Predicting the Big Ten Wrestling Champions

Originally posted on Nittany Sports Now | By Andy Stine | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 7:20 PM ET

Another regular season has come and gone, and here we are set to go for the 2025 Big Ten Championships this weekend.

Here’s a look at my predictions for the champions in each weight class:

125 – Matt Ramos, Purdue: Luke Lilledahl would meet Ramos in the semifinals if the pre-seeds stay the same. That would be a fun matchup to watch, even though I think Ramos’ experience would be the ultimate factor.

133 – Drake Ayala, Iowa: Braeden Davis has been so banged up this year that it’s hard to see him winning the whole thing. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see one of the lower seeds make a run at the title, such as Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee. It’s hard to believe he’s only a 6-seed. But I’ll go with Ayala for now.

141 – Jesse Mendez, Ohio State: It’s a flip of the coin between Mendez and Beau Bartlett. Last year, Bartlett won in the dual meet and Mendez won at Big Tens and nationals. So far, it’s been the same this year with Bartlett taking the dual meet.

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I’ll go with the status quo.

149 – Shayne Van Ness, Penn State: I believe Van Ness is hungry after missing almost all of last season. Whether he gets Iowa’s Kyle Parco or Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett in the finals, it’s an advantage those two will see each other in the semis.

157 – Tyler Kasak, Penn State: Are you going to be the one that doubts Kasak? I’m not. He’s going to have a rugged path to the finals with Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor waiting in the semis. Iowa’s Jacori Teemer is somehow a 4-seed, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he knocks off top-seeded Ethen Miller of Maryland in the semis. This is one of the most interesting brackets of the tournament.

165 – Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State: Honestly, this is the easiest pick so far. There’s no one in the weight class on Mesenbrink’s level, at least not in the Big Ten. Nationals could be a different story.

174 – Levi Haines, Penn State: A rematch for Haines and Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla would be fun, assuming both make it to the finals. The bump to 174 hasn’t fazed Haines at all so far, and I don’t think any problems are going to start now.

184 – Carter Starocci, Penn State: Need I say more about this one? No? Okay. Let’s move on.

197 – Stephen Buchanan, Iowa: I believe Josh Barr is going to make it to the finals on this one. I’m just not sure he’s ready to take over the top spot just yet against an undefeated Buchanan.

285 – Gable Steveson, Minnesota: The same as Barr, I’m not going to say Greg Kerkvliet can’t beat Steveson. Kerkvliet always made it a match against Steveson in the past. But I won’t pick it until it actually happens.

Team champion – Penn State: It probably won’t be as big of a margin as many people think. Remember the Lions were 47 points ahead of Michigan in second place in last year’s Big Ten Championships. My guess is it will be somewhere around that area again with Iowa taking second place.

This article first appeared on Nittany Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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