Fi: January Dapper Dan Report

Fi: January Dapper Dan Report

Jan 6, 2014 by Willie Saylor
Fi: January Dapper Dan Report
Fi: January Dapper Dan Report

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Fi: January Dapper Dan Report
Willie Saylor, Sr. Editor

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty.

For most of the country, the highly ranked studs from each state have gone through their grueling, national, portion of the schedule.

For the top ranked seniors, run out the rest of the season and you’ll find yourselves knocking on the door of a Dapper Dan invitation.

Entering its 40th year, Dapper Dan is one of Flowrestling’s favorite events of the year. Throughout the season, we regularly publish “Dapper Dan Reports” that serve as a snapshot of the current Dapper Dan status. The January edition is of increased importance as the picture starts to gain clarity.

It seems like every year the Dapper Dan is special, but with the dynamics going on around the country and in regard to recruiting, DD at 40 could be an unforgettable one.

Below I’ll take you through each weight class explaining the front-runners and situation for both the PA and USA squads.


113 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #5-Brian Rossi, Lockport, IL - State 5th
Other Nominees
- #11-Anthony Bosco, Marmion Academy, IL - State 4th
- #17-Miguel Silva, Plainfield, IL - State Runner-Up
- #20-Dustin Warner, Claymont, OH - State 3rd
- HM-Adrian Camposano, Central HS, CA - State Champion
- Joey Cisneros, Redwood, CA - State Qualifier
Situation: The U.S. representative almost assuredly will come from Illinois. The highest finisher between the two at the state 3A tournament could have the inside track for a trip to Pittsburgh.
The caveat is that the Dapper Dan likes state titles. Enter Camposano, who already has one and is the frontrunner to go back-to-back. He’d be a fine choice, and perhaps the best one should Bosco and Rossi split match-ups going forward, or even neither win state gold, which is a real possibility in a crowded 3A 113 bracket.

Highest Ranked PA - HM-Joe Wheeling, General McLane - State Qualifier
Other Nominees: None
Situation: Pa is in a bind here. Wheeling is the best senior currently at the weight, and no seniors (Ethan Lizak/Scotty Parker/Jake Gromacki) are expected to drop. I’m pretty high on Wheeling, but he’s not a lock to be the highest placing senior. This is fluid situation.
Should Parker not win the state title (and the spot at 120) the committee could opt to select him and drop him to 113 +5 as he is on the small side.

Prediction: Adrian Camposano, Central, CA vs. Joe Wheeling, General McLane


120 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Nathan Boston, Woodford, KY - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #3-Sean Russell, Collins Hill, GA - 3x State Champion
- #7-Brent Fleetwood, Smyrna, DE - 3x State Champion
Situation: Boston will face little in the way of threats to his #1 status throughout the rest of the year. He’s about as big a lock as there is in the

Highest Ranked PA - #4-Ethan Lizak, Parkland - 3x State Finalist
- #6-Scotty Parker, Pennridge - State 3rd
- #9-Jake Gromack, Erie Prep - State 4th
Situation: A 3-time state finalist and World Team Member, Lizak is in the driver’s seat here. It all comes down to out-placing Parker at the state tournament. The lack of seeding at the PA state tournament will be interesting. #3-Pletcher and Lizak will be separated providing they win their regional. So who will hit Parker early?

Prediction: #1-Nathan Boston, Woodford, KY vs. #4-Ethan Lizak, Parkland


126 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #2-Stevan Micic, Cedar Lake, IN - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #4-Tommy Thorn, St. Michael-Albertville, MN - 3x State Champion
- #6-Ryan Millhof, Collins Hill, GA - 2x State Champion
Situation: Like Boston, Micic should have an easy road to a state title and trip to the Dapper Dan. That being said, he did have a one-point match in-state this year. He has the state the state titles (and a World Team appearance) that the committee likes. Should he stumble, I the committee would have a tough decision between Thorn, who has state titles and world team berths under his belt, and Millhof, who out-placed Thorn at Super 32. That decision could be clearer should Thorn remain up at 132, where he’s currently been wrestling.

Highest Ranked PA - #3-Zeke Moisey, Bethlehem Catholic - 2x State Finalist
Other Nominees
- #8-Dalton Macri, Canon-Macmillan - State Runner-Up
- #9-Dom Forys, North Allegheny - State 5th
Situation: Moisey was a runner-up at the state tournament to two Dapper Dan participants: Nick Roberts and Ryan Diehl. If he gets his state title this year (and he should), you can close the book on the choice for PA.

Prediction: #2-Stevan Micic, Cedar Lake, IN vs. #3-Zeke Moisey, Bethlehem Catholic


132 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #5-Josh Alber, Dakota, IL - 3x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #6-Jered Cortez, Glenbard North, IL - 3x State Champion
Situation: Like 113, the U.S. selection goes through Illinois. Cortez had the spot locked up until Alber took their match at the Dvorak. Alber, who will be a 4x undefeated state champion, will be too tasty to pass up.

