(134-141 lbs.) G.O.A.T MATNESS: NCAA Champs
Okay, here we go! We here at Wrestle MATNESS found ourselves twiddling our thumbs, bored stiff with inactivity this off-season, so we dreamed up a way to get the MATNESS firing again. We’ve created a new “fantasy” event format in which our users will determine the outcome through their popular votes. And for our first fantasy event…., G.O.A.T. MATNESS!
Don’t we all love to debate who’s the best ever? For GOAT MATNESS, we’ve gone and seeded the top NCAA champions from 1970 to the present day, based on what we consider to be their prime year and weight of competition. The criteria used to determine seeding was, in this order of importance:
# of NCAA titles
# of outstanding wrestler and/or Hodge trophies
Additional finals appearances
Additional AA’s placed (highest to lowest)
Prime season record
Prime season number of FALLS
Career Record
It’s been absolutely exhilarating taking the deep-dive into the stats of the NCAA’s all-time greats, getting a 10,000ft view of the historical landscape of the sport we love. The first criteria is the years of eligibility. We settled on 1970-present, the post-Gable era, for a couple of reasons. This timespan allots for enough eligible champions to fill a 32 man bracket. Also, 1970 is the year the NCAA went to 10 weight classes that directly correlate with the present day weight classes that came to be in 1999. It’s a bit of a challenge finding accurate stats for some of the wrestlers from the 70’s, although the NCAA HoF website has been a godsend. Some schools keep better records than others and their sites help to fill in holes, but we quickly learned that some stats, like falls, were not officially kept by the NCAA in the 70’s, so accuracy is not guaranteed. In fact, through our research, we learned Gene Mills’s fall record is self-proclaimed and Wade Schalles is still the certified record holder at 106 career falls.
We noticed some other interesting trends through our research as well. Pins seemed to “fall” out of favor (get it?) in the late 80’s, through the 90’s and into the early 2000’s. However, during this same time period we see an uptick in overall bout totals in their career records.
Start thinking of your picks and be sure you Join the MATNESS to receive an email when G.O.A.T MATNESS is ready to go!
G.O.A.T. MATNESS bracket - Quarterfinals results
FINAL results:
🥇 #4 John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0
🥈 #2 Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1
🥉 #1 Logan Stieber '15 (OHST) 29-0
John Smith (76%) over Tom Brands
FINAL matchup and Semifinals results:
#4 John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0 VS. #2 Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1
John Smith (67%) over Logan Stieber
Tom Brands (84%) over Mark Ironside
Semifinals matchup and Quarterfinals results:
#1 Logan Stieber '15 (OHST) 29-0 VS. #4 John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0
#6 Mark Ironside '98 (IOWA) 35-0 VS. #2 Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1
Logan Stieber (74%) over Nick Lee
John Smith (98%) over Mike Frick
Mark Ironside (64%) over T.J. Jaworsky
Tom Brands (88%) over Jesse Mendez
Quarterfinals matchups and 2nd Round results:
#1 Logan Stieber '15 (OHST) 29-0 VS. #9 Nick Lee '22 (PSU) 21-0
#5 Mike Frick '75 (LEH) 24-1-1 VS. #4 John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0
#3 T.J. Jaworsky '95 (UNC) 38-0 VS. #6 Mark Ironside '98 (IOWA) 35-0
#26 Jesse Mendez '24 (OHST) 29-2 VS. #2 Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1
Logan Stieber (99%) over Kenny Mallory
Nick Lee (81%) over Dean Heil
Mike Frick (67%) over Derek Moore
John Smith (100%) over Michael Lightner
T.J. Jaworsky (65%) over Doug Schwab
Mark Ironside (85%) over J Jaggers
Jesse Mendez (60%) over Jim Jordan
