Best CKLV Quarterfinal Matchups
Best CKLV Quarterfinal Matchups
The most anticipated matchups of the quarterfinals of the 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
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These matchups wouldn't be out of place in the NCAA Championships quarterfinals. Thanks to an insanely stacked 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, we get to watch these All-American and national title contenders face-off in the first week of December. Looks like Santa delivered his presents early this year!
Watch 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas LIVE on Flo
December 6-7 | Quarterfinals begin at 9:00 PM Eastern
Pretty much any of these quarter matchups are going to be fire, but we did our best to narrow it down and try and make your CKLV viewing logistical plans a bit more manageable.
Full brackets, results and more can be found on FloArena.
125 Pounds
#2 Jack Mueller, Virginia vs Pat McKee, Minnesota
Any chance you get to watch 2019 NCAA runnerup Jack Mueller should be taken advantage of. And when he gets to wrestle the dynamic head pinching redshirt freshman Pat McKee? Oh yes, that is absolutely something you need to watch. So be a friend to yourself and watch the match why don't you?
133 Pounds
Ridge Lovett, Nebraska vs Louie Hayes, Virginia
They only unranked matchup we're highlighting, however, don't expect either of these guys to remain unranked after this weekend. True freshman Ridge Lovett beat #10 Taylor LaMont 6-1 in the round of 32, while Louie Hayes beat #13 Anthony Madrigal in the round of 16.
141 Pounds
#6 Chad Red, Nebraska vs #7 Tariq Wilson, NC State
These are the types of matchups you dream about seeing at the NCAAs. And here we have it in Vegas, on the first weekend of December, in the quarterfinals. How 'bout that? These two juniors have three All-American honors and a round of 12 appearance between them. What happens when they collide in the quarters? You'll have to tune in to find out!
149 Pounds
We had to cheat. All four of these bouts are going to be awesome. Take your pick, you can't go wrong! Or better yet, watch on your computer and go quad-screen!
this rules pic.twitter.com/ptH4DrHlzk
— Jaroslav Hasek (@SpeyWrestle) December 6, 2019
157 Pounds
#4 Ryan Deakin, Northwestern vs #22 Jacori Teemer, Arizona State
2019 Final X competitor Ryan Freakin Deakin is a title threat at 157, but Jacori Teemer is one of the most dangerous men in college wrestling. If Deakin can avoid Teemer's cradles, he should win, however, Teemer has big move capabilities that makes an upset a distinct possibility.
165 Pounds
#8 Andrew Fogarty, North Dakota State vs #14 Phillip Conigliaro, Harvard
Philly Cheese Steak (nickname courtesy of Harvard assistant coach Johnni DiJulius) could be the next big thing at 165-pounds. He'll take a big step in fulfilling that prophecy if he takes out undefeated Bison senior Andrew Fogarty.
174 Pounds
#7 Dylan Lydy, Purdue vs #14 Anthony Mantanona, Oklahoma
Both wrestlers were at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic but didn't wrestle each other. Senior Boilermaker Dylan Lydy is 9-0 this year and has his sights set on his first All-American honor in his career. The Ant-Man from Oklahoma has but two losses and employs a high-flying style that makes for appointment viewing. Do not sleep on this one.
184 Pounds
#5 Taylor Lujan vs #10 Hunter Bolen
#3 Lou DePrez vs #9 Taylor Venz
We had to cheat at 184 too, but at least we limited it to just two matchups. Both are battles between top-10 wrestlers. Come to think of it, #1 Zahid Valencia vs #7 Sammy Colbray is also a top 10 matchup. And it could have been #4 Ben Darmstadt vs #2 Trent Hidlay, however, Darmy lost to unranked Owen Webster in the round of 16. Still, that Webster v Hidlay match will be legit as well. So yeah, better make this weight class a quad-screen event as well!
197 Pounds
#6 Eric Schultz, Nebraska vs #10 Thomas Lane, Cal Poly
Husker junior Eric Shultz is undefeated on the season and looking every bit the All-American as he rolled through to the quarters. Mustang senior Thomas Lane is 2-0 this season and will try and slow down Schultz' momentum.
285 Pounds
#5 Tanner Hall, Arizona State vs #13 Brian Andrews, Wyoming
Hall was pushed to the brink in his round of 16 bout against Hofstra's Zachary Knighton-Ward. Andrews had a relatively easier time in his round of 16 match where he blanked Jon Spaulding of Edinboro. This is a big opportunity for Andrews to gain some ground in the rankings as well as position himself for the NCAA tournament.