2015 ASICS Junior-Cadet National Championships

2015 Cadet Greco National Preview

Jul 17, 2015 by Devin Hurst

Fargo is always a tournament that can make or break you. Every kid is looking to come home with some hardware and the field is always loaded. Cadet Greco will be the first competition to kick off the event, and there are plenty of hammers throughout this field. As some guys are looking to bring home their first stop sign, others will be looking to repeat. But as we all know, it’s never easy to make it to the stage. So let’s dig into this loaded field. Cadet 88 Chris Trelli (CT) Chase Tebbets (WA) Logan Ashton (GA) Lucas Byrd (OH) Mosha Schwartz (CO) Commentary: This weight always introduces some new faces. Mosha Schwartz has been rock solid thus far and is a favorite to take the 88lb bracket. Logan Ashton, Chase Tebbets and Lucas Byrd should also have some solid performances and could very well contest for the title. Devin's picks: 1. Schwartz 2. Byrd 3. Tebbets 4. Trelli Holmes’ picks: 1. Schwartz 2. Byrd 3. Ashton 4. Tebbets Cadet 94 Cody Phippen (KS) Eric Barnett (WI) Jace Koelzer (KA) Dalton Stutzman (UT) Cevion Severado (MO) Steele Dias (NV) Commentary: Could we have an all Kansas final here? It’s possible. Phippen has looked great and Koelzer has what it takes as well. Dalton Stutzman could make some things interesting so be sure to keep an eye on him as well. Devin's picks: 1. Phippen 2. Koelzer 3. Barnett 4. Severado Holmes’ picks: 1. Phippen 2. Stutzman 3. Koelzer 4. Barnett Cadet 100 Nathan Cummings (IL) Joey Melendez (IL) Peter Ogunsanya (IL) Patrick McKee (MN) Benji Peak (WI) Gable Fox (IA) Joey Bianchini (IL) Commentary: Look no further than Peter Ogunsanya. He has been a hammer as he helped the Illinois Cadet and Junior Greco and Freestyle teams to a few titles. He’s also the returning 3rd place finisher at this weight in both styles. He may be the favorite, but Peak should not be overlooked, as he will be his toughest competitor. Fox and Melendez could be in the hunt as well. Devin's picks: 1. Ogunsanya 2. Peak 3. Fox 4. Melendez Holmes’ picks: 1. Ogunsanya 2. Peak 3. McKee 4. Fox Cadet 106 Riley Gurr (WA) Charles Faber (IL) Malik Johnson (MO) KJ Kearns (CO) Clay Egli (IN) Clayton Singh (MO) Dallas Wilson (KS) Jordan Ward (OH) Joey Otero (NM) King Sandoval (MD) Stone Mendez (NE) Commentary: This weight has always been one of the most loaded at the Cadet tournament and this year does will continue that trend. All of these guys are as tough as they come. Devin's picks: 1. Faber 2. Gurr 3. Sandoval 4. Johnson Holmes’ picks: 1. Faber 2. Sandoval 3. Gurr 4. Otero

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Fargo is always a tournament that can make or break you. Every kid is looking to come home with some hardware and the field is always loaded.

Cadet Greco will be the first competition to kick off the event, and there are plenty of hammers throughout this field. As some guys are looking to bring home their first stop sign, others will be looking to repeat. But as we all know, it’s never easy to make it to the stage.

So let’s dig into this loaded field.

Cadet 88

Chris Trelli (CT)

Chase Tebbets (WA)

Logan Ashton (GA)

Lucas Byrd (OH)

Mosha Schwartz (CO)

Commentary: This weight always introduces some new faces. Mosha Schwartz has been rock solid thus far and is a favorite to take the 88lb bracket. Logan Ashton, Chase Tebbets and Lucas Byrd should also have some solid performances and could very well contest for the title.

Devin's picks: 1. Schwartz 2. Byrd 3. Tebbets 4. Trelli

Holmes’ picks: 1. Schwartz 2. Byrd 3. Ashton 4. Tebbets

Cadet 94

Cody Phippen (KS)

Eric Barnett (WI)

Jace Koelzer (KA)

Dalton Stutzman (UT)

Cevion Severado (MO)

Steele Dias (NV)

Commentary: Could we have an all Kansas final here? It’s possible. Phippen has looked great and Koelzer has what it takes as well. Dalton Stutzman could make some things interesting so be sure to keep an eye on him as well.

