Thank You John Smith

 

My heart sunk a little when I read of John Smith's retirement the other day.  I thought about making a quick Twitter or Facebook post about it, but the more I thought about it, I realized Twitter or Facebook wasn't going to cut it.  John Smith deserves so much more than a few words on Twitter or Facebook. There's so much that he did for the sport.  So many ways in which he revolutionized the sport and was a trailblazer for both wrestlers and coaches. 

Growing up a fixated wrestling fanatic, whenever someone said the name John Smith, I think I was the only one who didn't think about an old white imperialist and Pocahontas.  To me John Smith was the wrestler/coach, the legend from Oklahoma State. 

Now I know in wrestling we've had our Danny Hodge's as wrestlers, and we've had our Swede Umbach's as coaches.  I'm not trying to claim that John Smith was the first southerner in either category, but I will say he is the most known and the most prolific.  Let's face it, wrestling is a "northerner's sport."  When you stop and think about all of the figure heads and most popular wrestlers in the world, we're usually talking guys from the West, Midwest and Northeast. 

I'd argue that the three time BIG 12 champ, two-time NCAA DI champ that won 10 gold medals between the Olympics, Worlds, Pan-American & Goodwill Games, helped paved the way for many southern greats who came after him.  As a wrestler in what all he achieved, I think he makes the case for the greatest wrestler to ever come out of the south.  

I think he makes an even stronger case as the greatest wrestling coach that has ever come out of the south.  490 dual wins.  5 NCAA DI team titles & 21 BIG 12 team titles.  33 DI individual champions, 152 All Americans. 129 individual BIG 12 champs.   Not to mention a coach for both the 2000 & 2012 Olympic teams.   Been other great coaches from southern states, but you tell me any of them that have a better resume.  May I also add that all in all, Smith had five of his wrestlers go on to be Olympians, including silver medalist Jamil Kelly & bronze medalist Coleman Scott. 

On a personal level, I've got to meet Coach Smith a handful of times and each time was very pleasant. I'm sure the first time I met him as a 9-year-old decked out in Iowa State apparel at a dual in Ames, he wasn't crazy about my clothes. Nonetheless he still shook my hand and autographed my program.  Years later he spent some time on the phone with my dad and free of charge, sent me a signed Oklahoma State wrestling media guide, with a signed copy of his book COWBOY UP.   Then once at the NCAA's, shared an elevator with him, his wife and his children. Didn't like the Iowa hat I was wearing but did like it when I told him my favorite wrestler was Johnny Thompson.  

I have many great memories of John Smith, but I would have to say my very favorite has to come from the 2003 NCAA championships. In an interview Smith was asked about winning the team title, as the interviewer brought up individual national champions, Johnny Thompson, Jake Rosholt and Steve Mocco.  Smith responded how important their contributions were, but stressed how important it was for other wrestlers on his team to come back and wrestle strong through the consolations.  "You gotta be hungry for 3rd" stressing how important backside wrestling can be in the team race. He really put a lot of emphasis on Shane Roller's epic 3rd place run, which included a 34 second fall over the previous year's NCAA DI champion, Luke Becker of Minnesota. I loved that attitude and that perspective.  It was a great time for Smith and for Oklahoma State. 


As wrestling continues to grow in an assortment of ways, I think we look around Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama and other southern states that are continuously getting better and in partial John Smith can be thanked for that. He was the catalyst that said not only can good wrestlers come from the south, not only can great wrestlers come from the south, but some of the very best wrestlers can come from the south. 

John Smith was a television analyst for both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic games.  He's way too valuable to our sport to not in some way or another continue being a part of it.  I would hope that more play by play and color commentary opportunities await him in the future. 

As always there is more I could say and I hope I gave Coach Smith the fitting dedication he deserves.  He's one of the all time best.  One of those as both a wrestler and as a coach, that made Johnnythompsonnum1 into the wrestling enthusiast that I am.  

