Ironman Fallout - Recap Presented by adidas

Dec 10, 2012 by Willie Saylor

Ironman Recap

Willie Saylor, Editor

Ironman has a history all its own. Each year adds to it with memories we’ll talk about for years. And another edition is in the books.

It’s was great to see all the talent in an official, regular season match for the first time. In addition to great action, we get to see just where kids are at. Who got better? How much did they improve? Who wowed us? Who underwhelmed?

By now you’ve probably seen the results. But below are some major post-event storylines followed by a synopsis of the brackets and what I took away from each weight class.

Three Three-Timers - Brooks Black (Blair), Nathan Tomasello (CVCA), and Bo Jordan (Graham) became the 10th, 11th, and 12th 3-time Ironman Champions in tournament history.

Blair Potential - Although Blair ran away with the title with 240.5 points to Wyoming Seminary’s 156, just think about what could have been. Neither of their lead-off batters, Kutler and Tucker, who came in both ranked within the Top 6, placed. And they were without Joey McKenna, who WILL be back this season.

Kudos to Adams, Lavallee - Colton Adams (Nebraska) and Joey Lavallee (Nevada) came from far distances to Ironman last year with high expectations, seeds, and fanfare. They both left Walsh’s gym in 2011 without a medal. Adams, in fact, went 0-2. They came back for the challenge again and can leave with their heads held high. Adams placed 3rd and Lavallee 5th.

106: #13-So. Eli Stickley, Graham, OH dec. #10-So. Jose Rodriguez, Perry, OH, 2-1

How the Bracket Played Out: This bracket was busted early and often. The third seed (Trout) in the second round. The second seed lost in third round. And the top seed lost in the quarters.

In a weight with no true hammer, we needed to see who would emerge. It wound up being Stickley, who wrestled a gritty tournament.

Breakout Performance: Jack Mueller went just 1-2 at Super 32 but rebounded to knock off the #1-ranked Austin Assad here and have a good overall tournament.

Ranker’s Nightmare: Jordan Kutler doesn’t make second day.

113: #1-So. Zahid Valencia, St. John Bosco, CA dec. #11-So. Ke-Shawn Hayes, Park Hill, MO, 4-3

How the Bracket Played Out: 4th-seed Drew Romero was bounced in the second round. Another Graham lightweight (Seiple) made a run to the semi’s before being stopped by Zahid.

Breakout Performance: Ke-Shawn Hayes has been ultra talented for years. But his run to the finals as a 6-seed and his tight bout with Zahid will get him much due respect from the general public, nationally.

Road Warrior: Zach Fuentes lost in the Round of 16 and battled all the way back for 3rd.

Twightlight Zone: Fargo Runner-Up, Chaz Tucker went just 2-2.

120: #1-Sr. Nathan Tomasello, CVCA, OH wbf. #2-So. Matt Kolodzik, Blair, NJ, 3:22

How the Bracket Played Out: Tomasello smashed everyone. Kolodzik got averted disaster several times, winning an overtime match in the second round and being taken down just after the buzzer in the semi’s against Jimenez.

Oh So Close! Joseph was leading Jimenez was just a few seconds remaining. Jimenez got the takedown and then another in overtime.

Ranker’s Nightmare: California State Champ, Isaiah Locsin DNP. He came in ranked 7th and went 2-2 losing to two unranked foes.

126: #1-Sr. Joey Dance, Christiansburg, VA dec. HM-Sr. Judson Preskitt, Wy Sem, PA, 13-7

How the Bracket Played Out: There weren’t any upsets or nail-biters till the quarters when McClay upset Kemerer and Preskitt beat Meredith.

Breakout Performance: Both Adams and Ervin sort of confirmed their ability. Otherwise this bracket (for Ironman) was oddly predictable.

132: #2-Fr. Aaron Pico, St. John Bosco, CA dec. #10-Micah Jordan, Graham, OH, 4-3

How the Bracket Played Out: Because of the way Ironman does seeding, there were fireworks here in the quarters. Pico over Schram, Jordan over Fisher, and Heil over Klee (each of them ranked), highlighted the round.

Breakout Performance: Micah Jordan may have been the breakout star of the tournament. Though he is a two-time State Champ, he had never beaten a ranked opponent and never placed at Ironman. Though we all knew he was good, he showed us he was even better. What’s more is his heart and determination that was on full display. Great, great performance.

Oh So Close: A really good wrestler you may not have heard of, Mikey Kostandaros of Walsh, had PJ Klee on the ropes. He looked really good, but Klee was able to score in neutral in OT.

Ranker’s Nightmare: What to do with JR Wert? Considering he weighed in in the 20’s, it was a great performance by him. I’ll have to move him up to this weight in the rankings, but it’s a fluid situation. We’ll almost assuredly see him at 20/26 at times this season.

138: #1-Sr. Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa dec. #8-Fr. Mason Manville, Blair, NJ, 4-2

How the Bracket Played Out: Two high seeds went down early while two low seeds reached ran deep. Both the three (Berger) and four (Dallas Smith) seeds went down in the Round of 16. The eight seed (Heffernan) made semi’s. while Manville (the ten seed) made finals.