Tom Brands (99%) over Nate Gallick
2nd Round matchups and 1st Round results:
#1 Logan Stieber '15 (OHST) 29-0 VS. #17 Kenny Mallory '78 (MONT) 37-0
#9 Nick Lee '22 (PSU) 21-0 VS. #8 Dean Heil '17 (OKST) 32-0
#5 Mike Frick '75 (LEH) 24-1-1 VS. #12 Derek Moore '07 (UCD) 24-0
#13 Michael Lightner '01 (OU) 37-0 VS. #4 John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0
#3 T.J. Jaworsky '95 (UNC) 38-0 VS. #14 Doug Schwab '99 (IOWA) 38-4
#11 J Jaggers '08 (OHST) 30-6 VS. #6 Mark Ironside '98 (IOWA) 35-0
#26 Jesse Mendez '24 (OHST) 29-2 VS. #10 Jim Jordan '85 (WISC) 46-4
#15 Nate Gallick '06 (ISU) 35-0 VS. #2 Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1
Logan Stieber (98%) over Pat Neu
Kevin Mallory (59%) over Sean O’Day
Nick Lee (96%) over Clar Anderson
Dean Heil (86%) over Cliff Moore
Mike Frick (57%) over Kellen Russell
Derek Moore (85%) over Roger Weigel
Michael Lightner (81%) over C.D. Mock
John Smith (98%) over Carl Perry
T.J. Jaworsky (78%) over Andrew Alirez
Doug Schwab (80%) over Don Rohn
J Jaggers (82%) over Scott Lynch
Mark Ironside (98%) over Aaron Holker
Jesse Mendez (61%) over Teyon Ware
Jim Jordan (62%) over Kendric Maple
Nate Gallick (56%) over Jim Gibbons
Tom Brands (97%) over Tom Sculley
Aaron (CEO of Wrestle MATNESS) sits down with the guys from BEG Wrestling Podcast to discuss G.O.A.T. MATNESS: (134-141 lbs.)
G.O.A.T. MATNESS: NCAA Champs (134-141 lbs.) bracket.
Here is the list of competitors and 1st round matchups:
—Wrestler’s Name/‘Year (College) Season Record (#FALLS)(Career Record)—
Logan Stieber '15 (OHST) 29-0 (10FALLS)(119-3) VS. Pat Neu '77 (MINN) 37-6-2 (136-32-2)
Control is the name of the game for Logan Stieber. With a suffocating top game and stoic demeanor, this Buckeye used his best qualities to become a 4x NCAA Champion, only the 4th wrestler ever. From (2012-2015) Stieber owned his weight class whether at 133 or 141 lbs., with a career record of 119-3 (.975) winning percentage. In 2015, Logan led Ohio State to their 1st team title. After defeating Mitchell Port (BORO 🐐), Stieber was voted both the Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA’s and the Dan Hodge trophy winner. Next topic? Well… Pat Neu has one thing working for him, he was unseeded in the NCAA tournament in 1977, not considered a favorite. The Gopher then went on a magical run and completed UPSETS in every round to win the title. So, you’re telling me there’s a chance? Not really, if Stieber’s flawless technique and mat saavy doesn’t win it for him, certainly the recency bias will.
Kenny Mallory '78 (MONT) 37-0 (137-7-2) VS. Sean O'Day '89 (BORO) 32-5 (113-23-2)
These 17 vs. 16 seed matchups are always tough to call. We have two "small school" giants squaring off in this one. Kenny Mallory is an inspirational story, coming out of the streets of Boston, starting his wrestling career at a boys' club downtown as a high school junior, winning a Massachusetts state title within a year's time, and landing at Division III powerhouse Montclair in Jersey. Mallory progressed quickly and earned three D3 titles in the process, but it was his '78 junior campaign that lands him in the 🐐 tournament. With Division I Championships held close by at the University of Maryland that year, Mallory "took a shot at it." (Pun intended) He unleashed his patented "spinning single" that surprised the competition and delivered the D1 title to Mallory. His opponent has a similar rise to D1 stardom. Sean O'Day traveled just 20 minutes north to wrestle at a small Division I state school in Edinboro, PA. The BORO had a big-name coach in (🐐) Bruce Baumgartner but never a D1 champion until O'Day. The Fighting Scot was a 3X AA and 2X finalist, but it was when he made the drop to 134 from 142 lbs his senior year that put him "on top." Boy, this is gonna be a bloodbath.
