The 20 Most Viewed Matches Of 2016

The 20 Most Viewed Matches Of 2016

2016 was one of most dramatic years in wrestling history. We saw the highest of the high in Rio with Helen Maroulis winning the first gold medal in USA's women's history. To the lowest of the lows with doping scandals, officiating debacles, and untimely d

Dec 30, 2016 by Michael Malinconico
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2016 was one of most dramatic years in wrestling history. We saw the highest of the high in Rio with Helen Maroulis winning the first gold medal in USA's women's history. To the lowest of the lows with doping scandals, officiating debacles, and untimely deaths. The following list of 20 matches were the most viewed on Flowrestling this year, thanks for watching.

1. Jason Nolf, Penn State vs Isaiah Martinez, Illinois - Dual Meet

The Illinois vs Penn State dual meet was circled on most NCAA wrestling fans' calendar for one reason. Nolf/Imar. It did not disappoint.


2. Isaiah Martinez, Illinois vs Ian Miller, Kent State - NCAA's

While the rubber match between Isaiah Martinez and Jason Nolf was the buzz going into NCAA's, but it was Kent State's Ian Miller that took Imar into overtime in a back and forth match that not many people saw coming.


3. Isaiah Martinez, Illinois vs Jason Nolf, Penn State - NCAA's

The third, and most important installment in the Nolf/Imar trilogy came at NCAAs and it was just as exciting as the rest.


4. Brian Realbuto, Cornell vs Bo Nickal, Penn State - Southern Scuffle

Many people have told me how great this match is, I can't make it out of the first period without getting dizzy.


5. Mark Hall, OTC vs Jason Nolf, PSU (Match 1) - Junior World Team Trials

Hall put together one of the best displays of counter wrestling at any level in his first match with Jason Nolf at the 2016 Junior World Team Trials Finals.

6. Mark Hall, Minnesota vs Austin Bell, Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic

Austin Bell came out swinging at the The Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic (formerly known as the Dapper Dan), but The Kid was just too much late.

7. Mark Hall, OTC vs Anthony Valencia, Sunkist Kids - Last Chance Trials Qualifier

In what was a perfect exhibit of the future of middle weight wrestling in the United States Mark Hall and Anthony Valencia put on a show of tough hand fighting, solid base-line technique, and amazing athleticism. Something tells me that we are going to be bringing up this match a bunch in the years to come.


8. Dean Heil, Oklahoma State vs Joey McKenna, Stanford - Dual

The Heil/McKenna showdown in Stillwater last February was a precursor to what many were sure was going to be an NCAA final. Regulation couldn't hold this one as Heil wound up on top of a scramble in OT to come away with the W.

9. Mark Hall, OTC vs Jason Nolf, PSU (Match 2) - Junior World Team Trials

This time Nolf struck first, but ultimately Mark Hall's Par Terre game over powered his future teammate.

10. Cody Brewer, NU vs Tony Ramos, UNC - Who's Number One

Cody Brewer took to the Who's Number One mat like a man on fire. He took everyone in the crowd, everyone watching at home, and especially his opponent, Tony Ramos, by complete surprise.


11. Kyle Snyder, Ohio State vs Nick Gwiazdowski, North Carolina State - NCAA's

The greatest heavyweight bout in NCAA history. Period. End Of story. Not a very close second. Madison Square Garden had an electricity to it that I can only assume Ali Frazier felt.

12. Jason Nolf, Penn State vs May Bethea, Penn - Keystone Classic

When you run through a college tournament without having an offensive point scored on you it's pretty cool. When you hang 25 point on a top 15 opponent it's good day. But when you make up your own move for the tech in the finals…. Then you're on Jason Nolf's level.

13. J'den Cox, USA vs Meisam Mostafajoukar, Iran - Beat The Streets

Beat The Streets was J'Den Cox's coming out party. He'd beaten world medalists en route to his spot on the Olympic Team. He'd qualified the weight in just one try. In Times Square J'Den Cox beat Mostafajakourf from Iran and the entire world took notice.

14. Kyle Snyder, USA vs Anzor Boltukaev, Russia - Yarygin

Boltukaev plays the perfect "bad guy" and he put on amazing array of timely offense and creative defense to shut out reigning world champion Kyle Snyder.

15. Steven Polakowski, Minnesota vs Zeke Moisey, West Virginia - Southern Scuffle

A big gas tank is as much an offensive weapon as any other, just ask Steven Polakowski Of Minnesota.

16. Spencer Lee, Franklin Regional vs Joey Silva, Lake Highland Prep - Ironman

Joey Silva stood toe to toe with world champion, Spencer Lee at the this year's Ironman in Ohio.


17. Brent Metcalf, USA vs Franklin Gomez, PUR - Pan Ams

Franklin Gomez secured himself a spot in the Rio Olympics by winning in the semi finals of the Pan Ams against Brent Metcalf. It would be the last time that we would see Metcalf in a USA singlet.

18. 18. Spencer Lee, PA vs Mosha Schwartz, CO (Match 1) - Junior World Team Trials

Takedown, lace, tech. It's kind of Spencer Lee's thing.

19. Bo Nickal, Penn State vs Zac Brunson, Illinois - Big Ten Championships

Bo Nickal puts on a dominant performance in all three positions in the final of the 2016 Big ten Championships.

20. Thomas Gilman, Iowa vs Nathan Tomasello, Ohio State - NCAA's

This epic lightweight battle ended with a bang in overtime as Thomas Gilman punched his ticket to session 6 at NCAA's.