One of America's best high school rivalries took on more intrigue last week.

Blair Academy, ranked #1 in the nation and winners of the last three season-ending national titles, will travel to #2-Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pa, Friday night.

And while Seminary is capable of beating Blair even when they are at their best, the twist of Blair losing their #1 195lber last week helps their chances even more.

Blair came into their dual with Wyoming Seminary ranked #1 each of the last five years. And twice in that time, Sem pulled out the win. In 2017 Mosha Schwartz got an injury default over Michael Cloaiocco and Jack Davis edged Michael Cannon to pace the Knights. In 2015 Christian Dietrich posted the big win as he beat Chase Singletary in OT before Blair forfeited the final two weights and Sem got the 39-20 win.

Prior to the start of this season, I would have called any chance for Blair to lose - in a dual or tournament format - impossible. In fact, I thought the composition of the team was such that they could be considered the greatest high school team ever. And while Blair still has to be the favorites going in to the dual, a few factors give Wyoming Seminary a real shot.

1) Development

We aren't talking about an 'upset' possibility here if Lachlan McNeil, Drew Munch, and Benny Baker didn't show massive gains from the summer. While all flashed ability prior to this season, McNeil and Munch placed at Ironman and all three at the Beast, where McNeil outplaced Travis Mastrogiovanni. 

2) Balance

Both teams have a good ability to juggle their lineups with quality back ups. We could see Sem make some changes at 120/126/132 by inserting Fargo finalist Zeke Escalera and at 160 with Jake Stefanowicz weighing in at that weight for the first time at WNO Duals. 

Additionally, Sem's upperweights are good, not great, but for dual purposes, especially with the match ups in this one, they should be helpful. 195 and 285 are matchups they could win, and they have the ability to flex up Jake Kaminski if needed.

3) Jonathan Miers

One of the top sophomores in the country last year, a back injury kept Miers out of action until last week. He solidifies the middle of the line-up and offers an interesting match up with Travis Mastrogiovanni and also provides Sem with another cog to play with if they want to juggle.

4) Blair Injuries

Mike Madera (138/145) hasn't wrestled since Ironman. Dom Mata (160) was hit with a misconduct at Geary. He missed WNO Duals and his availability is in question for this dual.

5) AJ Ferrari

With Ryan Miller a stud in his own right at 113, the loss of Anthony Ferrari is mitigated. But losing AJ hurt the upperweights. It could be as much as a 12pt. swing at 195, and additionally, limits the options Blair has to juggle.

Bout-by-bout Preview

#1-Blair Academy @ #2-Wyoming Seminary

106: Danny Wask  (Blair Academy) vs. Nick Fea (Wyoming Seminary

While neither Wask or Fea is ranked at this time, they are about as good as most that are ranked. Fea, in fact, has a win over #5-Braxton Brown, the Ironman Runner-Up. So you're looking at a high level match here. 

Wask has been getting better and better taking 8th at Ironman before titles at the Beast and Geary. 

Starting right off we have a very difficult bout to pick. If Fea has his weight under control I give him a slight edge. But Wask looked fantastic in the 3rd period last weekend, so I could see a comeback.

Willie's Pick: Fea dec. Wask; Sem, 3-0

113: #13-Ryan Miller (Blair Academy) vs. #12-Troy Spratley (Wyoming Seminary)

Another very even match up. Both guys made Ironman semi's. On the backside, Miller was majored by Tim Levine in consi semi's before Spratley beat Levine in the 3rd place bout. 

Spratley didn't have a good trip to the west coast, going 0-2 in his duals, but I'll take him in a close one.

Willie's Pick: Spratley dec. Miller; Sem 6-0

120: #7-Trevor Mastrogiovanni  (Blair Academy) vs. #12-Lachlan McNeil (Wyoming Seminary)

I'm going with Mastro but make no mistake, this is gonna be a war. McNeil has looked great at his arc is pointing up. That being said, Mastro wasn't 100% over the holidays and McNeil lost to two guys (Crookham and Bouzakis) that Mastro has beaten. 

Willie's Pick: Mastrogiovanni dec. McNeil; Sem, 6-3

126: #1-Michael Coliaocco  (Blair Academy) vs. Drew Munch / Zeke Escalera (Wyoming Seminary)

This could be the start of a line-up juggling by Sem. Colaiocco has been one of the most impressive wrestlers in the country this year and though Munch has beaten ranked guys this year, I wouldn't pick anyone in America to beat 'Coco' at 126. 

The question for Coach Green is who can limit bonus points better and if bumping one of these two is a net gain later in the dual. I don't see there being much value in it, namely because they need Bartlett on Van Ness.

Willie's Pick: Colaiocco major. Munch; Blair, 7-6

132: #1-Shayne Van Ness  (Blair Academy) vs. #7-Beau Bartlett (Wyoming Seminary)

This was a 5-1 win for Van Ness at Beast of the East. I believe skill-for-skill Bartlett is every bit as good as Van Ness. Technically. Athletically. But Van Ness' pace...

As we saw in the match with Witcraft, Van Ness can be taken down. But can you fend him off for the last 3 or so minutes.

