonger Bastida. Bastida has been a menace for everyone across the the line from him this season and his has all the talent to not only make the podium, but to win it all (he beat Hendrickson 10-7 in the Big 12 final last weekend). One thing that Bastida has going for him over Chittum is he has the experience of being here … he was 2-2 last year at 197 and certainly looks like he is ready to take the next step and onto the podium in 2024.
Missouri - Coach Smith brings a bevy Tigers (the full compliment of 10) across the state to KC so it shouldn’t be tough to pick one to make a run to the podium … not so fast everyone. Remember the rule of not picking any returning All Americans? Well that eliminates a ton of talent from our pool. O’Toole, Elam (x2), Mauller, and Mocco all return after making the podium in 2023 - leaving us with 5 to choose from. And we will go with the hot hand from the Big 12 tournament in Josh Edmond at 141. Edmond has had some big wins and some tough losses this season, but he showed that he has the ability to make a run. He lost to Cael Happel in the quarters last weekend and then won 4 in a row to take 3rd including an 8-1 win over Tagen Jamison. He pulls a tough Wyatt Henson in the opening round and then could get Echemendia … a tough road, but Edmond knows how to win when his back is to the wall.
Northern Colorado - Do we see another Andrew Alirez run for Northern Colorado in 2024? Likely no … but Coach Nickerson has a ton of talent and several that can make a run to the podium (now don’t get me wrong - Dom Serrano had a great run in the Big 12, but a run to the top of 133 would be taking it to another level). If you have read any of the other articles - you know we put a lot of emphasis on having a good conference tournament … so picking Vinny Zerban as the next AA for Northern Colorado might come as a surprise. Zerban did not have the best Big 12 tournament. And as a result he has likely put himself in a tough spot to make a run, but he has the ability to make the podium … just needs to win those close matches he lost in the Big 12 tournament.
Northern Iowa - Parker Keckeisen is the top seed at 184, but he’s off the list of Panthers eligible for our Next AA list. That leaves 6 others and as much as we’d like to go with former Georgia hammer Julian Farber, the easy pick is Ryder Downey after his run to a Big 12 title. Downey is the 5 seed and gets OU’s Hill in the opening round and then, perhaps, we could see him vs. the human highlight in Bryce Andonian with the winner possibly getting Ed Scott. Each is a winnable match for Downey and he’s our pick for making the podium for UNI.
North Dakota State - Easy pick here as Gavin Sax is the only Bison in the field. Sax gets Alex Cramer in the opening round and then the winner likely gets #3 seed Edmond Ruth of Illinois. A tough road, but not one that Sax can’t navigate.
Oklahoma - We decided that AA’s for another program is the same so Stephen Buchanan is not eligible for our list for the Sooners. The next man up is Josh Heindselman who is the 11 seed at 285. Heindselman has big tournament experience and has winnable matches early on (coming back from a first round loss is a tough road to make the podium).
Oklahoma State - Daton Fix obviously off the board, but so is Dustin Plott who has been outstanding this season and will almost certainly be on the podium when we are finished in KC. So we turn to 125 lb. hammer Troy Spratley. Spratley lost to Volk in the Big 12 finals, but has shown the ability to beat anyone in the field … he’s the 6 seed and sits in a great spot to make the quarters (and possible matchup with Ayala). He lost to Ayala in sudden victory in the dual … but that’s all looking ahead and that’s a dangerous game this weekend. If Spratley wrestles to his ability … he should be on the podium when we finish.
South Dakota State - Easy pick in Cade Devos. The Jackrabbits bring 8, but with Jordan already off the eligible list because he AA’d last year … turning to #2 seed Devos (who is 23-1) was a no brainer. Devos is opposite of Lewis, Starocci, Griffith, and others … still not an easy path to the podium, but one that he can certainly handle. Remember his only loss this year was to Griffith in sudden victory.
Utah Valley - No qualifier.
West Virginia - Another easy pick in Big 12 Champion Ty Watters. Watters is the 5 seed, but he does share the quarter with two wrestlers that have beaten him this season in Willie McDougald of Oklahoma (8-5 in early December) and Henson (11-2 in the first tournament of the year). Watters has looked better and better as the season as progressed, but he will need to be on his game to make the podium in a deep 149 lb. bracket. Peyton Hall is another one to watch … if he can get to the quarters vs. O’Toole, then he would need just one win to make the top 8 (that match could come against Caliendo).
Wyoming - Big 12 Champ Jore Volk is our pick for Wyoming. The Cowboys had Buchanan on the podium two years ago and Volk is the hot hand coming into KC. He is the 5 seed and shares a quarter with Noto, Kaylor, Poulin, Surtin and Ramos, but he has the ability to beat each (he has a win over Surtin, a loss to Poulin and Kaylor and hasn’t wrestled Ramos or Noto this season). It isn’t an easy path, but one that Volk can navigate.
