Another regular season has come and gone, and here we are set to go for the 2025 Big Ten Championships this weekend.
Hereโs 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 Ramosโ experience would be the ultimate factor.
133 – Drake Ayala, Iowa: Braeden Davis has been so banged up this year that itโs hard to see him winning the whole thing. It wouldnโt be too surprising to see one of the lower seeds make a run at the title, such as Nebraskaโs Jacob Van Dee. Itโs hard to believe heโs only a 6-seed. But Iโll go with Ayala for now.
141 – Jesse Mendez, Ohio State: Itโs 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, itโs been the same this year with Bartlett taking the dual meet.
Penn State Wrestling: Davis Makes Triumphent Return, Bartlett Gets Measure of Revenge
Iโll 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 Iowaโs Kyle Parco or Nebraskaโs Ridge Lovett in the finals, itโs 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? Iโm not. Heโs going to have a rugged path to the finals with Nebraskaโs Antrell Taylor waiting in the semis. Iowaโs Jacori Teemer is somehow a 4-seed, and it wouldnโt 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. Thereโs no one in the weight class on Mesenbrinkโs 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 Stateโs Carson Kharchla would be fun, assuming both make it to the finals. The bump to 174 hasnโt fazed Haines at all so far, and I donโt think any problems are going to start now.
184 – Carter Starocci, Penn State: Need I say more about this one? No? Okay. Letโs move on.
197 – Stephen Buchanan, Iowa: I believe Josh Barr is going to make it to the finals on this one. Iโm just not sure heโs ready to take over the top spot just yet against an undefeated Buchanan.
285 – Gable Steveson, Minnesota: The same as Barr, Iโm not going to say Greg Kerkvliet canโt beat Steveson. Kerkvliet always made it a match against Steveson in the past. But I wonโt pick it until it actually happens.
Team champion – Penn State: It probably wonโt be as big of a margin as many people think. Remember the Lions were 47 points ahead of Michigan in second place in last yearโs Big Ten Championships. My guess is it will be somewhere around that area again with Iowa taking second place.
