WIN’s 2025 NCAA DI Weight Class Preview: 285
Photo: In a clashing of heavyweight titans, Minnesota’s Gable Steveson controlled defending NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet of Penn State, 10-3, in the Big Ten finals. Photo by Sam Janicki.
The following is a look at WIN’s top 285-pound contenders before the 2025 NCAA DI Championships commence in Philadelphia March 20-22.
*Note the rankings and records were last updated prior to the NCAA-qualifying tournaments. For WIN’s final TPI and individual ranks, click here.
1. Gable Steveson, Minnesota, Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.
Note: The two-time NCAA champ, two-time Hodge Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist made a surprise return to wrestling after stints in the WWE and NFL.
Season/Career Record: 11-0/94-2
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 14-1: 1st in 2022; 1st in 2021; NQ in 2020 before NCAAs were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic; 2nd in 2019.
Regular-Season Notes: Steveson picked right back up where he left off, dismantling opponents with eight tech falls, two falls and one major-decision victory.
2. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State, Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Note: The returning heavyweight champ will have to go through fellow Minnesota native Gable Steveson, who made an unexpected return to collegiate wrestling this November.
Season/Career Record: 16-0/87-10
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 17-5: 1st in 2024; 2nd in 2023; 4th in 2022; 7th in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Top-10 wins over Rutgers’ Yaraslau Slavikouski, 2-0, and Michigan’s Josh Heindselman, 6-0.
3. Wyatt Hendrickson, Oklahoma State, Sr., Newton, Kan.
Note: The two-time WIN Schalles Award winner as the top collegiate pinner transferred to Oklahoma State for his last season of eligibility.
Season/Career Record: 18-0/114-11
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 15-6: 3rd in 2024; 3rd in 2023; reached R16 in 2022; reached R12 in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Has won 16 of 18 matches by fall or tech fall. Lone decisions were Top-10 wins over Isaac Trumble, 10-4, and Cohlton Schultz, 11-5.
4. Isaac Trumble, NC State, Jr., Springfield, Neb.
Note: Bumped up to 285 after two seasons at 197 pounds. Reached Olympic Trials finals last spring at 97kg, falling to Kyle Snyder in best-of-three finals.
Season/Career Record: 16-3/62-16
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 3-4: reached R16 in 2023; 1-2 in 2022.
Regular-season Notes: Avenged early-season loss to Cohlton Schultz, winning 9-0 on Dec. 6 at CKLV Invite after being pinned on Nov. 10. Additional Top-10 wins over Yaraslau Slavikouski of Rutgers and Virginia Tech’s Jimmy Mullen.
5. Owen Trephan, Lehigh, Sr., Summerville, S.C.
Note: Transferred from NC State for final season.
Season/Career Record: 18-0/79-18
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 3-4: 1-2 in 2024; reached R16 in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Won 13 of 18 bouts by bonus points, including nine tech falls. Top-10 wins over Luke Luffman of Illinois and Cohlton Schultz.
6. Yaraslau Slavikouski, Rutgers, Sr., Rechitsa, Belarus
Note: Transferred from Harvard after 2023 season.
Season/Career Record: 14-5/96-27
NCAA Resume: Fourth Nationals with postseason record of 8-4: 7th in 2024; reached R12 in 2023; NQ in 2020 before NCAA Championships were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular-Season Notes: Top-10 wins over Jimmy Mullen and Luke Luffman.
7. Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State, Sr., Parker, Colo.
Note: Reached best-of-three Olympic Trials finals in Greco last spring, falling to Adam Coon.
Season/Career Record: 18-4/90-15
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with postseason record of 16-8: 6th in 2024; 7th in 2023; 2nd in 2022; 4th in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Split matches with Isaac Trumble. All four losses came against Top-10 opponents.
8. Luke Luffman,Illinois, Sr., Urbana, Ill.
Note: Looking for first AA honor after not competing in 2023 or 2024 postseasons.
Season/Career Record: 13-3/58-36
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 2-4: 1-2 in 2022; 1-2 in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Ranked wins over Seth Nevills of Maryland, Ben Kueter of Iowa and a Top-10 win over ASU’s Cohlton Schultz.
9. Josh Heindselman, Michigan, Sr., Piedmont, Okla.
Note: Transferred from Oklahoma.
Season/Career Record: 19-2/91-44
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with postseason record of 7-8: reached R12 in 2024; reached R16 in 2023; 1-2 in 2022; 1-2 in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Midlands champion. Ranked win over Ohio State’s returning AA Nick Feldman.
10. Jimmy Mullen, Virginia Tech, Fr., Kearny, N.J.
Note: Went 15-4 as a redshirt in 2023-24.
Season/Career Record: 17-4/17-4
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Southeast Open and Mountaineer Invite champ. Started season 9-0 with seven bonus-point victories. Ranked wins over Northern Iowa’s Lance Runyon and Pitt’s Dayton Pitzer.
Others to Watch
• Iowa’s former two-sport athlete (also football) Ben Kueter opted to focus on wrestling and has posted an 11-5 record with two ranked wins over Nick Feldman of Ohio State and Seth Nevills of Maryland.
• Former NCAA semifinalist Gavin Hoffman is making a splash at 285 with Lock Haven after transferring from Ohio State.
