Insider: Fargo Cadet Greco Preview
Insider: Fargo Cadet Greco Preview
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Insider: Fargo Cadet Greco Preview
Willie Saylor, Editor
And so it begins! Another year at Fargo.
Every year at Fargo when looking through the Cadet entries, many people aren’t very familiar with the names. But they will be by the end of the week. With out fail, the youngsters that compete well at Fargo Cadets go on to have some of the finest careers, to be nationally ranked, and to be the stars by the time they’re upper classmen.
Below, we’ll identify the contenders and make our picks. Be sure to watch live on FLO PRO all week. It’s going to be a dynamite production.
*Note: The contender list was compiled from the entry list available. Additional entries and/or scratches are possible.
88lbs - Entries: 30
Last Year’s Final: Devin Schnupp (Pennsylvania) over Breandan Coughlin (Maryland) Fall 2-1,1:04
Contenders:
Dylan Koontz (WI)
Vince Mancini (OH)
Cader Olivas (CA) - FILA Champ
Will Moss (GA)
Brandon Meikel (UT)
Colby Winnett (OR)
Tanner Yenter (KY)
Commentary: As newcomers to the national scene, the first few weights in Cadets offer a lot of surprises. Last year it was Devin Schnupp who emerged. This year brings in Cade Olivas, one of the most talked about JR High School wrestlers in history. Olivas won FILA’s in GR in May, and is the favorite here.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Olivas (CA) 2. Moss (GA) 3. Mancini (OH) 4. Meikel (UT)
94lbs - Entries: 31
Last Year’s Final: Hunter Marko (Wisconsin) over Jon Gabriel (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-0,6-2
Contenders:
Michael Bresser (OR)
Jaxon Cole (UT)
Breandon Coughlin (MD) - Returning Runner-Up
Kaden Gfeller (OK)
Austin Gomez (IL)
Louie Hayes (IL) - FILA Runner-Up
Brent Jones (MN) - FILA 3rd
Dom Lajoie (MI) - FILA 5th
Jeremy Nygard (WA) - Returning 4th
Zach Sherman (FL) - FILA 4th
Jet Tryon (MO)
Commentary: For such a young, light weight class, there are a good number of proven commodities on the national level. Coughlin made the finals last year, and as you can see, many of these guys competed at and placed in FILA’s. Gomez won FILA’s in FS. He, Gfeller, and Cole are all Top 50 Freshmen on our Big Board.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Gomez (IL) 2. Gfeller (OK) 3. Coughlin (MD) 4. Jones (MN)
100lbs - Entries: 40
Last Year’s Final: Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) over Kyle Bierdumpfel (New Jersey) Dec 1-0,2-1
Contenders:
Michael Doetsch (MD) - Returning 7th
Paul Fitterer (MN) - FILA 6th, Returning 3rd
Ben Freeman (MI)
Joey Grass (WV) - Returning 7th
Jimmy Pawelski (IL)
Daniel Planta (MD)
Joey Prata (VA) - Returning 4th
Matt Schmitt (MO) - Returning 3rd
Colton Williams (TX) - FILA 5th
Commentary: A really deep pool here with six All Americans and several more that have won at other national events. Schmitt and Prata have been in and out of the National Top 20 at 106. Schmitt won Western JR’s this spring as well. And their small size shouldn’t be an issue here at 100lbs.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Schmitt (MO) 2. Pawelski (IL) 3. Prata (VA) 4. Freeman (MI)
106lbs - Entries: 50
Last Year’s Final: Kyle Norstrem (Florida) over Vincenzo Joseph (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-1,7-0
Contenders:
Jaren Chavez (ID) - FILA 3rd
Tanner Cox (UT) - FILA Champ
Daton Fix (OK)
Quentin Hovis (AZ)
Michael Murphy (TN) - Returning 7th
Drew West (IA)
