2025-2026 Lineup Look

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CauliClub

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With the season coming to an end and all the chaos happening in the transfer portal, I thought it would be fun to look into next season's lineup. Obviously, there's a lot of uncertainty in any off-season with transfers, guys going up/down weight classes, and other various things. This is just my outlook based on how things look so far but I would love to hear what y'all think. Here are my predictions with the starters listed first:

125: Spratley / Ramirez
133: Sakamoto / McComas
141: Hughes / Vega
149: Swiderski / Jamison
157: Robideau / Travis
165: Lockett / Routledge
174: Facundo (Transfer) / Mower
184: Thompson / Robb
197: Merrill / Haas
285: Doucet / Simpson

These are just my personal predictions on what I know so far. The biggest hole that I believe needs to be addressed is 174. Without a transfer, we would likely have to rely on one of the guys having to wrestle at a weight that isn't their best. Anyways, let me know what y'all think!
 
I think if we get Facundo he is slotted at 157/165. But we don't have him yet and may not get him (or want him). Lockett may be at 174, someone in another post someone with connection to coaches said he had grown and 165 was too small. The coaches were high on Collin Young, so I could see him at 165 (or maybe he grows and can go 174, or drops to 157). Jamison may stay at 141, and Swiderski could have grown and is at 157 (though I doubt it).

I think you have the names right, but the weights may be different.
 
Bingo, I said in another thread he is interesting as likely pretty good and fills a need for us.

I think the lineup is as follows:

Sprately 126
McCommas 133
Jamison 141
Swiderski 149
Facundo 157
Collin Young 165
Lockett 174
Thompson 184
Merrill 197
Duecet 285

3 question marks in my mind. 141, 133, and 197. First is 141. I think Hughes looked great at times, but he needs to be at 141 and tough to beat out Jamison. But could happen.

At 133, maybe Rin starts. Rin got to Ayala's legs in Iowa dual, just couldn't finish. Not many people got to Ayala's leg all season long. I still think it will be McCommas, but I will be first to say it could very well be Rin

Another wildcard may be Robb. Saw him wrestle guy from Wyoming who was AA at 197, should have beat him. Saw him wrestle a freestyle match against Burr, and closer than one might think. If Merrill is not really good, Robb may be our 197 pounder.
 
I just can’t see Facundo wanting to go 157. He looked really sucked down this season at 157. Also important to note that he has a win over Levi Haines last year in freestyle at 74kgs. I think Facundo could comfortably make 174. Maybe him and Lockett battle it out for 165 or maybe Lockett decides to wrestle 174. I also think it makes more sense to have them go 165/174, leaving 157 to either Travis, Swiderski, or even Tagen. Stronger lineup I think.
 
I likely agree. I do think coaches were high on Collin Young, but Facundo at 165 and Lockett at 174 (or the reverse) makes a lot of sense. Though Facundo did make 157 in the 2024 season.

157 become a bit of a hole if you are correct. Do we thrown in freshman Robideau? Does Swiderski go 157 leaving 141/149 to Jamison/Hughes? Can Collin Young cut to 157? Or perhaps most likely does Travis hold down spot?
 
MJM said:
I likely agree. I do think coaches were high on Collin Young, but Facundo at 165 and Lockett at 174 (or the reverse) makes a lot of sense. Though Facundo did make 157 in the 2024 season.

157 become a bit of a hole if you are correct. Do we thrown in freshman Robideau? Does Swiderski go 157 leaving 141/149 to Jamison/Hughes? Can Collin Young cut to 157? Or perhaps most likely does Travis hold down spot?
Click to expand...

I think we see some shifting up.

Spratley: 125
Vega: 133
Huges: 141
Jamison: 149
Swiderski: 157
Facundo: 165
Lockett: 172
Thompson: 184
Merrill: 197
Doucet: HWT
 
That would be a strong lineup, maybe the best with what we have.

But can Vega make 133? Listed at 138 and often guys grow a bit at that age. Just don't know if he cut at all to make 138.

I really like Hughes. But Jamison is very strong for a 141 pounder, and gives up some of that advantage at 149.

And is Swiderski big enough to go at 157. If he is not, Travis or Robideau (or Collin Young or Facundo go down).

Assuming Lockett is at 174, then the last 4 are pretty clear (although could Robb beat out Merrill?)

As it sits, next year's team is a wildcard. Lots of talent on bench, but only 2 guys on roster who have been AAs. We will have several guys who did not wrestle in 2024/2025, and likely 2 or more who have not wrestled a full season in college.
 
OK, added Zack Ryder from PSU in transfer portal. He wrestled 184 last year, but really was a 174 pounder.

OK, given they added him, to me the linup looks as follows:

126. Spratley
133 McCommas or Rin
141 Jamison or Hughes
149 Swiderski
157 Facundo
165 Lockett
174 Ryder
184 Thompson
197 Merrill
285 Ducet

You have guys at 133, 165, 174, and 197 that have never wrestled a real college season (and that assumes Jamison beats out Hughes). All top recruits who have done well in limited college exposure, but never been to conference or NCAA.

