Insider: Powerade Preview and Analysis

Dec 26, 2012 by Willie Saylor

FloInsider: 2013 Powerade Preview and Analysis Willie Saylor, Editor

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FloInsider: 2013 Powerade Preview and Analysis

Willie Saylor, Editor

It seems we’ve had the perfect storm of major tournaments this year. Ironman was as good as it’s always been. Beast saw an uptick in elite wrestlers. And Powerade is chock full of compelling match-ups.

There are several must-see (potential) bouts. Could you dream a better match-up than Marsteller-Wiercioch? How about the loaded 126lb class where Joey McKenna makes his return and Connor Schram drops down to be met by two (Kemerer and Diehl) Super 32 Champs?

How about a Super 32 rematch between the man-child Kyle Snyder and the freakishly athletic Thomas Haines? The two could go down in history as the best upperweight wrestler in the history of the the country and the best upperweight in the long history of PA.

Below we’ll take your through the weight-by-weight breakdown, listing the contenders and giving a sampling of credentials. I’ll then make my fearless forecast. First though, I ran some Powerade 2012 data:

By The Numbers:

Returning Champs: (10*)

Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC

Mike Kemerer, Franklin Regional

*Solomon Chishko, Canon-Mac - Out with injury

Russ Parsons, Blair

Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale

Cody Wiercioch, Canon-Mac

Dakota Deslauriers, Burrell

Jake Hart, Hampton

Thomas Haines, Solanco

Brooks Black, Blair

Returning Runners-Up: (5*)

Ricky Cavallo, Hempfield

Dalton Macri, Canon-Mac

*PJ Klee, Blair - Inactive

Dylan Milonas, Blair

Alex Campbell, Canon-Mac

Returning Placers: (47)

Nationally Ranked Wrestlers: (45)

106lbs:

2007 Finals: Nico Megaludis, Frankilin Reg. dec. Devin Carter, CBurg, 6-3

Last Year’s Finals: Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC, dec. Ricky Cavallo, Hempfield, 6-5

Contenders:

#4-Fr. Luke Pletcher, Greater Latrobe, Pa - Super 32, Fila, FloNats Placer

#13-Fr. Alex Mackall, Walsh Jesuit, OH - Ironman 4th

#15-Sr. Tommy Aloi, Forest Park, VA - Fargo AA, Beast and Powerade placer

HM-So. Devan Brown, Saegerstown, Pa - Ohio State 3rd

Jr. Brendan Price, Canon-Mac, Pa - Reno 3rd

So. Logan Grass, Huntington, WV - State Runner-Up

Fr. Jacob Lizak, Parkland - KOM 5th

Jr. Connor Sheehan, Solanco, Powerade 8th

Fr. AJ Buckiso, Peters Township

Notes: Pletcher and Mackall are the big names here. But Aloi and Price have been wrestling very well too. The ‘sleeper’ in this group is Brown, who transferred across the border after wrestling his Freshman year at Steubenville, OH last year. He’s tough, and one of the best Soph’s in the country.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Mackall 2. Pletcher 3. Aloi 4. Brown

113lbs:

2007 Finals: Shane Young, Penn Trafford, wbf. Simon Rice, CD, 5:23

Last Year’s Finals: Mike Kemerer, Franklin Reg. dec. Dalton Macri, CM, 11-5

Contenders:

#11-Jr. Ethan Lizak, Parkland, Pa - State Champ, Fargo AA, KOM Champ

#15-So. Chaz Tucker, Blair Academy, NJ - Beast Placer, Fargo Runner-Up

#20-So. AC Headlee, Waynesburg, Pa - Fargo AA, Beast 4th

HM-So. Ricky Cavallo, Hempfield - Powerade Runner-Up

HM-So. Jordan Allen, Huntington, WV - Powerade 8th, State Champ

So. Ryan Friedman, St. Paul’s, MD - Powerade 4th, Prep 3rd, Beast 7th

So. Connor Ziegler, Moeller, OH

Fr. Cole Allen, Brookville, Pa

Notes: The top four are all familiar names. Tucker beat Cavallo last week, 7-3, at the Beast en route to his 3rd place finish. He also beat Headlee in both the quarters and in consi finals.

Lizak beat Pletcher in the semi’s en route to his King of the Mountain title.