JT#1 '23-'24 By The Numbers

  For the '22-'23 season, Johnnythompsonnum1 averaged 25,000 readers per month.  My goal was to beat that number & I put a lot of effort into trying to do so.   Did I?  Yes, but not near to the extent that I wanted to.  I went from an average of 25,000 readers a month in '22-'23 to 26,250 readers in '23-'24.  

All in all, I wrote 128 articles between the first day of the collegiate wrestling season & the last day of the collegiate wrestling season. 

157,738 reads in total.  

Here's the breakdown of my articles

NCAA DI - 59
NCAA DII - 16
NCAA DIII - 20
NAIA - 18
NJCAA - 9
Mix of All the Divisions - 5
A Historical Article - 1 


My most popular articles of '23-'24? 

1 Best to Not Qualify NCAA DII (1,530 readers)
2 Best not to Qualify NCAA DIII (1,300 readers)
3 Wildcard Contention 125 lbs DI (474 Readers)
4 Mideast Regional Preview DIII (466 Readers)
5 Clarion Open Preview DI (397 Readers)

Johnnythompsonnum1's Final 2024 NCAA DI Predictions

 This is my 22nd year of posting my predictions.  Over two decades worth of making my crazy, outlandish, straight from the gut predictions & I still know, I'll have people come at me wondering why in the world I didn't just stick to the seeds!  I'll tell you why!  Cause upsets happen EVERY SINGLE year! So why not try and predict some of them?  Guys that have wrestled like Gawds all season long will go DOWN!!  Guys who have been lackluster all year will come ALIVE.  It WILL happen.  There's no stopping it.  I just got back from NCAA DIII's and saw a ton of upsets.  I saw guys that weren't supposed to lose, lose. I saw guys that weren't supposed to do well, do extremely well.   Since 2002, I haven't been playing it safe, so why in the Hell would I start now?  Don't like my predictions?  Good! I probably wouldn't like your's either.   Do I have anything against anyone?  Is the fact that I have Penn State winning as a team but I don't have them walking out with 10 individual champions something I have against Penn State? Nope.  I'll admit I'm not a big fan of the fact that Cael & Co have a "NCAA's is all that matters" mentality, but other than that I'll cool with the blue & white.   In fact if Carter Starocci does end up winning 174 (which you'll see in a minute I have him doing), I'll more than happily point out that he had the toughest route to a gold medal I've ever witnessed in NCAA DI wrestling. 

125
1 Luke Stanich Lehigh (2)
2 Pat McKee Minnesota (9) 
3 Anthony Noto Lock Haven (12)
4 Matt Ramos Purdue (4)
5 Drake Ayala Iowa (3)
6 Eric Barnett Wisconsin (10)
7 Braeden Davis Penn State (10)
8 Richard Figueroa Arizona State (8)
R12 Michael DeAugustino Michigan (18)
R12 Brandon Kaylor Oregon State (21)
R12 Jore Volk Wyoming (5)
R12 Cooper Flynn Virginia Tech (11)

133
1 Daton Fix Oklahoma State (1)
2 Vito Arujau Cornell (6)
3 Ryan Crookham Lehigh (2)
4 Dylan Ragusin Michigan (5)
5 Sam Latona Virginia Tech (12)
6 Dylan Shawver Rutgers (4)
7 Kai Orine NC State (3)
8 Zeth Romney Cal Poly (11)
R12 Aaron Nagao Minnesota (10)
R12 Evan Frost Iowa State (8)
R12 Nasir Bailey Little Rock (7)
R12 Nic Bouzakis Ohio State (16) 

141 
1 Real Woods Iowa (3)
2 Jesse Mendez Ohio State (1)
3 Beau Bartlett Penn State (2)
4 Anthony Echemendia Iowa State (5)
5 Josh Koderhandt Navy (11)
6 Cole Matthews Pittsburgh (18)
7 Lachlan McNeil North Carolina (6)
8 Clay Carlson South Dakota State (30)
R12 Ryan Jack NC State (4)
R12 Brock Hardy Nebraska (9)
R12 Cael Happel Northern Iowa (7)
R12 Seth Lemley Michigan (8)

