While we are right in the heart of the 2024-25 NCAA DI wrestling season, we can still talk about the best college wrestlers of 2024. Reigning and defending champions like Carter Starocci of Penn State, Keegan O’Toole of Missouri and Parker Keickeisen from Northern Iowa are no-brainers. But who else made the exclusive list?
Without further ado, get a look at the 10 best college wrestlers from the last 12 months.
10. Levi Haines, Penn State
A junior, Haines capped off his season last year with a national championship after finishing as a runner-up as a freshman. He is a two-time Big Ten champion and was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023-24.
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9. Gable Steveson, Minnesota
The 2021 Olympic gold medalist ended his three-year hiatus from collegiate wrestling this year. Steveson returned to the Golden Gophers with a technical fall victory in under two minutes. He is a two-time NCAA and three-time Big Ten champion, winning the Hodge Trophy twice.
8. Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech
Henson became the second Hokie to win it all, capping off his year as the 149-pound champion. He was also the ACC wrestler of the year, finishing the season 30-2 with 15 of those coming via bonus points. As a freshman, he placed fifth at the NCAA meet.
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7. Richard Figueroa, Arizona State
Despite entering as the No. 8 seed at the NCAA Championships, Figueroa rolled to the title, knocking off top-ranked Braeden Davis of Penn State along the way. He was also the Pac-12 champion and named the conference wrestler of the year.
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6. Jesse Mendez, Ohio State
Mendez capped off his season with a perfect record and NCAA title, improving from his sixth-place finish the year before. He also won the Big Ten title that season, besting Penn State’s Beau Bartlett in both the conference and NCAA championship matches.
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5. Andrew Alirez, Northern Colorado
Alirez made Northern Colorado his school last season, becoming the first wrestler in the modern era to become an NCAA champion. The Colorado native did not compete last year after being last season’s Big 12 wrestler of the year. He is a four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time Big 12 champion.
4. Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa
The Wisconsin native has helped put Panther wrestling on the map, winning the NCAA title last season after finishing as a runner-up the season before. He was also third in 2022-23 at the NCAA meet and was a finalist for the Hodge Award last season while also winning three Big 12 championships.
3. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State
All eyes are locked on the future meetings between Kerkvliet and another heavyweight on this list, Gable Steveson. The two could meet multiple times. Kerkvliet took over the division when Steveson left, becoming a four-time All-American with a title last year. He was unbeaten last season, winning his first Big Ten title along the way.
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2. Keegan O’Toole, Missouri
After winning titles as a sophomore and junior, O’Toole was third a season ago. He is a four-time All-American and two-time Big 12 champion to go along with winning the MAC title a few seasons ago. Last season, he won the Gorrarian Award, which goes to the wrestler who records the most falls at the NCAA Tournament.
1. Carter Starocci, Penn State
Starocci already is regarded as one of the best to ever do it, but this year, he can claim to be the best of all time. The four-time NCAA champion has the chance to win five titles, taking advantage of his extra year. After missing time last season due to an injury, he won all 17 of the matches he completed in, taking two injury defaults.