The kid to watch out for is Allen, who posted a nice win in a dual over SPG’s Eli Seiple (an Ironman placer) on the first weekend of the season.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Tucker 2. Lizak 3. Headlee 4. Allen

120lbs:

2007 Finals: Nico Cortese, Hempfield, dec. Mike Garafalo, CF, 6-5

Last Year’s Finals: Godwin Nyama, Brashear, dec. PJ Klee, Blair, 6-3

Contenders:

#3-So. Matt Kolodzik, Blair Academy, NJ - Fargo Champ, Ironman and Beast Runner-Up

#5-So. Sam Krivus, Hempfield, Pa - Beast 4th, Powerade 3rd, State 3rd, Super 32 Placer

#14-Jr. Dalton Macri, Canon-Mac, Pa - Fargo, Super32, Ironman, Reno, State Placer

#19-Sr. Brandon Thompson, Solon, OH - State Champ, Powerade 5th

#20-So. Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC, Pa - Returning Champ, Fargo AA, 2x Ironman Placer

Sr. Jarred Simpkins, Huntington, WV - Powerade 6th, State 3rd

So. Phil Mary, Peters Township, Pa

Fr. Shaun Wilson, Waynesburg, Pa

Notes: Really good group here, where almost anything can happen. Macri has been wrestling really well with great showings at Ironman and Reno. But I think this will be decided between Krivus and Kolodzik.

Pay attention to Shaun Wilson. He might not challenge for a title here, but he’s one to watch for in the future.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Krivus 2. Kolodzik 3. Joseph 4. Macri

126lbs:

2007 Finals: Dane Johnson, Shady Side, dec. Ian Squires, CF, 5-4

Last Year’s Finals: Jimmy Gulibon, Derry, dec. Max Hvolbeck, Blair, 7-2

Contenders:

#2-Jr. Joey McKenna, Blair Academy, Pa - Fargo, Fila Champ

#3-Sr. Ryan Diehl, Trinity, Pa - 3x State Champ, Super 32 Champ

#6-Sr. Connor Schram, Canon-Mac, Pa - 3x State Finalist, Fargo AA, Ironman Placer

#13-So. Michael Kemerer, Franklin Reg., Pa - Returning Champ, 2x Super 32 Finalist

HM-So. Cole Walter, Mifflinburg, Pa - State 3rd, KOM Runner-Up

Sr. Matt Willever, Benton, Pa - State Placer

Jr. Jack Mutchnik, St. Paul’s, MD - Powerade 8th, Prep 4th

Jr. Ty Buckiso, Peters Township, Pa

Fr. Lucas Simpkins, Huntington, WV

Fr. Nick Monico, Saegerstown, Pa

Notes: What a monster weight. It has the cream at the top and the depth to back it up. Schram and McKenna went 2-1 last summer in favor of McKenna in three epic freestyle bouts. Kemerer beat Diehl, who is coming off a Beast finalist performance, in Super 32 semi’s in OT.

Those guys are at such a high level, I don’t see anyone upsetting them prior to the semi’s, but guys like Walter and Willever should make them work for it. Walter was just a Runner-Up to Nolf up at 132 at the King of the Mountain.

The question of this bracket is what kind of form McKenna will be in after his long lay off. He was injured at Cadet Worlds in August and hasn’t wrestled since.

Willie’s Picks: 1. McKenna 2. Schram 3. Diehl 4. Kemerer

132lbs:

2007 Finals: Josh Kindig, Blue Mountain, dec. Chad Frnakhouser, Indian Valley, 7-2

Last Year’s Finals: Mark Grey, Blair, dec. Tyson Dippery, CD, 4-2

Contenders:

#4-Jr. Jason Nolf, Kittaning, Pa - State Champ, Super 32 3rd, KOM Champ

#11-Sr. Dennis Gustafson, Forest Park, VA - Super 32 and Beast Placer

Jr. Tyler Smith, Franklin Reg., Pa - State 5th, Powerade 3rd

Jr. Mikey Kostandaras, Walsh Jesuit, OH - Powerade 5th, State 3rd

Sr. Brandon Brunner, Baylor, TN - 3x State Champ

Sr. Nick Gibson, Erie McDowell, Pa

Notes: This potential final should be a wild one with two guys who really like to mix it up: the always agressive Gustafson and the incredibly funky Nolf. It has ‘highlight’ written all over it. It’swould be a rematch of a Super 32 bout that Gustafson dominated.