149 
1 Ridge Lovett Nebraska (1)
2 Kyle Parco Arizona State (2)
3 Austin Gomez Wisconsin (6)
4 Caleb Henson Virginia Tech (4)
5 Ty Watters West Virginia (5)
6 Jaden Abas Stanford (26)
7 Caleb Rathjen Iowa (13)
8 Casey Swiderski Iowa State (8)
R12 Dylan D'Emilio Ohio State (14)
R12 Tyler Kasak Penn State (7)
R12 Jackson Arrington NC State (3)
R12 Chance Lamer Cal Poly (10)

157 
1 Levi Haines Penn State (1)
2 Jacori Teemer Arizona State (2)
3 Peyton Robb Nebraska (8)
4 Bryce Andonian Virginia Tech (12)
5 Jared Franek Iowa (10)
6 Meyer Shapiro Cornell (3)
7 Will Lewan Michigan (9)
8 Ed Scott NC State (4)
R12 Vinny Zerban Northern Colorado (18)
R12 Daniel Cardenas Stanford (6)
R12 Michael Blockhus Minnesota (13)
R12 Brayton Lee Indiana (11)

165 
1 Keegan O'Toole Missouri (1)
2 Mitchell Messenbrink Penn State (2)
3 David Carr Iowa State (4)
4 D.J. Hamiti Wisconsin (5)
5 Julian Ramirez Cornell (3)
6 Cam Amine Michigan (10)
7 Mikey Caliendo Iowa (6)
8 Peyton Hall West Virginia (9)
R12 Izzak Olejnik Oklahoma State (7)
R12 Andrew Cerniglia Navy (11)
R12 Caleb Fish Michigan State (21)
R12 Antrell Taylor Nebraska (8)

174 
1 Carter Starocci Penn State (9)
2 Ed Ruth Illinois (3)
3 Mekhi Lewis Virginia Tech (1)
4 Shane Griffith Michigan (4)
5 Justin McCoy Virginia (13)
6 Cade Devos South Dakota State (2)
7 Philip Conigliaro Harvard (5)
8 Austin Murphy Campbell (11)
R12 Ben Pasiuk Army (18)
R12 Tyler Eischens North Carolina (21)
R12 Lennox Wolak Columbia (7)
R12 Adam Kemp Cal Poly (8)

184 
1 Parker Keckeisen Northern Iowa (1)
2 Bernie Truax Penn State (6)
3 Chris Foca Cornell (14)
4 Trey Munoz Oregon State (4)
5 Dustin Plott Oklahoma State (3)
6 Isaiah Salazar Minnesota (2)
7 Lenny Pinto Nebraska (5)
8 Gavin Kane North Carolina (22)
R12 Sam Wolf Air Force (8)
R12 David Key Navy (25)
R12 Will Feldkamp Iowa State (17)
R12 T.J. Stewart Virginia Tech (7)

197 
1 Aaron Brooks Penn State (1)
2 Trent Hidlay NC State (2)
3 Michael Beard Penn State (4)
4 Tanner Sloan South Dakota State (3)
5 Stephen Buchanan Oklahoma (5)
6 Lou DePrez Binghamton (6)
7 Rocky Elam Missouri (12)
8 Zach Glazier Iowa (7)
R12 Silas Allred Nebraska (10)
R12 John Poznanski Rutgers (14)
R12 Daniel Cardenas Stanford (5)
R12 Stephen Little Little Rock (9)

HWT 
1 Cohlton Schultz Arizona State (4)
2 Yonger Bastida Iowa State (2)
3 Greg Kerkvliet Penn State (1)
4 Wyatt Hendrikson Air Force (3)
5 Lucas Davis Northwestern (10)
6 Dayton Pitzer Pittsburgh (21)
7 Zach Elam Missouri (6)
8 Owen Trephan NC State (8) 
R12 Taye Ghadiali Campbell (7)
R12 Josh Heindselman Oklahoma (11)
R12 Yaraslau Slavikouski Michigan (13)
R12 Nick Feldman Ohio State (9) 