Nick Lee '22 (PSU) 21-0 (2FALLS) (116-13) VS. Clar Anderson '83 (OKST) 30-4-1 (99-24-4)
Nick Lee asserted himself the instant he walked onto the Penn State campus, forcing Coach Sanderson to pull his redshirt to insert the freshman into a powerhouse lineup. Lee managed to AA his first two seasons, but it was his final 3 seasons, (due to COVID ‘20 season), when the Nittany Lion established himself as the best of the weight, winning the title both times the championships were wrestled. Solid in his technique, and a gas tank like no other, he only was bested twice in the 3 year span, finishing his tenure off with a perfect 21-0 senior tally. Lee will try to keep his NCAA win streak going as he takes on Clar Anderson of Oklahoma State. A 3X All American, the Cowboy pulled off an improbable championship win his junior year (1983), coming all the way out of the 5 seed. He’ll need to conjure up that kind of magic again if he’s hopes to upset the PSU star.
Cliff Moore '04 (IOWA) 33-2 (109-24) VS. Dean Heil '17 (OKST) 32-0 (2FALLS) (110-19)
Cliff Moore's path to a national title exemplified his grinding style, typical of most IOWA wrestlers. The 2x Big 10 Champion and 3x All-American is one tough cookie. As an aggressive Hawkeye, Moore used constant footwork and an arsenal of leg attacks. His inside-single leg technique involved a distinctive stabbing reach while charging forward to get behind his opponent's knee. Moore also relied on a blast double-leg takedown from distance, preferring to avoid close-quarter collar ties. Moore's championship run was impressive, emerging victorious from a bracket that included (🐐’s) Teyon Ware and Nate Gallick. While well-conditioned, Moore showed some vulnerability when wrestling from the bottom position. Uh-oh, the opponent’s ears just perked up. Dean Heil, a physically imposing presence at his weight class, built his success on defensive excellence and counter-wrestling. The 2x champion and 3x All-American from Oklahoma State possessed a strong double-leg takedown and incorporated elements of funk wrestling into his style. This Cowboy’s 2017 championship run included a notable victory over Anthony Ashnault (🐐). However, Dean’s championship journey was interrupted in the quarterfinals by a young man named Yianni, preventing what could have been Heil’s third title. Dean Heil's matches often followed a similar pattern: securing a narrow lead and then utilizing his superior defense and scrambling ability to control the clock. This strategy proved especially effective in close matches, earning him a reputation as a clutch performer. It’s always fun when Dan Gable and John Smith share the coaches corners!
Mike Frick '75 (LEH) 24-1-1 (86-9-4) VS. Kellen Russell '11 (MICH) 30-0 (4FALLS) (93-11)
Mike Frick grew up a Jersey boy, fetching royal-like stature among the big names in the state’s history. He didn’t stray too far from home when he made his way up to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania where he joined the Engineers. Those ‘70’s Lehigh teams were stacked, thanks in-part to Frick, who managed 3 AA’s and 2 national titles. He never put up the coveted “perfect season”, but did take home the Outstanding Wrestler award his junior year, nudging him up into the conversation for a GOAT title. But Kellen Russell wants to debate that kind of talk. Russell matches Frick with 3 AA’s and two titles of his own, however the Wolverine of Michigan did post a perfect 30-0 record his senior season, but doesn’t have a Hodge or OW trophy in his showcase. Think this one’s coming down to a takedown.
Roger Weigel '71 (ORST) 27-1 (78-12-2) VS. Derek Moore '07 (UCD) 24-0 (5FALLS) (92-21)
Roger Weigel made Oregon State history in 1971, defeating defending NCAA champion Dwayne Keller of Oklahoma State 15-7 to claim the 134-pound title. A 3x Pac-8 Champion and 2x AA, Weigel posted an impressive 33-1 record in his senior year and finished his Beaver career at 78-12-2. Coach Dale Thomas called Weigel's championship match "the finest single performance by a Beaver he had ever seen." In 2007, Derek Moore made UC Davis history by becoming the school's first NCAA champion. Moore dominated the top-seeded and previously undefeated Ryan Lang of Northwestern with a 17-2 technical fall in the 141-pound championship match at the Palace of Auburn Hills. A leg rider with length, Moore’s performance on top, reminiscent of Mitch Clark (🐐), earned him Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. Moore completed a perfect 24-0 senior season, marking another UC Davis first. Perhaps the leg ride is too much for Weigel or does “Old man strength” prevail?
