Navigating the NCAA Wrestling Transfer Portal: A Comprehensive Overview

The NCAA wrestling landscape is constantly evolving, and the transfer portal has become a significant factor in shaping team dynamics and individual opportunities. This article delves into the intricacies of the transfer portal, examining its impact on collegiate wrestling, notable transfers, and the strategies employed by various programs.

The Transfer Portal: A Game-Changer

Developed in 2018, the transfer portal serves as a simplified process for athletes looking to switch teams throughout their college career. Within the sport of wrestling, transferring, and the transfer portal more specifically, has been a game-changer. Just six months before the portal emerged, Seth Gross won an NCAA title for South Dakota State, and since the development of the portal, two additional athletes - Nick Suriano and Max Dean - have won titles for teams they've elected to transfer to during their careers. The news in the offseason never seemed to stop and much of it centered around the transfer portal. While there are gripes about it (and many are understandable), it does add an element of intrigue around each collegiate season. The portal has created additional freedoms and opportunities for athletes and inspired great intrigue in the NCAA offseason. Some programs have had tremendous success with the transfer portal too, adding key elements to their team or filling a hole left behind by a graduating athlete. Regardless of a coach’s approach to the transfer portal, there are still rules in place in terms of how the portal can work.

Impact on Top Teams

The transfer portal isn’t just limited to a few select teams. The five teams atop InterMat’s preseason tournament rankings all had at least one major addition via the portal. This year’s crop of transfers was about as good as any ever. There were two national champions who switched teams. How about a four-time All-American transfer? Or some young stars with multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Key Transfers and Their Potential Impact

Here’s a look at some of the wrestlers that have swapped teams via the portal leading into the 2025-26 season. The criteria for these rankings were potential impact on the upcoming season and beyond.

AJ Ferrari (Bakersfield to ?): Even up a weight class, Ferrari will be a national title contender at 285 lbs. The 2021 NCAA champion, returned to college wrestling with Bakersfield and finished third in the nation at 197 lbs. The returning NCAA runner-up Cornhuskers could roll out a lineup that includes seven returning All-Americans and two past NCAA champions.

Read also: Anthony Robles: Overcoming Obstacles
Rocco Welsh (Iowa State to Penn State): Going from Zack Ryder to Rocco Welsh, Penn State has a wrestler who has made the NCAA finals once (in his only previous appearance at nationals). With Matt Campbell taking the head coaching job at Penn State, quarterback Rocco Becht plans to follow him from Ames to the Happy Valley, Pete Thamel reported on Jan 4.
Zack Ryder (To ?): The reason Ryder moved above many wrestlers with NCAA credentials is that he has four years of eligibility remaining.
Bernie Truax (Cal Poly to Penn State): It’s not every day that you can add a four-time All-American to your roster. Actually, after this year, I’m not sure it will be possible at all! The most accomplished NCAA wrestler transferring in to join the blue and white this season is Cal Poly’s Bernie Truax, a California native who finished on the podium in 2021, 2022 and 2023 at three different weights.
Richie Figueroa (To ?): Two former NCAA champions on the move! Richie Figueroa has one year of eligibility remaining and seemed poised to wrestle 133 lbs for the Cowboys.
Stiles (Oregon State to ?): Stiles was someone who really burst onto the scene for Oregon State in the second half of the season and ended up on the NCAA podium. He has three years of eligibility remaining, which helps his value here.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile
Nasir Bailey (To ?): Entering the 2024-25 season, Nasir Bailey was seen as one of the favorites at 133, as he was fourth in the country the previous year.
Volk (To Minnesota): The former Big 12 champion and All-American is returning to wrestle in his home state. With a potential high NCAA finish at 125 lbs, Volk could help lead Minnesota into NCAA team trophy territory.
McNeil (To Michigan): The move to Michigan makes sense on a couple of different levels for the three-time All-American McNeil. Lots of talent in the Wolverine room. He’s much closer to his hometown, Toronto. Michigan’s Cliff Keen Wrestling Club has a reputation for adding competitors who aren’t representing the USA internationally. McNeil has wrestled the preseason #1, Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), very tough.
Casey Swiderski (To Oklahoma State): A loaded Oklahoma State squad adds a past All-American in Casey Swiderski. As of now, he looks like the projected starter for the Cowboys at 149 lbs.
Stevo Poulin (To ?): Stevo Poulin and Vinny Zerban were not initially in the transfer portal; however, they jumped in after UNC head coach Troy Nickerson took the Army job. Each of these wrestlers were All-Americans in 2025. Each has a conference title from the Big 12.