The Talent Staying Home (Best Not to Qualify for 2024 NCAA DI Championships)

 I'll start off by saying that I like the way NCAA DI qualification is handled much more than I do the way DII & DIII are handled.  I sincerely feel that those in charge do their best to try and get the best 33 wrestlers in the nation competing at the national tournament.  With that said, it's still wrestling.  You're still going to have good wrestlers who don't make the tournament.  It's why qualification is a big deal & should be treated as a big deal.   I went through each weight class and determined who I thought were some of the best wrestlers who won't be going this year.  I'm sure I probably missed a few here and there & maybe I included a few who you wouldn't have.  Either way, these are my picks for "best not to qualify" in '23-'24. 

Colton Camacho
Pittsburgh
125

Inconsistency I believe is what kept Colton Camacho out of the NCAA tournament this year.  Ended the year with a losing record of 11-12, but before anyone is quick to judge, he had a pretty strong schedule.  I think it's more important to look at those 11 wins & see that he beat some good wrestlers.  Brendan McCrone of Ohio State & Tyler Klinsky of Rider, who both did get the nod, Camacho defeated them both.  McCrone by a 14-9 score & believe it or not he tech'd Klinsky 19-4.  He also took out Brett Ungar of Cornell 3-1. 

Nick Babin
Columbia 
125

Ranked within the top 25 most of the season, I was very shocked that Nick Babin of Columbia didn't get a nod. I suppose a bad EIWA tournament really cost the 2023 NCAA DI qualifier.  On the season he majored McCrone 14-5 & he also had a nice 4-0 victory over Max Gallagher of Penn.  In a weight class featuring three guys who might very well be All Americans in a couple of weeks, Babin took 4th at the Soldier Salute. 

Anthony Molton
Campbell
125

I think what killed Anthony Molton as to NCAA qualification this year was that he took 3rd at the SOCON instead of 2nd.  I think those in charge would have forgiven him for a loss to Braydon Palmer of UT-Chattanooga, but they can't forgive the semi-final loss to Drew West of Gardner-Webb.  That's my guess. I also think strength of schedule comes into play as well.  For the most part Molton beat everyone put in front of him this year.  21-5, but didn't see a lot of ranked competition.  Has another year left & should dominate the SOCON next season. 

Conrad Hendriksen
Oklahoma
125

A true freshman, I think it was mainly adjusting to the DI grind that Conrad Hendriksen had to endure this year.  I think he'll come back poised and experienced & never miss out on the NCAA tournament again.  This year he showed signs, but it wasn't quite enough.  A 6-4 win over Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia, he was 3rd at RENO. 

Jack Maida
American
125

You really hate to see things end the way for Jack Maida the way they did.  The reason he's not going to the NCAA DI championships, is plain and simple.  He got hurt at the EIWA's.  This caused him to have to medical forfeit to 8th place.  Had he been able to wrestle in that match & capture 7th place, I think the committee of deciders may have given him a stronger look.  I really do.  On the year a 2-1 win over Tristan Lujan of Michigan State & for whatever it is worth a 9-0 major over 2023 All American Eddie Ventresca of Virginia Tech. 

Joey Fisher
Clarion
125

Joey Fischer of Clarion has an on switch, the problem is, how in the world do you keep it on? When he's focused he is capable of doing some very big things.  He proved that earlier this season with a 9-6 decision over Anthony Noto of Lock Haven.  He's also been a MAC runner-up in the past before too.  He figures out a way to keep the switch permanently on, we're not only looking at qualification material, we're looking at All American material. 

Sean Spidle
Central Michigan
125

Sean Spidle of Central Michigan had some nice wins this year.  A 3-1 decision over Blake West of Northern Illinois, he defeated Lujan 5-1.  I think the issue with why he didn't get a nod was due to a lot of close losses.  I think if he had been able to turn 1, 2 & 3 point losses into wins, it might have resulted in NCAA DI qualification.  He has one more season left. 

