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NCAA Wrestling: Ranking 2021-2022 weight classes

By Chris Snyder

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)
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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Austin OConnor of North Carolina  (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Austin OConnor of North Carolina  (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Parity R Us – No. 1

Now we have reached the final grouping of weight classes. These four classes had the most parity in the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships and I expect this to continue into next season with the plethora of talent and experience throughout.

149

2021 Top 4
1. Austin O’Connor (Jr.) UNC
2. Sammy Sasso (So.) Ohio State
3. Yahya Thomas (Jr.) Northwestern
4. Boo Lewallen (Sr.) Oklahoma State

71-5

This was the combined record for the top 4 seeded grapplers in the 149 bracket in the 2021 NCAA’s.

Chalk prevailed through the early rounds as there were only two upsets going into the quarter finals. This continued onto the final four as the 1-4 seeds hooked horns and the No. 1 seed Sammy Sasso and No. 2 seed Austin O’Connor moved onto the finals.

In one of the best matches of the finals, UNC’s O’Connor topped Sasso in a thrilling 3-2 decision to earn the junior his first ever NCAA title.

And then out of nowhere, the No. 25 seed Yahya Thomas caught fire in the wrestlebacks after falling to Sasso in the quarter finals. The talented Northwestern junior took out the No. 13, No. 8, No. 3, and No. 4 seeds on his way to a miraculous 3rd place finish.

The 149 group is talented, they are experienced, and the top wrestlers compete for some of the best programs in the country.

Which means it’s going to be an exciting group to watch this season as well.

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