Read also: The Return of College Football Gaming
Vinny Zerban (To ?): Stevo Poulin and Vinny Zerban were not initially in the transfer portal; however, they jumped in after UNC head coach Troy Nickerson took the Army job. Each of these wrestlers were All-Americans in 2025. Each has a conference title from the Big 12.
Dylan Fishback (NC State to ?): In two years at NC State, Dylan Fishback finished as an ACC runner-up twice and advanced to the NCAA Round of 12 both years. Could going back closer to home help Fishback get over the hump?
Alex Facundo (To Oklahoma State): Also joining Oklahoma State is Alex Facundo. He likely had some sort of a relationship with David Taylor, while he was at Penn State, and Taylor the NLWC. Facundo only really has had one year of collegiate action. In that season, he was seeded 13th at NCAA’s.
Rafael Hipolito (Virginia Tech to ?): Rafael Hipolito stormed on the scene for Virginia Tech and captured an ACC title at 157 lbs and the fourth seed at the 2025 NCAA Championships. Unfortunately, Hipolito only went 1-2 and was eliminated much earlier than he anticipated.
Dean Peterson (To Iowa): It’s not very often that Iowa missed out on the NCAA podium at 125 lbs, but that’s what happened in 2025. The Iowa staff went to the portal to ensure that doesn’t happen again and landed Dean Peterson.
Peyten Kellar (To Oklahoma): Another new face in the Sooner wrestling room is 2024 All-American Peyten Kellar. Kellar was fifth at the 157 lb weight class in 2024 and started the following year with a 10-2 record. He missed the remainder of the season due to eligibility concerns.
Lenny Pinto (To ?): Lenny Pinto has been a Big Ten finalist, seeded in the top eight twice, but is still looking for his first All-American honor. For the past two years, Pinto’s seasons have ended in the NCAA Bloodround.
Chance Lamer (To Nebraska): The graduation of 2025 NCAA champion, Ridge Lovett, left Nebraska with a hole at 149 lbs. Luckily, they added Chance Lamer, a two-time NCAA Round of 12 finisher. Lamer spent most of last season ranked in the top 15, but ended up going 1-2 at nationals.
Jordan Williams (Oklahoma State to Little Rock): A year ago, we wrote about Jordan Williams leaving Oklahoma State for Little Rock. At Little Rock, Williams won a Pac-12 title, went 26-6, and came up a match shy of the NCAA podium.
Christian Carroll (To Wyoming): Will a Wyoming room that has produced a handful of high-quality upperweights be the perfect spot for Christian Carroll?
Isaac Dean (To ?): 2024-25 was a breakout season for Isaac Dean. Previously, he had not made an NCAA Tournament.
Chris Cannon (To Michigan): Strictly based on past credentials, Chris Cannon should be much higher on this list. He isn’t because he’s been hampered by injuries for the last two years. During that time, Cannon has wrestled a combined 15 matches. Last year, he did compete at the Big Ten Championships, but wasn’t able to qualify for NCAA’s.
Cody Chittum (To Iowa State): Here’s another case of a wrestler transferring back to his home state in search of success. Cody Chittum was a two-time national qualifier for Iowa State and made the Big 12 finals once. He’s looking to break into the top ten (and beyond), as he’s been around #15 in the nation for most of his collegiate career.
David Evans (To Utah Valley): The formula for an All-American in year one at Utah Valley for Adam Hall was to find a graduate student who had been stuck behind some studs in a loaded Penn State room and give him a chance. It worked with Terrell Barraclough, who was third in the Big 12 and fifth in the nation. Could it work in 2025-26 with David Evans?