Commentary: This weight is intriguing. Cox is the most polished Greco kid here, while I’d say Fix, who was a runner-up in FILA’s in FS, is the most athletic. Murphy is a long, lanky returning AA. And West is a Top 50-ish type incoming talent.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Fix (OK) 2. Cox (UT) 3. Chavez (ID) 4. Murphy (TN)
113lbs - Entries: 74
Last Year’s Final: Coy Ozias (Virginia) over Drake Foster (Idaho) Dec 5-0,0-4,1-0
Contenders:
Kyle Bierdumpfel (NJ) - Returning Runner-Up
Eric Hong (PA)
Ryan Leisure (IA)
Mitchell McKee (MN) - Returning Champ, FILA 3rd
TK Megonigal (VA)
Taylor Ortz (PA) - Returning 8th
Henry Pohlmeyer (IA)
Kanen Storr (MI) - FILA 3rd
Bryce West (IA)
Commentary: Both finalists are back from the 100lb weight class in 2012. They’ll be the favorites along with talented incoming freshman Eric Hong, who’s ranked 3rd in the country at 106. Watch out for Storr, who’s been wrestling extremely well.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Hong (PA) 2. Bierdumpfel (NJ) 3. McKee (MN) 4. Storr MI)
120lbs - Entries: 74
Last Year’s Final: Vincent Turk (Illinois) over Jonathan Marmolejo (Illinois) Dec 1-2,4-0,2-0
Contenders:
Shae Bloom (PA)
Nick Casella (NY) - FILA 6th
Dylan Chatterton (PA)
Sage Coy (IN) - Returning 8th
Chris Debien (TN)
Quinn Devaney (MD)
Drake Foster (ID) - Returning Runner-Up
Isaiah Palamino (CA)
Corey Shie (OH)
Jake Speiss (OH) - FILA 4th
Gabe Townsell (IL)
Commentary: Interesting mix here with a lot of talent but not too many with Greco-specific results. Foster was a runner-up last year at 113. Debien is a guy who just recently broke in to the national rankings. Palomino, Shie, and Devaney are all Top 50 incoming freshmen. Watch for the two PA’s to make some noise here. And watch for Townsell. The kid has all the tools. If he can put it together, this could be his coming out party.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Debien (TN) 2. Townsell (IL) 3. Chatterton (PA) 4. Foster (ID)
126lbs - Entries: 72
Last Year’s Final: Cole Weaver (Michigan) over Seth Gross (Minnesota) Dec 3-0,5-0
Contenders:
Devin Bahr (WI) - FILA Champ
Jaden Enriquez (CA)
Armond Molina (CA)
Richard Montoya (NM)
Chris Moreno (FL) - FILA Runner-Up
Matt Park (ID)
Zahid Valencia (CA)
Commentary: There are four stop-sign-level wrestlers here. Bahr beat Moreno for the FILA title this spring. Zahid Valencia is among the nation’s best in all styles. And Montoya is a very underrated talent. He’s flirted with Top 20 status.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Valencia (CA) 2. Bahr (WI) 3. Montoya (NM) 4. Moreno (FL)
132lbs - Entries: 55
Last Year’s Final: Aaron Pico (California) over Brady OKeefe (Nevada) TF 6-0,6-0
Contenders:
Hayden Bates (OR)
Johnny Blankenship (MO)
Creed Lump (VA)
Sam Martino (VA)
Lucas Ortiz (PA)
Griffin Parriott (MN) - Returning 8th
Vincent Turk (IL) - Returning Champ
Commentary: Turk was the surprising champion last year at 120lbs. Behind him are a group of kids trying to break on to the next level. Ortiz had a very good scholastic freshman season. Blankenship is a talented up and comer.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Turk (IL) 2. Parriott (MN) 3. Ortiz (PA) 4. Martino (VA)
138lbs - Entries: 69
Last Year’s Final: Joseph Nelson (Wisconsin) over Joey Gunther (Illinois) Dec 3-0,1-0
Contenders:
Jake Adcock (GA)
Liam Corbett (HI)
Jake Davis (IL)
Dom Demas (OH)
Cameron Harrell (MD)
Johnny O’Hearon (UT)
Brady O’Keefe (NV) - Returning Runner-Up
Sammy Ward (NY) - Returning 7th
Commentary: Outside of O’Keefe, who was a runner-up to Pico last year, this weight lacks proven GR results. O’Hearon and Demas are Top 50 type freshmen nationally. We’ll see how they do in their first big test and who else emerges.