Spencer Moore
North Carolina 
125

Spencer Moore of North Carolina is another tough lightweight who didn't make it to the dance this year. He was 3rd in an ACC bracket that took the top two.  15 wins on the season, a 2-0 decision over Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State. 

Richie Koehler 
Rider
133

For the second season in a row, Richie Koehler of Rider took MAC runner-up honors & as far as I'm concerned got pretty much ignored when it came time to select the at large bids.  18 wins on the season, he had a 6-5 win over Cory Rooks of Indiana & he also defeated MAC champ Gable Strickland 4-1 s.v.

Tony Madrigal
Illinois
133

You gotta compete.  It's that simple. You can't miss most of the season & expect to get the nod when it comes to at large/wildcard bids.  That's what kept three time NCAA DI qualifier Tony Madrigal of Illinois from seeing his fourth qualification.  Nevertheless in the handful of matches that he did wrestle this year, he scored an 8-3 decision over Jacob Van Dee of Nebraska & a 4-0 decision over Tyler Wells of Minnesota. 

Haiden Drury
Utah Valley
141

I would imagine that Haiden Drury of Utah Valley was probably right on the fence when at large bids/wildcards were being discussed at 141 lbs.  A runner-up at RENO, he had a 7-5 decision over Max Leete of American & a 5-2 decision over Cayden Rooks of Indiana. 

Jason Miranda
Stanford
141

Seems every season Jason Miranda finishes somewhere between 34th & 37th.  Always just a hair away from being top 33, but can't quite get over the hump.  I was really hoping that a runner-up finish at the Southern Scuffle might light a fire & at times it seemed to.  He nearly majored Kai Owen of Columbia 13-7 & he actually did major Todd Carter of Gardner Webb 12-4.  Perhaps his final season of '24-'25 he'll finally be 33 or >, rather than <

Nash Singleton
Oregon State
149

I'd put Nash Singleton of Oregon State into the same category as Hendriksen at 125.  He's a freshman that took some rookie slumps this year & I'm pretty sure a summer of hard work & studying, he'll come back correcting the mistakes that were made this season.  6th at CKLV, he did defeat MAC champ Quinn Kinner of Rider 8-6. 

Noah Castillo
Chattanooga
149

He was ranked a lot of this season & I thought that alone might get him into the NCAA championships via an at large/wildcard bid, but it didn't.  I really think what cost him Q this year some of the close losses he had throughout the season.  If we go back in time and turn those close losses into wins, Castillo would probably be packing for Kansas City right now.  He was 4th at the Southern Scuffle. 

Zach Price
Gardner Webb
149 

A match away from qualification last year with a SOCON finish of 2nd when he needed to win the tournament & a match away from qualification with a SOCON finish of 3rd, when he needed to make the finals this season.  Two heartbreakers in a row.  Was hoping to see Price punch a ticket to Kansas City this season, but it didn't happen. Nevertheless, I still chalk up 29 victories & a 5th place Southern Scuffle showing a pretty good season. 

Nick Stonecheck
Lock Haven 
149 

Consistency.  Probably sick of hearing that word by now, but it is what is keeping these guys from qualification this season.  Nick Stonecheck did have 18 wins this season, including an 8-5 decision over MAC champ Kinner. 

Nate Lukez
Army
157

4th in an EIWA bracket that took the top three, I thought that Nate Lukez of Army would get into the NCAA championsips, but he did not.  26-11 on the year, he was 4th at the Southern Scuffle.  I would imagine strength of schedule is probably what kept him out. 

Sal Perrine
Ohio
174

The entire point of our current qualification system is to make sure that a bad conference tournament doesn't cost you, your trip to nationals.  To incorporate the entire system into whether you're top 33 by year's end or not.  That's what it is supposed to do, but in the case of Sal Perrine of Ohio, I don't think that it did.  Perrine is a two time NCAA DI qualifier, who had some nice wins this year.  8-5 over SOCON champ Austin Murphy of Campbell, he defeated Cael Valencia of Arizona State 8-5 s.v.  He also owns a 7-3 decision over Braydon Thompson of Oklahoma State.  While both the Midlands & the Southern Scuffle aren't the prestigious tournaments they once were, CKLV still has quite a bit of clout & Perrine was 5th there. 