Devin's picks: 1. Phippen 2. Koelzer 3. Barnett 4. Severado

Holmes’ picks: 1. Phippen 2. Stutzman 3. Koelzer 4. Barnett

Cadet 100

Nathan Cummings (IL)

Joey Melendez (IL)

Peter Ogunsanya (IL)

Patrick McKee (MN)

Benji Peak (WI)

Gable Fox (IA)

Joey Bianchini (IL)

Commentary: Look no further than Peter Ogunsanya. He has been a hammer as he helped the Illinois Cadet and Junior Greco and Freestyle teams to a few titles. He’s also the returning 3^rd place finisher at this weight in both styles. He may be the favorite, but Peak should not be overlooked, as he will be his toughest competitor. Fox and Melendez could be in the hunt as well.

Devin's picks: 1. Ogunsanya 2. Peak 3. Fox 4. Melendez

Holmes’ picks: 1. Ogunsanya 2. Peak 3. McKee 4. Fox

Cadet 106

Riley Gurr (WA)

Charles Faber (IL)

Malik Johnson (MO)

KJ Kearns (CO)

Clay Egli (IN)

Clayton Singh (MO)

Dallas Wilson (KS)

Jordan Ward (OH)

Joey Otero (NM)

King Sandoval (MD)

Stone Mendez (NE)

Commentary: This weight has always been one of the most loaded at the Cadet tournament and this year does will continue that trend. All of these guys are as tough as they come.

Devin's picks: 1. Faber 2. Gurr 3. Sandoval 4. Johnson

Holmes’ picks: 1. Faber 2. Sandoval 3. Gurr 4. Otero

Cadet 113

#5-Roman Bravo-Young (AZ)

Connor Brown (MO)

Peyton Robb (MN)

Chase Zollman (CA)

Austin Macias (IL)

Brian Stuart (MD)

Jet Taylor (OK)

Brock Bergelin (WI)

Sam Webster (MN)

Logan Treaster (KS)

Commentary: We’ve got some very solid kids all across the board. Despite not having much Greco experience, Roman Bravo-Young is still the clear favorite. But look for Peyton Robb and Connor Brown to contest as well here.

Devin's picks: 1. Bravo-Young 2. Macias 3. Robb 4. Taylor

Holmes’ picks: Bravo-Young 2. Robb 3. Brown 4. Macias

Cadet 120

#7-Jason Renteria (IL)

Jack Karstetter (OK)

Will Lewan (IL)

Alex Thomsen (IA)

Alston Nutter (WI)

Colin Valdiviez (MO)

Nick Raimo (NJ)

Tyler Eischens (MN)

Commentary: There are some relatively new faces in this weight, but these kids are legit. Junior High Big Boarders Alex Thomsen and Alston Nutter are primed for some respectable finishes. However, this weight class belongs to J-Rent.

Devin's picks: 1. Renteria 2. Thomsen 3. Nutter 4. Karstetter

Holmes’ picks: 1. Renteria 2. Thomsen 3. Karstetter 4. Raimo

Cadet 126

#20-Timmy Kane (CT)

Zach Villarreal (IL)

Hunter Jump (OK)

Jared Bird (WI)

Kyran Hagan (MO)

Mason Phillips (WA)

Commentary: This weight has talent, but not much depth. Timmy Kane, who is ranked #20 at 132 will be coming down to 126, is primed to finish high. Phillips, Villarreal, Hagan and Jump can all make things interesting late in the tournament.

Devin's picks: 1. Kane 2. Phillips 3. Hagan 4. Jump

Holmes’ pick: 1. Kane 2. Phillips 3. Bird 4. Villarreal

Cadet 132

Alec Hagan (MO)

Alex Lloyd (MN)

Blaize Punke (IL)

Brock Hardy (UT)

Dakota Galt (SD)

Jason Kraisser (MD)

Nelson Brands (IA)

Will Janzer (OR)

Commentary: Brock Hardy has been on an absolute mission, and is a favorite to snag the stop sign. Expect some great matchups throughout this bracket though because there is plenty of talent. Along with Hardy, Alex Lloyd and Blaize Punke are set to make favorable finishes. But, Dakota Galt will be “making it his business” to see that things don’t go in their favor.

Devin's picks: 1. Hardy 2. Galt 3. Brands 4. Hagan

Holmes’ picks: 1. Hardy 2. Lloyd 3. Galt 4. Punke

Cadet 138

Aaron Brooks (MD)

Andrew Merola (NJ)

Faruq Muhammad (OH)

Joe Lee (IN)

Kameron Frame (KS)

Kendell Frame (KS)

Commentary: This is the family feud bracket. We have seen this in the past with the Dardanes brothers when Nick was a runner-up and Chris took 4^th. And now we have the Muhammad and Frame siblings wrestling in the same weight. Will we get to see one of these two sets of brothers wrestle each other at some point? Maybe. But the real question is, does anyone have what it takes to beat Andrew Merola?

