Brad Wilson, a wrestling journalist with LehighValleyLive/Express Times in Pennsylvania, scored 29 points to win the journalist picks contest for the 2025 NCAA Div. I Championships in Philadelphia, Pa.
Participants received three points for every champion, two points for every runner-up and one point for a finalist in the wrong placement. This year, 39 journalists gave their picks for the contest. The tie-breaker (top five teams) was not needed this year to determine first place.
Wilson picked the champion and runner-up exactly correct in five weight classes (133, 141, 149, 165 and 184), also got the runner-up correct at 174 and also had one of the finalists at 197 and 285.
Andrew Spey of FloWrestling was second with 27 points. Spey had four weight classes with the champion and runner-up correct (133, 141, 165, 184). He selected the correct champion at 197, both of the finalists at 149 but in the wrong finish, and one of the finalists at 174 and 285).
Three journalists were tied for third place with 26 points, Luke Dreyer (WHTM-TV – PA), Tom Elling (Pennsylvania Roundup) and Dan Fickel (Amateur Wrestling News).
No journalist selected the correct champions at 125 pounds, 157 pounds or 285 pounds. Only four journalists selected Dean Hamiti of Oklahoma State at 174: Jim Kalin (Amateur Wrestling News), Dylan Morrison (MorWrestling), Bob Pruesse (Amateur Wrestling News) and Marcus Trevino (Stillwater News Press).
Click for all of the 2025 Journalist NCAA picks
2025 NCAA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR PICKS STANDINGS
29 – Brad Wilson (LehighValleyLive/Express Times – PA)
27 – Andrew Spey (FloWrestling)
26 – Luke Dreyer (WHTM-TV – PA), Tom Elling (Pennsylvania Roundup), Dan Fickel (Amateur Wrestling News)
25 – Justin Hoch (JHoch Photography), Mark Lundy (Lutte Lens), Dylan Morrison (MorWrestling), Willie Saylor (Mat Scouts)
24 – Bob Mayeri (Mayeri Photography)
23 – Bob Preusse (Amateur Wrestling News), Marcus Trevino (Stillwater News Press – OK)
21 – Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling), Jim Carlson (Harrisburgh Patriot News – PA), Sina Etamadi (Super Fan), Jim Kalin (Amateur Wrestling News), Steve Rotstein (Pittsburgh Union Progress – PA)
20 – Cameron Drury (Indiana Mat), Zach Miller (NorthJersey.com – NJ), Earl Smith (Intermat)
19 – AJ Grieves (AJ Grieves Photography), Matt Levins (The Hawkeye Newspaper – IA), Christian Pyles (FloWrestling), Jackson Towey (York North Gazette)
18 – Justin Basch (Baschamania), Jon Kozak (FloWrestling), KJ Pilcher (The Gazette – IA), Seth Preisler (Steelwood Radio – OH)
17 – Andrew Hipps (The Open Mat), Johnnie Johnson (Amateur Wrestling News), Derek Levendusky (American Women’s Wrestling), Eli McKown (Des Moines Register – IA), Nic Ryder (IAWrestle)
16 – Jack Hurley (The Fight Site), Jackson Shoe (Hickory Daily Record), Lars Underbaake (IAWrestle)
15 – Nate Cobler (Centre Daily Times – PA)
14 – Joe Letsche (Sports Radio 1310 – TX)
9 – Justin Barraso (Boston Herald/Undisputed)
Read More#
Oklahoma State's Dean Hamiti wins Amateur Wrestling News' Hammer Award for winning most competitive NCAA weight class
ESPN presents the NCAA Div. I Championships from Philadelphia, March 20-22; 3 nights of primetime wrestling & 19 hours of live coverage
Vote online daily for two-time Olympic champion wrestler John Smith for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame; stand up for wrestling!!!
Wide open race for NCAA Div. III team title this weekend; four teams have been No. 1 this season