Bubba Wilson
Nebraska
174

The truth of the matter is, 174 lbs saw a lot of upset that wasn't expected and therefore the weight class was unprepared for the number of at large/wildcard bids it would actually need.  Carter Starocci of Penn State taking up a spot didn't help matters any & neither did the fact that there were only three left.  Bubba Wilson of Nebraska was 3rd at the Soldier Salute.  A 3-1 victory over Jared Simma of Northern Iowa, he defeated Valencia 1-0 & had a 5-2 decision over ACC bronze medalist Tyler Eischens of North Carolina. 

D.J. Washington
Indiana
174

D.J. Washington of Indiana started off the season rather hot.  On the year he not only defeated EIWA runner-up Ben Pasiuk of Army 4-2, he teched MAC runner-up Michael Wilson of Rider twice (18-3 & 17-1).  Not only that, he majored MAC champ Alex Cramer of Central Michigan 15-4.   A runner-up finish at the Southern Scuffle, things were looking up for Washington.  Then it all fell apart for him at the beginning of February & he never recovered. Unfortunately for the three time NCAA DI qualifier, forgiveness wasn't on the agenda of the selection committee.  I do think though, via COVD-19 eligibility standards, he has one more season left. 

Tate Picklo
Oklahoma
174 

Again, 174 lbs was not the weight to be competing at if you needed an at large/wildcard bid.  Tate Picklo more than had his fair share of impressive wins this season.  7-2 of MAC champ Cramer, he majored BIG 12 runner-up Gaven Sax of North Dakota State 11-2.  He also had a 5-2 s.v. over Braydon Thompson & he won RENO. 

Tyler Brennan
Little Rock
174 

I'm pretty sure the collegiate career of Tyler Brennan of Little Rock has ran its course & as a result I have to conclude him a top wrestler who never made the NCAA DI tournament.  It just goes to show how incredibly difficult it is to make it to the dance.  Earlier this season he shut out Valencia 6-0. 

Zayne Lehman
Ohio
184

Perrine wasn't the only Bobcat that I feel got overlooked by the selection committee. Granted his MAC tournament didn't turn out so hot, but I figured some other W's might factor in more than they apparently did.  He defeated EIWA 3rd place finisher David Key of Navy twice, by scores of 4-2 & 8-6.  He also defeated Arizona State's Tony Negron 12-6.  I would imagine some awkward losses is most likely what he had held against him. 

Dalton Harkins
Army
184

Dalton Harkins of Army is a very strange case.  He competed at 165 lbs all season long.  Wins include a 7:00 fall over PAC 12 champ Joseph Bianchi of Little Rock, a 12-2 major decision over Jake Logan of Lehigh & for what it's worth an 8-2 decision over Beau Mantanona of Michigan, a redshirt whom many, (including myself), are very excited about for next season.  Yet Army had Gunner Filpowicz as the varsity at 165 & Ben Pasiuk as the varsity at 174.  So Harkins went up to 184 for the EIWA championships.  Giving up 20 lbs in a DI college wrestling match can't be easy.   

Troy Fisher
Northwestern
184

I believe the issue with two time NCAA qualifier Troy Fisher was that he didn't have enough W's on the record.  Nevertheless the Wildcat did place 7th at the Midlands & he had a 12-10 decision over Michigan State's Layne Malczewski. 

Tristan Wills
Little Rock
184

19 wins on the season, I believe that Triston Wills of Little Rock deserves mention here.  On the season he pinned Reece Heller of Pittsburgh at 2:31. 

