2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational

Top-Ranked Wrestlers On Upset Alert At CKLV

Top-Ranked Wrestlers On Upset Alert At CKLV

Check out the KBDR ratings of top-two-ranked wrestlers at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite.

Dec 5, 2019 by Kyle Bratke
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Each year the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite provides us double-digit upsets, and often it's a top-two-ranked wrestler going down. Before wrestling begins in Sin City, we take a look at the wrestlers ranked in the top two who will be in action, and who their biggest threats are. 

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Each year the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite provides us double-digit upsets, and often it's a top-two-ranked wrestler going down. Before wrestling begins in Sin City, we take a look at the wrestlers ranked in the top two who will be in action, and who their biggest threats are. 

Watch 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas LIVE on Flo

December 6-7 | 12:00 PM Eastern

Those of you familiar with FloWrestling Radio Live, know I love to assign cyptoids and other creatures KBDR's (Kyle Bratke danger rating) depending on how much of a threat they pose to the human population. So, for each top-ranked wrestler in action this weekend we'll assign a KBDR to illustrate how much danger they could be in based on how good the field is in Las Vegas. 

CKLV Previews: Lightweight | Middleweight | Upperweight

#2 Jack Mueller (Virginia)

Last Loss: March 21, 2019, NCAA finals to Spencer Lee (Iowa), 5-0

After coming out of redshirt in late December of last season, Mueller has been dominant with his lone loss coming in the NCAA finals to now two-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee. In the 23 matches, he's wrestled since having his shirt pulled, Muller has scored bonus points in 18 of them. 

As crazy as it is, Mueller has not hit any of the fellow ranked wrestlers in the field. In fact, the only wrestler in the field that kept Mueller to a regular decision last season is Virginia Tech's, Joey Prata. 

KBDR: 2. Spencer Lee and Ronnie Bresser are the only wrestlers who have given Mueller problems since December of last year and no wrestler in this field is on that level. 

Biggest Threats

#7 Alex Mackall (Iowa State)

#10 Devin Schroder (Purdue)

#14 Jakob Camacho (NC State)

#15 Jacob Schwarm (Northern Iowa)

#18 Jace Koelzer (Northern Colorado)

#19 Cole Verner (Wyoming)

#1 Luke Pletcher (Ohio State)

Last Loss: March 21, 2019, NCAA third-place match to Stevan Micic (Michigan), 6-1

Since moving up to 141 to start the season, Luke Pletcher has been arguably wrestling the best he has during his Buckeye career. Five of his eight wins on the year are over ranked wrestlers: #2 Dom Demas, #14 Real Woods, #16 Cole Matthews, #18 Mitch Moore, and #23 Dresdon Simon. 

KBDR: 8. Despite wrestling so well, Pletcher will have his work cut out for him as this field consists of four fellow All-Americans and seven other ranked wrestlers. Couple the deep field with the fact that Pletcher often finds himself in tight matches, the Buckeye is on upset watch this weekend.

#2 Dom Demas (Oklahoma)

Last Loss: November 2, 2019, Michigan State Open finals to Luke Pletcher (Ohio State), 2-1 TB1

Demas started the year as the top-ranked wrestler, but has gotten off to a slow start. Not only did he lose opening weekend to Pletcher, but he has been taken to overtime by two unranked wrestlers (Kyran Hagan, Matt Santos) and also has a 13-10 win over unranked Christian Miller. However, Demas still has the ability to end things quickly. Just ask Chad Red. 

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KBDR: 9. Given the close calls he's already had this season and the quality and depth of the field, Demas should be on high alert. 

Biggest Threats

#4 Mitch McKee (Minnesota)

#6 Chad Red (Nebraska)

#7 Tariq Wilson (NC State)

#13 Ian Parker (Iowa State)

#19 Mitch Moore (Virginia Tech)

#23 Cole Mattin (Michigan)

#1 Hayden Hidlay (NC State)

Last Loss: March 21, 2019, NCAA third-place match to Alec Pantaleo (Michigan), 5-3

In two full seasons of varsity action, Hayden Hidlay has just five career losses and all of them have come against All-Americans. The two-time All-American is off to a fast start this season as well with five of his eight wins coming by bonus points.

