NCAA Division I wrestling has ten weight classes. A dual meet has one bout at each weight, and the NCAA Championships crown one champion per weight.
| Weight | 2026 NCAA champion | School |
|---|---|---|
| 125 lb | Luke Lilledahl | Penn State |
| 133 lb | Jax Forrest | Oklahoma State |
| 141 lb | Sergio Vega | Oklahoma State |
| 149 lb | Aden Valencia | Stanford |
| 157 lb | Landon Robideau | Oklahoma State |
| 165 lb | Mitchell Mesenbrink | Penn State |
| 174 lb | Levi Haines | Penn State |
| 184 lb | Max McEnelly | Minnesota |
| 197 lb | Josh Barr | Penn State |
| 285 lb | Isaac Trumble | NC State |
The top weight, 285 pounds, is the heavyweight class.
Making weight
Wrestlers weigh in before competition and must be at or under the limit for their class. Colleges also monitor safe weight descent through the season.
How weight classes work in practice
Wrestlers weigh in before each competition, and college rules include a hydration test early in the season to set the lowest weight each wrestler may compete at. A small growth allowance is added later in the season. Teams can move wrestlers between weights during the year, which is why lineups at the Southern Scuffle in January can look different from those at the NCAA Championships in March.
The ten weights also structure the dual meet: one bout at each weight, with the starting weight drawn at random before each meet. A team needs a strong wrestler at all ten weights to win dual titles, while a team with a few elite individuals can still score heavily at the NCAA tournament.
Which weights produced the 2026 storylines
| Weight | Storyline |
|---|---|
| 125 | Luke Lilledahl won the Big Ten and NCAA titles for Penn State |
| 133 & 141 | Oklahoma State freshmen Jax Forrest and Sergio Vega won NCAA titles unbeaten |
| 184 | Max McEnelly lost the Big Ten final on a tiebreaker, then won the NCAA title |
| 285 | Isaac Trumble won NC State's heavyweight title |
FAQ
How many weight classes are in college wrestling?
Ten, from 125 to 285 pounds.
What is the heaviest NCAA weight class?
285 pounds, often called heavyweight.