The NCAA qualifying procedures make the season comparable to a big puzzle. The opening weekend of the NCAA seasons lays the first pieces. With the current qualifying system, each piece is significant and the puzzle is finalized on conference weekend. With a fresh slate many questions that popped up during the long off-season will start to get answered. 

Watch the Clarion Open LIVE on FloWrestling

Sunday, November 3 | 8:00 AM ET

The Clarion Open is back on FloWrestling live this Sunday. Many surprise All-Americans have started their season at Clarion the past two seasons. Kyle Shoop (LHU) used his nasty top game to take the title at 141lbs. He showed the entire country that top game in March when he finished as an All-American. In 2017 two Nittany Lions that weren’t in the lineup placed second and third at the Clarion Open. Those Nittany Lions were Nick Lee (PSU) and Shakur Rasheed (PSU). They went on to earn All-American honors in Cleveland. Watch this Sunday as competitors battle for the coolest trophy in NCAA wrestling.

Helmets have arrived for the Clarion Open Champs! Register at the link below for your chance to earn one of these bad boys! https://t.co/B9oUGUuu7t pic.twitter.com/yPRZd3bCK5

— Clarion Wrestling (@WrestlingCUP) October 15, 2019

Here are four things you should look for on Sunday:

4. Is Bo Pipher the Nick Lee of 2017?

Bo Pipher (PSU) isn’t expected to be in the Penn State lineup. Neither was Rasheed or Lee in 2017-18; they both finished their season on the podium. Pipher has spent the past two seasons out of his natural weight class filling in for Jason Nolf and Vincenzo Joseph. He has wrestled from 141-165 over his first couple seasons in Happy Valley. The most significant result was a runner-up finish at the 2019 Southern Scuffle. Pipher will be at 149 pounds and could meet Brock Zacherl and get a good gauge of where he stands at 149lbs. Zacherl defeated Lee in the 2017 Clarion Open final and knocked off Pipher back in 2016, 5-2.

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3. High School Invasion

Wyatt Henson (133lbs), Ed Scott (149lbs), Matt Lee (157lbs) will compete in the open as high schoolers. 

Henson is just a junior and placed third at Fargo and Super32 in two recent outings. Henson finished fifth in the PIAA AAA tournament as a freshman before winning a title in Missouri. Henson is a recent verbal commit to the University of Iowa.

Ed Scott is an NC State commit who earned a PIAA state title last March. He finished fourth at Super32 and will test the waters at 149lbs.

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Matt Lee is following the path his brothers, Nick and Joe, took by heading to State College a year early and competing in college opens to better prepare for college wrestling. Lee was an undefeated Indiana state champion in 2019.

2. Carter Starocci’s College Debut

Carter Starocci (PSU) was #6 on FloWrestling’s 2019 Big Board. He was a two-time PIAA state champion and earned All-American honors in Fargo at the Junior level along with titles as a Cadet. Starocci is expected to redshirt as Mark Hall finishes his career as a Nittany Lion. Opportunities to see the top Nittany Lion of the 2019 high school class could be limited. Don’t miss the opportunity Sunday.

1. The Return of Brock Zacherl

Zacherl(CUP) is coming off an injury-shortened season that he received a medical waiver for to give him eligibility for the 2019-20 season. The Golden Eagle senior is looking to earn his first All-American honors after being at that level for so long. Zacherl has earned four titles and a runner-up finish in his career at the Clarion Open. His hit list includes Bo Pipher (PSU), Ronnie Perry(LHU), Tyson Dippery(RID), Cole Weaver(IU), and Nick Lee (PSU). The only defeat Zacherl has suffered at his home open is a 9-6 loss to Mitchel Port (EDIN) back in the 2014 final. Zacherl stunned Port with two takedowns in the opening period before the multiple-time NCAA finalist overcame the true freshman. He is a combined 23-1 at the tournament. Zacherl is currently ranked #4 in the country at 149lbs.