Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 174lbs
Returning Division 1 All-Americans: 174lbs
Returning NCAA finalists Zahid Valencia and Mark Hall lead a full pack of eight All-Americans coming back at 174 pounds this season.
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One of the best potential rivalries in college wrestling right now is Mark Hall vs Zahid Valencia. Now, if Valencia goes up as many people, including those on this very website, have speculated, that rivalry would go up in smoke. But right now, we're going with what ASU's official website says, which has Valencia at 174lbs.
Last year's NCAA finalists lead a group of nine previous All-Americans who will all be competing at 174 this season. Coming up into the weight are David McFadden and Chandler Rogers, both of whom placed at 165 last year.
Returning AAs By Weight
125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165
The one truly wild x-factor is Michael Kemerer, who is also coming in weight, but from 157. Iowa already had high expectations for this season, but Kemerer's weight change, along with several transfers and freshmen coming off redshirt, will be incredibly fun to follow once the Division I season begins.
Zahid Valencia, Arizona State: 3, 1, ?, ?
The single most important recruit of the Zeke Jones era, Valencia has entered each of the past two NCAA tournaments as the one seed, with his only loss coming in the infamous headgear pull semi against Hall. After making it to Final X against Kyle Dake this summer, the Sun Devil junior certainly doesn't appear to be slowing down (or stop shooting) any time soon.
Mark Hall, Penn State: 1, 2, ?, ?
Baybee Marky has been in our lives for nearly a decade now, someone who was viewed as one of the greatest high school wrestlers ever and a can't miss prospect when it came time for college. From his deadly duck under to the always-lethal konkrete special, Hall is always able to pull matches out against the best guys. If Valencia goes 184, this is clearly his weight, and even if his ASU nemesis doesn't, it still might end up being Hall's anyway.
Myles Amine, Michigan: 4, 3, ?, ?
Amine has twice now outperformed his seed at the national tournament, a great example of a guy who will take a loss here or there in the regular season but has a style suited for March. Four of his losses were to Hall and Valencia by a combined six points, and he avenged losses to both Bo Jordan and Jordan Kutler later in the year.
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David McFadden, Virginia Tech: 6, DNW, 5, ?, ?
The lanky McFadden has had an excellent start to his college career. A true freshman AA coming out of DePaul in New Jersey, he redshirted his second year. Last year, he walked into NCAAs undefeated and finished second, and now he is on the U23 world team. Perhaps the bump up may hurt McFadden slightly, but it seems wise to give him an easier cut AND allow Mekhi Lewis to be in the lineup.
Michael Kemerer, Iowa: 3, 4, ?, ?
As you can see, this middle portion of the article is for the weight jumpers. There's no question Kemerer was a force at 157 for two years, but it seems reasonable to be a little reserved about him coming up not one but two weights. If the pace he had when he was lighter holds, he won't be much fun for anyone to deal with. There will be no shortage of legitimate tests this year for the Hawkeye.
Chandler Rogers, Oklahoma State: DNP, 5, 8, ?
So, this one isn't set in stone. Could he stay at 165? Sure, but that puts him or Joe Smith on the bench. Here, Rogers very well may be beaten out by Jacobe Smith, last year's AA for the Cowboys at 174. But for now, we're operating that the man with 35 career pins will be dome tossing other 174s around Gallagher-Iba this season.
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Daniel Lewis, Missouri: 4, 6, 4, ?
Yet another in the long line of Tiger AAs who stayed in-state, Lewis is an absolute hammer on top. He's close to 100 career wins, and 75 total bonus point victories. Lewis also made his way into the U23 Trials finals at the beginning of June. Brian Smith can rely on Lewis for team points in the teens once again this coming March in Pittsburgh.
Jordan Kutler, Lehigh: DNW, 6, ?, ?
Mountain Hawk fans have to feel some sort of way about the way Kutler's first two varsity years have ended. He didn't wrestle at EIWAs as a freshman when he would have been a very high seed at NCAAs, and then had to injury default out of his final matches in Cleveland this year. He also mysteriously defaulted out of U23s in the quarterfinals.
Brandon Womack, Cornell: 8th, DNP, ?, ?
When Brandon Womack beat Anthony Valencia 8-7 at the 2017 NCAA tournament in St. Louis, it not only avenged a loss earlier in the season, it also made him the first Division 1 All-American from Alabama since 1980. He did not have the same success up at 174 last year, but nonetheless the man has two years left to regain his spot on the podium. Womack wrestle for a big-time program in Cornell, and is crucial to their efforts at a team trophy in Pittsburgh.
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