Willie’s Picks: 1. O’Keefe (NV) 2. Ward (NY) 3. Harrell (MD) 4. Demas (OH)
145lbs - Entries: 63
Last Year’s Final: Mason Manville (Minnesota) over Dustin Williams (Kansas) Dec 2-0,1-0
Contenders:
Larry Early (IL) - Returning 8th, FILA Runner-Up
James Handwerk (OH)
Austin Kraisser (MD)
Mason Manville (NJ) - Returning Champ
Blake Monty (AZ)
Layne Van Anrooy (OR)
Owen Webster (MN)
Commentary: There’s some real hammers here, including Early and Manville, who are Top 10 national talents. Manville is back at the same weight as last year when he won the crown. Early just made FILA finals at 138 where Manville was 3rd at 154 . Also watch out for Kraisser, who has the talent to go with these guys. And Handwerk is an incoming freshman that has really hit his stride. He has a really bright future.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Early (IL) 2. Manville (NJ) 3. Kraisser (MD) 4. Handwerk (OH)
152lbs - Entries: 52
Last Year’s Finals: Bo Nickal (Texas) over Keiffer Taylor (Utah) Dec 7-0,1-0
Contenders:
Corbin Allen (VA)
Chris Almony (MD) - Returning 5th
Andrew Berreyesa (NV)
Domenic DeLaurentis (PA)
Luke Drugac (NJ)
Joey Gunther (IL) - Returning Runner-Up
Taylor Lujan (GA)
Randy Meneweather (IL)
Jesse Porter (NY) - Returning 4th
Nick Reenan (TX) - Returning 3rd
Commentary: Good weight here with plenty of contenders. Reenan beat Porter for 3rd here last year at 132. Gunther lost in the finals at 138. Lujan is a monster. Meneweather is a talented up and comer. But pay attention to Allen. He could be the wild card here. He’s a Top 20 kid, but without a whole lot of GR experience.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Reenan (TX) 2. Gunther (IL) 3. Lujan (GA) 4. Allen (VA)
160lbs - Entries: 43
Last Year’s Finals: Kimball Bastian (Utah) over Nick Fiegner (California) Dec 1-0,1-0
Contenders:
Kamal Bey (IL)
Jelani Embree (MI)
Mark Hall (CO)
Commentary: In a weight that light on contenders (zero Fargo or FILA AA’s), Mark Hall stands head and shoulders above the competition despite not having wrestled in a major in GR other than duals. Bey has had encouraging national results and Embree is one of the premier incoming freshmen in the country.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Hall (CO) 2. Bey (IL) 3. Embree (MI) 4. Avis (CA)
170lbs - Entries: 45
Last Year’s Final: Chandler Rogers (Washington) over Ryan Christensen (Washington) Fall 0:34
Contenders:
Jared Bird (ID)
Beau Breske (WI) - FILA 4th
Dustin Gray (MO) - Returning 8th
Elijah Kerr-Brown (GA)
Wyatt Koelling (UT)
Keegan Moore (MN)
Dru Worker (IL)
Commentary: Not a lot of household names, but you’ll know some of these guys by the end of the weekend. Breske is a hammer, and my clear pick for the title. I think it comes down to him and Moore, another emerging star from a tiny school in Minnesota. Gray is a returning AA and Kerr-Brown has had encouraging results lately. Watch out for Worker, one of Illinois’ top prospects.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Breske (WI) 2. Moore (MN) 3. Gray (MO) 4. Kerr-Brown (GA)
182lbs - Entries: 28
Last Year’s Final: Samuel Colbray (Oregon) over Michael Pixley (Missouri) Dec 1-0,0-1,3-0
Contenders:
Andrew Fenton (OH)
Jeremiah Imonode (AZ)
Andrew Marsden (IL)
Hunter Ritter (MD) - FILA Runner-Up
Justin Rivera (GA) - Returning 4th
Commentary: A few of my favorite up-and-comers. Marsden has had a breakout summer with a fine performance at duals. Ritter’s only loss at FILA’s was in the finals to Angus Arthur (MI). Because he was successful so early, it seems like Rivera has been around forever. He’s a real talent.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Rivera (GA) 2. Ritter (MD) 3. Marsden (IL) 4. Imonode (AZ)