Also pay attention to two rather under-the-radar JR’s in Smith and Kostandaras. Both are more than capable of pulling an upset somewhere along the road.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Nolf 2. Gustafson 3. Kostandaras 4. Smith

138lbs:

2007 Finals: Colin Johnston, Canon-Mac, dec. Shane Welsh, Burrell, 5-2

Last Year’s Finals: Todd Preston, Blair, dec. Nate Skonieczny, Walsh, 2-1 OT

Contenders:

#1-Sr. Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa - Cadet World, Fargo, Fila, Ironman, Super 32 Champ

#8-Fr. Mason Manville, Blair Academy, NJ - Double Fargo Finalist, Ironman, Beast RU

#12-Jr. Joey Galasso, Father Judge, Pa - FloNats Placer, Super 32 Placer

#14-So. Josh Maruca, Franklin Reg., Pa - State, Powerade, Fargo, Super 32, Ironman Placer

HM-Jr. Brock Zacherl, Brookville, Pa - State Placer

HM-Fr. Jake Shaeffer, Greater Latrobe, Pa - KOM 3rd

So. Jake Martin, Ripley, WV - State Champ

Jr. Max Good, Cedar Cliff, Pa - Beast 7th

Sr. Ethan Kenney, Connellsville, Pa - State 7th, Powerade 5th

Sr. TJ Brandt, Altoona, Pa

Sr. Justin Alexander, Pitt CC, Pa

Notes: Retherford is the man to beat here. He’s won everything there was to win in the last six months including an Ironman title with a win over Manville in the finals.

Manville makes the finals in just about everything. But he’ll most likely have to get past Maruca who was 3rd in Fargo at 132 where his only loss was to Cody Lecount. He beat Tyler Berger of Oregon for 3rd. Manville was 2nd at 138 losing to Fox Baldwin in the finals.

The other half features Zacherl, who is coming off a great showing at Super 32 where he beat Berger 3-0 and took Retherford down to the wire in a 3-2 loss. And then off course, the always dangerous Galasso.

Watch for Jake Shaeffer, one of the best Freshmen in the nation.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Retherford 2. Manville 3. Galasso 4. Zacherl

145lbs:

2007 Finals: Marshall Peppelman, CD, dec. Josh Shields, Burrell, 6-3

Last Year’s Finals: Solomon Chishko, CM, dec. Dylan Milonas, Blair, 7-2

Contenders:

#10-Jr. Dylan Milonas, Blair Academy, NJ - Returning RUBeast 3rd, Ironman 2nd

#12-Sr. Colt Cotten, Benton, Pa - Super 32 3rd, State 4th 2x

#14-So. Josh Shields, Franklin Reg., Pa - Powerade 4th, Ironman 6th

#16-Sr. Justin Arthur, Huntington, WV - Powerade 7th, State Champ, NHSCA Champ

HM-Sr. Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff, Pa - Powerade 7th, State RU, Beast 4th

Sr. Phil Marra, Burrell

Notes: In one bout in each of his last two tournaments, Milonas didn’t quite look himself. When he puts it all together, he’s tough to beat. I think he does it here.

He beat Vassar 3-1 for 3rd last week at Beast, and Cotten for third by the same score at Ironman.

Shields had a great Ironman, making the semi’s. Cotten beat him 7-5 in wrestlebacks. Watch out for him. One of the best in the Sophomore class. you’ll enjoy watching him compete.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Milonas 2. Cotten 3. Shields 4. Vassar

152lbs:

2007 Finals: Walter Peppelman, CD, md. Dom Demor, SS Beaver, 9-0

Last Year’s Finals: Russ Parsons, Blair, dec. Casey Kent, LaSalle, 2-1

Contenders:

#4-Sr. Anthony Collica, Solon, OH - Fargo Champ, 2x State Champ, Powerade 4th

#6-Russ Parsons, Blair Academy, NJ - Beast and Ironman Champ, Returning P-Ade Champ

HM-Sr. Heath Coles, Norwin, Pa - Fargo AA, Powerade 6th, State 4th

Jr. Preston Martin, Ripley, WV - State Runner-Up

Sr. Wyatt Wilson, Moeller, OH

Sr. Mike Marano, Parkland, Pa

Notes: This is a two-horse race; emphasis on ‘horse’. Both Parsons and Collica are six-minute goers. Should be a classic bout.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Collica 2. Parsons 3. Coles 4. Martin