Dennis Robin
West Virginia 
184

Kinda surprised that Dennis Robin of West Virginia didn't get a nod.  He was 7th in the BIG 12's, in a bracket that naturally took the top 5 & then also took 6th place Will Feldkamp of Iowa State.  Robin had 21 wins on the season, he owns a 7-4 decision over Zayne Lehman of Michigan State & a 13-5 major decision over MAC runner-up Cam Pine of Clarion

Logan Deacetis
Bucknell
197

I would imagine the coaches at Bucknell weren't too happy when they saw that Logan Deacetis wasn't selected as an at large/wildcard.  He was 7th at the EIWA championships.  John Crawford of Franklin & Marshall, whom Deacetis defeated 12-2 major decision, did receive an at large bid.  Of all cases in wrestling, this has to be one of the toughest to accept.  Deacetis was also 6th at the Southern Scuffle. 

HWT
Luke Rasmussen
South Dakota State

I thought that Luke Rasmussen of South Dakota State might get a nod, but he didn't.  16 wins on the year, he was 2nd at the Soldier Salute.  

Michael Wolfgram
West Virginia
HWT

As big, strong and powerful as this guy is, I keep wondering when in the heck is he gonna finally let loose, and really go after guys.  There are times when he wrestles so damn tense, timid and conservative. Drives me nuts.  The times when he has let loose, he's beaten some good wrestlers. Had some good wins. I'm hoping missing out on the NCAA's might light a fire within him. I think he's good enough to be an All American. I really do.  Has one more season to prove it. 

===

Ok, who did I miss?  I'm sure I overlooked someone. No matter how hard I try not to, I always do.  

Please come at me with guys that legitimately tried to qualify.  I realize the same as you do that Travis Wittlake would have been a force to have been reckoned with at the PAC-12's & he would have contended for All American honors.  I get that, but he was hurt & he didn't compete.  So let's keep names like that away for right now & focus on those that competed at the conference tournaments. 

In Contention for At Large/Wildcard Bid NCAA DI = HWT

 HWT has four slots open for NCAA DI qualification & I believe from my estimation we have five guys fighting for them. Who will be 4/4 & who will unfortunately be the odd man out? 

Dayton Pitzer
Pittsburgh 

I was rather shocked when the ACC announced that only the top two would be automatic allocations.  Then again, it didn't surprise me, as Dayton Pitzer of Pittsburgh has missed a large chunk of the season due to injury.  I really hope that it doesn't come back to haunt him later as I feel that it very unfair. Not that life or wrestling is fair, but I'd hate to see him miss out on qualification simply because of an injury.  3rd at the ACC's, I'd say what he has going for him most is a 2-0 win over EIWA champ Nathan Taylor of Lehigh.  A 5-0 win over Josiah Hill of Little Rock doesn't hurt either. 

Seth Nevills
Maryland

Seth Nevills coming in and stepping it up for the Terrapins this year has been very admirable. He was 8th in a loaded BIG 10 bracket that took the top 7 & I find it hard to believe that he'd be left home this season.  15 wins on the season, the most impressive a 5-2 decision over Yaraslau Slavikouski of Rutgers.  He also owns a 5:00 fall over Hill. 

Trevor Tinker 
Cal Poly 

I've been very praiseful of all of the positive happenings in San Luis Obispo, California, because they are all deserving of praise.  Cal Poly has been doing an outstanding job & I believe that Trevor Tinker has been a part of that success.  13-5 on the year, he was 6th at the Midlands & owns a 4:18 fall over PAC-12 runner-up Boone McDermott of Oregon State. 

Here's where I'm on the fence.  Do you go with two time NCAA qualifier Michael Wolfgram of West Virginia with 18 wins on the season? Or do you go with Ryan Catka of Virginia, who has 15 wins on the season.  Wolfgram took 6th in a BIG 12 bracket that took the top 5 & Catka took 4th behind Pitzer in an ACC bracket that unceremoniously took only two.   So who would you go with? 

In Contention for At Large/Wild Card Bids NCAA DI = 197 lbs

 There are four bids here at 197 lbs, and these are my guesses as to who will get in. 

Andy Smith 
Virginia Tech

The one I'm most sure about here, is Andy Smith of Virginia Tech.  The Hokie was 5th at the Midlands & has both a 4-2 decision over Max Shaw of North Carolina & a 2:21 fall over Cole Urbas of Penn. 

