#1 Greg Kerkvliet vs #2 Yonger Bastida is one of the most anticipated matches of the NCAA tournament. However, this entire weight from the quarterfinals on will be must-see TV! Before diving deep into this weight class preview, I encourage you to go check out all of the awesome preview content surrounding the NCAA Championships HERE.

Complete FloWrestling 285-pound rankings

2024 NCAA wrestling brackets

More NCAA Weight Class Previews: 125 lbs | 133 lbs | 141 lbs | 149 lbs | 157 lbs | 165 lbs | 174 lbs | 184 lbs | 197 lbs

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2023 All-Americans

1. Mason Parris, Michigan
2. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State
3. Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force
4. Tony Cassioppi, Iowa
5. Lucas Davison, Northwestern
6. Zach Elam, Missouri
7. Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State
8. Trent Hillger, Wisconsin

2024 Top Eight Seeds

1. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State
2. Yonger Bastida, Iowa State
3. Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force
4. Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State
5. Nathan Taylor, Lehigh
6. Zach Elam, Missouri
7. Taye Ghadiali, Campbell
8. Owen Trephan, NC State

The Bracket

The Favorites

#1 Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State

#2 Yonger Bastida, Iowa State

Greg Kerkvliet and Yonger Bastida are two of the 11 (10 if you include Mekhi Lewis' loss at the NWCA All-Star Classic) undefeated wrestlers going into the NCAA Championships. As they say in the business - somebody’s O has to GO. Greg Kerkvliet is the #1 seed and the odds-on-favorite to win. While Yonger Bastida went 17-9 and failed to All-American last year while competing at 197 lbs, Greg Kerkvliet made the national finals and only lost to one man - Dan Hodge Trophy winner Mason Parris. However, the move up to 285 has proved to be the right one for Bastia. This season the Cuba native has gone 24-0, has a 70% bonus rate and has wins over #3, #4, #6 (X2), #9, #10, #11, and #12.

I have previously incorrectly stated that Bastida should have gotten the #1 seed in the matrix over Kerkvliet.

@rader_jd @CPyles8 JD -- Kerk beat Yonger in the matrix -- they split %, HTH, Com. Opp., Conf. [30/30]-- Kerk had Coaches and RPI 20/0 Yonger wins QW 5/15 -- its 55/45 Kerk.

— Robert Finkel (@fink26) March 18, 2024

Neither path is super easy though. Kerkvliet will have to go through the man he defeated in the Big Ten finals - Nick Feldman in the quarters and then Cohlton Schultz in the semis. The last time Schultz and Kerkvliet met was in the 2021 NCAA consi quarters. A bout Schultz won 14-8.

Bastida will have to go through Lucas Davison in the quarters and then Wyatt Hendrickson once again in the semis. Bastida isn’t lacking confidence though.

2 Days out. See you all in KC. Let’s get it done. 🌪️✈️😅#AirBastida #WrestlingCommunity #havefun #unstoppable #AreYouReady pic.twitter.com/MncXl6NiIp

— Yonger Bastida Pomares (@BastidaYonger) March 19, 2024

You can run, but you can’t hide. #seeyouinmarch #Iamcoming
Air Bastida✈️ pic.twitter.com/TLDpx8zyhd

— Yonger Bastida Pomares (@BastidaYonger) February 27, 2024

The Contenders

#3 Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force

#4 Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State

#5 Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

As mentioned above, Hendrickson has already suffered losses this season to the two top seeds. However, there is a caveat to give Air Force fans hope. When Kerkvliet dismantled Hendrickson 18-2 in November, Hendrickson was coming off of an injury and not 100%. 

Watch Kerkvliet and Hendrickson’s NWCA All-Star match below.

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When Bastida defeated Hendrickson 10-7 in the Big 12 finals two weeks ago, five of Bastida’s points came off of one exchange. This fact even led to both Christian Pyles and Ben Askren picking Hendrickson over Bastida in their official NCAA predictions.

Cohlton Schultz is coming into NCAAs with a very limited schedule as he has been focusing on his Greco-Roman Olympic aspirations. He has a 9-1 record with the lone loss being a 4-3 loss to Bastida in January in his first match of the season. If you’re an ASU fan, there is still hope. Cohlton’s loss to Bastida was his first match of the season and he was still focusing on Greco + the last time he and Kerkvliet wrestled, he won.

Nathan Taylor is a slight tier below Hendrickson and Schultz, but I included him because he’s tough. He’s 23-3 this year, but two of those losses came to Kerkvliet and the other was to a fully healthy Dayton Pitzer. He hasn’t lost since December 3rd. The last time Taylor and Schultz met, which was in 2023, it was a one-point match.

Sleepers & Landmines

#10 Lucas Davison, Michigan

#14 Boone McDermott, Oregon State

#15 Lewis Fernandes, Cornell

Sleepers and landmines are hard to predict at heavyweight as it is often one of the more chalk weights at NCAAs hence why I have three top-15 seeds as “landmines” - something I would not normally consider a landmine. Here’s my rationale, however. Very few people outside of Ann Arbor or Indiana (Davison’s home state) are giving him a chance against Bastida in the quarterfinals. I am also picking Bastida to win, but this is a classic trap match. Bastida can’t overlook Davison with Hendrickson and Kerkvliet looming in the semis and finals.

Although I’ve got Boone McDermott and Lewis Fernandes both losing in the second round, I like their backside draws and have them both making the bloodround - where anything can happen. If you’re looking for a double-digit AA pick - they're both decent options alongside Davison.

Early Round Matches To Watch

Nick Feldman vs Owen Trephan

This is a rematch from December in which Trephan won 8-6. However, Feldman has looked a lot better as his freshman year as gone on, hence why he is a higher seed. Can the Young Buck flip the result from the dual?

Taye Ghadiali vs Lucas Davison

A 2X All-American, Davison has the past accolades advantage over Campbell’s Taye Ghadiali. He is also 1-0 against him in his career. However, Ghadiali is wrestling better than he ever has in his career and is now seeded higher than Davison. Can the Camel prove the seeding committee right and make a push to bring home Campbell’s second-ever All-American honors? Nathan Kraisser was the program’s first and only in 2017.

Predictions

1. Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State

2. Yonger Bastida, Iowa State

3. Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force

4. Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State

5. Nick Feldman, Ohio State

6. Lucas Davison, Michigan

7. Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

8. Zach Elam, Missouri

R12. Lewis Fernandes, Cornell

R12. Boone McDermott, Oregon State

R12. Yaraslau Slavikouski, Rutgers

R12. Owen Trephan, NC State