NCAA Wrestling: Ranking 2021-2022 weight classes

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 20: Cater Starocci of Penn State celebrates after beating Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the 174lb weight class in the first-place match during the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championship at the Enterprise Center on March 20, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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Gable Stevenson of Minnesota celebrates (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Move on. Nothing to see here – No. 2

285

2021 Top 4
1. Gable Steveson (Jr.) Minnesota
2. Mason Parris (Jr.) Michigan
3. Tony Cassioppi (So.) Iowa
4. Cohlton Schultz (Fr.) Arizona State

As I’ve alluded to before, there is a sizable gap between Mason Parris and everyone else at heavyweight in college wrestling. And the Mariana Trench then separates Gable Steveson from Mason Parris.

Nothing was more evident of this than at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships as Parris racked up a fall, technical fall, major decision, and fall en route to the finals. After putting on a bonus points bonanza, Parris was then completely man-handled in the finals as Steveson toyed with him for seven minutes earning the decision 8-4, completing a roundoff backflip, and claiming his first NCAA title.

And let’s face it, until Gable Steveson decides to hang’em up in college, he’s going to continue to be a dominant force at 285.

There’s possibly some hope for parity on the horizon as up and coming freshman Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) and Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) had good showings in the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships. But they’re going to have to significantly up their wrestling game if they hope to be anywhere near Parris or Steveson.

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