Road Warrior: Tyler Berger was upset by Ryan Skonieczny in the Round of 16 but battled all the way back for 3rd, beating three ranked wrestlers in the process.

Thoughts and Prayers: Wyoming Seminary’s Joey Nelson endured a concussion in a close bout with Montini’s Chris Garcia and had to default the rest of the way.

145: #5-Sr. Edgar Bright, St. Edward, OH dec. HM-Jr. Jake Danishek, Dayton Christian, OH, 3-2

How the Bracket Played Out: The top bracket was decimated. Danishek beat top seeded Milonas and Shields beat both Super 32 Champ Leeth, the 5 seed, and Prep Champ Clark, the four seed. When’s the last time you saw a semi’s of a 12-9 match-up?

Breakout Performance: Danishek was a star. He’s always been kind of a ‘fringe’ type for rankings purposes, just missing out on a medal at Super 32. But he was utterly fantastic this weekend, reaching the finals while beating ranked foes, and giving Bright a tight bout.

The guy Danishek beat in quarters, Josh Sheilds, is also deserving of mention. Great performance. He’s always been a young talent. Now he’s a national contender.

Ranker’s Nightmare: The enigma that is Joey Lavallee. He’s up, he’s down, he’s all around. He DNP’d here last year here when he was the top seed and at Super 32 this year. But in between he won Reno and posted a solid performance here.

152: #7-Sr. Russ Parsons, Blair, NJ dec. Fr. Alex Marinelli, Graham, OH, 3-2

How the Bracket Played Out: Weiler beating top seeded Hammond was the talk of Day I. Tony Dailey was a top-half wrecking machine, taking out fifth seeded Bass and fourth seeded Cooper.

Breakout Performance: Both Marinelli and Weiler came in to the tournament as kids ranked on the FR Big Board. And they didn’t disappoint. The looked good not only in the end result, but in the means in which they achieved them. Future stars for sure.

Twightlight Zone: Hammond loses to Weiler in the second round, then techs him in consolations less than 24 hours later.

Ranker’s Nightmare: Jack Bass DNP’s. His loss to Hammond isn’t earth-shattering. But the loss to Tony Dailey is.

160: #1-Sr. Bo Jordan, Graham, OH dec. #2-Sr. Isaiah Martinez, Lemoore, CA, 4-2

How the Bracket Played Out: With the stars at the top, this bracket went mostly to chalk; the high seeds got the job done.

Breakout Performance: None, really. Though one could say that Bo Jordan’s development is jaw-dropping. You think he’s really good. But then, he’s even better.

170: #2-Sr. Cody Wiercioch, Canon-Mac, Pa dec. #8-Sr. Zach Epperly, Christiansburg, VA, 3-2

How the Bracket Played Out: We had one top seed (the fourth, Dakota Sizemore) go down on Day I. The only other ‘upset’ came on Day II where Peter Santos beat the 3rd-seeded Patrick Coover in the quarters.

Breakout Performance: The three Cali boys all had really good tournaments. Santos (3rd), Greigo (4th), and Subjeck (5th) all placed 5th in the state last year at different weights. Really solid kids.

182: #1-Sr. Eric Morris, Wy Sem, Pa dec. #4- BJ Toal, Troy Christian, OH, 4-0

How the Bracket Played Out: This bracket couldn’t have played out more perfectly; the top eight seeds made quarters, the top four, semi’s, the top two, finals. Seeds 1-4 placed exactly in that order.

Breakout Performance: Perhaps not a true ‘breakout performance’ (he had placed here before), but Blair’s Addison Knepshield looked dramatically improved and wrestled with passion and heart. Really liked what I saw out of him.

195: #5-Sr. Frank Mattiace, Blair, NJ md. Jr. Gabe Dzuro, St. Edward, OH, 10-0

How the Bracket Played Out: On a national level, this weight was the thinnest bracket at Ironman. It didn’t help that the #2 seed, Jerry Thornberry, who was just days removed from a State Championship football game, defaulted in the second round.

Breakout Performance: Again, not a true breakout performance, but you have to tip your cap to Dzuro, who never started in high school. In his Junior year, and in his first competition as a starter, all the kid did was reach Ironman finals.

220: #2-Jr. Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, Md, tf. HM-Alex Campbell, Canon-Mac, Pa, 26-11

How the Bracket Played Out: The bracket plays out like Kyle Snyder says it will! He destroyed everyone.

Breakout Performance: Both Campbell and Rosborough had really good tournaments. They came in as intriguing ‘on-the-verge’ kind of kids. They left with flying colors, beating the 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively.

HWT: #2-Sr. Brooks Black, Blair, NJ dec. #6-So. Michael Johnson, Wy Sem, Pa, 5-1

How the Bracket Played Out: Another weight where the bracket went almost exactly to script. All top four seeds made their way to the semi’s.

Fond Farewell: To Brooks Black who had one of the most productive Ironman careers in history and at any weight. He placed 4-1-1-1 in his four years under the dome. Good luck as a future member of the Illini, buddy.