The NHSCA National Duals is one of the premier team tournaments of the year, which always features a great deal of talent throughout just about every line up.

In last year’s final Young Guns Black took out Team Griffin Select (results included below). This year, YG is returning with a loaded line up of highly touted competitors and will look to repeat. However, it won’t be easy as Bison Legend Orange chomps at the bit for a chance to take on the defending champs.

Also look for Nauman Select, NY Kong, Prestige Worldwide and South Florida Lightening to put up a fight, as well.

So let’s break down some of the top squads that will be looking to take over the beach. 

Note: The rosters are placed under the breakdown of each team below.

Young Guns Black

Pure champion stock here. Actually their line up has five of them; five PA state champs – Devin Brown, AC Headlee, Sam Krivus, Michael Kemerer and Kellan Stout – along with three other state runner-ups – Josh Maruca, Jacob Robb and Jake Beistel – to help bolster this team with all kind of firepower. It’s tough not to call them the favorite to repeat with all the top-level experience. It’s going to be tough to unseat the returning champs.

Bison Legend Orange

If any team is going to give Jody Strittmatter’s club a real fight it’s going to be Bison Legend Orange. Lead by FloNational Champ Hayden Hidlay and National Prep Champ Mike Rogers, the Bison are primed to make the final against the returning champs. Also looking to carry the team are PA state champs Kent Lane and Jon Gabriel along with two-time New York State placer Kellan McKenna, NHSCA champ Brian Courtney and PA state runner-up Billy Barnes. The are looking to bring a pretty hefty line up that can really make some noise this weekend.

NY Kong

These boys from New York are coming with some serious firepower. Riddled with state champs and state finalists, these guys could throw a monkey wrench in the plans of Bison Legend Orange if they were to meet in the semis. Matteo Devincenzo, Ben Lamantia and Edwin Rubio will lead this team of hammers. State runner-ups Blaise Benderoth, Jake Silverstein and Nick McShea also bring some depth to this line up.

Prestige Worldwide

Champs, on champs, on champs! This team is just as dangerous as any other that will be there this weekend. There is depth throughout this line up. TK Megonical, BC Laprade, Neal Richards, Corbin Allen, Dylan Wisman and Patrick Grayson; need I say more? These guys are loaded and can be right there when the dust settles still in the hunt for the title.

Renegade Elite

Huge line up of PA stars here as well with a ton of young talent throughout. They have multiple competitors at each weight class so they will surely have a fresh guy on the mat during most of their matches. Look for state champs Luke Karam, who is fresh off his second title, and Andrew Dunn, who has beaten just about everyone including FloNational champ Austin Myers, to be the catalysts for Renegade. They will also get some bonus points from two-time PA state placers Dan Moran and Mikey (Cobra) Labriola.

Diesel

A host of PA state medalist all anchored by state runner-up and Beast of the East champ Bo Spiller. They have a number of competitors, such as Joe Lobec, Casey Glunt, Tyshawn White and KJ Fenstermacher. Look for a solid performance from this crew. They can compete with just about anyone making the trip to VA Beach.

Team Nauman Select

Comprised of studs from a “select” few states these guys are coming to VA Beach with an attitude that is going to be tough to beat. The line up starts with a two-time state champ in Missouri’s Connor Brown and is capped off by North Carolina and FloNational champ Nick Coe with a number of talented cast members in Ohio’s LJ Bentley and PA state champ nad FloNats runner-up Jake Wentzel. So be on the lookout for Team Nauman Select throughout the tournament. These guys can do some serious damage

Potomac Valley

You name it; the guys on this team have won it. Up and down the line up are guys that can wreck your day in a heartbeat. National Prep Champ Tyshawn Williams is a showman that is always looking to spark some excitement and will be a lightening rod of intensity at 145-pounds. The true precedence will be set by two-time Maryland state champ Steven Simpson along with NHSCA Senior National Champ Ryan Friedman. The other two horses that will definitely be hard to keep up with come at 152 with Cameron Harrell, a three-time state champ, and at 285 from Mansur Abdul-Malik.

South Florida Lightening

Keep an eye on these Florida boys. They have some hammers and they will be ready to make a run for the title this weekend. Pat Lugo and Ozzy Lugo, who are a pair of two-timers from the Sunshine State, will be huge in this team’s success. But no one will be ready for the one and only Fox Baldwin, who owns five state gold medals along with a Beast of the East championship and Super 32 belt. So don’t be surprised if these guys are in the mix at the end.

Bad Karma

A trio of PA state champs highlights this team and look to bring the heat for Bad Karma. Cole Matthews, Dakota Geer, who is also a FloNationals champ, and Dylan Reynolds, who is a serious force that claimed titles all season, are three guys that can and will take on anyone. But they will need some roll players to chip in if they expect to be in the championship. Gavin Park and Charlie Lenox, a Powerade runner-up, strengthen this line up as well along with the state gold medalists.

The Wrap-Up

When it’s all said and done Young Guns Black will be sitting at the top once again this year. But there are plenty of teams that have what it takes to compete with the returning champs. Outside of these top ten teams, look for High Rollers Black, Illinois Outsiders, Sepa Blue and Rhino to shake things up a bit, as well.

Anyway, despite the other teams having some championship calibur competitors, the returning champs are just way to powerful to be overtaken. Bison Legend Orange and Young Guns Black will meet in the final with a similar result to last year.