Fi: 2015 Dapper Dan Preview

Fi: 2015 Dapper Dan Preview

Mar 12, 2015 by Willie Saylor
Fi: 2015 Dapper Dan Preview
So many special memories have been made over the years at the Dapper Dan that it might be difficult to take all in. Feast your eyes on the history of what has become an institution in the wrestling world, and a circle on every high school fan's calendar.

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So many special memories have been made over the years at the Dapper Dan that it might be difficult to take all in. Feast your eyes on the history of what has become an institution in the wrestling world, and a circle on every high school fan's calendar.

Another incredible line-up of the nation's top talent, many of whom will go on to be NCAA stars, is collected here.

Of the 26 wrestlers in the main event, 25 of them appear in the ASICS FloRankings, with 18 of them residing in the Top 5 in the nation.

Four weights in the middle are rematches of bouts that have taken place in the last 9 months. And it gives optimism for the PA guys as, despite the star-studded match-ups, both squads always have a dual victory on their mind.

In each of those four match-ups, the PA wrestler came out on top. However, PA will need much more than four wins to take the dual, and the opportunities for them outside of those bouts might be slim.

Below are a breakdown of each match with the wrestlers credentials, commentary, and predictions.

Happy reading, and don't miss the Dapper on Sunday. The undercard of Illinois All Stars vs. the WPIAL All Stars starts at 4PM ET. The main event follows at 6PM. 


113: #1-Jabari Moody, Rich Central, IL vs. #8-Devin Brown, Franklin Regional, PA
Moody (Virginia) - 2x State Champion; Junior World 5th, Fargo Cadet Champ
Brown (West Virginia) - 4x State Finalist, 3x State Champ, Cadet World Team Member

History: No head-to-heads. At 2014 Junior World Team Trials, Brown lost to Matt Schmitt, 7-6. Moody beat Schmitt in the finals 16-11.

Commentary: This should be a really tight match. Moody is exceptional on his feet, but relatively unproven on the mat where Brown is a threat. Both guys mix it up, so expect an entertaining bout with plenty of scoring sequences.

Prediction: Moody dec. Brown, 11-8.
Team Score: USA 3-0


120: #10-Elijah Oliver, Washington, IL vs. David Pipa, Bishop McDevitt, PA
Oliver (Indiana) - 4x State Champ, Fargo Junior Champ
Pipa - State 3rd

History: Never met.

Commentary: Pipa was kind of a surprise selection. He lost to Seth Hogue in state semi’s, a guy he beat at FloNationals last year where his two losses were to Pletcher and Brandon James. Oliver won three state titles in Tennessee before moving to Illinois. He’s a compact and strong 120. Pipa is capable, but will have his work cut out for him. He’ll be helped by the fact that Oliver doesn’t open up as much as he can and often wrestles to the level of competition.

Prediction: Oliver dec. Pipa, 7-4.
Team Score: USA 6-0


126: #2-Nick Piccininni, Ward Melville, NY vs. #14-Korbin Myers, Boiling Springs, PA
Piccininni (Oklahoma St.) - 4x State Champ, 2x FloNats Finalist, 2014 FloNats Champ
Myers (Edinboro) - 3x State Finalist

History: Never met.

Commentary: A match of opposites in that Piccinnini has been a household name for years, yet Myers is probably the least-talked-about PA 3x finalist ever. He was Top 3 in Hershey all 4 years, winning a state title as a Junior. He lost twice to Phillippi, once in semi’s, this year in the finals, and to Darian Cruz in the finals as a Freshman. That being said, Piccinnini is clearly the favorite here.

Prediction: Piccinnini dec. Myers, 8-3
Team Score: USA 9-0


132: #4-Jared Prince, Palm Harbor, FL vs. #2-AC Headlee, Waynesburg, PA
Prince (Navy) - 3x State Champ, S32 3rd, FloNats 3rd
Headlee (North Carolina) - State Champ, WNO Winner, FloNats and Fargo 3rd

History: No head-to-heads, but they have a common opponent in Mickey Phillippi. Headlee lost to Phillippi, 1-0, at Powereade while Prince majored him in the 3rd place match at S32.

