WIN’s 2025 NCAA DI Weight Class Preview: 165
Photo: Peyton Hall of West Virginia and Hunter Garvin of Stanford, who clashed at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic, will both look to return to the podium at 165 pounds. Photo by Sam Janicki.
The following is a look at WIN’s top 165-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. Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State, So., Hartland, Wisc.
Note: Transferred in 2023 from Cal Baptist, where he redshirted as a freshman.
Season/Career Record: 19-0/45-1
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with a 4-1 postseason record: 2nd in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Hodge Trophy contender maintains a 100% bonus percentage with 15 tech falls and two major decisions.
2. Michael Caliendo, Iowa, Jr., Geneva, Ill.
Note: Transferred from NDSU in 2023.
Season/Career Record: 18-1/71-12
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 9-4: 4th in 2024; 7th in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Aside from a loss to Mesenbrink, Caliendo has accrued bonus points in 14 of 18 victories which includes eight tech falls. He has posted Top-10 wins over Hunter Garvin, Christopher Minto, Braeden Scoles and Cameron Amine.
3. Terrell Barraclough, Utah Valley, Sr., Kaysville, Utah
Note: Transferred in from Penn State in 2024.
Season/Career Record: 22-1/50-16
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Lone blemish came against Northern Iowa’s Jack Thomsen, 10-5, on Dec. 6 at CKLV Invite. Barraclough has notable wins over Hunter Garvin (twice), Peyton Hall and Cameron Amine.
4. Peyton Hall, West Virginia, Sr., Chester, W. Va.
Note: Already a four-time NQ and two-time AA.
Season/Career Record: 24-1/77-11
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 12-9: 7th in 2024; 1-2 in 2023; 8th in 2022; reached R12 in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Started season 24-0 after winning titles at Southeast Open and CKLV Invite. Defeated Cameron Amine (twice) and Will Miller by fall on Nov. 22. Lone loss came to Terrell Barraclough, 5-2, on Feb. 6.
5. Julien Ramirez, Cornell, Sr., Miami, Fla.
Note: Seeking first AA finish after reaching R12 three seasons in a row.
Season/Career Record: 17-1/89-20
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with postseason record of 7-6: reached R12 in 2024; reached R12 in 2023; reached R12 in 2022.
Regular-Season Notes: Only loss came on Dec. 1 to Lehigh’s Max Brignola (redshirting). Ramirez has reeled off 16-straight wins but has not faced any Top-10 foes to date.
6. Will Miller, App State, Sr., Helena, Ala.
Note: Dropped down from 174 after qualifying for 2023 NCAAs.
Season/Career Record: 15-1/63-21
NCAA Resume: Third Nationals with a postseason record of 1-4: 1-2 in 2024; 0-2 in 2023.
Regular-Season Notes: Lone ranked win came against Minnesota’s Andrew Sparks on Nov. 9. Only loss came against Peyton Hall via fall in 6:49 on Nov. 22.
7. Hunter Garvin, Stanford, So., Iowa City, Iowa
Note: Reached NCAA podium as a freshman after entering tourney as a 20 seed in 2024.
Season/Career Record: 17-6/42-18
NCAA Resume: Second Nationals with postseason record of 5-3; 6th in 2024.
Regular-Season Notes: Currently riding a 10-match winning streak with four bonus-point victories. Last loss came at the Midlands Championships on Dec. 29 to Indiana’s Tyler Lillard.
8. Christopher Minto, Nebraska, Fr., Cape Coral, Fla.
Note: Took over as starter midway through freshman season for the Huskers.
Season/Career Record: 13-2/13-2
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Started season 12-0 after claiming titles at Navy Classic, Bob Smith Open and Kent State Open. Notched eight tech falls on the season. Losses came to Michael Caliendo and Jack Thomsen of Northern Iowa.
9. Braeden Scoles, Illinois, Fr., Kewaskum, Wis.
Note: Redshirted in 2024 while posting 7-4 record.
Season/Career Record: 13-3/13-3
NCAA Resume: First Nationals
Regular-Season Notes: Started season 9-0 with eight-straight bonus-point victories. Earned ranked wins over Arizona State’s Nicco Ruiz and Northwestern’s Maxx Mayfield.
10. Cam Amine, Oklahoma State, Sr., Brighton, Mich.
Note: Both his father, Sam, and uncle, Mike, wrestled for Michigan, as did brother Jordan and cousins Malik and Myles. Transferred to Oklahoma State prior to 2024-25 season.
Season/Career Record: 13-5/77-30
NCAA Resume: Fifth Nationals with a postseason record of 15-8: reached R16 in 2024; 4th in 2023; 4th in 2022; 7th in 2021.
Regular-Season Notes: Earned ranked wins over Jack Thomsen, Missouri’s Cameron Steed and SDSU’s Drake Rhodes.
Others to Watch
• Michigan freshman Beau Mantanona was the first opponent of the season to wrestle top-ranked Mitchell Mesenbrink for a full seven-minute match on Feb. 7. The rookie Wolverine is 11-3 on the season and has notched ranked wins over Minnesota’s Andrew Sparks and Northwestern’s Maxx Mayfield.
• Arizona State freshman Nicco Ruiz has not competed since injury defaulting in dual-meet action on Jan. 22 against Missouri’s Cameron Steed, but the rookie Sun Devil had wins over Cameron Amine and Jack Thomsen.
• Drake Rhodes of South Dakota State, who transferred to Brookings from Iowa this past offseason, is 20-3 for the Jackrabbits and is riding an eight-match win streak dating back to the CKLV Invite in early December. Rhodes has notable wins over Jack Thomsen, Nicco Ruiz and returning All-American Hunter Garvin.
• Ohio State’s Paddy Gallagher swapped weight classes with teammate Sammy Sasso back in January and won by first-period fall in his lone dual-meet appearance at 165 pounds, pinning Purdue’s Stoney Buell on Jan. 19. The Buckeye reached the R16 at the 2023 NCAAs while competing at 157 pounds.