160lbs:

2007 Finals: Sam Rakes, CBurg, dec. Donnie Tasser, Belle Vernon, 3-2

Last Year’s Finals: Chance Marsteller, KD, dec. Brett Harner, Norristown, 11-4

Contenders:

HM-Jr. Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe, Pa - Powerade 3rd, State 8th, KOM RU

HM-Jr. Zack Voytek, Greensburg Salem, Pa - State 7th

HM-Sr. Ty Walter, Mifflinburg, Pa - State Placer, Super 32 Placer, KOM RU

Sr. Bryson Popp, Baylor, TN - State Runner-Up

Jr. Jeric Jusanic, Benton, Pa - State 5th

Jr. Jack Wedholm, Blair Academy, NJ - Powerade 6th, Beast 8th, Ironman 6th

Jr. Dean Meyer, Moeller, OH

Notes: A rather thin weight here, but with proven records on the state level. Zavatsky and Voytek are two under-the-radar guys. Real tough, but without many national events under their belts. Look for them to do damage here.

Walter had a nice run at Super 32 where he made the semi’s before losing to Garrett Peppleman and Cody Law.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Zavatsky 2. Voytek 3. Walter 4. Wedholm

170lbs:

2007 Finals: Steve Bosak, State College, dec. Josh Condon, Harrison, 3-0

Last Year’s Finals: Cody Wiercioch, CM, dec. Tyler Rill, Mt. St. Joe’s, 11-3

Contenders:

#1-Jr. Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale, Pa - 2x State Champ, Cadet World 5th

#2-Sr. Cody Wiercioch, Canon-Mac, Pa - 2x State Champ, 2x Super 32 Champ

#20-Jr. Patrick Coover, Blair Academy, NJ - Beast 3rd, Ironman 7th, Powerade 4th

HM-Jr. Dakota Sizemore, Moeller, OH - State 3rd, Ironman Placer

Sr. Brett Stein, Forest Park, VA - State 3rd, Beast 6th

Notes: A Marsteller-Wiercioch final should headline the event. Though the next three guys are solid, the top dogs should be heavy favorites.

Stein was just in the semi’s at Beast before being taken out by Zach Epperly. Sizemore was just coming off a state football title game at Ironman this year.

I suppose this is where I interject on how I see the megabout going. As good as Wiercioch has always been, he was the best I’ve ever seen him at Super 32. He sustained an injury that kept him off the mats for a good while after that tournament. In fact, he hadn’t wrestled live again until his first match at Ironman. And while he was still good (good enough to win it), he wasn’t as crisp as he was in Greensboro.

That being said, I couldn’t pick against Chance anyway. What happens when a kid is so good, so early, is that their reputation sort of outdoes itself. All of a sudden, after the reputation reaches its saturation point, people start saying, ‘but is he really THAT good?’

Yes. He is THAT good. A whole different level good. If you haven’t seen him wrestle, do yourself a favor and watch. Chance Marsteller is the best wrestler in the country at any weight, and it’s not even close. I pick him without hesitation.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Marsteller 2. Wiercioch 3. Coover 4. Sizemore

182lbs:

2007 Finals: Lance Bryson, Alber Gallatin, dec. Peter Huntley, CF, 9-4

Last Year’s Finals: Dakota DesLauriers, Burrell, dec. Kyle Spangler, Hempfield, 5-1

Contenders:

#11-Sr. Dakota DesLauriers, Burrell, Pa - Returning Champ, State RU, S32 Placer

HM-Sr. Addison Knepshield, Blair Academy, NJ - Ironman 4th, Beast 4th

Sr. Nick Shawley, Bellefonte, Pa - State 4th, Powerade 7th, KOM Runner-Up

Sr. Brent Blacharczyk, McGuffey, Pa - Powerade 6th

Jr. Quinton Rosser, Moeller, OH

Fr. Drew Phipps, Norwin, Pa

Jr. Nezar Haddad, Parkland, Pa

Notes: I like this weight. No, it’s not very loaded with national studs, but it has solid depth of guys that could be emerging types.

DesLauriers is an all-around solid kid and your pre-tournament favorite. With high placings in his first two majors this year, Knepshield is turning heads. Shawley is a Clarion signee.

