This season has brought us some exceptional wrestling, emerging talent, and unexpected turns in the pecking order.
One of the great things about the NCAA tournament is that it's so darn deep and tough. No one is safe and the old saying of "anything can happen" isn't a cliche, but a reality. In that respect, it's a little scary to project matches well into the tournament; they might not even materialize.
But the possibilities are just too juicy. In that spirit...
...let us set the context for some of the most anticipated matches sure to have MSG on their feet.
13. 133 Semifinal: #2-Cory Clark vs. #3-Zane Richards
The Story: Illinois Zane Richards beat Iowa's Cory Clark, 5-3, on January 8th. The win was significant enough - both these guys were among the top contenders for a title this year. But it was Richards' now-famous quote in the post-match interview where he said Clark isn't 'in the same league as me'. Clark felt otherwise and knocked off Richards in their next meeting - the Big Ten finals. The rubber match will be tense and chippy and for a spot on Saturday night's big stage.
12. 141 Quarterfinal: #1-Dean Heil vs. #8-Joey Ward
The Story: Heil has been uber consistent all season, beating #2-Joey McKenna not once, but twice, and also beating #3-Kevin Jack. So consistent was Heil, that he has just one lone loss. To, you guessed it, Joey Ward (below). Ward will have to get through a tough Ricky Durso, a former All American.
11. 174: #11-Myles Martin vs. Everyone
The Story: Martin was a blue chip recruit in last year's class. The rumors of him having his redshirt pulled and stepping in as a true freshman swirled into December when he lost an entertaining bout to Bo Nickal. He lost to Bo again at Big Ten's but finished 3rd. He comes into NCAA's with a 28-6 record and looking like one of those freshmen who has figured it out as the season has gone on. Could he make a deep run? His early path includes #6-Bryce Hammond and then in the quarterfinals #3-Blaise Butler.
10. 184 Quarterfinal: #3-Vic Avery vs. #6-Blake Stauffer
The Story: This is one of those 'quietly good' matches. This was the 3rd place bout (won by Avery, 3-2) at last year's NCAA's. Avery also won in OT at the Edinboro Open this year.While their previous matches haven't been the most thrilling bouts ever, Avery and Stauffer could meet again in the incredibly important quarterfinal that guarantees AA status.
9. 165 Semifinal: #1-Alex Dieringer vs. #4-Daniel Lewis
The Story: Alex Dieringer has been nothing short of spectacular. He enters as the two-time defending champ with a grand total of 1 loss in his three years at the NCAA's. He's been the country's P4P leader for the better part of two years, and largely the face of the country's most historic program, if not the entirety of NCAA wrestling.But in a dual this year, a Missouri freshman raised eyebrows. He gave Dieringer his closest match of the year, riding the tar out of him in a 4-3 bout. I'm sure everyone is confident in taking Dieringer comfortably in this go 'round. I am. But I'm also excited to see a rematch with the only wrestler to make Ringer look anything less than mortal in years.
8. 165 Semifinal: #2-Isaac Jordan vs. #3-Bo Jordan
The Story: Jordan on Jordan crime. Cousins Isaac and Bo have met three times in college with Isaac sweeping the series. He won in their dual in January and in each of the last two Big Ten finals. Each Isaac win seems to be more convincing than the last. But you know how the saying goes; it's difficult to keep beating the same opponent - especially when he's as tough as Bo.Last year at NCAA's, the two could have met again. Isaac lost to Nick Sulzer and dropped to the 7th place match. Sulzer's next match was against Bo, who won and went on to take 3rd.
7. 197 Final: #1-Morgan McIntosh vs. #2-J'Den Cox
The Story: Other than a DQ that Cox incurred during a match when he slammed Phil Wellington, these two guys each come in undefeated. Someone could get their only loss of the season in their last match. For McIntosh, it would be the last match of his career. For Cox, he could add a second NCAA title in three tries.
McIntosh beat Cox, 3-1, in consi semi's last year.
6. 174 Final: Bo Nickal vs. #2-Brian Realbuto
The Story: Everyone knew good Bo Nickal was good. The blue chipper out of Texas had an abbreviated but encouraging redshirt freshman campaign. And he started this year off with a win over returning All American Zach Epperly. But it wasn't until the Southern Scuffle that we learned just how good Bo was at the present time. When he won a wild, scrambly bout with returning NCAA finalist Brian Realbuto, we knew Bo had 'arrived'. Then he capped it off with a win over another NCAA semifinalist in Ethan Ramos.Realbuto scored on Bo. And Realbuto didn't look particularly pleased at the conclusion of the Scuffle. And, of course, Realbuto isn't going to want to get to Saturday night's big stage and come up empty again. If this match materializes, expect a show.