Notable Transfers Prior to March 19

The below wrestlers entered the transfer portal prior to it opening on March 19. These wrestlers are either graduate transfers or receive special privileges to enter because they wrestle for Cleveland State (who is dropping their program after this season).

Taye Ghadiali (Campbell to Michigan)
Kysen Terukina (Iowa State to North Carolina)
Zach Redding (Iowa State to NC State)
Diego Sotelo (Harvard to Michigan)
Kellyn March (ND State to ?)
Michael Squires (Princeton to Binghamton)
Ethan Ducca (Wyoming to Campbell)
Tate Geiser (Cleveland State to Edinboro)
Dylan Layton (Cleveland State to Rider)
Ethan Mitchell (Cleveland State to Glenville State)
Connor Holm (Cleveland State to Glenville State)
Peyton Costa (Cleveland State to Clarion)
Steven Duffy (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Kaiden Haines (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Nicholas Molchak (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Ronald Dimmerling (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Douglas Terry (Cleveland State to Life University)
Mason Cover (Cleveland State to CSU Bakersfield)
Parker Pikor (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Reese Stephen (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Xander Myers (Cleveland State to Ohio State)
Andrew Parish (Cleveland State to Findlay)
Connor Saylor (Cleveland State to Gannon)
Gavin Ricketts (Cleveland State to Bellarmine)
Landen Duncan (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Ruben Pina-Lorenzana (Cleveland State to Kent State)
Shane Cook (Cleveland State to Grand View)
Justin Mayes (Cornell to NYU)
Nathaniel Lapinski (Drexel to Duke)
Michael Schiffbauer (Bellarmine to ?)
Jake Manley (Cleveland State to ?)
Alexander Giuliani (Sacred Heart to ?)
Calum Price (Sacred Heart to ?)
Krayle Stormer (Oregon State to ?)
Ben Aranda (Cleveland State to ?)
Fidel Mayora (Michigan to ?)
Joey Lyons (Cleveland State to ?)

Additional Transfers

This offseason we'll be keeping track of every NCAA D1 wrestler that goes into the transfer portal, and letting you know where they transfer to.

