For the first time ever FloWrestling will bringing you live coverage of the Big 12 Wrestling Championship. Every match up to the finals will be streamed live from Kansas City. It will also be a historic year for the conference as six new members joined the Big 12 over the summer. Utah Valley, Air Force, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State join West Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to form one of the best conferences in the nation.

​Below you’ll find a weight by weight breakdown based on re-seeds.  These are my best guess and we’ll see when the pre-seeds come out officially. Without further ado lets get into the action!

125 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 6
1. Ryan Millhof
2. Eddie Klimara
3. Zeke Moisey
4. Josh Rodriguez

The first thing you notice when you see these pre-seeds is Zeke Moisey. Despite suffering a gruesome injury a few weeks ago, from what I understand Moisey will weigh in, but not wrestle to ensure that he gets a wild card to the NCAA Tournament,  The absence of Moisey will free up another spot for someone though. 

This is hands down the deepest, and most competitive weight in the conference, and multiple guys have the ability to win the weight. A total of six top 20 wrestlers will be on display in Kansas City. 

Despite splitting with Klimara during the season, Millhof should be the top seed having won the most recent match, and having put together a great season. Millhof eased by Templeman in the dual, and I expect a similar outcome given a semi showdown. Klimara should cruise to the finals to set up a Bedlam showdown in the finals.

Klimara owned the match-up last season, but Millhof has made leaps and bounds from last year to this year. This will once again be a close match, but give me Klimara in the rubber match by a point. 

KB’s Final Predictions:
1. Eddie Klimara
2. Ryan Millhof
3. Josh Rodriguez
4. Drew Templeman
5. Chasen Tolbert
6. Kyle Larson


133 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 4
1. Cody Brewer, Oklahoma
2. Earl Hall, Iowa State
3. Gary Wayne Harding, Oklahoma State
4. Josh Martinez, Air Force

Outside of two hiccups against Nahshon Garrett and Kaid Brock, defending national champion Cody Brewer has been as dominant as can be and this weight is his to lose. 

Former All-American Earl Hall will be Brewer’s toughest challenge, but Hall should have a very tough semi match against Gary Wayne Harding to even get to Brewer. A match that came down to the final seconds in the dual. As close as it was last time, Hall owned the match on their feet, three takedowns to one, and I believe he wins the rematch. 

Brewer should cruise to the finals for another showdown with Hall, and like he has against most people Brewer has gotten the better of this series. The defending champ owns two wins over Hall this season alone, one by major and one by 7 points, and I expect a similar outcome this weekend. 

Although I predict all chalk in the top four, watch out for Jade Rauser from Utah Valley as a guy who can make some noise, and maybe steal the fourth qualification spot.

KB’s Final Predictions:
1. Cody Brewer
2. Earl Hall
3. Gary Wayne Harding
4. Josh Martinez

Here's the barn burner between Hall and Harding!


141 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Dean Heil, Oklahoma State
2. Bryce Meredith, Wyoming
3. Seth Gross, South Dakota State
4. Mitch Bengston, North Dakota State

As 133 was Cody Brewer’s to lose, 141 is #1 Dean Heil’s to lose. Outside of a stumble against Joey Ward, Heil has been as consistent as they come, and the clear cut #1 in a deep weight. 

Heil would likely see Mitch Bengston in semis. The two haven't met this season, but Heil is just too good on his feet, and I expect him to roll into the finals. In the other semi we should have a rematch between Seth Gross and Bryce Meredith. Meredith has been great for Wyoming all year long, and been a top 15 guy since December. Meredith would likely see Gross in the semis who he edged in a dual late in January. So give me a Heil-Meredith final.

Heil and Meredith have met once before this season and it was a wild one with Heil escaping by a point. Meredith is an extremely long 41-pounder, and can scramble with Heil which is the formula to beat him. However, Dean Heil always seems to come out on top in scrambles, and I like Heil to once again edge Meredith in another scrambly match. 

