2018 NCAA Championships

Projecting The 197lb Seeds For The 2018 NCAA Tournament

Projecting The 197lb Seeds For The 2018 NCAA Tournament

Projecting the top eight seeds at 197 pounds for the 2018 NCAA Tournament in Cleveland.

Feb 19, 2018 by Wrestling Nomad
Projecting The 197lb Seeds For The 2018 NCAA Tournament

We have to project the NCAA seeds for just two remaining weights, and 197 is a complete mess. The only thing we know for sure is that people will be upset and everyone has some kind of case to be moved up or down.

Kollin Moore's loss to Michael Macchiavello on Sunday creates something much larger than a rock, paper, scissors situation. That's only compounded if Penn State goes with Shakur Rasheed at Big Tens instead of Anthony Cassar, who beat Moore in the dual meet.

Projected Seeds: 125133 | 141149157165174184

1) Ben Darmstadt, Cornell

His only loss this year is to Frank Mattiace, which Darmstadt avenged in the Big Red's dual meet with Penn. An EIWA title combined with wins over Shakur Rasheed and Willie Miklus this season should give Darmstadt the resume to be the top seed.

2) Kollin Moore, Ohio State

Cue the NC State anger. One thing that always makes life difficult is when a guy loses to someone who won't be in the field. There is also of course the possibility that Moore loses to Rasheed at Big Tens, which really could throw things out of whack. That would probably push Moore down to at least fourth and possibly even lower if Jared Haught doesn't win ACCs, as Haught is Moore's biggest win on the year.

3) Willie Miklus, Missouri

Miklus also has the issue of losing to guys not in the field because of his loss to Jacob Warner at the Lindenwood Open. Miklus gets the benefit of wins over Preston Weigel and Jared Haught (both of whom have beaten Michael Macchiavello) but also has a loss to Danny Chaid. A Moore loss at Big Tens could push Miklus as high as the two seed.

4) Jared Haught, Virginia Tech

Right now, Haught has the most reasonable losses of anyone in this bunch. He's also already beaten Macchiavello, so we're projecting him to do the same at ACCs. The seeding committe generally has a hard time ranking someone second if he lost to the three seed, so it's hard right now to see a situation in which Haught goes over Miklus and Moore.

5) Preston Weigel, Oklahoma State

Weigel has a head-to-head over Macchiavello and a common opponent win over Shakur Rasheed via Kyle Conel. His only loss this season is to Miklus, so he could end up going as high as third if Haught and Moore don't win their conferences.

6) Michael Macchiavello, NC State

It's pretty difficult to see him down at six when he just beat our projected two seed. He also has a common opponent win over Miklus via Chaid, but Miklus beat both Weigel and Haught, whom Macchiavello lost to. So right now, the Wolfpack senior is slotted sixth, with a possibility of getting revenge on Haught at ACCs.

7) Shakur Rasheed, Penn State

I would not be at all surprised if someone came out of a time machine and told me Rasheed beat Moore at Big Tens. But right now, Macchiavello has a Moore win and Rasheed does not, plus the aforementioned Conel loss which puts him behind Weigel. Rasheed's best win is over Cash Wilcke, while Haught's best win is against Macchiavello.

8) Cash Wilcke, Iowa

You thought the top was difficult to figure out? Have fun with seeding eighth through about 14th. Wilcke has a loss to Kevin Beazley but also beat Frank Mattiace. Everyone ranked below Wilcke has more and/or worse losses, so the Hawkeye gets the spot for now.