Brady Benham (Iowa to Cloud State)
Ramon Salazar (Oklahoma State to Central Oklahoma)
Canon Acklin (Iowa State to Cal State Bakersfield)
Aurelius Dunbar (Penn State to Duke)
Mason Reiniche (Oregon State to Chattanooga)
Gabriel Schumm (ND State to California Baptist)
Jackson Herman (Illinois to Long Island)
Jude Randalll (Oklahoma to Arizona State)
Caden Horwath (Michigan to Iowa State)
Ismael Ayoub (Nebraska to Kent State)
Jeremy Manibog (Oklahoma State to Cal State Bakersfield)
Reese Courtney (Campbell to Grand View)
Jackson Baglio (NC State to Gardner Webb)
Jaxtyn Frost (California Baptist to Cal State Bakersfield)
Chris Earnest (Campbell to Kent State)
KJ Evans (Oklahoma to Northern Colorado)
Benjamin Alanis (N. Colorado to Arizona State)
Kade Sottolano (Edinboro to Lock Haven)
James Chance (George Mason to Kent State)
Kyle Snider (Kent State to Wheeling)
Patrick Mullen (Utah Valley to Wartburg)
Joshua Henderson (Ohio to Presbyterian)
Lucas Daly (Michigan State to Pittsburgh)
Bodie Morgan (Davidson to West Liberty University)
Domenic D'Agostino (Drexel to Long Island)
Anthony Streib (Bellarmine to Elmhurst)
James McDonnell (Binghamton to Ithaca)
Joseph Sentipal (Lock Haven to West Liberty University)
Brayden Brown (Ohio State to Mount St Joseph)
Cole Robertson (Ohio State to Drury University)
Mahonri Rushton (Utah Valley to Northern Colorado)
Hadyn Danals (Virginia to Gardner-Webb)
Brady Conlin (Rider to Campbell)
Ty Finn (Virginia Tech to NYU)
Colin Roberts (Edinboro to Lake Erie College)
Lane Kiser (Campbell to Cumberlands)
Cole Handlovic (Cornell to Stevens Tech)
Vitali Daniels (Edinboro to Washington & Jefferson)
Logan Heckert (Campbell to Cumberland)
Nathan Carnes (Presbyterian to Belmont Abbey)
Charleston Baglio (App State to Gardner-Webb)
Major Lewis (Bloomsburg to Lycoming)
Kaleb Wright (Campbell to Long Island)
Oliver Fairchild (Campbell to Clarion)
Matt Beem (Campbell to Buffalo)
Markos Mihalopoulos (Campbell to Wisconsin-La Crosse)
Brent Slade (Campbell to Wartburg)
Parker Lyden (Campbell to St Cloud State)
Robert Gardner (Clarion to Lycoming)
Logan Ferrero (Duke to Maryville University)
Matthew Hoelke (Rider to Newberry)
Ethan Finch (Pittsburgh to Clarion)
Matthew Rodriguez (Penn State to ?)
Tim Levine (Penn State to ?)
Jacob Luce (Northern Illinois to ?)
Nikolas Antonelli (Bloomsburg to ?)
DJ Shannon (Michigan State to ?)
Luke Thomas (Bloomsburg to ?)
Mahkyi Smith (Utah Smith to ?)
Richard Castro-Sandoval (CSU-Bakersfield to ?)
Savoy New (Davidson to ?)
Carter Schmidt (California Baptist to ?)
Ryan Nichols (Oklahoma to ?)
Jayden D'Ambrosio (Edinboro to ?)
Gavin Wilmoth (Clarion to ?)
Ira Jenkins (Michigan to ?)
Cade Gilbert (Little Rock to ?)
Cole Jackson (Cal Poly to ?)
Kyle Combs (Ohio to ?)
Nathan Furman (Presbyterian to ?)
Miles Anderson (Little Rock to ?)
Braxton Strick (SIUE to ?)
Jamikael Lytle (California Baptist to ?)
Kyle Dutton (Little Rock to ?)
Nicholas Hutchins (Arizona State to ?)
Marco Tocci (North Carolina to ?)
Riley Edwards (App State to ?)
Aiden Stuczynski (Ohio State to ?)
Stone Pomeroy (Kent State to ?)
Sam Harris (Gardner-Webb to ?)
Jacob Necessary (Ohio to ?)
Phil Chobot (Arizona State to ?)
Jahan Isaacs (Kent State to ?)
Branden Wentzel (Lock Haven to ?)
Milan Nikolin (Northern Colorado to ?)
Victor Jacinto (Oregon State to ?)
Jordan Decatur (Kent State to ?)
Aidan Shufelt (Buffalo to ?)
Aaron Riner (Campbell to ?)
Jaxen Wright (Oklahoma State to ?)
Caleb Edwards (Edinboro to ?)
Karl Shindledecker (Penn State to ?)
Jaydon Robinson (NC State to ?)
Erik Gibson (Penn State to ?)
Jacob Myers (Utah Valley to ?)
Daishun Powe (Northern Colorado to ?)
Boede Campbell (Ohio State to ?)
Javon Lewis (Kent State to ?)
Chase Nevills (Virginia to ?)
Jeremy Ginter (California Baptist to ?)
Cale Anderson (Wisconsin to ?)
Nathan Rickards (Virginia to ?)
Jack Janda (Drexel to ?)
Mason Mills (West Virginia to ?)
Shaymus Macintosh (Morgan State to ?)
Joseph New (Bloomsburg to ?)
Austin Scott (Arizona State to ?)
Ean Winchester (George Mason to ?)
Devan Carter (California Baptist to ?)
Tyler Stewart (Virginia Tech to ?)
Jack Parker (Bellarmine to ?)
Kurt Wehner (Rutgers to ?)
Jake Rickett (Franklin & Marshall to ?)
Aiden Allen (Virginia to ?)
Josiah Sandoval (CSU Bakersfield to ?)
Jace Palmer (North Carolina to ?)
James Fricchione (Penn State to ?)
John Delgarbino (Princeton to ?)
Aaron Ries (Campbell to ?)
Max Millin (Edinboro to ?)
Owen Uppinghouse (Missouri to ?)
Ben Beckett (Duke to ?)
Ryan Dimmick (Kent State to ?)
James Lledo (Lock Haven to ?)
Elise Brown Ton (Nebraska to ?)
Noah Luna (App State to ?)
Brock Hacker (Campbell to ?)
Philip Lamka (Campbell to ?)
Michael Trujillo (Campbell to ?)
Marcus Williams (Little Rock to ?)
Preston Spray (Missouri to ?)
Carter Nix (Morgan State to ?)
Greyson Harris (Hofstra to ?)