KB’s Final Predictions:
1. Dean Heil
2. Bryce Meredith
3. Seth Gross
4. Mitch Bengston

The last time Heil and Meredith squared off:

149 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Anthony Collica, Oklahoma State
2. Alex Kocer, South Dakota State
3. Davion Jeffries, Oklahoma
4. Timmy Box, Northern Colorado

It’s March which means it’s time for the best Anthony Collica to show up. Collica has pinned four of his last five opponents, including then #5 Evan Henderson. He is the clear favorite here, and I expect him to cruise to the finals. 

On the other side we should get a rematch between Alex Kocer and Davion Jeffries. Jeffries has had an outstanding redshirt campaign, but Kocer edged him in the dual. Throughout his career though, Davion seems to wrestle best when the lights are the brightest, give me the freshman to get revenge on Kocer. 

Collica didn’t wrestle in the first Bedlam dual, but in January he majored Jeffries in Stillwater. Collica is bad match up for Jeffries. He’s long, he can scramble with anyone, and has great offensive attacks. Oh, and he can cradle anyone too! 

KB’s Final Prediction:
1. Anthony Collica
2. Davion Jeffries
3. Alex Kocer
4. Timmy Box

Watch Collica pack #5 Evan Henderson!

157 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Joe Smith, Oklahoma State
2. Cody Pack, South Dakota State
3. Archie Colgan, Wyoming
4. Dylan Cottrell, West Virginia

I have Jo Jo as the top seed, but I can see the argument for Pack. Both are undefeated in conference action, but for me Jo Jo’s resume is stronger than Pack’s. This bracket could play out extremely different depending on how they seed it. If Pack is the one seed he will likely see Dylan Cottrell in the semis, who in the dual was winning until the final 15 seconds before eventually falling in overtime. You could also give Cottrell the three seed after a strong season, but he did lose head to head against Colgan at the Scuffle. Given all of that, above is how I would seed it. 

This would set up a Smith-Cottrell semi, and a Pack-Colgan semi. Colgan came into the season with a lot of momentum after winning UWW Juniors, but has been inconsistent this season. However, when he is on he beat Chance Marsteller in December, and Dylan Cottrell at the Scuffle. 

Cottrell and Smith have already met twice this year, and both meetings were all Smith. Pack and Colgan have met twice in the past, and Pack has historically owned that series. However, this years meeting was just a 1-0 decision for Pack. 

Pack can be hard to open up on his feet, but Jo Jo is relentless. He's in your face for 7 straight minutes constantly pushing the action. We haven’t seen him since his loss to Dylan Palacio because of a minor injury, but he will be back at full strength, and I believe win his first Big 12 title. 

KB’s Final Predictions
1. Joe Smith
2. Cody Pack
3. Dylan Cottrell
4. Archie Colgan


165 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma State
2. Tanner Weatherman, Iowa State
3. Clark Glass, Oklahoma
4. Luke Zilverberg, South Dakota State

Alex Dieringer enters the Big 12 Championship as the #1 pound for pound wrestler in America, riding a 74 match win streak. Dieringer is the biggest favorite in this tournament, and could join elite company with his fourth Big 12 title. 

Dieringer will likely see Luke Zilverberg in the semis, who back in November was able to keep the match to a regular decision. I don’t see that happening this time though. It’s the postseason and the champ will be ready to go. Tanner Weatherman has been great down at 165 this season, and I believe he will once again take out Clark Glass in the other semi. 

While Weatherman has been great this season, Alex Derringer is on another planet. That showed this year as Derringer dominated the match in the dual, and I don’t see anything changing in the finals. 

KB’s Final Predictions
1. Alex Dieringer
2.Tanner Weatherspoon
3. Clark Glass
4. Luke Zilverberg

Weatherman and Dieringer's last showdown!

174 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 4
1. Chandler Rogers, Oklahoma State
2. Matt Reed, Oklahoma
3. Lelund Weatherspoon, Iowa State
4. David Kocer, South Dakota State

After being injured in the second Bedlam dual, Kyle Crutchmer announced yesterday via Twitter that he has opted to have surgery on his broken foot, so Chandler Rogers will be the guy for the Cowboys. 

