It's that time again. Time for the biggest and baddest high school wrestlers to put on a show at one of the toughest high school tournaments in the country -- the Walsh Jesuit Ironman. This year there are some new teams in the mix in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Friday and Saturday. Pennsylvania powers Nazareth and Bethlehem Catholic are making the trip along with last year's FloWrestling Coach of the Year Mike Palazzo and his Lake Highland Prep (FL) team. Usual suspects Blair, SPG, and Wyoming Seminary are also returning this season.

With all of those powerhouse teams, the team race will be even more interesting than usual. The fireworks are set to go off in the individual weight classes as well, especially at 126 where multiple-time world champion Spencer Lee will be in action after missing the start of the season last year due to injury. As we near the first whistle of this year's Walsh Ironman tournament, let's take a look at the competition at 106 to 145. Tomorrow, we will dig into the contenders at 152 on up.

And as always, make sure you don't miss any of the action on FloWrestling.

First # - seed
Second # - ranking

106

Contenders
1. Mosha Schwartz - Wyoming Seminary, PA
2. Ryan Chauvin (No. 10) - Lake Highland Prep
3. Lucas Byrd (No. 12) - LaSalle, OH
4. Julian Tagg (No. 15) - Brecksville, OH
5. Jacob Decatur - CVCA, OH
8. Jacob Allen - Poway, CA
9. Dylan Ragusin - Montini Catholic, IL
11. Wyatt Yapoujian - Pomona, CO

Commentary: In a tough group of lightweights, top-seeded Mosha Schwartz may not be ranked, but he is also no slouch. Schwartz was a placer here last year and is coming off a summer where he focused on Greco, so this will be a big test for him to prove he's deserving of the top seeding. Ryan Chauvin, Lucas Byrd, and Julian Tagg each have what it takes to be the last man standing in the end, but the guy to keep an eye on is Wyatt Yapoujian. Don't be fooled by his low seed, he's definitely a formidable opponent. Lastly, Dylan Ragusin can scrap, so look for him to be in the mix too.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Tagg  2. Chauvin  3. Byrd  4. Yapoujian
CP: 1. Chauvin  2. Tagg  3. Byrd  4. Schwartz
Bratke: 1. Chauvin  2. Byrd  3. Tagg  4.Yapoujian
Willie:  1. Yapoujian  2. Tagg   3. Byrd   4. Chauvin

Julian Tagg wins his Fargo title.

113

Contenders
1. Nate Keaton - Circleville, OH
2. Dylan D'Emilio (No. 13 at 126) - Genoa Area, OH
3. Joey Melendez (No. 5) - Montini Catholic, IL
4. Michael Colaiocco (No. 17) - Blair Academy, NJ
5. Brakan Mead - Olentangy Liberty, OH
6. Gabriel Tagg - Brecksville, OH
8. Jacob Dunlop - Belle Vernon Area, PA
10. Matthew Cardello (No. 13) - CVCA, OH
11. Shane Hanson-Ashworth - Malvern Prep, PA
12. Beau Bayless - Reynolds, PA
13. PJ Ogunsanya - Oak Park-River Forest, IL
Andrew Cerniglia -- Nazareth, PA

Commentary: Could we see an Ironman finals rematch? Nate Keaton was able to edge out Dylan D' Emilio last year in the finals (even though a no-call on some back points helped him out), and I could see these two meeting once again. However, if it happens, I'm putting my money on D'Emilio this year in another close one. Though I think we could get that rematch, I am looking at Joey Melendez or Michael Colaiocco to come between the two returning finalists. Melendez is a scrapper and Colaiocco is a long and lanky guy who can be tough to handle. There will also be an up-and-comer looking to prove himself as Andrew Cerniglia tries to step up to this tough competition. But looking down the line of competitors, there are going to be a ton of close matches.

