It's the penultimate weight class in our series of redshirt reports, where we examine those who didn't compete at the varsity level last season but we expect will have an impact on the 2019-20 NCAA wrestling campaign. We'd like you to keep reading, but you have the freewill to decide not to if you so desire.

There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance; that life's an aimless dance. The wrestlers listed below could have chosen phantom fears and kindness that can kill. Instead, they chose the path that's clear, they have chosen to compete in the NCAA next season. 

All of which is quite fortuitous for us, as we get to enjoy watching them all season long!

2020 Redshirt Reports: 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165 | 174 | 184

Jacob Holschlag, Northern Iowa, Junior

When we last saw Holschlag take the mat, he was pinning Cornell's Ben Darmstadt (more on him shortly) in the fifth-place match of the 2018 NCAA Championship. Injuries kept Holschlag out of action for all of 2018-19, but when we were in Cedar Falls over the summer, every Panther we spoke to said that they expected Jacob to be back next season, healthy and better than ever.

Half of 2019's 197-pound All-Americans are out of eligibility, leaving room at the top of the weight class for newcomers. Holschlag's bruising style and indefatigable gas tank give him a good shot at climbing into the upper echelon. He's also one of three people to have beaten NCAA champ Anthony Cassar in the last last two years. One should not count out of the possibility of Holschlag giving head coach Doug Schwab back-to-back national champs following Drew Foster's Cinderella's run in Pittsburgh.

Watch Holschlag defeat Cassar at the 2018 Southern Scuffle:

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Ben Darmstadt, Cornell, Sophomore

Cornell head coach Rob Koll says we should expect Darmstadt and his praying mantis-like frame at 184 next season. But because we already started writing this before that interview happened, we'll keep Big Ben at 197 for now and just include our regular caveats that it's early August, and weight classes can and will change. 

Darmstadt showed plenty of promise while 'grey shirting' with the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club during the 2017-18 season. The lanky yet powerful Ohio native then came out guns blazing in the fall of 2018, racing to a sterling 34-1 record before suffering a semi-slide, ultimately finishing in sixth place. Whether at 184 or 197 going forward, Darmstadt figures to be a force late into the postseason once again. 

Watch Darmstadt win an EIWA title as a freshman over Lehigh's Chris Weiler:

Kyle Conel, Penn State, Senior

With his third-place finish in 2018, Kyle Conel would be the highest placer on this list. The big question is if Conel will enroll and then wrestle for the Nittany Lions. Kyle announced his desire to transfer to Penn State in the offseason after injuries kept him off the mat except for all but two matches last season. We don't have updated rosters from PSU yet, but should Conel wrestle for Penn State, he would slot in at 197 nicely following the departure of Bo Nickal, one of the most accomplished wrestlers in program history. 

Michael Beard, Penn State, Freshman

If Conel does not wrestle in Happy Valley next season, expect Michael Beard to fill the hole in the lineup. Beard delayed enrollment in a similar manner to a traditional Ivy League 'grey shirt', also known as taking a gap year, but competed unattached in opens, amassing an impressive 12-0 record. 

This would technically be Beard's true freshman year, however, giving head coach Cael Sanderson options when it comes to managing the 197-pound spot in his lineup. 

Tanner Sloan, South Dakota State, Freshman

The Jackrabbits suffered a tough blow when returning national champion Seth Gross missed nearly the entire season due to injury and then transferred to Wisconsin during the offseason. A program in search of a new talisman could do much worse than Tanner Sloan. 

Hailing from Alburnett, Iowa, Sloan announced his presence on the collegiate scene with authority. Tanner racked up a 24-2 record while redshirting, and picked up two victories over All-Americans (Josh Hokit and Jacob Warner) at the Midlands Championship along the way. 

Sloan continued his winning ways In the folkstyle offseason, placing second at the Junior U.S. Open at 97 kilograms, then avenging his Open finals loss to Buffalo's Sam Schuyler by defeating him twice in the Junior Wolrd Teams Trials finals. This earned Sloan the right to represent America in Estonia at the UWW Junior World Championships next week. Sloan is perhaps the most anticipated varsity debut of any 197-pounder in the NCAA.

Watch Sloan win the junior world team spot in Raliegh, NC:

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Joel Shapiro, Iowa State, Freshman

Shapiro had a very solid true freshman season for the surging Cyclones. Shapiro recorded a 25-5 record all at 184-pounds. Head coach Kevin Dresser had Shapiro bulk up over the summer in order to take over for four-time All-American Willie Miklus and allow rising senior Sammy Colbray to return to the 184-pound spot. 

The Cyclones are expected to start 2019 national qualifiers at every weight class except 157 and 197 where they have a pair of blue-chip redshirt freshman in David Carr and Joel Shapiro. The astounding turnaround in Ames continues. 

Cody Howard, Virginia Tech, Freshman

Hokie head coach Tony Robie has continued the trend of success begun under former head coach Kevin Dresser. This has been thanks in large part to bringing in new talent like Cody Howard, who has big shoes to fill after the departure of Tom Sleigh (and NCAA runner-up Jared Haught before him). However, there's little reason to doubt the Hokie coaching staff won't have Howard prepared for the challenge. 

Lucas Davison, Northwestern, Freshman

Senior Zach Chakonis may be sitting in pole position for the Wildcat starting 197-pound job, but it will be tough to keep Fargo champ Lucas Davison on the bench. The Indiana native beat a pair of national qualifiers on his way to a 9-4 record while redshirting. 

Hunter Ritter, Minnesotan, Senior

Maryland native Hunter Ritter will use his final season of eligibility wrestling for the Golden Gophers after three varsity seasons at Wisconsin where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier. 

Jayden Woodruff, Utah Valley, Freshman

Woodruff will be expected to represent the Wolverines at 197 after going 10-0 last season against mostly non-D1 competition.

Gage Braun, Northern Illinois, Freshman

Braun won 13 of his 14 matches last season against mostly non-D1 opponents. He is the favorite to start for the Huskies at 197 next fall. 

JJ Dixon, Oregon State, Freshman

Dixon went 13-5 while deferring eligibility, 2-2 against D1 wrestlers. The product of Tacoma Washington is expected to start for the Beavers next season at 197. 

Did we miss anyone? You can decide not to tell us, but remember, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!