5. 157 Quarterfinal: #4-Ian Miller vs. #5-Dylan Palacio
The Story: Two of the most active, improvising wrestling...enigmas. These guys let it fly. The general feeling is they could lose any match but could win against even the elite. What is never up for debate is how exciting their matches are. And we could see them against each other. Friday. Morning. About Noon. Don't miss it.
4. 133 Semifinal: #1-Nahshon Garrett vs. #4-Cody Brewer
The Story: Christian likes to tease me about my 'when the lights are on' theory. But facts are facts, and Cody Brewer has a history of rising to the occasion. Last year he set the wrestling world on fire by torching the field and capturing an NCAA title in the most dominant of fashions. Nahshon has been nothing short of amazing this year after moving up to 133. The former 125lb NCAA finalist showed the weight jump did wonders when he beat Brewer in the finals in Vegas in December.
Both guys score. Both guys scramble. If the match below is any indication, wrestling fans will be surely entertained.
3. 125 Semifinal: #1-Nathan Tomasello vs. #4-Thomas Gilman
The Story: Gilman has largely owned the lifetime series with NATO, preventing him from making a couple World Teams at the Cadet and Junior levels and then winning their first college bout against each other. But that was NATO's last loss. In the Big Ten finals of 2015, Tomasello cut down on the number of his attacks and won a gritty match. Gilman could have met him in the finals last year but was upset by Zeke Moisey in the semi's. If they meet on Friday night, expect a heart-in-your-throat type intensity.
2. 157 Final: #1-Isaiah Martinez vs. #3-Jason Nolf
The Story: You know the story. Phenom Isaiah Martinez runs the gauntlet going undefeated and winning a national title as a freshman. Phenom Jason Nolf wrecks everyone leading to the Illinois-Penn State dual meet and a Nolf-Martinez showdown where Nolf shocks the world and pins IMAR. At Big Ten's IMAR gets revenge in one of the most exciting matches without a takedown (or was there?) that you'll ever see. NC State's undefeated Tommy Gantt looms for Nolf in the semi's, but IMAR-Nolf on Saturday night is mouth-watering.
1. 285 Final: #1-Nick Gwiazdowski vs. Kyle Snyder
The Story: Gwiazdowski is one of the most dominant heavyweights of all time. He won his first NCAA title by dethroning a reigning two-timer going for his third. Can Kyle Snyder, who just dominated last year's NCAA runner-up, deal Gwiz the same fate Gwiz dealt Tony Nelson in 2014? A heavyweight legend in his home state in Madison Square Garden against the youngest World Champion in American history who ceremoniously announced his return to college wrestling on New Year's Eve? This isn't just one of the most anticipated match-ups of the year. It's one of the most hoped for NCAA finals matches ever.
One of the great things about the NCAA tournament is that it's so darn deep and tough. No one is safe and the old saying of "anything can happen" isn't a cliche, but a reality. In that respect, it's a little scary to project matches well into the tournament; they might not even materialize.
But the possibilities are just too juicy. In that spirit...
...let us set the context for some of the most anticipated matches sure to have MSG on their feet.