Rogers is as must see TV as they get, and on any given day can beat anyone in the country. Give me Rogers over Kocer in the semis, and Matt Reed over Weatherspoon in a rematch to set up another Bedlam final.

I believe that Matt Reed is as good of a match-up against Chandler Rogers as there is. By now everyone knows what to expect when stepping on the mat with Rogers. Reed is an extremely strong wrestler that stays in great position at all times. However, Rogers is one of the best scramblers in the country and create scores from every position. Give me Rogers, but in a closer match than some might expect. 

KB’s Final Predictions
1. Chandler Rogers
2. Matt Reed
3. David Kocer
4. Leland Weatherspoon

In case you need a reminder that Chandler Rogers is must see TV!

184 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Hayden Zillmer, North Dakota State
2. Nolan Boyd, Oklahoma State
3. Bubba Scheffel, West Virginia
4. Andrew Dixon, Oklahoma

Despite being maybe the hottest wrestler in the country, Nolan Boyd won’t be the top seed. Returning All-American, Hayden Zillmer, will be the top seed top seed and the man to beat in Kansas City. 

Boyd should see Bubba Scheffel in the semis who he handled in the dual, and Zillmer should see Andrew Dixon of Oklahoma. Give me Zillmer and Boyd to roll into the finals, and set up a top ten showdown. 

Both Zillmer and Boyd are extremely long 84-pounders, but both wrestle different styles. Zillmer is more of a slick guy who is tough on top, and Nolan Boyd is a grinder who will constantly be in your face for 7 straight minutes. Having said all of that, Zillmer stops Boyd's high crotch, scores on a couple counter attacks, puts a tough ride on Boyd, and wins a Big 12 title. 

KB’s Final Prediction
1. Hayden Zillmer
2. Nolan Boyd
3. Bubba Scheffel
4. Andrew Dixon

197 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 4
1. Jake Smith, West Virginia
2. Nate Rotert, South Dakota State
3. Trent Noon, Northern Colorado
4. Preston Weigel, Oklahoma State

In my opinion this is the most wide open weight in the tournament. Jake Smith, Nate Rotert, and Trent Noon all enter the tournament ranked in the top 15 of the country

If these are the seeds this would set up two great semis. Preston Weigel pushed Jake Smith to overtime in the dual, and Nate Rotert barely edged Trent Noon earlier this season. Despite the closes matches earlier in the season, I expect the same results. Give me a Smith-Robert final.

It was Jake Smith by a point a when he squared off with Rotert a few weeks ago. Both guys are big 97-pounders and extremely tough to score on. Smith is also a great counter wrestler, and I believe that is how he will edge Rotert. 

KB’s Final Predictions
1. Jake Smith
2. Nate Rotert
3. Preston Weigel
4. Trent Noon


285 Potential Pre-seeds
Automatic qualifiers: 3
1. Austin Marsden, Oklahoma State
2. Ross Larson, Oklahoma
3. Tanner Harms, Wyoming 
4. Quean Smith, Iowa State

Former All-American Austin Marsden is the class of this field, but he has had close matches with both Ross Larson and Tanner Harms before. 

Marsden should cruise into the finals. When he met Quean Smith in the dual it was a tech-pin for the Cowboy. In the other semi, Ross Larson comes to Kansas City ranked 15th in the country, and Tanner Harms comes to town after being in and out of the rankings all year. Both guys are extremely athletic and mobile heavyweights. Give me the upset and Tanner Harms to move into the finals to face Marsden.

When Marsden and Harms met in December it was a 5-3 win for Marsden. I see this match playing out pretty much the exact same. Marsden has phenomenal hips, and it is extremely tough to finish on him, and great leg attacks for a heavyweight.

KB's Final Predictions:
1. Austin Marsden
2. Tanner Harms
3. Ross Larson
4. AJ Vizcarrondo 


It will be a historic weekend on Flo that you won't want to miss!. WATCH LIVE HERE.