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Big Ten Wrestling: Ranking the top three wrestlers at each weight class

By Chris Snyder

Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young, left, celebrates after scoring a decision against Oklahoma State's Daton Fix at 133 pounds in the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.220319 Ncaa Session 6 Wr 011 Jpg
Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young, left, celebrates after scoring a decision against Oklahoma State's Daton Fix at 133 pounds in the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.220319 Ncaa Session 6 Wr 011 Jpg /
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Iowa wrestler Tony Cassioppi high-fives a fan while walking out before a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual against Penn State, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.220127 Penn St Iowa Wr 028 Jpg
Iowa wrestler Tony Cassioppi high-fives a fan while walking out before a NCAA Big Ten Conference wrestling dual against Penn State, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.220127 Penn St Iowa Wr 028 Jpg /

141

1. Real Woods (Iowa)
2. Jake Bergeland (Minnesota)
3. Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State)

As everyone knows, this didn’t come to fruition. But with Real Woods finding a new home in Iowa City, it still means the fight at 141 will be a fun one to watch in the Big Ten.

Because unlike 125 and 133, there isn’t a heavy favorite at the top of this class. Minnesota’s Jake Bergeland, fresh off his first All-American finish (7th) in the 2022 NCAA’s, could make a push to knock Woods off his pedestal. The talented senior put together an impressive 23-9 record last year and showed the nation he’s ready to take the next step forward.

However, after these two grapplers, there will be a large pool of guys fighting it out to see who can secure the final spot on the Big Ten podium at 141. This group includes Ohio State’s Dylan D’Emilio, Michigan’s Drew Mattin, Northwestern’s Frankie Tal-Shahar, Wisconsin’s Joe Zargo, Purdue’s Parker Filius, Rutgers’ Sammy Alvarez, and Penn State’s Bean Bartlett.

Talk about a log jam, yikes.

If I had to put money on it, I would say the two who came make the biggest leap are Frankie Tal-Shahar and Beau Bartlett. Yeah, yeah, I know. What is it with me and my Beau Bartlett predictions? I sometimes ask myself that very question.

But the simple fact is this, Bartlett wrestled the first two years of his Nittany Lion career up a weight class at 149. Which made perfect sense at the time as all-time Penn State great Nick Lee occupied the seat at 141.

The 2022-2023 season is going to basically be a “put up or shut up” year for Beau Bartlett and for my irrational (at times) confidence in him. Because I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and predict he will finish in the top three in the Big Ten and be crowned an NCAA All-American once this season comes to a conclusion*.

* – I can’t help myself. Sorry.

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