195lbs - Entries: 34
Last Year’s Final: Lance Benick (Minnesota) over Landon Pellham (Michigan) Fall 0:40
Contenders:
Tevis Bartlett (WY) - Returning 5th
Jake Cavins (IN)
Sammy Colbray (OR) - Returning Champ
Jordan Evans (UT)
Isaac Florell (MN) - FILA 6th
Mike Rogers (PA)
Allen Stallings (IL)
Commentary: Colbray won the title last year and completed his season as one of the best freshmen in the country. Bartlett was 5th in Colbray’s weight last year. If there’s a sneaky entry here it’s Rogers. He’s been wrestling very well. And Stallings is another one of those young Illinois talents.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Colbray (OR) 2. Rogers (PA) 3. Bartlett (WY) 4. Florell (MN)
220lbs - Entries: 28
Last Year’s Final: Roy Nash (Utah) over Connor Tolley (Indiana) Dec 4-0,1-0
Contenders:
Lance Benick (MN) - Returning Fargo Champ, FILA Runner-Up
Kyler Childers (OK) - Returning 5th
James Ford (OH)
Dallas Goodpaster (WA)
Michael Smith (MD)
Adam Treptau (MN)
Jordan Wood (PA)
Commentary: Benick is back to defend his title. He was a double champ at 195 last year and a double finalist at FILA’s this spring. Kyler was 5th in GR and a Runner-Up in Fargo last year. Watch out for Goodpaster, who just had very encouraging results at duals. The wild card here is Jordan Wood. He's was flat out amazing as a state runner-up freshman. But can he wrestle Greco?
Willie’s Picks: 1. Benick (MN) 2. Childers (OK) 3. Goodpaster (WA) 4. Wood (PA)
HWT - Entries: 22
Last Year’s Final: Wyatt Spears (Oregon) over Tanner Farmer (Illinois) Dec 0-8,3-2,2-0
Contenders:
Donte Jiovenetta (FL)
Adam Lemke-Bell (IL) - FILA 4th
Jake Marnin (IA) - Returning 4th
Shawn Streck (IN)
Kevin Vough (OH) - FILA 5th
Commentary: Not a very deep field. And I have a suspicion someone not listed here will make a push.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Marnin (IA) 2. Lemke-Bell (IL) 3. Streck (IN) 4. Vough (OH)
Willie Saylor, Editor
And so it begins! Another year at Fargo.
Every year at Fargo when looking through the Cadet entries, many people aren’t very familiar with the names. But they will be by the end of the week. With out fail, the youngsters that compete well at Fargo Cadets go on to have some of the finest careers, to be nationally ranked, and to be the stars by the time they’re upper classmen.
Below, we’ll identify the contenders and make our picks. Be sure to watch live on FLO PRO all week. It’s going to be a dynamite production.
*Note: The contender list was compiled from the entry list available. Additional entries and/or scratches are possible.
88lbs - Entries: 30
Last Year’s Final: Devin Schnupp (Pennsylvania) over Breandan Coughlin (Maryland) Fall 2-1,1:04
Contenders:
Dylan Koontz (WI)
Vince Mancini (OH)
Cader Olivas (CA) - FILA Champ
Will Moss (GA)
Brandon Meikel (UT)
Colby Winnett (OR)
Tanner Yenter (KY)
Commentary: As newcomers to the national scene, the first few weights in Cadets offer a lot of surprises. Last year it was Devin Schnupp who emerged. This year brings in Cade Olivas, one of the most talked about JR High School wrestlers in history. Olivas won FILA’s in GR in May, and is the favorite here.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Olivas (CA) 2. Moss (GA) 3. Mancini (OH) 4. Meikel (UT)
94lbs - Entries: 31
Last Year’s Final: Hunter Marko (Wisconsin) over Jon Gabriel (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-0,6-2
Contenders:
Michael Bresser (OR)
Jaxon Cole (UT)
Breandon Coughlin (MD) - Returning Runner-Up
Kaden Gfeller (OK)
Austin Gomez (IL)
Louie Hayes (IL) - FILA Runner-Up
Brent Jones (MN) - FILA 3rd
Dom Lajoie (MI) - FILA 5th