Commentary: Prince is one of the less heralded Top 5 guys in the country, but the kid can wrestle with anyone. His only loss at FloNats was to Darian Cruz in a tense one. And he avenged his only loss at S32’s and majored PA 2xer Phillippi for 3rd. Headlee is clicking on all cylinders as he comes off two wins over then-#1 Luke Pletcher. Both guys are extremely stingy, which could make for a low scoring match. But I have a hunch they let it fly here. I’m picking Headlee, but this is going to be intriguing. I have him with an edge in scrambling ability.

Prediction: Headlee dec. Prince 6-4.
Team Score: USA 9-3


138: #6-Davion Jeffries, Broken Arrow, OK vs. #1-Sam Krivus, Hempfield, PA
Jeffries (Oklahoma) - 2x State Champ, 4x Finalist, Ironman Champ, S32 Runner-Up
Krivus (Virginia) - 2x State Champ, 3x S32 Champ, 2x FloNats Champ

History: Krivus beat Jeffries in this year’s Super 32 finals, 5-2.

Commentary: Krivus looked as sharp as ever against Jeffries in the S32 final, finding angles and committing to shots he blew through. About six weeks later, Jeffries took out then-#1 Matt Kolodzik. So that’s the level we’re looking at here. I expect a similar match to what we saw in Greensboro.



Prediction: Krivus dec. Jeffries, 7-3
Team Score: USA 9-6


145: #2-Max Thomsen, Union, IA vs. #1-Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional, PA
Thomen (Northern Iowa) - 4x State Champ, S32 Runner-Up, PSN Champ
Kemerer (Iowa) - 4x State Finalist, State Champ, 4x S32 Finalist, 2x S32 Champ, Ironman Champ

History: Kemerer beat Thomsen in the finals of 2014 Super 32, 9-4.

Commentary: Crazy that this bout features two guys that made their state finals every single year. Thomsen rose to the #2 spot in the country after beating fellow DD participant, Fredy Stroker, in a tournament this season. Kemerer, who’s spent his entire career at or near the top of the rankings with four Super 32 finals appearances while winning two of them, finally got his state title this year after three runners-up finishes. It was all Kemerer in Greensboro.



Prediction: Kemerer dec. Thomsen, 7-3.
Team Score: Tied at 9


152: #3-Fredy Stroker, Bettendorf, IA vs. #2-Vincenzo Joseph, Pitt CC, PA
Stroker (Minnesota) - 4x State Finalist, WNO Winner (2013), 5x Fargo AA
Joseph (Penn St.) - 2x State Champ, WNO Winner (2014), 4x Ironman Placer, 4x Fargo AA

History: Joseph defeated Stroker at Fargo and at WNO.

Commentary: It’s a homecoming for Stroker who grew up in PA. Both he and Joseph have been staples in the national rankings since first stepping foot on the mat. Joseph’s stock skyrocketed last summer when he beat Stroker at Fargo and then again at Who’s #1, where the match was a little tighter. I like Joseph to pull away a little in this one, however.



Prediction: Joseph dec. Stroker, 7-3
Team Score: PA 12-9


160: #5-Jo Jo Smith, Stillwater, OK vs. #2-Josh Shields, Franklin Regional, PA
Smith (Oklahoma St.) - 3x State Champ, Fargo Cadet Runner-Up
Shields (Arizona St.) - State Champ, 3x Powerade Champ

History: Smith teched Shields at Fargo.

Commentary: My favorite match of the event. For some reason, I always pick Jo Jo to win, well, everything. For those lucky enough to be at the event, you’ll see why. He’s crafty and slick and he’s gotten more physical. But Shields’ toughness is undeniable. I love this kid as a prospect. Frankly, he’s probably the favorite here, not only because he won this match-up in Fargo, but because of total body of work. That being said, I’ll keep on picking Jo Jo.