Haddad and Rosser are two guys on about the same level that could be risers. And Phipps is one of the best Freshmen upperweights in the entire country.

I think it comes down to DesLauriers and Knepshield in a match a lot closer than most anticipate.

Willie’s Picks: 1. DesLauriers 2. Knepshield 3. Haddad 4. Blacharczyk

195lbs:

2007 Finals: Max Huntley, CF, dec. Andy Thomas, Parkersburg, 5-1

Last Year’s Finals: Jacob Hart, Hampton, dec. Scott Mohring, Latrobe, 7-5

Contenders:

#4-Sr. Frank Mattiace, Blair Academy, NJ - Powerade 3rd, Beast 3rd, Ironman Champ

#19-Sr. Spencer Neff, Good Counsel, Md - Super 32 3rd, Ironman 6th, Beast 5th

HM-Sr. Jake Hart, Hampton, Pa - Returning Champ, State RU, Super 32 5th

HM-Jr. Jerry Thornberry, Moeller, OH - Ironman Placer

Sr. Garrett Volcano, Chartiers-Houston, Pa - Powerade 7th

Notes: I think Mattiace is mad at his loss at the Beast. I think he’s going to rip people’s heads off here.

Neff is good. I like his progress from last year. But I don’t think he can go with Mattiace at this point.

There are two kids here, Hart and Thornberry, that I really want to get a chance to look at. Hart has had really good results. And Thornberry has been off the mat for a while. He defaulted in his first Ironman bout, where he was the second seed, after just coming off football. It should be really interesting to see what level he’s wrestling at.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Mattiace 2. Hart 3. Neff 4. Thornberry

220lbs:

2007 Finals: Matt Lindamood, Parkersburg, dec. Glenn Carson, Southern, 6-4 OT

Last Year’s Finals: Thomas Haines, Solanco, wbf. Alex Campbell, CM, 1:04

Contenders:

#2-Jr. Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, Md - Fargo, Ironman, Beast, S32 Champ

#3-Jr. Thomas Haines, Solanco, Pa - Returning Champ, 2x State Champ, 2x S32 Finalist

#8-Jr. Chalmer Freauf, Moeller, OH - 2x State 4th, Ironman 4th

#15-Sr. Alex Campbell, Canon-Mac, Pa - IronmanRU, Reno 3rd, Powerade RU, State 5th

So. David Showunmi, Blair Academy, NJ - Ironman 7th, Beast 4th

Sr. Noah Shulman, Hampton, Pa - Powerade 6th, State 3rd

Jr. Nigale Cabell, Huntington, WV - State 3rd, NHSCA Soph. Champ

Sr. Shaun Heist, Parkland, Pa - KOM 4th

Notes: We all know what we’re getting in Snyder and Haines in what should be a really interesting second match-up. But there’s a couple other guys here that are solid too. Campbell has quietly built up quite a resume. And Freauf is as tough as they come. Campbell got the 3 seed ahead of Freauf so we should see semi’s of Snyder-Freauf and Haines-Campbell.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Snyder 2. Haines 3. Freauf 4. Campbell

HWT:

2007 Finals: Nick Cook, Faquier, dec. Paul Snyder, Mt. Pleasant, 3-1 OT

Last Year’s Finals: Brooks Black, Blair, dec. Cody Klempay, CM, 2-1

Contenders:

#2-Sr. Brooks Black, Blair Academy, NJ - Returning Champ, 3x Ironman, 3x Beast Champ

#17-Jr. Nazar Mironenko, Mifflinburg, Pa - State Champ, Powerade 4th, KOM Champ

Sr. Angelo Broglia, Canon-Mac, Pa - Reno 3rd

Sr. Garrett Poorman, Bellefonte, Pa - State 7th, KOM RU

Jr. Zach DeLuca, Pitt CC, Pa - Ironman 4th

Jr. Scott Augustine, Erie McDowell, Pa

Jr. Jemel Averette, Good Counsel, Md - Ironman 6th

Sr. Daryl Hicks, Ripley, WV - State Runner-Up

Notes: Decent depth here. Black is your top dog here. It will be interesting to use Black as a barometer to see where Mironenko is at. Mironenko just beat Poorman in King of the Mountain finals.

DeLuca is undersized but talented. Him and Averette both placed at Ironman but fell just short at Beast.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Black 2. Mironenko 3. Poorman 4. DeLuca