Highest Ranked PA - #2-Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional - State Champion
Other Nominees: None
Situation: The PA state tournament (particularly AAA) is a mosh pit where anything can happen. Ask Smith. He wasn’t supposed to win the state title last year, but he used it as his announcement to the country that he was one of the nation’s best.
Smith is one of the nation’s least-talked-about elite wrestler. He should win another state title. And if he doesn’t, it isn’t likely that another senior will out-place him. He’s pretty much a lock.

Prediction: #5-Josh Alber, Dakota, IL vs. #2-Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional


138 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Joey McKenna, Blair Academy, NJ - 3x National Prep Champ
Other Nominees
#6-Zach Hall, St. Johns, MI - 3x State Champion
#7-Brock Ervin, Union County, KY - 4x State Champion
#10-Seth Gross, Apple Valley, MN - 2x State Champion
Situation: As the consensus #1 in the country and a 3xer, McKenna is the guy here, barring something completely unforeseen.

Highest Ranked PA - #4-Brock Zacherl, Brookville - State 4th
Other Nominees
- #3-Joey Galasso, Father Judge - State Champion
Situation: Despite Zacherl’s lofty national ranking (justified with high placings at FloNationals and two straight Super 32’s), the committee isn’t going like his lack of state titles in comparison to other options. Look for them to drop the undersized Joey Galasso from 145.

Prediction: #1-Joey McKenna, Blair Academy, NJ vs. #3-Joey Galasso, Father Judge


145 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #2-Micah Jordan, Graham, OH - 3x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #4-Tyler Berger, Crook County, OR - 3x State Champion
- #5-Alfred Bannister, Bishop McNamara, MD - National Prep Champ
- #6-Grant Leeth, Kearney, MO - 2x State Champion
- #8-Hayden Tuma, Centennial, ID - 3x State Champion
- #9-Nikko Villareal, Gilroy, CA - 2x State Champion
Situation: No shortage of truly elite nominees here. It’s led by Jordan, but the committee also is really attracted to Berger, who also has 3 state titles, and who also just beat Tuma, another guy high on the committee’s list.
It’s tough to call. Jordan doesn’t have a whole lot of national accolades like Berger does, but he’s from Ohio and would potentially attract a larger crowd.
Another thing that has to be considered is that Micah’s brother Bo declined the invitation last year.

Highest Ranked PA - #1-Jason Nolf, Kittaning - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #3-Joey Galasso, Father Judge - State Champion
- #7-Solomon Chishko, Canon McMillan - State Champion
Situation: A real cluster here for PA. Nolf is dominating. And his in AA. His 3rd state title is about as big a lock as you can get. The story in AAA is another case all together. Galasso and Chishko will look to repeat by going through each other. At the end of the day, Nolf will get the nod, and, I’m almost sure of it, Galasso will get moved to 138 for the Dapper Dan, regardless of the outcome in Hershey.

Prediction: #4-Tyler Berger, Crook County, OR vs. #1-Jason Nolf, Kittaning


152 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Bryce Brill, Mt. Carmel, IL - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #2-Jake Danishek, Dayton Christian, OH - 2x State Champion
- #4-Jack Clark, St. Augustine, NJ - 2x National Prep Champ
Situation: Brill hands down. Though Danishek and/or Clark would be a fine addition to the line-up, the spot is Brill’s if he wants it.

Highest Ranked PA - None
Other Nominees
- #4-(at 160)-TC Warner, Cumberland Valley, PA - State Champion, Runner-Up
- #7-(at 145)-Solomon Chishko, Canon MacMillan - State Champion
Situation: Pennsylvania has no ranked seniors. Warner and Peppelman are expected to drop to 152 and 160, respectively. In that case, Warner would be shooting for his 3rd finals appearance and second title and be the sure-fire selection. If, for some reason, he doesn’t drop, the committee could move Chishko up. It’s unlikely they’d move up Galasso as he’s undersized at 145 as it is.

Prediction: #1-Bryce Brill, Mt. Carmel, IL vs.#4-TC Warner, Cumberland Valley


160 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Ryan Blees, Bismarck, ND - 3x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #2-Dylan Milonas, Blair Academy, NJ - National Prep Champion
- #5-Daniel Lewis, Blue Springs, MO - 3x State Champion
Situation: All three are fine choices. Both Blees and Lewis have 3 state titles, which will attract the committee to them. Blees is the hot hand right now. He’s the consensus #1. And he’s from a state the committee would like to have represented.

Highest Ranked PA - #4-TC Warner, Cumberland Valley - 2x State Finalist
Other Nominees
- #15-Dom Scalise, Greater Latrobe - National Prep 3rd
- #5-(at 170)-Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin - 2x State Finalist
Situation: Warner is expected to drop, with Peppelman coming down for the post season too. The potential hurdle is Scalise, but Peppelman should clearly be the guy.