Jeremy Nygard (WA) - Returning 4th
Zach Sherman (FL) - FILA 4th
Jet Tryon (MO)
Commentary: For such a young, light weight class, there are a good number of proven commodities on the national level. Coughlin made the finals last year, and as you can see, many of these guys competed at and placed in FILA’s. Gomez won FILA’s in FS. He, Gfeller, and Cole are all Top 50 Freshmen on our Big Board.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Gomez (IL) 2. Gfeller (OK) 3. Coughlin (MD) 4. Jones (MN)
100lbs - Entries: 40
Last Year’s Final: Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) over Kyle Bierdumpfel (New Jersey) Dec 1-0,2-1
Contenders:
Michael Doetsch (MD) - Returning 7th
Paul Fitterer (MN) - FILA 6th, Returning 3rd
Ben Freeman (MI)
Joey Grass (WV) - Returning 7th
Jimmy Pawelski (IL)
Daniel Planta (MD)
Joey Prata (VA) - Returning 4th
Matt Schmitt (MO) - Returning 3rd
Colton Williams (TX) - FILA 5th
Commentary: A really deep pool here with six All Americans and several more that have won at other national events. Schmitt and Prata have been in and out of the National Top 20 at 106. Schmitt won Western JR’s this spring as well. And their small size shouldn’t be an issue here at 100lbs.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Schmitt (MO) 2. Pawelski (IL) 3. Prata (VA) 4. Freeman (MI)
106lbs - Entries: 50
Last Year’s Final: Kyle Norstrem (Florida) over Vincenzo Joseph (Pennsylvania) Dec 4-1,7-0
Contenders:
Jaren Chavez (ID) - FILA 3rd
Tanner Cox (UT) - FILA Champ
Daton Fix (OK)
Quentin Hovis (AZ)
Michael Murphy (TN) - Returning 7th
Drew West (IA)
Commentary: This weight is intriguing. Cox is the most polished Greco kid here, while I’d say Fix, who was a runner-up in FILA’s in FS, is the most athletic. Murphy is a long, lanky returning AA. And West is a Top 50-ish type incoming talent.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Fix (OK) 2. Cox (UT) 3. Chavez (ID) 4. Murphy (TN)
113lbs - Entries: 74
Last Year’s Final: Coy Ozias (Virginia) over Drake Foster (Idaho) Dec 5-0,0-4,1-0
Contenders:
Kyle Bierdumpfel (NJ) - Returning Runner-Up
Eric Hong (PA)
Ryan Leisure (IA)
Mitchell McKee (MN) - Returning Champ, FILA 3rd
TK Megonigal (VA)
Taylor Ortz (PA) - Returning 8th
Henry Pohlmeyer (IA)
Kanen Storr (MI) - FILA 3rd
Bryce West (IA)
Commentary: Both finalists are back from the 100lb weight class in 2012. They’ll be the favorites along with talented incoming freshman Eric Hong, who’s ranked 3rd in the country at 106. Watch out for Storr, who’s been wrestling extremely well.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Hong (PA) 2. Bierdumpfel (NJ) 3. McKee (MN) 4. Storr MI)
120lbs - Entries: 74
Last Year’s Final: Vincent Turk (Illinois) over Jonathan Marmolejo (Illinois) Dec 1-2,4-0,2-0
Contenders:
Shae Bloom (PA)
Nick Casella (NY) - FILA 6th
Dylan Chatterton (PA)
Sage Coy (IN) - Returning 8th
Chris Debien (TN)
Quinn Devaney (MD)
Drake Foster (ID) - Returning Runner-Up
Isaiah Palamino (CA)
Corey Shie (OH)
Jake Speiss (OH) - FILA 4th
Gabe Townsell (IL)
Commentary: Interesting mix here with a lot of talent but not too many with Greco-specific results. Foster was a runner-up last year at 113. Debien is a guy who just recently broke in to the national rankings. Palomino, Shie, and Devaney are all Top 50 incoming freshmen. Watch for the two PA’s to make some noise here. And watch for Townsell. The kid has all the tools. If he can put it together, this could be his coming out party.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Debien (TN) 2. Townsell (IL) 3. Chatterton (PA) 4. Foster (ID)
126lbs - Entries: 72
Last Year’s Final: Cole Weaver (Michigan) over Seth Gross (Minnesota) Dec 3-0,5-0
