2026 National Champions

[CyCloneRastlinG]

Time to put your stamp on your 2026 National Champion picks! We get an official pre-season guess at every weight, then 1 midseason adjustment, and then a final prediction after brackets are posted before Nationals starts. Let's find out who everyone thinks will win Nationals this season. Here are my picks.

125 - Vincent Robinson
133 - Lucas Byrd
141 - Brock Hardy
149 - Shayne Van Ness
157 - Meyer Shapiro
165 - Mitchell Mesenbrink
174 - Levi Haines
184 - Max McEnelly
197 - Rocky Elam
HWT - Yonger Bastida

It's tough to put your stamp on 1 guy at every weight before the season starts. I'd like to pick 2 or 3 guys at every weight to cover myself but that isn't how it works.

 

[stuclone]

125- Luke Lilledahl
133- Ryan Crookham
141- Jesse Mendez
149- Shayne Van Ness
157- Ty Watters
165- Mitchell Mesenbrink
174- Levi Haines
184- Max McEnelly
197- Rocky Elam
Hwt- Yonger Bastida

 

[CyCloneRastlinG]

125- Luke Lilledahl
133- Ryan Crookham
141- Jesse Mendez
149- Shayne Van Ness
157- Ty Watters
165- Mitchell Mesenbrink
174- Levi Haines
184- Max McEnelly
197- Rocky Elam
Hwt- Yonger Bastida

I also heavily considered Luke and Ty. It's hard picking against Jesse, I'm not sure I even agree with myself on picking Hardy

 

[stuclone]

I also heavily considered Luke and Ty. It's hard picking against Jesse, I'm not sure I even agree with myself on picking Hardy

I had Rocky at 6th in my write up, but looking more at the weight, it seems pretty down and I think Rocky has a legit shot to make a run. If he gets to Saturday night, he’s winning it all

 

[JM4CY]

I’m staying away from predictions but enjoy reading the koolaid. A lot. Enjoy the ride. This season should be awesome.

 

[cyclonenation5]

125 Lilledahl
133 Blaze (I reserve the right to change this to Crookham if Blaze doesn’t go)
141 Mendez
149 Swiderski
157 Shapiro
165 Mesenbrink
174 Haines
184 McEnelly (could see any of the top 4 here)
197 Barr (if healthy. If not give me Elam)
285 Bastida

 

[CyCloneRastlinG]

I had Rocky at 6th in my write up, but looking more at the weight, it seems pretty down and I think Rocky has a legit shot to make a run. If he gets to Saturday night, he’s winning it all

I think all of us expected him to be a little bit more of an uncertainty at this point.. but from the sounds of it he’s made massive strides in the right direction of being healthy and back to full strength. I think if he’s healthy, there’s one 1 or 2 guys who can beat him this year. So I like his odds

 

[CyCloneRastlinG]

125 Lilledahl
133 Blaze (I reserve the right to change this to Crookham if Blaze doesn’t go)
141 Mendez
149 Swiderski
157 Shapiro
165 Mesenbrink
174 Haines
184 McEnelly (could see any of the top 4 here)
197 Barr (if healthy. If not give me Elam)
285 Bastida

Very solid picks Swiderski could do it. Everyone is chomping at the bit to see 184 this season.

 

[enisthemenace]

125: Spratley
133: Ayala
141: Mendez
149: Van Ness
157: Kasak
165: Mesenbrink
174: Haines
184: Ferrari
197: Elam
285: Bastida

 

[TheJackWePack5]

125 - Lilledahl
133 - Crookham
141 - Mendez
149 - Van Ness
157 - Shapiro
165 - Mesenbrink
174 - Haines
184 - Ferrari
197 - Barr
285 - Yonger

 

[JM4CY]

For real though, if we go back to back to end Saturday night, I will cream my corn.

 

[isufan]

Poulin
Frost
AE
Paniro
Guy from Penn State
Guy from Penn State
Guy from Penn State
Guy from Penn State
Elam
Bastida

BOOM! ISU wins the natty! Pour that Kool aid on us all

 

[cyclonenation5]

125 Lilledahl
133 Blaze (I reserve the right to change this to Crookham if Blaze doesn’t go)
141 Mendez
149 Swiderski
157 Shapiro
165 Mesenbrink
174 Haines
184 McEnelly (could see any of the top 4 here)
197 Barr (if healthy. If not give me Elam)
285 Bastida

Maybe my dumbass should’ve waited an hour before posting. Swiderski got worked tonight.

 

[CycloneCarl5]

125 - Lilledahl
133 - Byrd
141 - Mendez
149 - Swiderski
157 - Watters
165 - Mesenbrink
174 - Haines
184 - Ferrari
197 - Elam
285 - Yonger

 

[enisthemenace]

Maybe my dumbass should’ve waited an hour before posting. Swiderski got worked tonight.

I’m really interested to see where Facundo’s at at the end of the year. I wish we could have gotten him, but I really think he’s in a great spot for him personally. Is he beating Haines? Probably not, but I can see him beating anyone else at 174.

Side note…how is Kharchla still wrestling?

 

[CycloneCarl5]

Maybe my dumbass should’ve waited an hour before posting. Swiderski got worked tonight.

I’m still sticking with it but I agree lol

 

[ISU_Cyclones]

I think 125, 133, and 157 are wide open. I have no picks for those.

141: Mendez
149: I honestly think Johnson has a shot here. I have been as hard on him as anybody but I think he figures it out in one of the weakest weights this year.
165: messenbrink
174: Haines
184: Ferrari
197: Barr
285: bastida, kind of the same as Johnson he has to figure out his mental here

 

[Proton]

Sorry, I'll be that guy. Hope I'm off.

125: Lilledahl
133: Ayala
141: Mendez
149: Van Ness
157: Shapiro
165: Mesenbrink
174: Haines
184: Ferrari
197: Barr
Hwt: Ferrari

 

[TheJackWePack5]

All I know is, considering Shapiro’s health concerns of the past and watching Robideau, I’m considering switching 157 to him.

Was so impressed by him over a former AA.

 

[JM4CY]

Sorry, I'll be that guy. Hope I'm off.

125: Lilledahl
133: Ayala
141: Mendez
149: Van Ness
157: Shapiro
165: Mesenbrink
174: Haines
184: Ferrari
197: Barr
Hwt: Ferrari

I don't know if I can stomach two Ferrari's winning nattys.