Evan Bockman
Utah Valley

Another I'm pretty confident about is Evan Bockman of Utah Valley.  Already a two time NCAA DI qualifier, Bockman has 18 wins on the season.  A 7-2 victory over SOCON champ Levi Hopkins of Campbell & a 4-2 decision over Wyatt Voelker of Northern Iowa. 

Logan Deacetis
Bucknell

6th at the Southern Scuffle & 20 wins on the season, I believe one of our At Large Bids will be Logan Deacetis of Bucknell. 

John Crawford
Franklin & Marshall

The long illustrious history of Franklin & Marshall, I'm not sure if a Diplomat has ever been selected for an at large/wildcard bid before. I don't know that for sure, but in my 30+ years of watching wrestling, I can't remember anyone from F&M getting into the DI tournament via at large/wildcard selection.  I do think though, that 22 wins on the season, John Crawford could be one of them this year. 

In Contention for an At Large/Wildcard Bid NCAA DI = 184 lbs

Here at 184 lbs we have five spots for At Large/Wildcard bids and I feel pretty confident that I know who those five will be.  I could be wrong, but I'd be shocked if they were anyone else other than the five I mention.  I think the five I mention all make very strong cases. 

Caleb Hopkins
Campbell 

This past weekend was a very emotional weekend for me.  Saw a lot of great things that made me very happy and I saw a lot of disappointing things that were rather depressing.  This is in no way, shape or form a shot at Tomas Brooker of Appalachian State.  He came out of nowhere & wrestled an outstanding SOCON championship.  However, when Caleb Hopkins of Campbell lost his bid to become the first ever four time SOCON champ for the Camels, my heart sank.  22-9 on the season, I'm pretty sure he gets in to the DI championships this year. 

Will Feldkamp
Iowa State

It hasn't been quite the year that 2023 7th place NCAA DI All American Will Feldkamp of Iowa State was hoping that it would be.  He's had his ups and downs so far in '23-'24, but as far as I'm concerned he's done more than enough to deserve one of the at large/wildcard bids.  Among his wins this season, he stuck PAC-12 champ Trey Munoz of Oregon State in 2:21.  A 10-0 major decision over Sam Wolf of Air Force, he tech'd David Key of Navy 22-7.  A CKLV runner-up, I'd say he's going to another NCAA DI championships. 

Jha'Quan Anderson
Gardner Webb

3rd-2nd-2nd-3rd, I would have to conclude Jha'Quan Anderson of Gardner Webb to be one of the best wrestlers to never win a SOCON title.  While that eluded him, what did not, was his becoming the first ever Runnin' Bulldog to win a Southern Scuffle title earlier this season.  I know some people hate the term "he got caught" but tough cookie.  That's what happened.  He got caught on his back against Caleb Roe of Presbyterian at the SOCON championships & coming back to major Roe 11-0 for 3rd proves my point.  I know that getting the committee to select SOCON wrestlers for at large/wildcard qualification is pulling teeth & here I am trying to get them to grant qualification to TWO SOCON wrestlers.  Fact is, both Hopkins & Anderson deserve to get in.  Frankly it's a crock if they don't both get in. 

Dennis Robin
West Virginia

Feel pretty strong that Dennis Robin of West Virginia will be another of our At Large/Wildcard bids.  21 wins on the season, he owns a 7-4 decision over Zayne Lehman of Michigan State & a 13-5 major decision over MAC runner-up Cam Pine of Clarion. 

Tony Negron
Arizona State

It's been a bumpy and curvy road for Tony Negron of Arizona State & unabashedly not hiding my bias here, I'd like to see it end in qualification for the Sun Devil.  I think he has the credentials.   Wins that stick out most this season are a 6-4 decision over Gavin Kane of North Carolina & a 4-1 decision over Jaden Bullock of Michigan. 

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Take it or leave it, if I were on the committee, these would be my five votes.