Contenders:
Devin Bahr (WI) - FILA Champ
Jaden Enriquez (CA)
Armond Molina (CA)
Richard Montoya (NM)
Chris Moreno (FL) - FILA Runner-Up
Matt Park (ID)
Zahid Valencia (CA)
Commentary: There are four stop-sign-level wrestlers here. Bahr beat Moreno for the FILA title this spring. Zahid Valencia is among the nation’s best in all styles. And Montoya is a very underrated talent. He’s flirted with Top 20 status.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Valencia (CA) 2. Bahr (WI) 3. Montoya (NM) 4. Moreno (FL)
132lbs - Entries: 55
Last Year’s Final: Aaron Pico (California) over Brady OKeefe (Nevada) TF 6-0,6-0
Contenders:
Hayden Bates (OR)
Johnny Blankenship (MO)
Creed Lump (VA)
Sam Martino (VA)
Lucas Ortiz (PA)
Griffin Parriott (MN) - Returning 8th
Vincent Turk (IL) - Returning Champ
Commentary: Turk was the surprising champion last year at 120lbs. Behind him are a group of kids trying to break on to the next level. Ortiz had a very good scholastic freshman season. Blankenship is a talented up and comer.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Turk (IL) 2. Parriott (MN) 3. Ortiz (PA) 4. Martino (VA)
138lbs - Entries: 69
Last Year’s Final: Joseph Nelson (Wisconsin) over Joey Gunther (Illinois) Dec 3-0,1-0
Contenders:
Jake Adcock (GA)
Liam Corbett (HI)
Jake Davis (IL)
Dom Demas (OH)
Cameron Harrell (MD)
Johnny O’Hearon (UT)
Brady O’Keefe (NV) - Returning Runner-Up
Sammy Ward (NY) - Returning 7th
Commentary: Outside of O’Keefe, who was a runner-up to Pico last year, this weight lacks proven GR results. O’Hearon and Demas are Top 50 type freshmen nationally. We’ll see how they do in their first big test and who else emerges.
Willie’s Picks: 1. O’Keefe (NV) 2. Ward (NY) 3. Harrell (MD) 4. Demas (OH)
145lbs - Entries: 63
Last Year’s Final: Mason Manville (Minnesota) over Dustin Williams (Kansas) Dec 2-0,1-0
Contenders:
Larry Early (IL) - Returning 8th, FILA Runner-Up
James Handwerk (OH)
Austin Kraisser (MD)
Mason Manville (NJ) - Returning Champ
Blake Monty (AZ)
Layne Van Anrooy (OR)
Owen Webster (MN)
Commentary: There’s some real hammers here, including Early and Manville, who are Top 10 national talents. Manville is back at the same weight as last year when he won the crown. Early just made FILA finals at 138 where Manville was 3rd at 154 . Also watch out for Kraisser, who has the talent to go with these guys. And Handwerk is an incoming freshman that has really hit his stride. He has a really bright future.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Early (IL) 2. Manville (NJ) 3. Kraisser (MD) 4. Handwerk (OH)
152lbs - Entries: 52
Last Year’s Finals: Bo Nickal (Texas) over Keiffer Taylor (Utah) Dec 7-0,1-0
Contenders:
Corbin Allen (VA)
Chris Almony (MD) - Returning 5th
Andrew Berreyesa (NV)
Domenic DeLaurentis (PA)
Luke Drugac (NJ)
Joey Gunther (IL) - Returning Runner-Up
Taylor Lujan (GA)
Randy Meneweather (IL)
Jesse Porter (NY) - Returning 4th
Nick Reenan (TX) - Returning 3rd
Commentary: Good weight here with plenty of contenders. Reenan beat Porter for 3rd here last year at 132. Gunther lost in the finals at 138. Lujan is a monster. Meneweather is a talented up and comer. But pay attention to Allen. He could be the wild card here. He’s a Top 20 kid, but without a whole lot of GR experience.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Reenan (TX) 2. Gunther (IL) 3. Lujan (GA) 4. Allen (VA)
160lbs - Entries: 43
Last Year’s Finals: Kimball Bastian (Utah) over Nick Fiegner (California) Dec 1-0,1-0
Contenders:
Kamal Bey (IL)
Jelani Embree (MI)
Mark Hall (CO)