Prediction: Smith dec. Shields, 6-5
Team Score: Tied at 12


170: #4-Fox Baldwin, Osceola, FL vs. #13-TeShan Campbell, Penn Hills, PA
Baldwin (Virginia) - 5x State Champ, Fargo Champ, FloNats Champ, S32 Champ
Campbell - State Champ

Commentary: Every year there is a PA darkhorse. The people in PA are raving about Campbell, who frankly, was a complete surprise. Trusted sources say Campbell is the absolute truth. The problem, however, is that Baldwin is not only among the nation’s elite, but one of the more unconventional types. As good as Campbell may be, he’s not going to figure out Baldwin the first time he wrestles him.

Prediction: Baldwin md. Campbell, 14-5
Team Score: USA 16-12


182: #2-Myles Martin, McDonogh, MD vs. #11-Kellan Stout, Mt. Lebanon, PA
Martin (Ohio St.) - 3x Prep Champ, 2x Ironman Finalist, 2x FloNats Finalist, Fargo Champ
Stout (Penn St.) - State Champ, State Runner-Up, Powerade Champ and Runner-Up

History: Never met.

Commentary: For most of the country, this will be the first opportunity to see Stout. As the son of Bryan Stout, a 2x EWL Champ for Clarion, he's a big, long kid that’s very fundamentally sound. I love his potential as a future Nittany Lion. But Martin looked the best I’ve ever seen him at National Preps. Stout, who I don’t believe has given up a takedown all season, will make it tough for Martin to score, but I don’t think he is sophisticated enough on offense just yet to find a takedown on Martin.

Prediction: Martin dec. Stout, 5-2
Team Score: USA 19-12


195: #1-Lance Benick, Totino-Grace, MN vs. #5-Jan Johnson, Governor Mifflin, PA
Benick (Arizona St.) - 4x State Champ, Cadet World Team Member, 4x Fargo Champ
Johnson (Penn St.) - 2x State Champ

History: Never met.

Commentary: Johnson shocked a lot of folks when he defeated Tom Sleigh, Drew Phipps, and Nezar Haddad consecutively to win the state title. This was coming off a sophomore campaign where he was 3rd, losing only to the state champ. He won another title this year, completing his last three seasons 3-1-1. An incredible athlete that’s going to play football at Penn State, he would, in a typical year, against a typical opponent, be considered a real threat to win his DD match. However, Benick, who’s been beating the nation’s best with regularity for 4 years now, will probably be too savvy and technical for him.

Prediction: Benick dec. Johnson, 7-3
Team Score: USA 23-12


220: #3-Austin Myers, Campbell County, KY vs. #3-Andrew Dunn, Bethlehem Catholic, PA
Myers (West Virginia) - 4x State Champ, 3x NHSCA Finalist
Dunn (Virginia Tech) - State Champ, S32 Champ, Beast Champ

History: Never met.

Commentary: I love this match-up. Myers is a super athletic big guy. Dunny has become very technical. A year ago I might have said that Myers' pure athleticism would be too much for Dunn. But, man, has he gotten, well, really good. He creates good, clean openings from neutral. Should be a better upper weight bout than most.

Prediction: Dunn dec. Myers, 5-4
Team Score: 23-15


HWT: #1-Zach Chakonis, Don Bosco, NJ vs. #14-Alan Beattie, Burrell, PA
Chakonis (Northwestern) - 4x State Placer, 3x Finalist, 2x Beast Finalist
Beattie - State Champ, State 3rd, Powerade Champ, S32 3rd

History: Never met.

Commentary: Chakonis’ stardom was limited by a couple factors. 1) Hitting studs all the time. He was blocked from state titles by Brian Dobzanski and from a Beast title by Jordan Wood. And 2) He played football, which limited his offseason opportunities. For Beattie, you could see the potential last year in which he was 3rd. A true ‘throwback’ heavyweight that’s big and burly, it should be quite a difference in styles. Personally, I think it’s going to be very difficult for Chakonis to score. I see it coming down to ride-outs.

Prediction: Beattie dec. Chakonis, 2-1 RO
Team Score: USA 23-18


So there you have it. I’ll be wrong on several occasions for sure. But that’s what makes it fun.

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Other Resources:
All Dapper Dan Line-Ups
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