EditPhoto: Tony Rotundo

It's all about personal preference with these.  I like storylines, drama and entertainers.  For me, it's not always about seeing the #1 take on the #2 (though sometimes it is), I want to see bad blood and big moves.  I think that’s what we've got here with my top 10 must watch matches of Senior Nationals. These are the 10 matches I'm MOST excited for in the Greco Roman and Women's Freestyle Division.

10. GR 59KG Spenser Mango v. Ryan Mango - Is it finally going to happen?  Over the last season or so we have hypothesized continuously over if we'd see brother go against brother.  While you have to favor big brother Spenser in any measurable sense, the dynamism possessed by Ryan as well as the idea of flesh and blood squaring off makes this a match you can’t not mention!

9. WFS 69KG Randi Miller v. Veronica Carlson - Two years ago Randi Miller wasn't able to wrestle at the World Team trials.  Speculation varied as to the reasons for her absence, but many speculated it was weight and not injury related (a la Marable/Green) that prevented Randi from competing.  Randi was granted a wrestle off at Fargo and defeated Carlson.  Carlson has been out of the mix herself due to injury.  Seeing these two knock heads with their history will be an absolute treat.

8. GR 75KG Taylor Walsh v. Justin Lester - The artist formerly known has "Harry" was among my favorite watches from the 2015 World Championships.  He was bombing guys with a variety of holds and is a well-documented showman. Speaking of toss monsters, enter Taylor Walsh.  The NCAA Finalist for Indiana is in the midst of making a transition from Folkstyle to Greco.  With one of the nastiest headlocks in the game, it may not be long before we see Taylor start to climb the ladder at 75.  While this is an incredibly deep weight, I think these guys represent two of the most entertaining guys across all weights.  If they were to hit, I think we'd see flash after flash and maybe a quick finish if one of the guys got on a roll.

7. GR 85KG Jon Anderson v. Patrick Martinez - Jon Anderson is a well documented favorite of mine.  His pace is almost unfathomable.  The man's twitter handle is @_Mr_Intensity for crying out loud!  He will have a great challenge from an up and comer (who has already made a Senior World Team) in Patrick Martinez.  Martinez is coming up a weight.  How he handles the pace and physicality of Anderson will tell the tale of the match.

6. GR 130KG Adam Coon v. Erik Nye - I'm just very curious to see Adam CoonÂ’s progression.  He’s got his hands in a few different styles right now trying to balance Folkstyle and Greco.  Coon is a super talent and an international styles freak of nature having placed Bronze in both Freestyle and Greco Junior Worlds (thatÂ’s good). I think Nye, an established guy on the Greco scene is a great measuring stick for Adam.  

5. GR 59KG Jesse Thielke v. Joe Warren - The Baddest Man in the Planet seems dead serious about this comeback.  Warren is a Bellator Champion and the 2006 World Champion at 60KG.  Thielke is as much fun to watch as anybody with this great work from an over/under body lock as well as great top game in general.  Warren may catch a beating here, or he could be rounded back close to World Champion form.  Either way, there’s no way you’re cutting this match off if it goes down.

4. GR 66KG Hayden Tuma v. Alejandro Sancho - What I got to see of Tuma at Bill Farrell was fantastic.  Both of these guys are still very young with incredible promise in Greco Roman.  Sancho was incredibly close to making the world team against Saddoris just a year after being Junior eligible and head locking dudes at JR Worlds.  Tuma has been a Greco wunderkind for some time now.  Is this weekend when he starts to make some Senior level waves?

3. WFS 63KG Erin Clodgo v. Amanda Hendey - What can I say, I like a little drama?  These two came to blows when they met at the 2015 US Open.  Not saying I’m rooting for another fistacuffs to break out, but I like matches where there’s an edge.  Combine that with the fact that both of these ladies are fantastic and I think we could see a great bout.

2. WFS 63KG Leigh Jaynes-Provisor v. Erin Clodgo - Two World Team members could potentially square off here.  LJP (Is that a thing? I love nicknames) is making the move up from 60KG to 63.  Clodgo made the World Team last year after knocking on the door for some time. Jaynes-Provisor showed plenty of offense at last years Worlds. It is possible she could have the goods to knock off the reigning world team member.  

1. MFS 66KG Dylan Ness v. Ellis Coleman - Gator Bacon v. The Flying Squirrel! Need I say more.  Neither of these guys will play it close to the vest, it’s just not in their nature!  Ness made our jaws drop a few times at Bill Farrel, but is clearly still learning the ropes.  Coleman has had some time away due to injury.  He’s back healthy now and just in time for the Olympics.