KBDR: 6. There is only one All-American in the field, Ryan Deakin, and Hidlay controlled that match at last year's NCAA Championships, 8-2. However, potential matchups against outstanding freshmen David Carr and Kendall Coleman bumps Hidlay's KBDR a few points. 

#2 David Carr (Iowa State)

Last Loss: November 3, 2018, second round Harold Nichols Cyclone Open to Peyton Mocco (Missouri), 9-8

Despite only wrestling two matches in an Iowa State singlet, freshman sensation David Carr is already ranked second in the country thanks to a win over returning All-American Kaleb Young. With three other wrestlers ranked inside the top seven and two All-Americans in the field, Carr will have the chance to prove his ranking is accurate and he's a true title contender.

KBDR: 9. While Carr is ranked very highly he only has two ranked wins in his college career including his redshirt campaign. This is by far the toughest tournament he's entered in college and we'll learn a lot about where the Cyclone stands this weekend. 

Biggest Threats

#4 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern)

#7 Kendall Coleman (Purdue)

#11 Will Lewan (Michigan)

#17 BC LaPrade (Virginia Tech)

#19 Justin Thomas (Oklahoma)

#22 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State)

#1 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State)

Last Loss: February 8, 2019, Missouri dual to Daniel Lewis (Missouri) by FALL in 4:15

Two of Zahid Valencia's three career losses are to Mark Hall, the other to four-time All-American Daniel Lewis, Last time I checked, neither of those wrestlers were entered in this tournament.

KBDR: 4. While this weight has eight of the top 10 wrestlers in the country, Valencia is the heavy favorite as he looks to win his third CKLV title. If not for a tight match with Taylor Venz, who is in the field, earlier this season, Valencia's KBDR would be even lower. 

#2 Trent Hidlay (NC State)

Last Loss: January 2, 2019, Southern Scuffle third-place match to David McFadden (Virginia Tech), 3-2 TB2

Trent Hidlay began the season ranked 15th, but shot up the rankings after knocking off Ben Darmstadt and Lou Deprez in the same day a few weeks ago.  

KBDR: Much like Carr, while Hidlay has a couple huge wins this season his KBDR is so high because of the quality and depth of competition in this bracket. We also have not seen him against Valencia, Lujan, Colbray, Venz, and Bolen just to name a few. Can the hoagie back up his high ranking?

Biggest Threats

#3 Lou Deprez (Binghamton)

#4 Ben Darmstadt (Cornell)

#5 Taylor Lujan (UNI)

#7 Samuel Colbray (Iowa State)

#9 Taylor Venz (Nebraska) 

#10 Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech) 

#17 Jelani Embree (Michigan) 

#23 Max Lyon (Purdue) 

#24 Alan Clothier (N. Colorado) 

#25 Tate Samuelson (Wyoming) 

#1 Kollin Moore (Ohio State)

Last Loss: March 21, 2019, NCAA finals to Bo Nickal (Penn State), 5-1

Not counting losses to three-time NCAA champion Bo Nickal and Kollin Moore hasn't lost a folkstyle match since March 17, 2018. 

KBDR: 7. While Moore is the heavy favorite to win his third CKLV title, his KBDR is so high because of a few close calls he's had with wrestlers in the field. Eric Schultz pushed Moore to sudden victory last season and two years at CKLV, Moore escaped an early-round scare from Schultz, 3-2. Jake Woodley also gave Moore a scare on opening weekend when he forced sudden victory at the Michigan State Open. 

Biggest Threats

#6 Eric Schultz (Nebraska)

#9 Jay Aiello (Virginia) 

#10 Thomas Lane (Cal Poly)

#11 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State)

#15 Tanner Orndorff (Utah Valley)

#16 Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) 

#19 Christian Brunner (Purdue) 

#20 Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State) 

#25 Lucas Davison (Northwestern)