2017 Cadet/Junior National Championships

Fargo 2017 Cadet Freestyle Heavyweight Preview

Fargo 2017 Cadet Freestyle Heavyweight Preview

Our Fargo 2017 heavyweight preview for cadet men's freestyle.

Jul 14, 2017 by Wrestling Nomad
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Fargo week is upon us. We're just one day away from weigh-ins for Cadet men's freestyle, so we're rolling out our final preview. If you missed them, here are our lightweight and middleweight previews.

This year, the younger men's freestylers kick off the action in the FargoDome. This preview will cover the upper weights between 160 and 285 pounds.

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PLEASE NOTE. This preview is based on where guys are pre-registered now, as well as some educated guesses on where guys will be going. Wrestlers can change weights, or get hurt, or might not be registered yet. On to the preview.

160

The Contenders:
No. 9 Carter Starocci, PA
No. 19 (at 182) David Key, GA
No. 19 (at 152) Nevan Snodgrass, OH
David Ferrante, IL
Robert Kanniard, NJ
Zach Glazier, MN

Commentary: This weight is going to be TOUGH. Carter Starocci (PA) is an absolute hammer who had a great Akron. While fifth at the UWW Cadet trials may not *seem* impressive, when you look at the list of guys he beat, it becomes clear the Pennsylvania state runner-up can run the gauntlet in Fargo.

One of the guys he may need to go through is David Key of Georgia, who should be absolutely massive for the weight. The Georgia state champ is a second year Cadet who went undefeated over the course of two years at Cadet duals. The Southeast regional champ didn't place last year, but his losses were to the guys currently ranked 2nd and 10th at 170.

Then we get into Nevan Snodgrass (OH), a stud in waiting from a power state. A 145 during the year, he has bounced around between 152, 160 and 170 during the freestyle season, going undefeated at Cadet duals at the lightest weight but ultimately choosing 160, where he won the Central regional.

David Ferrante (IL) went undefeated at Cadet duals, with big wins over Cade King and Jacob Lagoa. Robert Kanniard (NJ) is another stud on the rise after placing in one class Jersey states and going unblemished at Cadet duals. Zach Glazier (MN) has grown quite a bit the past year or so, going from a 126lb state finalist in 2016 to one of the contenders at 160 here this weekend. A second year cadet who didn't place at 138 last year, Glazier may become a name outside of just the Land of 10,000 lakes.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Carter Starocci, PA
  2. David Key, GA
  3. Nevan Snodgrass, OH
  4. Zach Glazier, MN

170

The Contenders:
No. 7 Patrick Kennedy, MN
No. 11 (at 160) Albert Ferrari, TX
Kyle Haas, KS
Abe Assad, IL
Gerrit Nejenhuis, PA

Commentary: Is it dumb to pick a rising freshman in a field full of guys with legitimate high school credentials? Probably, but I'm going to do it anyway. Kyle Haas (KS) has spent a few years absolutely terrorizing the schoolboy/middle school ranks, and is now going to make his debut on the big stage. He may not win, but he's a name you should become familiar with very soon.

Now, on to the guys that could prove me wrong. Patrick Kennedy (MN) is a certified killer who lost a one point match to Cadet world bronze medalist Travis Wittlake and should be any sane person's pick to win this weight. He sleptwalk his way through Northern Plains and the kids US Open with straight 10-0 techs. His only losses this year as a freshman were to graduating seniors who are both going Division 1.

Chris Foca (NJ) is No. 18 on the junior big board and No. 10 at this weight. He beat the favorite at 182 Devin Winston at Cadet duals, and should be a leader for one of the best teams in the country next year in Bergen Catholic. A returning All American at 160, Foca won the Northeast regional and should absolutely place highly.

Abe Assad (IL) placed at 160 last year and should do so again this year. Gerrit Nejenhuis (PA) is a name that Pennsylvania fans are familiar with, one that many in the Keystone state believe will only improve as his career goes on.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Kyle Haas, KS
  2. Patrick Kennedy, MN
  3. Chris Foca, NJ
  4. Abe Assad, IL

182

The Contenders:
No. 17 (at 170) Devin Winston, MO
Rowan Morgan, MN
Grant Parrish, MN
Gabe Christenson, IA

Commentary: The favorite on paper and only ranked wrestler is Devin Winston, a Missouri state champ who was fifth in Akron. Though not unbeatable in his age level, he could very well cruise to a title.

