All-Americans in the Portal During the Portal/NIL Era
June 21st, 2021 is a day that will live in infamy for some wrestling fans and, perhaps, coaches. On the other hand, it’s also a day that student-athletes will appreciate. That was the day that the United States Supreme Court ruled that the NCAA can’t limit education-related benefits for student-athletes. Basically, collegiate athletes would be allowed to earn money based on their name, image, and likeness (NIL), which was previously a no-no.
The NIL ruling, along with the pre-existing transfer portal, completely changed the landscape of college athletics - some for the better, and in a lot of ways, it turned out to be opening Pandora's box.
Earlier today, we reported that 2023 NCAA Champion, Andrew Alirez, has entered the transfer portal. With a year of eligibility remaining and a likely high NCAA finish looming, Alirez should have no shortage of possible suitors and draw interest from some of the highest-profile schools in the country.
With Alirez’s name in portal, we’re taking a look at some of the notable wrestlers that had already earned All-American honors before entering the portal.
The wrestlers have been grouped by their first year at their transfer destination.
2024-25
Jacob Cardenas (Cornell/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 2x All-American (4,8), 2023 EIWA Champion
Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin/Oklahoma State)
Pre-Transfer: 2x All-American (6,6), 2023 Big Ten Champion
Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers)
Entered the portal, but will not transfer.
Lennox Wolak (Columbia/Virginia Tech)
Pre-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 6th Place, 2024 EIWA Champion
Andrew Alirez, Kyle Parco, and Wyatt Hendrickson are also past All-Americans that are currently in the transfer portal.
An asterisk indicates a wrestler has eligibility for the 2024-25 campaign.
2023-24
Stephen Buchanan (Wyoming/Oklahoma) *
Pre-Transfer: 2x All-American (3,8), 2022 Big 12 Champion
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 3rd Place, 2024 Big 12 3rd Place
Michael Caliendo (North Dakota State/Iowa) *
Pre-Transfer: 2023 NCAA 7th Place, 2023 Big 12 3rd Place
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 4th Place, 2024 Big Ten 3rd Place
Chris Cannon (Northwestern/Michigan) *
Pre-Transfer: 2x NCAA All-American (7,7), 3x NCAA Qualifier
Post-Transfer: Injured
Lucas Davison (Northwestern/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 2x NCAA All-American (5,6), 4x Big Ten 5th Place
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Runner-Up, 2024 Big Ten 3rd Place
Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 2022 NCAA 4th Place, 2020 Big Ten 3rd Place, 4x NCAA Qualifier
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Qualifier, 2024 Big Ten 6th Place
Will Feldkamp (Clarion/Iowa State)
Pre-Transfer: 2023 NCAA 7th Place, 2023 MAC Champion
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Qualifier, 2024 Big 12 6th Place
Jared Franek (North Dakota State/Iowa)
Pre-Transfer: 2023 NCAA 4th Place, 2023 Big 12 Champion, 2x NCAA Round of 12 Finisher
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 8th Place, 2024 Big Ten 4th Place
Austin Gomez (Wisconsin/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 2022 NCAA 4th Place, 2022 Big Ten Champion
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Runner-Up, 2024 Big Ten Runner-Up
Shane Griffith (Stanford/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 3x NCAA All-American (5,2,1), 2021 NCAA Champion, 2020 Pac-12 Champion
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 3rd Place, 2024 Big Ten Runner-Up
Brayton Lee (Minnesota/Indiana)
Pre-Transfer: 2021 NCAA 6th Place, 2021 Big Ten 3rd Place
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Qualifier, 2024 Big Ten 5th Place
Aaron Nagao (Minnesota/Penn State) *
Pre-Transfer: 2023 NCAA 8th Place, 2023 Big Ten Runner-Up
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA Round of 12, 2024 Big Ten 3rd Place
Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois/Oklahoma State)
Pre-Transfer: 2023 NCAA 8th Place, 2x MAC Champion, 4x MAC Finalist
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 5th Place, 2024 Big 12 3rd Place
Bernie Truax (Cal Poly/Penn State)
Pre-Transfer: 3x NCAA All-American (4,4,4), 2x Pac-12 Champion
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 5th Place, 2024 Big Ten Runner-Up
2022-23
Michael Beard (Penn State/Lehigh) *
Pre-Transfer: 2021 NCAA 7th Place, 2021 Big Ten 6th Place
Post-Transfer: 2024 NCAA 8th Place, 2024 EIWA Champion
Dom Demas (Oklahoma/Cal Poly)
Pre-Transfer: 2019 NCAA 4th Place, 2x Big 12 Champion
Post-Transfer: 2023 NCAA Qualifier
Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley/Wisconsin)
Pre-Transfer: 2021 NCAA 5th Place, 2018 NCAA Round of 12, 2021 Big 12 Runner-Up
Post-Transfer: 2023 NCAA Qualifier
Real Woods (Stanford/Iowa)
Pre-Transfer: 2022 NCAA 6th Place, 2021 NCAA Round of 12, 2x Pac-12 Champion
Post-Transfer: 2x All-American (4,2), 2023 Big Ten Champion
2021-22
Max Dean (Cornell/Penn State)
Pre-Transfer: 2x NCAA All-American (2,8), 2019 EIWA Champion
Post-Transfer: 2x NCAA All-American (7,1), 2022 NCAA Champion, 2022 Big Ten Champion
Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan/Penn State)
Pre-Transfer: 2021 NCAA 4th Place, 2x MAC Champion
Post-Transfer: 2022 NCAA Qualifier
Kyle Parco (Fresno State/Arizona State)
Pre-Transfer: 2021 NCAA 6th Place, 2021 Big 12 3rd Place
Post-Transfer: 3x NCAA All-American (5,4,8), 3x Pac-12 Champion
Nick Suriano (Rutgers/Michigan)
Pre-Transfer: 2x NCAA All-American (1,2), 2019 NCAA Champion, 2019 Big Ten Champion
Post-Transfer: 2022 NCAA Champion, 2022 Big Ten Champion