Devin's picks: 1. Merola 2. Muhammad 3. Frame 4. Frame

Holmes’ picks: 1. Merola 2. Ke. Frame 3. F. Muhammad 4. Brooks

Cadet 145

Braedin Redlin (TX)

Braedin Orrino (WA)

Guillian Nakamatsu (NV)

Jaryn Curry (OK)

Hunter Richard (NY)

Isaiah Luellen (KS)

Sammy Cokeley (KS)

Commentary: Strong field here at 145. The cream will rise to the top but rest assures that it will not be easy. Curry, Redlin, Luellen and Orrino are the guys to watch here.

Devin's picks: 1. Redlin 2. Curry 3. Orrino 4. Luellen

Holmes’ picks: 1. Curry 2. Luellen 3. Redlin 4. Orrino

Cadet 152

Max Wohlabaugh (FL)

Mike O’Malley (NJ)

Tate Samuelson (CO)

Thailer Morrison (WA)

Commentary: Not much depth here, but some talent. O’Malley is the frontrunner here with Samuelson, Wohlabaugh and Morrison not too far behind.

Devin's picks: 1. O'Malley 2. Wohlabaugh 3. Morrison 4. Samuelson

Holmes’ picks: 1. O’Malley 2. Morrison 3. Wohlabaugh 4. Samuelson

Cadet 160

Ryan Karoly (NJ)

Travis Wittlake (OR)

Joshua Myers (TX)

Shane Sosinsky (NJ)

Kyle Cochran (NJ)

Commentary: This weight has got two absolute hammers on a collision course to meet in the finals. Karoly and Wittlake are both clear favorites to make the finals and when they do there is going to be some high-flying happening.

Devin's picks: 1. Karoly 2. Wittlake 3. Cochran 4. Myers

Holmes’ picks: 1. Karoly 2. Wittlake 3. Cochran 4. Sosinsky

Cadet 170

Jack Jessen (IL)

Jacob Warner (IL)

Mason Rutt (MN)

Caden Steffen (MN)

Commentary: Take your pick, Illinois or Minnesota. There very well could be an all Illinois final with Jessen and Warner looking mighty tough as of late. Mason Rutt and Caden Steffen can’t be counted out just yet though. They will put up a fight and I won’t be shocked if they spoil the “Ill” party going on in the finals.

Devin's picks: 1. Jessen 2. Steffen 3. Warner 4. Rutt

Holmes’ picks: 1. Jessen 2. Warner 3. Rutt 4. Steffen

Cadet 182

Jarrod Florell (MN)

Weston Hunt (CO)

Kaleb Reeves (IA)

Tage McNutt (MO)

Chayse Schultz (IA)

Commentary: Jarrod Florell has an edge here. Reeves can also challenge for the stop sign and should meet Florell in the finals. Tage McNutt and Weston Hunt can also shake things up too.

Devin's picks: 1. Florell 2. Reeves 3. Hunt 4. Schultz

Holmes’ picks: 1. Reeves 2. Hunt 3. Florell 4. McNutt

Cadet 195

Sergio Villalobos (IL)

Saylor Schmit (MT)

Taylor Fleetwood (IL)

Kaleb Gaede (CO)

Commentary: Some unknowns here that will come into the light with Villalobos leading the pack. The other three – Schmit, Fleetwood and Gaede – will be nipping at his heals though. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Devin's picks: 1. Villalobos 2. Schmit 3. Gaede 4. Fleetwood

Holmes’ picks: 1. Villalobos 2. Gaede 3. Fleetwood 4. Schmit

Cadet 220

Cohlton Shultz (CO)

Gable Steveson (MN)

Max Darrah (MO)

Trenton Rogich (MN)

Commentary: Make room for the top dog #1-Gable Steveson. Everyone is waiting to see 8^th grade phenom Cohlton Schultz go head-to-head with the World Team member. Despite the lack of Greco experience, with his first match ever coming at Junior Duals, he is still the favorite. But it’s still going to be fun to watch him and Schultz fight for position.

Devin's picks: 1. Steveson 2. Shultz 3. Darrah 4. Rogich

Holmes’ picks: 1. Steveson 2. Shultz 3. Darrah 4. Rogich

Cadet 285

Gavin Nye (CA)

Keaton Kleuver (WI)

Nick Boykin (TN)

Nevin Henson (OK)

Commentary: Nye is the guy to beat here. He was undefeated at Junior Duals and is going to be rolling into the dome looking to do the same. Boykin will contest but Nye could be a bit too much for him in the finals.

Devin's picks: 1. Nye 2. Boykin 3. Kleuver 4. Henson

Holmes’ picks: 1. Nye 2. Boykin 3. Henson 4. Kleuver