This is a spot where - home gym, seasoned veteran - you want to take the upset. But I'll go with the precedent.

Willie's Pick: Van Ness dec. Bartlett; Blair, 10-6

138 #6-Travis Mastrogiovanni  (Blair Academy) vs. #10-Jonathan Miers (Wyoming Seminary)

This is certainly a pivotal match, and one that Sem could win. But Mastro has been awesome going 4th at Ironman, 2nd at Beast, 1st at Geary. And this is just Miers' second match in a long time. 

It would be one thing if Mastro were a #6 guy that was a slow-paced tactician. But he's very assertive and active and I think that hurts with Miers' limited competition time this year.

Willie's Pick: Mastrogiovanni dec. Miers; Blair, 13-6

145: Josh Gobencion (Blair Academy) vs. Connor Kievman (Wyoming Seminary)

Gobencion was 1-2 at both Germantown and Beast of the East tournaments. Kievman was 1-2 at Ironman where both losses were to guys that were ranked at the time, and took 4th at Beast of the East.

This is a match Gobencion could win; he looked solid in a loss to St. Ed's Luke Geog at WNO Duals. But you have to favor Kievman here.

Willie's Pick: Kievman dec. Gobencion; Blair, 13-9

152: #15-Nick Incontera Blairstown, NJ (Blair Academy) vs. Benjamin Baker (Wyoming Seminary)

If the rankings went to 21, Baker would probably be it.

This was a 1-0 Incontrera win in the consi semi's at Ironman. Obviously it's super close. Incontrera was 4th at IM and 3rd at the Beast to Baker's 6th and DNP. Advantage Incontrera in yet another swing bout.

Willie's Pick: Incontrera dec. Baker; Blair, 16-9

160: #9-Dom Mata / Rylan Rogers (Blair Academy) vs. Jake Stefanowicz / Owen Davis (Wyoming Seminary)

Stefanowicz quietly made 160 last week. And he is quietly having a fine season with a 6th place finish at Ironman and a 3rd at the Beast up at 170. 

Mata's availability is up in the air. If he does go I would consider it a one-takedown bout with Stafanowicz, and would take Stefanowicz over Rogers (who, as a talented freshman, will make a name for himself eventually).

There is the possibility of a curveball in which Mata is available and they bumped him, Julian and Craft all up (that's what I'd do if Mata can in fact go and if the situation warrants.

Willie's Pick: Stefanowicz dec. Rogers; Blair, 16-12

170: #2-Julian Ramirez  (Blair Academy) vs. Jake Stefanowicz / Owen Davis (Wyoming Seminary)

With Stefanowicz down at 160, Julian should be expected to get bonus points. Although from the Sem side, it would still be a net gain.

Willie's Pick: Ramirez fall. Davis, Blair, 22-12

182: #18-Peyton Craft (Blair Academy) vs. #8-Darrien Roberts (Wyoming Seminary)

Craft is one of the best Sophs in the country and he's starting to really come in to form. He won Geary by notching his first win (a pin) over a ranked opponent. He looks strong and confident.

That being said, Roberts has been a staple in the Top 10 the past couple years. He's a senior and the Knights will be counting on him. Gimme Roberts in a close, controlled decision.

Willie's Pick: Roberts dec. Craft, Blair, 22-15

195: Sanoussi Kane (Blair Academy) vs. Michael Doggett (Wyoming Seminary)

Doggett is not quite yet one of Sem's stars, but he's very capable. He was 6th at Ironman and 5th at the Beast. He should be looking for bonus over Kane who was pressed into action after the departure of Ferrari.

Willie's Pick: Doggett major. Kane, Blair, 22-19

220: #5-Owen Trephan (Blair Academy) vs. #7-Jake Kaminski (Wyoming Seminary)

#5 vs. #7. Can't get much closer. 

The video playing at the top of the page is their only meeting this year.  And the dual could very well come down to this bout.

Are you kidding me? 5 straight points by Kaminski. 6 straight by Trephan. OT and a 4-pointer to win it.

How do you pick it? A Kaminski win would tie it where Sem would be favored at HWT. But I have to go with the previous result here.

Willie's Pick: Trephan dec. Kamiski, Blair, 25-19

285: Eli Anthony (Blair Academy) vs. Nate Miller (Wyoming Seminary) 

Blair and Sem both usually have stud heavies. While that's not the case this year, both are fighters and this is what makes dual meets special - unsung heroes. 

Both Anthony and Miller were a bout from placing at Ironman. At Beast, Miller placed 5th after losing in the quarters. Anthony was just 1-2. 

Miller will need the pin. But I don't see him getting it. Anthony competes hard. I see a regular decision.

Willie's Pick: Miller dec. Anthony, Blair, 25-22

Summation: 

There are so, so many bouts expected to be tight contests. There are the true toss up matches, and then there are ones that have a favorite that's not beyond a reasonable flip.

106, 113, 138, and 220 are all super tight. 120 and 132 could be flipped. Then there is the chance for lien up movement.

Blair could very well win all such matches and win going away.

Or Sem, like they did in 2017, could do just enough. It has all the makings of a great dual.