Picks
Holmes: 1. D'Emilio 2. Colaiocco 3. Cardello 4. Keaton
CP: 1. D'Emilio 2. Colaiocco 3. Melendez 4. Cardello
Bratke: 1. D'Emilio 2. Colaiocco 3. Keaton 4. Melendez
Willie:  1. D'Emilio   2. Melendez   3. Colaiocco  4. Cardello

Nate Keaton edges Dylan D'Emilio in last year's Ironman finals.

120

Contenders
1. Beau Bartlett (No. 12) - Wyoming Seminary, PA
2. Mike Madara (No. 20) - Blair Academy, NJ
3. Colton Yapoujian (No. 7 at 113) - Pomona, CO
4. Lukus Stricker - Archbishop Hoban, OH
5. Dack Punke - Washington, IL
6. Ryan Anderson (No. 15) - Bethlehem Catholic, PA
10. Ronnie Pietro - Butler, OH
15. Bryce Andonian - St. Edward, OH
16. Christian Nunez - St. John Bosco, CA
Colton Camacho -- Franklin Regional, PA

Commentary: Time to get our first look at the top-ranked incoming freshman, Beau Bartlett. There are certainly high expectations for Bartlett, so this will be a great proving ground for him. In his way will be Mike Madara and Colton Yapoujian. Yapoujian is a bit of a defensive wrestler, so if Madara can get his offense going early, I can see him getting passed him in the semifinals. Even though there is a lot of anticipation for Bartlett, I am most looking forward to seeing how things shake out for Dack Punke, Ryan Anderson, and Lukus Stricker, who will be looking to impress upon his fifth-place finish from a year ago. Each one of them has what it takes to outplace his seed.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Bartlett 2. Madara 3. Stricker 4. Yapoujian
CP: 1. Bartlett 2. Madara 3. Punke 4. Yapoujian
Bratke: 1. Bartlett 2. Madara 3. Yapoujian 4. Stricker
Willie: 1. Anderson  2. Bartlett  3. Yapoujian  4. Madara

Beau Bartlett defeats Tommy Cox last year at Eastern States.

126

Contenders
1. Spencer Lee (No. 1) - Franklin Regional, PA
2. Joe Silva (No. 5) - Lake Highland Prep, FL
3. Jordan Decatur (No. 1 at 120) - CVCA, OH
4. Real Woods (No. 9) - Montini Catholic, IL
5. Anthony Madrigal (No. 8) - Oak Park-River Forest, IL
6. Jack Davis (No. 18) - Wyoming Seminary, PA
7. Chris Cannon - Blair Academy, NJ
8. Jaden Abas (No. 20) - Rancho Bernardo, CA
11. Chase Zollman - Poway, CA
13. Matt Kazimir - St. Edward, OH

Commentary: Oh baby, get yo' popcorn ready. This is going to be fun to watch. Spencer Lee is the obvious favorite. That's no secret. But the contenders who will try to knock off the No. 1 pound-for-pound top dog are incredible. This weight comes with the most attitude. Jordan Decatur, who is ranked No. 1 at 120, is fresh off a football season, and this tournament has the potential expose him a bit in his transition period like it did last year. The addition of Lake Highland Prep to this year's tournament makes things so much more interesting, because it means that a scrappy, slick Joey Silva is coming in hot. I like Silva to make the finals against Lee in an epic battle. But Silva's match with Decatur in the semifinals could be one for the ages as well. Real Woods will be on the other side looking to give Lee all he wants. But like I said, a Lee versus Silva final is certainly brewing here. But all that means is that Decatur and Woods will be getting a rematch. They met last year at Ironman, and that match went in Woods' favor in a big way. But then Decatur got the best of him in Akron in a heated battle. Just know that this is the weight to watch.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Lee 2. Silva 3. Decatur 4. Woods
CP: 1. Lee 2. Silva 3. Decatur 4. Woods
Bratke: 1. Lee 2. Silva 3. Decatur 4. Madrigal
Willie: 1. Lee  2. Silva  3. Decatur  4. Madrigal

Spencer Lee's comeback world championship win at Junior Worlds.

