The high school wrestling season is a time of intense competition, where young athletes showcase their skills and dedication. To identify the states that stand out in the world of high school wrestling, it's essential to consider several key factors. These include team rankings, the depth of individual talent, and the level of wrestling participation relative to the state's population.
The high school wrestling season is almost here, and to get you ready we're introducing The Flo 40 - the list of the top teams in the country. Perennial powers Wyoming Seminary and Blair Academy and star-studded Pennsylvania forces Bishop McCort and Faith Christian Academy headline the preseason rankings.
The Flo 40 team rankings are based on current-year rosters and current-year data once we get into the season.
The BEST Wrestling States in America
Top High School Wrestling Teams
Here's a look at some of the top high school wrestling teams across the nation:
- Wyoming Seminary (PA): A perennial powerhouse known for its strong wrestling program.
- Blair Academy (NJ): Another top contender with a history of producing exceptional wrestlers.
- Bishop McCort (PA): A star-studded team from Pennsylvania, showcasing the state's wrestling talent.
- Faith Christian Academy (PA): Another strong Pennsylvania team making waves in high school wrestling.
- Joe'sNJ Regional, NJ: Powerful squad led by nine returning state medalists.
- Gilroy CA: Led by six nationally ranked wrestlers, including three in the top five.
- St. John Bosco CA: Talent-rich California squad features five ranked wrestlers.
- Lake Highland Prep FL: Florida power features six nationally ranked wrestlers.
- Poway CA: Traditional California power is loaded with depth.
- St. Edward OH: Eight returning state medalists lead a loaded lineup.
- Perrysburg OH: Four state finalists are back, including pound-for-pound #1 Marcus Blaze.
- Edmond North OK: Four ranked wrestlers return from strong team.
- Detroit Catholic Central MI: Nine state medalists are back for tradition-rich Michigan squad.
- Christian Brothers Academy NJ: Three ranked wrestlers lead a squad with nine returning state qualifiers.
- Buchanan CA: Traditional California power has a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers.
- Brownsburg IN: Defending Indiana state champs have three nationally ranked wrestlers.
- Clovis CA: Perennial California contender has three ranked wrestlers.
- Bethlehem Catholic PA: Eight state qualifiers are back from 2024 PIAA AAA championship team.
- Camden County GA: Georgia state champs have eight wrestlers back who placed third or better in '24.
State Championship Season
State championship season is in full swing across the country as the 2024-25 high school wrestling season nears its end. Illinois and Iowa have already kicked off their state tournaments, which began late this week and will conclude on Saturday.
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Several other states will also crown champions this weekend, including Indiana, which hosts its single-class state tournament, along with Arizona, Nebraska, and Tennessee’s public schools. Meanwhile, prep schools that participate in the National Prep Tournament held their Tennessee state championship last week.
This week, those prep teams from Tennessee and across the nation will head to Stabler Arena at Lehigh University for the National Prep Tournament, featuring top-ranked programs such as No. 3 Wyoming Seminary (Pa.), No. 4 Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), No. 7 Malvern Prep (Pa.), and No. 9 Blair Academy (N.J.).
➡️ We’ve published a full preview of the National Prep Tournament for an in-depth look at the top competitors.
In Michigan, one of the final states to host its dual meet state championships, teams will battle for supremacy this weekend. Michigan's unique schedule sees teams stepping out of the individual postseason for state duals, before immediately returning to the next stage of the individual tournament.
Following an intense finish at the Oklahoma 6A State Duals, wrestling fans will have to wait another week for a highly anticipated rematch between No. 15 Stillwater and No. 16 Edmond North at the Oklahoma state tournament, which follows this week's regional competitions. Stillwater will represent the East Region, while Edmond North will emerge from the West.
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In California, the individual state tournament is just one week away, with Masters tournaments taking place across the state. No. 13 Buchanan and No. 17 Clovis are set to renew their Central Section team rivalry at the Central Section Masters, following Buchanan’s recent division title win.
Three of the most competitive wrestling states-New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania-are also two steps away from their state tournaments.
The most significant ranking change this week comes with unfortunate news-No. 2 Nicolas Sahakian of St. John Bosco will not compete in the California state tournament series. Sahakian, who had a late start to the season due to injury, re-aggravated it during the finals at the 5 Counties tournament in his match against now No.
Depth of Individual Talent
A crucial aspect of determining the strength of high school wrestling in a state is the depth of top-quality individual wrestlers. These individuals are often products of strong programs and a competitive environment. One method for assessing this is by analyzing national high school Top 20 individual rankings, such as those provided by The Open Mat (TOM).
To quantify this, a point system can be used, awarding points for each individual appearing in the rankings. For instance, 10 points can be given for each ranked individual, with additional points awarded based on their specific ranking (e.g., 20 points for #1, 19 for #2, and so on). This provides a comprehensive measure of individual talent within each state.
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Wrestling Crazy Ranking
To account for the varying populations of different states, a "Wrestling Crazy" ranking can be calculated. This involves determining the number of points scored for each state per 1 million residents. This metric provides a per capita assessment of wrestling quality, revealing how "into" wrestling each state is, regardless of its overall population.
Top Ranked Wrestlers by Weight Class
Below are some of the top-ranked high school wrestlers in various weight classes:
- 1-Freddy Bachmann (Faith Christian Academy, PA)
- 1-Leo DeLuca (Blair Academy, NJ)
- 1-Anthony Knox (St. John Vianney, NJ)
- 1-Jax Forrest (Bishop McCort, PA)
- 1-Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, OH)
- 1-Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort, PA)
- 1-Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy, CA)
- 1-Collin Gaj (Quakertown, PA)