Two of the highest impact off-season transfers will square off on the first day of the season when #3 Lachlan McNeil and #5 Casey Swiderski at 149 lbs at the NWCA All-Star Classic. This will be the first meeting between this pair of All-Americans, and it's a fitting bout to kick off the NCAA D1 men's wrestling portion of the event.
Nov 1, 6:00 PM CDT
Swiderski is entering his first season as an Oklahoma State after round of 12 and 7th place finishes for Iowa State in 2023 and 2024 respectively. He suffered an injury last season that kept him out of the lineup. Now, Swiderski could play a key role for a Cowboy squad that is almost entirely revamped from a year ago.
Newly minted Michigan Man Lachlan McNeil enters his first season of Big Ten competition after graduating from North Carolina last spring. He enters his final season of competition with three All-American finishes on his resume, two at 141 lbs and the third at 149 lbs a season ago.
Swiderski and McNeil's first meeting is an important test for both athletes. Not only will it set the tone for potential future meetings, it could be a preview of a 2026 NCAA semifinal or even final bout.
This year's title at 149 lbs appears to be wide open, especially after last week's news that 2024 NCAA champ and two-time finalist Caleb Henson will be redshirting. Now, the weight class is guaranteed to have two finalists who will reach the Saturday night stage for the first time in their careers. Since Swiderski and McNeil are two of only five wrestlers at 149 lbs who have reached the All-American podium at NCAAs, both are well equipped to make a run at the title.Â
2025 NWCA All-Star Classic Bout Order
Women's Matches
138 lbs - #1 Zaynah McBryde, Life vs  #1 Katie Lange, Grand Valley
145 lbs -  #1 Esther Kolawole, William Penn vs  #2 Reese Larramendy, Iowa
160 lbs -  #1 Latifah McBryde, Life  vs  #1 (145) Bella Mir, North Central
117 lbs -  #2 Salyna Shotwell, Life vs  #1 Sage Mortimer, Grand Valley
D2 vs D3 Match
141lbs - #1 Mark Samuel, Roanoke vs #1 Khyvon Grace, West Liberty
NCAA D1 Men's Matches
149lbs - #5 Casey Swiderski, Oklahoma State vs #3 Lachlan McNeil, Michigan
174lbs - #3 Simon Ruiz, Cornell vs #8 Lenny Pinto, Rutgers
197lbs - #3 Joey Novak, Wyoming vs #4 Stephen Little, Little Rock
125lbs - #4 Eddie Ventresca, VA Tech vs #5 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh
157lbs - #5 Ty Watters, West Virginia  vs #4  Daniel Cardenas,  Stanford
165lbs - #4 Hunter Garvin, Â Stanford vs #7 Max Brignola, Lehigh
184lbs - #4 Jaxon Smith, Maryland vs #7 Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State
285lbs - #3  Yonger Bastida , Iowa  State vs #4 Taye Ghadiali , Michigan
133lbs - #1 Lucas Byrd, Illinois vs #7 Dylan Shawver, Rutgers
141lbs - #7 Anthony Echemendia , Iowa State vs #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State
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