Prediction: #1-Ryan Blees, Bismarck, ND vs. #5-Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin


170 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #2-Bo Nickal, Allen, TX - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
- #6-Chandler Rogers, Stillwater, OK - 3x State Champion
- #7-Josh Llopez, St. Mary Ryken, MD - 3x Finalist
- #8-Dylan Artigliere, Roxbury, NJ - State Champion
Situation: It was assumed that the committee would consider inviting Nickal for 170lbs. Him making 170 for the state duals all but solidifies it.

Highest Ranked PA - #1-Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale - 3x State Champion
Situation: Chance already committed to participate.

Prediction: #2-Bo Nickal, Allen, TX vs. #1-Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale


182 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic, NJ - 2x State Champion
Other Nominees
#2-Ryan Christensen, Woodinville, WA - State Champion
#6-JaVaughn Perkins, Omaha North, NE - 3x State Champion
Situation: Sebastian is the clear favorite for the spot. If Sebastian wasn’t able to go for some reason, it would be between Perkins and Christensen. On one hand, Perkins has 3 titles. But Christensen, who has just one title (he lost in the finals to Chandler Rogers as a SO), is #2 for a reason. To make matters more complicated, both are from states that are not often represented.

Highest Ranked PA - #3-Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe - State 3rd
- #13-Stephen Loiseau, Lancaster Catholic - State 5th
- #14-Tristan Sponseller, Bermudian Springs - State Runner-Up
Situation: Zavatsky’s only loss at the state tournament last year was to Marsteller. He showed he’s a truly elite talent by winning Super 32 in October. While PA is deep at 182 this year, Zavatsky is clearly the favorite for a state title.

Prediction: #1-Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic, NJ vs. #3-Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe


195 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #2-Michael Pixley, Blue Springs, MO - State Champion
Other Nominees
- #3-Chip Ness, Buford, GA - 3x State Champion
- #4-Nathan Rose, Sibley, East, MN - 2x State Champion
Situation: The committee has a really difficult decision to make here, and I really don’t have any advice for them. It’s a close call. Ness has the state titles, and they were able to get a look at him at Powerade (which most of the committee members run). But Pixley does have the head-to-head. The committee does look at past head-to-heads, but I don’t know how much the match from the summer of 2012 will come in to effect here.

Highest Ranked PA - #18-Tom Sleigh, Dubois - State 3rd
Other Nominees:
- HM-Nazar Haddad, Parkland, PA - State Qualifier
Situation: Sleigh won his region as a freshman and sophomore, but really broke through last year with a 3rd place finish at the state tournament followed by a 6th place showing at FloNationals and 5th at the S32. He’s not a lock for the state title by any means, but he’s the favorite.

Prediction: #2-Michael Pixley, Blue Springs, MO vs. #18-Tom Sleigh, Dubois


220 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - -Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, MD - 3x National Prep Champion
Other Nominees:
#1-Roy Nash, West Valley, UT - State Champion
#2-Derrick Jones, Bloomington, CA - State Champion
#4-Gelen Robinson, Lake Central, IN - State Champion
#5-Brian Dobzanski, Delsea, NJ - State Champion
Situation: Kyle wants to wrestle at the Dapper Dan. It’s an unusual situation for the committee to be in. It’s not too often one of the contenders takes the year off to train at the OTC. But the right decision is to give him the invite. He’s the best in the country. Maybe the best upperweight in a generation. And a class act, which is what the Dapper Dan is all about. They’d be proud to have him as an alumni.

Highest Ranked PA - #10-Michael Boykin, Coatesville - State 3rd
Other Nominees: None
Situation: Boykin might be the best wrestler in the country no one knows about. He had great matches with both Thomas Haines and Jordan Wood last season. While he doesn’t have a whole lot of national competition under his belt, he’s the most proven at the weight that PA has this year.

Prediction: Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, MD vs. #10-Michael Boykin, Coatesville


285 -
Highest Ranked U.S. - #1-Nick Nevills, Clovis, CA - 2x State Champion
#3-Sam Stoll, Kasson-Mantorville, MN - 2x State Champion
Situation: Either choice would be a good selection. However, the committee knows the context. Nevills is the consensus #1 guy in America, and Penn State bound.

Highest Ranked PA - #2-Thomas Haines, Solanco - 3x State Champion
Other Nominees: None
Situation: While there is some depth in PA at HWT this year, Haines is on pace to become the biggest 4xer in a state that has only produced a dozen of them.

Prediction: #1-Nick Nevills, Clovis, CA vs #2-Thomas Haines, Solanco


It all goes down March 16, 2014 in Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Fieldhouse. Be there.

Visit the official Dapper Dan site here.