13. 133 Semifinal: #2-Cory Clark vs. #3-Zane Richards
The Story: Illinois Zane Richards beat Iowa's Cory Clark, 5-3, on January 8th. The win was significant enough - both these guys were among the top contenders for a title this year. But it was Richards' now-famous quote in the post-match interview where he said Clark isn't 'in the same league as me'. Clark felt otherwise and knocked off Richards in their next meeting - the Big Ten finals. The rubber match will be tense and chippy and for a spot on Saturday night's big stage.12. 141 Quarterfinal: #1-Dean Heil vs. #8-Joey Ward
The Story: Heil has been uber consistent all season, beating #2-Joey McKenna not once, but twice, and also beating #3-Kevin Jack. So consistent was Heil, that he has just one lone loss. To, you guessed it, Joey Ward (below). Ward will have to get through a tough Ricky Durso, a former All American.11. 174: #11-Myles Martin vs. Everyone
The Story: Martin was a blue chip recruit in last year's class. The rumors of him having his redshirt pulled and stepping in as a true freshman swirled into December when he lost an entertaining bout to Bo Nickal. He lost to Bo again at Big Ten's but finished 3rd. He comes into NCAA's with a 28-6 record and looking like one of those freshmen who has figured it out as the season has gone on. Could he make a deep run? His early path includes #6-Bryce Hammond and then in the quarterfinals #3-Blaise Butler. 10. 184 Quarterfinal: #3-Vic Avery vs. #6-Blake Stauffer
The Story: This is one of those 'quietly good' matches. This was the 3rd place bout (won by Avery, 3-2) at last year's NCAA's. Avery also won in OT at the Edinboro Open this year.While their previous matches haven't been the most thrilling bouts ever, Avery and Stauffer could meet again in the incredibly important quarterfinal that guarantees AA status.9. 165 Semifinal: #1-Alex Dieringer vs. #4-Daniel Lewis
The Story: Alex Dieringer has been nothing short of spectacular. He enters as the two-time defending champ with a grand total of 1 loss in his three years at the NCAA's. He's been the country's P4P leader for the better part of two years, and largely the face of the country's most historic program, if not the entirety of NCAA wrestling.But in a dual this year, a Missouri freshman raised eyebrows. He gave Dieringer his closest match of the year, riding the tar out of him in a 4-3 bout. I'm sure everyone is confident in taking Dieringer comfortably in this go 'round. I am. But I'm also excited to see a rematch with the only wrestler to make Ringer look anything less than mortal in years.8. 165 Semifinal: #2-Isaac Jordan vs. #3-Bo Jordan
The Story: Jordan on Jordan crime. Cousins Isaac and Bo have met three times in college with Isaac sweeping the series. He won in their dual in January and in each of the last two Big Ten finals. Each Isaac win seems to be more convincing than the last. But you know how the saying goes; it's difficult to keep beating the same opponent - especially when he's as tough as Bo.Last year at NCAA's, the two could have met again. Isaac lost to Nick Sulzer and dropped to the 7th place match. Sulzer's next match was against Bo, who won and went on to take 3rd. 7. 197 Final: #1-Morgan McIntosh vs. #2-J'Den Cox
The Story: Other than a DQ that Cox incurred during a match when he slammed Phil Wellington, these two guys each come in undefeated. Someone could get their only loss of the season in their last match. For McIntosh, it would be the last match of his career. For Cox, he could add a second NCAA title in three tries.McIntosh beat Cox, 3-1, in consi semi's last year.
6. 174 Final: Bo Nickal vs. #2-Brian Realbuto
The Story: Everyone knew good Bo Nickal was good. The blue chipper out of Texas had an abbreviated but encouraging redshirt freshman campaign. And he started this year off with a win over returning All American Zach Epperly. But it wasn't until the Southern Scuffle that we learned just how good Bo was at the present time. When he won a wild, scrambly bout with returning NCAA finalist Brian Realbuto, we knew Bo had 'arrived'. Then he capped it off with a win over another NCAA semifinalist in Ethan Ramos.Realbuto scored on Bo. And Realbuto didn't look particularly pleased at the conclusion of the Scuffle. And, of course, Realbuto isn't going to want to get to Saturday night's big stage and come up empty again. If this match materializes, expect a show.5. 157 Quarterfinal: #4-Ian Miller vs. #5-Dylan Palacio
The Story: Two of the most active, improvising wrestling...enigmas. These guys let it fly. The general feeling is they could lose any match but could win against even the elite. What is never up for debate is how exciting their matches are. And we could see them against each other. Friday. Morning. About Noon. Don't miss it.4. 133 Semifinal: #1-Nahshon Garrett vs. #4-Cody Brewer
The Story: Christian likes to tease me about my 'when the lights are on' theory. But facts are facts, and Cody Brewer has a history of rising to the occasion. Last year he set the wrestling world on fire by torching the field and capturing an NCAA title in the most dominant of fashions. Nahshon has been nothing short of amazing this year after moving up to 133. The former 125lb NCAA finalist showed the weight jump did wonders when he beat Brewer in the finals in Vegas in December.Both guys score. Both guys scramble. If the match below is any indication, wrestling fans will be surely entertained.