132

Contenders
1. Mitch Moore (No. 3) - Graham, OH
2. Jason Renteria (No. 5) - Oak Park-River Forest, IL
3. Zachary Sherman (No. 12) - Blair Academy, NJ
4. Allan Hart - St. Edward, OH
6. Grant Willits (No. 15) - Pueblo County, CO
7. Zackary Donathan (No. 11) - Mason, OH
8. Mason Wohltman - Lake Highland Prep, FL
9. Chris Deloza - Clovis North, CA

Commentary: Before we discuss anything, let's go back to October when there was a little trash talking on Twitter between Mitch Moore and Jason Renteria. Now it's time to put that talking to bed and get with the action. After Silva vs. Lee, this is a match I'm most looking forward to seeing. Now with that said, I know that Zachary Sherman and Allan Hart will not just concede here. I think J Rent will get tested a bit by Sherman in the semifinals, but Moore has too much horsepower for just about anyone. Also, let's not forget, the last time that Renteria and Moore met was in the finals of Ironman a few years back. It's one of Moore's first signature wins that pushed him up the rankings. It's going to be fun to watch, so make sure you don't miss it.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Moore 2. J. Rent  3. Sherman  4. Willits
CP: 1. Moore  2. Renteria  3. Sherman  4. Joint
Bratke: 1. Moore  2. Renteria  3. Hart  4. Sherman
Willie:  1. Moore  2. Renteria  3. Sherman  4. Donathon

Mitch Moore scrambles to a win over Brian Courtney at Super 32.

138

Contenders
1. Cole Matthews (No. 15) - Reynolds, PA
2. Corey Shie (No. 8) - LaSalle, OH
3. Grant Aronoff (No. 11) - St. Thomas Aquinas, FL
4. Anthony Cheloni - Marmion Academy, IL
5. Jacob Greenwood - Poudre, CO
6. Malcolm Robinson (No. 19 at 126) - Blair Academy, NJ
7. Moises Guillen - Perrysburg, OH
8. Sam Dover - St. Edward, OH
13. P.J. Crane - Malvern Prep, PA

Commentary: Can Cole Matthews cement mix his way to a title? Matthews will be in the hunt to make it back to the finals and get over the hump as plenty of guys will be looking to knock him off. A pair of wrestlers who stick out to me are Malcom Robinson and Grant Aranoff. I can see both of them coming away with favorable finishes.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Matthews 2. Aronoff 3. Robinson 4. Shie
CP: 1. Matthews 2. Shie 3. Arnoff 4. Robinson
Bratke: 1. Matthews 2. Aranoff 3. Shie 4. Guillen
Willie:  1. Aronoff  2. Matthews  3. Shie   4. Guillen

Matthews punches his ticket to the Powerade finals last year.

145

Contenders
1. Dom Demas (No. 3) - Dublin Coffman, OH
2. Sammy Sasso (No. 3 at 138) - Nazareth, PA
3. Will Lewan (No. 8) - Montini Catholic, IL
4. Josiah Rider (No. 4) - Grand Junction, CO
5. Augusten Solomon - Franklin Regional, PA
6. Jake Brindley (No. 13) - Lake Highland Prep, FL
8. Quinn Devaney - McDonogh, MD
11. Zach Hartman - Belle Vernon Area, PA

Commentary: Yes, Sammy Sasso and Dom Demas are the guys to watch. However, Josiah Rider should not be overlooked. Rider notched a big win over Joe Lee at Super 32, where he cradled Lee for the victory. A tough Will Lewan is also looking to return to the finals once again this year and get the title that eluded him a season ago. My dark-horse pick is Jake Brindley. He should not be taken lightly at all. Lastly, it will be great to see Gus Solomon back on the mat and healthy.

Picks
Holmes: 1. Sasso 2. Rider 3. Demas 4. Brindley
CP: 1. Sasso 2. Demas 3. Rider 4. Lewan
Bratke: 1. Sasso 2. Demas 3. Solomon 4. Brindley
Willie: 1. Sasso  2. Rider  3. Demas  4. Lewan

Sasso dominates in the Super 32 finals.

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