WIN’s 2025 NCAA DI Weight Class Preview: 157
Photo: Penn State’s top-ranked Tyler Kasak after earning a victory at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic. Photo by Sam Janicki.
The following is a look at WIN’s top 157-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. Tyler Kasak, Penn State, So., Doylestown, Pa
Note: As a freshman at 2024 NCAAs, lost opening-round bout before reeling off seven victories on his way to a third-place finish at 149 pounds.
Season/Career Record: 15-1/39-6
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a postseason record of 7-1: 3rd in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Lone loss on record was an injury default against Maryland’s undefeated Ethen Miller in dual-meet action. Kasak has Top-10 wins over Jacori Teemer and Antrell Taylor.
2. Meyer Shapiro, Cornell, So., Woodbine, Md.
Note: Earned a third-place finish as a true freshman in 2024 by avenging his only loss of the tourney against Stanford’s Daniel Cardenas.
Season/Career Record: 9-1/38-4
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with postseason record of 6-1: 3rd in 2024.
Regular-season Notes: Competed sparsely in sophomore season with lone blemish on the record coming via injury default at the season-opening Journeymen Classic. Has not faced any Top-10 opponents yet this season.
3. Jacori Teemer, Iowa, Sr., Long Beach, N.Y.
Note: Transferred from Arizona State prior to 2024-25 season.
Season/Career Record: 5-2/81-17
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 13-6: 2nd in 2024; 6th in 2022; 4th in 2021; NQ in 2020 before NCAAs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular-Season Notes: Injury-shortened season saw Teemer miss two months from Nov. 23 to Jan. 25. The seventh-year senior notched notable wins over Oklahoma State’s Caleb Fish and Top-10 foe Tommy Askey of Minnesota in February.
4. Antrell Taylor, Nebraska, So., Millard, Neb.
Note: Moved down a weight class after placing eighth at 165 pounds in 2024.
Season/Career Record: 18-2/41-12
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with postseason record of 3-3: 8th in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Started the season 13-0 at his new weight class, winning titles at Navy Classic and CKLV Invite in December. Owns notable wins over Joey Blaze and Tyler Askey.
5. Ethen Miller, Maryland, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
Note: Undefeated in junior campaign for the Terps.
Season/Career Record: 20-0/65-18
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 2-4: 1-2 in 2024; 1-2 in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Returned to home state for Tiger Style Invite and defeated ranked foes Joey Blaze and Little Rock’s Matty Bianchi on Nov. 9. Only other Top-10 opponent was Tyler Kasak, who injury defaulted to the Terp at the 4:41 mark on Feb. 9.
6. Ryder Downey, Northern Iowa, So., Indianola, Iowa
Note: Seeking first AA finish after reaching R12 as a freshman in 2024.
Season/Career Record: 15-3/39-9
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a postseason record of 3-2: reached R12 in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Notched ranked wins over Joey Blaze, Northwestern’s Trevor Chumbley and Antrell Taylor.
7. Tyler Askey, Minnesota, Sr., Pine Bush, N.Y.
Note: Transferred from App State prior to 2024-25 season.
Season/Career Record: 20-3/81-28
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with postseason record of 3-4: reached R12 in 2024; 0-2 in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Won Mountaineer Invite and ironically defeated an App State opponent in first match of the season after transferring in from Boone. Cougar Clash champion. Only ranked win came against Northwestern’s Trevor Chumbley.
8. Cody Chittum, Iowa State, So., Cleveland, Tenn.
Note: Missed first month and a half of season. Thrust back into Iowa State lineup in mid-December.
Season/Career Record: 15-3/31-10
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a postseason record of 1-2: 1-2 in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Notched ranked wins over Cobe Siebrecht of South Dakota State and Ryder Downey.
9. Brandon Cannon, Ohio State, Fr., Denver, Colo.
Note: Stepped into the lineup as a starter for the Buckeyes late in the season.
Season/Career Record: 21-3/31-5
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Won titles at Cleveland State Open, Edinboro Open and Mat Town Open II. Only season losses have come to Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson (wrestling 149 in postseason), Minnesota’s Tommy Askey, which he avenged at Big Ten’s, and Tyler Kasak of Penn State.
10. Joey Blaze, Purdue, So., Perrysburg, Ohio
Note: Coached by Erik Burnett (featured on page 15 of this issue)
Season/Career Record: 15-4/32-16
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with an 0-2 postseason record: 0-2 in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Most notable win came against returning AA Peyten Kellar. Earned a tech fall over Ethan Stiles of Oregon State, who has since dropped to 149 pounds and is ranked in the Top-10.
Others to Watch
• Virginia Tech freshman Rafael Hipolito has racked up several ranked wins on the season including over Caleb Fish, former AA Ed Scott of NC State and a major decision over Peyten Kellar.
• Little Rock’s Matty Bianchi recently pinned Oklahoma State veteran Caleb Fish and has 19 wins with a bonus-point victory streak of eight matches to cap off the regular season.
