WIN’s 2025 NCAA DI Weight Class Preview: 141
Photo: Nebraska’s Brock Hardy pinned Minnesota’s Vance VomBaur in the Big Ten finals. Photo by Sam Janicki.
The following is a look at WIN’s top 141-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. Andrew Alirez, No. Colorado, Sr., Greeley, Colo.
Note: The 2023 NCAA champion took an Olympic redshirt during the 2023-24 season.
Season/Career Record: 12-0/84-10
NCAA Resume: Fourth Nationals with a postseason record of 8-2: 1st in 2023; reached R12 in 2022; NQ in 2020 before tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular-Season Notes: The former Junior Hodge Trophy recipient is a Hodge Trophy contender this season, accruing a 12-0 mark with three falls, one tech fall, four major decisions and a forfeit, leading to a bonus percentage of 75%.
2. Jesse Mendez, Ohio State, Jr., Crown Point, Ind.
Note: The defending 141-pound NCAA champion has only lost two folkstyle matches dating back to 2023, both of which came at the hands of Penn State’s Beau Bartlett.
Season/Career Record: 22-1/70-12
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 10-3: 1st in 2024; 6th in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Another former Junior Hodge Trophy winner, this Buckeye has posted victories over five of the Top-10 foes at 141 pounds, including two victories over Jacob Frost of Iowa State this season.
3. Beau Bartlett, Penn State, Sr., Tempe, Ariz.
Note: Bartlett has made the most of his decision to return for a fifth season while seeking his first individual title.
Season/Career Record: 18-0/92-18
NCAA Resume: Fourth Nationals with a postseason record of 10-4: 2nd in 2024; 3rd in 2023; 1-2 in 2022.
Regular-Season Notes: Black Knight Invite champion. Undefeated in dual meets, which included Big 10 wins over nationally-ranked foes Jesse Mendez, Brock Hardy, Joey Olivieri, Sergio Lemley and Danny Pucino.
4. Brock Hardy, Nebraska, Jr., Brigham City, Utah
Note: Hardy is riding a six-match winning streak dating back to Jan. 17 in which all six wins came via bonus points.
Season/Career Record: 19-3/78-23
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 9-4: 3rd in 2024; 6th in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Has claimed two victories over Top-10 foe Josh Koderhandt of Navy, including a 41-second fall. Navy Classic champion. Lone loss at CKLV Invite came against Tagen Jamison.
5. Cael Happel, Northern Iowa, Sr., Lisbon, Iowa
Note: Undefeated against Top-10 foes despite two losses against non Top-10 opponents.
Season/Career Record: 17-3/78-32
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 5-4: reached R12 in 2024; reached R16 in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Posted wins over Tagen Jamison, Brock Hardy and an 18-7 major decision over Jacob Frost. Setbacks came against Oklahoma’s Mosha Schwartz and South Dakota State’s Julian Tagg.
6. Josh Koderhandt, Navy, Sr.,
Belleville, Ill.
Note: Seeking first AA honor after three trips to NCAA Championships.
Season/Career Record: 20-3/95-32
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with postseason record of 4-6: reached R12 in 2024; 0-2 in 2023; 1-2 in 2022.
Regular-Season Notes: Won the Soldier Salute. Earned wins over Top-10 foes Vance VomBaur, Jacob Frost and Sergio Lemley.
7. Vance VomBaur, Minnesota, Jr., Greeley, Colo.
Note: Earned AA honors as a No. 26 seed in 2024 for the Gophers.
Season/Career Record: 20-3/45-18
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a postseason record of 3-3: 8th in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Began season with a 13-match winning streak. Defeated Sergio Lemley, 4-2, on Jan. 19.
8. Jacob Frost, So., Metairie, La.
Note: Looks to join brother Evan on All-American podium after he became the first Louisiana native to accomplish the feat in over a decade.
Season/Career Record: 21-5/22-6
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Ascended the rankings while riding a 14-match winning streak from Dec. 21 to Feb. 16. Defeated Tagen Jamison, 4-1 SV-1, on Jan. 26 in a dual meet.
9. Tagen Jamison, Oklahoma State, So., Durant, Okla.
Note: Transferred from Minnesota in 2023.
Season/Career Record: 15-3/32-13
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a postseason record of 0-2: 0-2 in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Defeated Brock Hardy at CKLV Invite before dropping a 5-2 decision to returning NCAA champ Jesse Mendez.
10. Sergio Lemley, Michigan, So., Chesterton, Ind.
Note: Lemley is the nephew of Indiana head coach and former NCAA champion Angel Escobedo
Season/Career Record: 15-7/33-16
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with postseason record of 1-2: 1-2 in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Went 4-2 at CKLV Invite. Five of his 15 victories have come via tech fall.
Others to Watch
• Missouri’s two-time returning NCAA qualifier and 2024 R12 finisher Joshua Edmond is 13-8 with ranked wins over Utah Valley’s Haiden Drury and Illinois’ Danny Pucino.
• Sixth-year senior Sam Latona of Virginia Tech has reached the podium at 125 and 133 pounds but has yet to do so at his new and final weight class. The Alabama native is 22-6 and defeated Sergio Lemley, 7-2, at the CKLV Invite.
• Fellow sixth-year senior and three-time NCAA qualifier Mosha Schwartz of Oklahoma will make a run for the podium while riding the momentum from a late-season win over Cael Happel, 9-7, on Jan. 25.