Quarterbacks in the Transfer Portal

Sam Leavitt (Arizona State to LSU)
Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati to Texas Tech)
Dylan Raiola (Nebraska to Oregon)
Josh Hoover (TCU to Indiana)
DJ Lagway (Florida to Baylor)
Drew Mestemaker (North Texas to Oklahoma State)
Rocco Becht (Iowa State to Penn State)
Deuce Knight (Auburn to Ole Miss)
Beau Pribula (Missouri to Virginia)
Aidan Chiles (Michigan State to Northwestern)
Anthony Colandrea (UNLV to Nebraska)
Alonza Barnett III (James Madison to UCF)

Running Backs in the Transfer Portal

Raleek Brown (Arizona State to Texas)
Wayne Knight (James Madison to UCLA)
Hollywood Smothers (N.C. State to Alabama)
Cam Cook (Jacksonville State to West Virginia)
CJ Baxter (Texas to Kentucky)
Turbo Richard (Boston College to Indiana)
Carson Hansen (Iowa State to Penn State)

Wide Receivers in the Transfer Portal

Cam Coleman (Auburn to Texas)
Chase Hendricks (Ohio to Cal)
Wyatt Young (North Texas to Oklahoma State)
Parker Livingstone (Texas to Oklahoma)
Jayce Brown (Kansas State to LSU)
Nick Marsh (Michigan State to Indiana)
Brett Eskildsen (Iowa State to Penn State)

Tight Ends in the Transfer Portal

Walker Lyons (USC to BYU)
Ben Brahmer (Iowa State to Penn State)
Gabe Burkle (Iowa State to Penn State)
Brody Foley (Tulsa to Louisville)

Offensive Linemen in the Transfer Portal

Wilkin Formby (Alabama to Texas A&M)
Trevor Buhr (Iowa State to Penn State)
Connor Stroh (Texas to Kansas)

Defensive Linemen/Linebackers in the Transfer Portal

Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State to Indiana)
John Henry Daley (Utah to Michigan)

Factors Influencing Transfer Decisions

Several factors contribute to a wrestler's decision to enter the transfer portal. These may include:

Coaching Changes: A coaching carousel can lead players to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Playing Time: Wrestlers may transfer to programs where they have a better chance of securing a starting position.
Academic Opportunities: Some athletes may seek programs that better align with their academic goals.
Location: Wrestlers may choose to transfer to schools closer to their hometowns or families.

Strategies for Programs

College wrestling programs employ various strategies when navigating the transfer portal:

Filling Gaps: Programs may use the portal to address specific needs in their lineup, such as replacing a graduating All-American.
Adding Depth: The portal can be used to bolster overall team depth and create competition within the wrestling room.
Targeting Specific Talent: Coaches identify and recruit wrestlers who fit their program's culture and wrestling style.

The Scholarship Landscape

A fully-funded college wrestling program has 9.9 scholarships for ten starting spots, and coaches have always had to make tough decisions about weight class depth and recruiting efforts.

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