Michael Lightner '01 (OU) 37-0 (6FALLS) (144-16) VS. C.D. Mock '82 (UNC) 35-0 (11FALLS) (108-9)
Michael Lightner established himself as one of Oklahoma's greats, reaching the NCAA finals three times under legendary coach Jack Spates. His signature moves included a sweeping single to the left side and a textbook inside-single, demonstrating exceptional skill at getting to his opponents' legs. Lightner's career peaked in 2001 when he defeated Doug Schwab in the finals, avenging his sophomore year loss to the same opponent. Competing during the golden age of 141-pounders alongside Carl Perry and Mark Angle, Lightner finished his senior season with a perfect 37-0 record and accumulated 144 career wins. Lightner’s opponent, who’s donning an amazing name, Conrad Davis Mock made history as North Carolina's first NCAA champion in 1982, but his path to wrestling greatness was unconventional. A former gymnast, Mock didn't start wrestling until his freshman year of high school. He showed remarkable dedication, running four-and-a-half miles to school each morning instead of taking the bus. Despite his late start, Mock's work ethic helped him rapidly close the experience gap. His collegiate career was exceptional: he went 35-0 in his championship season at 134 pounds, captured three ACC titles, and finished with an impressive 108-9 career record. Mock's national championship run, which included competing against notable wrestlers like 🐐’s Clar Anderson, and Jim Gibbons, helped establish him as one of North Carolina's most successful wrestlers, holding the third-highest winning percentage in school history. Toughness will not lack in this matchup, get the blood time clock ready!
Carl Perry '00 (ILL) 25-6 (98-33) VS. John Smith '87 (OKST) 47-0 (19FALLS) (154-7-2)
Carl Perry's defining moment came as the #8 seed when he stunned the wrestling world with a semifinal UPSET over Doug Schwab (🐐) before defeating Michael Lightner (🐐) in the finals. While not known for any single spectacular move, Perry's success stemmed from his versatility and mastery of fundamentals. The Illinois standout's exceptional positioning and consistency made him a threat in every match, exemplifying how being well-rounded can lead to championship success. John Smith stands as one of wrestling's most legendary figures, famous for revolutionizing the low single-leg takedown. His collegiate career at Oklahoma State was nothing short of extraordinary, compiling a 154-7-2 record. After suffering a finals loss to future U.S. Representative Jim Jordan in 1985, Smith launched an incredible 90-match winning streak to close his college career. His dominant 1987 tournament run showcased his brilliance: two falls, two technical falls, and two decisive victories (20-9, 18-4). I will let you in on a secret, I’m picking Smith here and it’s not just because I used to wear his shoes!
T.J. Jaworsky '95 (UNC) 38-0 (24FALLS) 124-10-1 VS. Andrew Alirez '23 (UNCO) 28-0 (7FALLS) (80-9)
As the NCAA wrestling landscape crossed over into the ‘90’s, the 134 lbs. weight class was dominated by 2 legendary athletes, claiming all titles available between the two of them, up through 1995. First it was (🐐) Tom Brands with 3 straight titles, followed by the grappler in this 1st round matchup. T.J. Jaworsky packed up his 4 Oklahoma state high school titles in his gym bag, and set off for Oklahoma State, where he wrestled as a freshman. Unfortunately, the looming ban levied against the Cowboys for the ‘93 season, forced Jaworsky to head for the East coast to wrestle for the Tar Heels of North Carolina in order to compete for a national title his sophomore season. The move paid off as “JAWS” rattled off 3 straight NCAA titles, racked up 58 career FALLS, and hence distinguished himself as UNC’s G.O.A.T. Now that we’ve justified Jaworsky’s rank, let me say, 3 seeds aren’t supposed to draw as difficult a matchup as the one we have here. Not unlike (🐐) Jesse Mendez, who incidentally falls on the same half of this bracket, Andrew Alirez has the ability to perform higher than his seed would suggest. Still active and hoping to win another title this season, he enters the tournament with an incomplete resume, therefore dropping him down to the #30 slot. But, Alirez can go with anyone on his feet, and if he can land a leg attack or two, we could have a HUGE upset on our hands. Btw, it will be interesting to see Mendez and Alirez battle it out for GOAT status in realtime, 2025!