Commentary: In a weight that light on contenders (zero Fargo or FILA AA’s), Mark Hall stands head and shoulders above the competition despite not having wrestled in a major in GR other than duals. Bey has had encouraging national results and Embree is one of the premier incoming freshmen in the country.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Hall (CO) 2. Bey (IL) 3. Embree (MI) 4. Avis (CA)
170lbs - Entries: 45
Last Year’s Final: Chandler Rogers (Washington) over Ryan Christensen (Washington) Fall 0:34
Contenders:
Jared Bird (ID)
Beau Breske (WI) - FILA 4th
Dustin Gray (MO) - Returning 8th
Elijah Kerr-Brown (GA)
Wyatt Koelling (UT)
Keegan Moore (MN)
Dru Worker (IL)
Commentary: Not a lot of household names, but you’ll know some of these guys by the end of the weekend. Breske is a hammer, and my clear pick for the title. I think it comes down to him and Moore, another emerging star from a tiny school in Minnesota. Gray is a returning AA and Kerr-Brown has had encouraging results lately. Watch out for Worker, one of Illinois’ top prospects.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Breske (WI) 2. Moore (MN) 3. Gray (MO) 4. Kerr-Brown (GA)
182lbs - Entries: 28
Last Year’s Final: Samuel Colbray (Oregon) over Michael Pixley (Missouri) Dec 1-0,0-1,3-0
Contenders:
Andrew Fenton (OH)
Jeremiah Imonode (AZ)
Andrew Marsden (IL)
Hunter Ritter (MD) - FILA Runner-Up
Justin Rivera (GA) - Returning 4th
Commentary: A few of my favorite up-and-comers. Marsden has had a breakout summer with a fine performance at duals. Ritter’s only loss at FILA’s was in the finals to Angus Arthur (MI). Because he was successful so early, it seems like Rivera has been around forever. He’s a real talent.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Rivera (GA) 2. Ritter (MD) 3. Marsden (IL) 4. Imonode (AZ)
195lbs - Entries: 34
Last Year’s Final: Lance Benick (Minnesota) over Landon Pellham (Michigan) Fall 0:40
Contenders:
Tevis Bartlett (WY) - Returning 5th
Jake Cavins (IN)
Sammy Colbray (OR) - Returning Champ
Jordan Evans (UT)
Isaac Florell (MN) - FILA 6th
Mike Rogers (PA)
Allen Stallings (IL)
Commentary: Colbray won the title last year and completed his season as one of the best freshmen in the country. Bartlett was 5th in Colbray’s weight last year. If there’s a sneaky entry here it’s Rogers. He’s been wrestling very well. And Stallings is another one of those young Illinois talents.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Colbray (OR) 2. Rogers (PA) 3. Bartlett (WY) 4. Florell (MN)
220lbs - Entries: 28
Last Year’s Final: Roy Nash (Utah) over Connor Tolley (Indiana) Dec 4-0,1-0
Contenders:
Lance Benick (MN) - Returning Fargo Champ, FILA Runner-Up
Kyler Childers (OK) - Returning 5th
James Ford (OH)
Dallas Goodpaster (WA)
Michael Smith (MD)
Adam Treptau (MN)
Jordan Wood (PA)
Commentary: Benick is back to defend his title. He was a double champ at 195 last year and a double finalist at FILA’s this spring. Kyler was 5th in GR and a Runner-Up in Fargo last year. Watch out for Goodpaster, who just had very encouraging results at duals. The wild card here is Jordan Wood. He's was flat out amazing as a state runner-up freshman. But can he wrestle Greco?
Willie’s Picks: 1. Benick (MN) 2. Childers (OK) 3. Goodpaster (WA) 4. Wood (PA)
HWT - Entries: 22
Last Year’s Final: Wyatt Spears (Oregon) over Tanner Farmer (Illinois) Dec 0-8,3-2,2-0
Contenders:
Donte Jiovenetta (FL)
Adam Lemke-Bell (IL) - FILA 4th
Jake Marnin (IA) - Returning 4th
Shawn Streck (IN)
Kevin Vough (OH) - FILA 5th
Commentary: Not a very deep field. And I have a suspicion someone not listed here will make a push.
Willie’s Picks: 1. Marnin (IA) 2. Lemke-Bell (IL) 3. Streck (IN) 4. Vough (OH)
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