Rowan Morgan (MN) is a second year cadet and Northern Plains champ at 195 from Minnesota, exactly the kind of guy you want to avoid seeing on day two if you're trying to make the finals. His teammate Grant Parrish was undefeated at Cadet duals and won a Northern Plains title. Parrish is a second year Cadet who only competed in Greco last year, where he placed sixth.

Jonathon Fagen (ID) is a second year Cadet who seems like a good bet to place. A round of 12er last time around, his losses were to eventual champ Ryan Karoly and 6th placer Drew Hennessey. Fagen swept the Western regional and is a two-time state champ.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Devin Winston, MO
  2. Grant Parrish, MN
  3. Jon Fagen, ID
  4. Rowan Morgan, MN

195

The Contenders:
No. 18 Ashton Sharp, MO
Peter Christensen, IL
Santos Cantu, OR
Avery Jaramillo, OR
Konnor Doucet, OK

Commentary: Ashton Sharp (MO) is the lone ranked wrestler in the weight. He won the 85kg Greco world team spot in Akron, but then did not end up competing in freestyle. Sharp was 2-2 in freestyle last year at 182, and the only person to beat him at Cadet duals this year is in his weight. That would be Peter Christensen (IL), a preseason nationals champ who did not place last year down at 160.

Oregon has a pair of studs in returning All American Santos Cantu and Avery Jaramillo, both of whom are strong podium threats. Konnor Doucet (OK) was the Southern Plains champ, and knocked Jaramillo out last year in Fargo; Sharp beat Doucet at Cadet duals.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Santos Cantu, OR
  2. Ashton Sharp, MO
  3. Konnor Doucet, OK
  4. Avery Jaramillo, OR

220

The Contenders
No. 3 Braxton Amos, WV
No. 4 Luke Luffman, IL
No. 15 Josh Heindselman, OK
No. 20 Cabe Dickerson, OK
Hunter Catka, PA
Tarik Sutkovic, AZ

Commentary: Hard to believe there's a weight with four kinds ranked in which one is such a heavy favorite. Braxton Amos (WV) could very well end up being No. 1 on the Class of 2020 big board when it gets released after Fargo, and he will be going for his third stop sign after doubling up last year.

Amos was part of one of the most interesting stories last year, when he had to switch states midway through the tournament. After wrestling for Ohio during Cadet duals, he was forced to switch from his home state of West Virginia after a coach from New Jersey informed USA Wrestling that a wrestler must compete for the state they wrestle for at the duals.

Although he is a big favorite, this is Amos' first competition back after he injure his knee in the preseason last year. He'll also face stiff competition from three other ranked guys in Luke Luffman (IL) and a pair of Oklahomans named Josh Heindselman and Cade Dickerson. Tarik Sutkovic (AZ) could also be in the mix after an Arizona state title this year and going undefeated at Cadet duals. He won the Western regional and actually wrestled juniors for men's freestyle last year.

Heindselman was an Oklahoma state runner-up who has traded wins with Dickerson and won the Southern Plains regional. Dickerson, one of two returning AAs from this weight, was likewise a state runner-up, but he has a loss to Northeast regional champ Hunter Catka (PA). Luffman is the other guy who was an All American at 220 last year, and was in the finals of both preseason and folkstyle nationals this season. He was third at 100kg in Akron.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Braxton Amos, WV
  2. Luke Luffman, IL
  3. Hunter Catka, PA
  4. No. 20 Cabe Dickerson, OK

285

The Contenders
No. 8 Ronald Tucker, IL
No. 12 Nash Hutmacher, SD
No. 15 Eli Pokorney, IN
Donovan King, MI
Nick Pierce, MN
George Marsh, TX

Commentary: It's not often you get a returning silver medalist at heavyweight. Ronald Tucker (IL) is a rising junior and one of the top big men in the country. Tucker was in the Powerade finals this past season and should be the favorite to win Monday night's finals.

Nash Hutmacher (SD) and Eli Pokorney (IN) are the other ranked guys in this field. Hutmacher has a win over Pokorney from Junior duals, where he went undefeated, and may have to beat him again to get to Tucker. Pokorney was 4th last year at 195lbs.

A trio of regional winners in Donovan King (MI), Nick Pierce (MN) and George Marsh (TX) should feature in the mix, with Pierce emerging as the strongest candidate to place. Iowa is sending four heavyweights, so odds are one just may break through and land on the podium.

Nomad's Picks
  1. Nash Hutmacher, SD
  2. Ronald Tucker, IL
  3. Eli Pokorney, IN
  4. Nick Pierce, MN


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