Don Rohn '73 (CLAR) 20-1 (124-9-2) VS. Doug Schwab '99 (IOWA) 38-4 (3FALLS) (130-21)
Don Rohn, a 3x All-American was a fierce competitor for Clarion University. A four-year starter (1973-76), Don became Clarion's third NCAA champion in 1973 as he won the title at 134 pounds and posted a 20-1 record. Rohn ended his career with an overall record of 124-9-2, with 38 career pins. Unfortunately for Don, he gets America’s favorite college coach Doug Schwab in the first round. However, here in G.O.A.T. MATNESS, we only focus on the college career. Schwab is a 3x AA and the champ in ‘99, defeating Michael Lightner (🐐) in the finals. Schwab amassed 130 wins for the Gable-led IOWA Hawkeyes and as you can imagine, Doug is a sparkplug who wants to tangle. Great in the hand fight and always applying pressure, Schwab just wants to see what kind of man you are. He might give up a takedown here and there or get behind in some matches, nonetheless Schwab quickly hops on the “panther train” and chases you down. Do yourself a favor and search the comeback by Schwab versus Chris Marshall in the 1999 NCAA semifinal. INSTANT CLASSIC!
J Jaggers '08 (OHST) 30-6 (10FALLS) (105-32) VS. Scott Lynch '84 (PSU) 16-2 (82-16-1)
J Jaggers is an "Ohio Boy" through and through. A 4X Ohio state champion, Jaggers signed up to be a Buckeye, going on to win two national titles amidst a 3X All-American career that jump-started a historical run of team success and ultimately landed him a coaching position at his alma mater. Jaggers' length and speed lend themselves to low singles and a cradle series that'll rock any baby to sleep, but that's no baby over in the other corner. Scott Lynch wrestles in the PSU blue and white, and Nittany Lions don't like Buckeyes much. This Big Ten (and Ohio vs. PA) rivalry spans over 20 years of the sport, but that won't dull its intensity. Lynch believes, "...if you can't get out (from bottom), you deserve to stay down there and be punished." Watch what you wish for, because Jaggers is all about punishment on top, but Lynch has the mindset to stave it off. Also a 3X All-American, Lynch is considered the "perfect example" of a Penn State wrestler with his full commitment to being the best he can become.
Aaron Holker '02 (ISU) 32-7 (3FALLS) (102-31) VS. Mark Ironside '98 (IOWA) 35-0 (14FALLS) (127-10)
After (🐐) Tom Brand’s dominance of the 134lbs weight class came to an end in 1992, many a Hawkeye fan might’ve thought it would go unmatched for the foreseeable future. But it only took 2 years for Mark Ironside to bust onto the scene to challenge Brands’ GOAT status. Ironside wasted no time, AA-ing his freshman year (6th place), then dropping into the consolations after a sudden victory loss in the semifinals to take 3rd as a sophomore, to winning the title the next two years in dominate fashion. Simply a hammer 🔨 with a bottomless gas tank, Ironside projects the “IOWA style” to a tee, and will employ that style against his next opponent. So…, get ready Aaron Holker. Holker’s a long shot in this tournament, as improbable as his ‘02 championship run, when he put a legendary ride on (GOAT) Eric Larkin, countering the ASU star’s funk to claim the title. Holker started his college career at BYU, but after two underwhelming seasons, he transferred to ISU to join the Cyclones. The move proved to be a good career choice as he found himself victorious in the finals that year. Hope he chooses “top” to start the 2nd period and wears Ironside out a bit, or this could get away from him.