You have 149, 157, 184, and 285 where guy took redshirt last year (and only one was AA in prior years).

You only have one guy (Sprately) who AAs last year. Jamison was round of 12.

I think it is pretty good lineup, with 133 and 197 weak spots. But really hard to predict how they will do.
 
I actually think Ducet is pretty solid. And remember, in 2026 class we got #1 285 recruit, 3rd overall. So likely he steps in in 2026/2027 season.

Of 8 AAs, 6 are gone. 3 of 4 round of 12 non AAs, but he beat guy from Pitt that was round of 12 guy. Then there is guy from Cambell that went to Mich.

So returning AAs, round of 12 and guy frm Cambell, he is in top 7. And Heindselman finished 7th, finishing ahead of one AA and the 3 round of 12 guys. And Duecet was neck and neck with him, as they wrestled a bunch if times, each time going to OT.

So other than Spratley, I think one can feel better about Duecet than any other spot in lineup. But who knows.
 
MJM said:
I actually think Ducet is pretty solid. And remember, in 2026 class we got #1 285 recruit, 3rd overall. So likely he steps in in 2026/2027 season.

Of 8 AAs, 6 are gone. 3 of 4 round of 12 non AAs, but he beat guy from Pitt that was round of 12 guy. Then there is guy from Cambell that went to Mich.

So returning AAs, round of 12 and guy frm Cambell, he is in top 7. And Heindselman finished 7th, finishing ahead of one AA and the 3 round of 12 guys. And Duecet was neck and neck with him, as they wrestled a bunch if times, each time going to OT.

So other than Spratley, I think one can feel better about Duecet than any other spot in lineup. But who knows.
Click to expand...
To add that, every one of Doucet's losses from the 2023-2024 season were to eventual All-Americans. He's definitely in the mix to get on the podium and I can imagine that working with Hendrickson will make him better.
 
Now add ex NCAA champ Figueroa to lineup at 133.

Lots of talent. Where do PSU guys fit in? Does Ryder go 184 and battle Thompson or does he go at 174, which seems his better weight? Can Facundo make it to 157 where we have a hole, or does he compete with Ryder at 174, or Lockett at 165 ? Does Lockett and the other top freshman redshirt to avoid logjam? Are we a better team if Lockett starts?

Who emerges from logjam at 141/149?

Should be a very good team. Unless a lot of our younger guys really shine, I don't think we can yet challenge PSU, but getting much closer.
 
Where we are now, and assuming no more transfers, I think projections for lineup looks as follows:

126. Spratley
133 Figueroa (McCommas or Rin)
141 Hughes, Vega, or Jamison (Swiderski)
149 Swiderski or Hughes (Travis)
157 Facundo, Jamison, Swiderski, Travis, or Robideau
165 Lockett or Facundo
174 Ryder, Lockett, or Facundo
184 Thompson, Ryder (Robb)
197 Merrill (Robb)
285 Ducet

I think one can be pretty confident about 126, 133, 197, and 285. In the middle 6 weights, lots of questions. Ryder likely starts, question is 174 or 184. Flowrestling thinks 184, but last year when he wrestled he was a 174 pounder (even. though he wrestled 184). Thompson was a top prospect, and trained with Taylor on his world cup bid. I kinda of think I would make room for him in lineup, but coaches have a much better read on how good he is ( after a so so 2023/2024 season).

Facundo is one I have a hard time figuring out. Most seem to think he is too big for 157. If so where does he fit in? Assuming you do not redshirt Lockett, he seems to be competing with Thompson. If Thompson is better than Facundo, Ryder wrestles 174, Thompson 184 and the only spot for Facundo is 157. If Facundo is better than Thompson, then Thompson sits and Lockett 165, Facundo 174 and Ryder 184.

141 and 149 are real logjams. Can Jamison make 141 again. Do coaches want him to as he seemed to fade at end of year. Does Swiderski claim 149? He wrestled 141 his freshman year, does he go down to 141 (and Jamison moves to 149). Not likely. Most likely Swiderski claims 149 and Jamison moves up. Does Hughes claim 141, or is Vega better and coaches forego redshirt. Then is 157 a battle between Jamison, Travis, and maybe freshman Robideau? Or can Facundo cut down to 157.

All in all looks like pretty good team with strong AA contenders in every weight class but 157.
 
I'm pretty puzzled with most of the lineup, especially when considering the eligibility of most of the potential starters. Ryder has 4 years, Facundo has at least two, Thompson has three, Cael has three, and we have true freshman with Vega, Lockett, and Robideau coming in. With whatever scenario the team decides to go with, someone is getting left out and we might end up with guys in the portal. I'm interested to see how things look in the long term.
 
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