Teyon Ware '05 (OU) 33-3 (3FALLS) (112-15) VS. Jesse Mendez '24 (OHST) 29-2 (6FALLS) (48-11)
Teyon Ware may have drawn the worst matchup of any 7 seed in this GOAT MATNESS competition. The Sooner earned his place in the top 8 by wrestling to 4 All-American bids, 3 finals appearances, two of which he emerged as champion. Highly touted out of high school as a 4X undefeated state champion, Ware stayed home to wrestle at OU. He stayed hot, winning his first title as a freshman and again as a junior. He's fast-twitch but defensive, which may get him in trouble against this 26-seed sleeper. Jesse Mendez falls to this bout in the bracket because his career is grossly incomplete. Only a 1X champion (in 2024), but that championship came as a sophomore, after a 6th place finish as a true freshman, so we can expect much more hardware in his future. The Ohio State Buckeye's trajectory is only going up as he's proving in real time that he may be the GOAT. First-round matchups aren't supposed to be this close between a 7 and 26 seed; we'll see who proves worthy.
Kendric Maple '13 (OU) 31-0 (7FALLS)(127-25) VS. Jim Jordan '85 (WISC) 46-4 (156-28-1)
OU's Kendric Maple's wrestling style is as delicious as his namesake sounds, and that buttery, smothering approach took him all the way to a national title. Tree trunks for legs make him near impossible to score a leg attack on, and when he uses them from the offensive position, "look out." Undefeated in his '13 campaign, few looked as dominant doing it. But here comes Jim Jordan. The Wisconsin Badger is politicking for GOAT status on the ticket of "I stood a step above John Smith." A 2X champion, Jordan's devotion to the sport is undeniable, and maybe just the kind of commitment that gets him past such a formidable foe.
Nate Gallick '06 (ISU) 35-0 (1FALL) (106-23) VS. Jim Gibbons '81 (ISU) 32-6-2 (93-22-6)
Unfortunately, we have two Cyclones colliding in the first round but it will be interesting to see which way the Iowa State faithful lean. Gallick is a 3x All-American, 2x finalist and the NCAA Champion of 2006. Gallick hails from Sunnyside HS in Tuscon, Arizona, same high school as RBY (🐐). Gallick and Teyon Ware (🐐) had quite the rivalry, Ware defeated Nate in the ‘05 final and Gallick returned the favor in ‘06, avenging the loss. Across the resilite stands a man with a voice as smooth as silk and whom the whole wrestling community loves. Jim Gibbons, who often announces Big 10 matches alongside the incomparable Shane Sparks, has a nice-guy demeanor but do NOT let that fool you. This man is an absolute savage. A 3x All-American, Gibbons won his NCAA title in 1981 with an UPSET victory over Darryl Burley (🐐). Jim Gibbons is scrappy and fearless. He wants his hands on the opponent but stays away at the same time. Enthusiastic about the fight, Gibbons will bait his victims in with his open stance but proceed with caution when climbing into that spiderweb.
Tom Sculley '74 (LEH) 26-0 (59-11-3) VS. Tom Brands '92 (IOWA) 41-1 (17FALLS) (158-7-2)
April 9, 1968 marks the day that two twin boys were born in Omaha to one day wrestle for IOWA. Tom, and sibling Terry (🐐) Brands, defined Hawkeye mentality in the early 90’s. So much a student of Gable’s school, Brands eventually succeeded his mentor as general of the most decorated program of the modern era of college wrestling. But before turning to coaching, Brands did a lot of butt-kicking of his own. As a freshman 126-lber, he dropped a 0-1 heartbreaker to eventual champion Kendall Cross (🐐) in the semis, fought his way into the consolation final bout, ultimately losing another 1 pt. match to Jim Martin (🐐) to take 4th. It would be ALL Brands from that point on. 3 straight titles, with only 3 losses over the next three years, and most of his bouts weren’t even close. He outscored his opponent in the ‘91 semis by a score of 33-19😳! Two of those titles came off the back of Alan Fried (🐐 and considered one of the best USA wrestlers of the era). Regardless of what happens in this tournament, Tom secures a GOAT title for INTENSITY. So who’s the next “lucky” contestant? Enter Tom Sculley. Sculley was part of those dynamic Lehigh teams of the ‘70’s, preceding another (🐐) competitor Mike Frick, for whom he left the 134 lbs. weight class to, when graduating in ‘74. That senior season was the Mountain Hawk’s breakthrough, as he went 26-0-1 and capped it off with a national title. Question is, “…is Sculley’s BEST good enough to catch a superior Brands in an early round trap match?”