125 lbs
I feel pretty confident in regards to how I think 125 lbs will shape up in Reno. I see a great finals match between Oregon State's Ronnie Bresser and Oklahoma State's Nick Piccininni. Ironically enough the two have never met one another. Bresser ranked #3 & Piccininni ranked #4, it should be a #1 Vs #2 seed in the finals.
Look for #8 Rayvon Foley of Michigan State, #20 Michael McGee of Old Dominion and unranked wrestlers Cole Verner of Wyoming and Gage Curry of American to round out your other four place winners.
133 lbs
#5 Daton Fix thus far is having an outstanding rookie season for the Cowboys and looks to be the forerunner to take the 133 lbs title in Reno. He already has a 3-0 victory over Wyoming All American Montorie Bridges but let me be the first to say that Fix could face a serious threat from #13 Josh Terao of American. Like older brother David, Terao can be a dangerous wrestler, practically impossible to score upon in the right conditions.
Most likely Bridges will be seeded #2 & Terao will be seeded #3, making an interesting semi-finals match-up. Last season Bridges handled Terao fairly easily 10-2, but Bridges seems to not be nearly as aggressive and more susceptible to upsets, having suffered three already this season.
No matter how you slice it, your top three place winners will be Fix, Terao and Bridges. I don't see anyone else among the bracket pulling in for a top three spot.
As to the other three place winners? #20 Sean Nickell of Bakersfield should wrestle consistently enough to make the semi-finals and secure himself a medal. Michigan State's Anthony Tutolo could possible challenge him for a spot in the consolation finals Vs either Bridges or Terao, whoever it may be.
141 lbs
Neither #9 Kaid Brock of Oklahoma State or #14 Sa'Derian Perry of Old Dominion are having the seasons that they were hoping to this year. Brock having moved up from 133 lbs, is having a bit a trouble adjusting to his new weight class. He is 2-2 right now, with losses to Minnesota's Mitch Mckee and Oklahoma's Dom Demas. After being unjustly removed from his home at Eastern Michigan by senile athletic director Scott R Wetherbee, Perry is adjusting to life under the tutelage of head coach Steve Martin. He is 7-3 thus far with losses to Navy's Nic Gil and North Carolina State's Jamal Morris.
A win for for either one of these guys over the other and a Reno title, should be a confidence booster that both seem in need of. As to the other spots on the award stand look for Wyoming's Sam Turner, and American's Jack Mutchnik to fight over third place, with a possible challenge from Michigan State's Austin Eicher. Fresno State rookie Lawrence Sanez could possibly see his first major tournament medal in his career as a Bulldog as well.
149 lbs
Reno historically speaking has often answered lingering questions that the wrestling community has in regards to Oklahoma State. One of those pressing questions is the status of All American Boo Lewallen. Will he be back? If he is back, how will he do verses teammate Kaden Gfeller? Lewallen hasn't wrestled since the 17th of November where he lost by injury default to South Dakota State's Henry Pohlmeyer. In the meantime Gfeller has been a more than suitable replacement, thus far 6-0, garnering himself a #13 ranking.
With that said, Daxton Gordon of Cal Baptist has already given us glimpses of why other 149 lbs'ers should be thankful that because of NCAA rules, he's not eligible for the post season this year. Although he didn't place at CKLV, he more than opened up some eyes with a 10-5 victory over Minnesota's Tommy Thorn & a 15-3 dismantling of Bakersfield's Russell Rohlfing. Look for Gordon to challenge for the Reno title.
Speaking of Rohlfing.....
When it comes to inconsistency and unpredictability, Rohlfing takes the cake. He's had some great moments in his career, including this season. He handed Iowa's #9 Pat Lugo a 10-9 loss & and he gave #5 Brock Zacherl of Clarion quite the scare, coming up a point short, 8-7. Without a doubt, proof in the pudding that Rohlfing is more than capable of upsetting his way into the Reno finals. Most likely, Rohlfing will finish somwhere between third and sixth. However, if wins the whole thing or he doesn't place at all, either way, I won't be surprised.
Khristian Olivas of Fresno State and Mike Sprague of American should round out your other place winners.
157 lbs
Yet another Oklahoma State question to be possibly answered. Will All American Geo Martinez make his 2018-2019 debut? It makes one wonder if we'll ever see him in action again.
Old Dominion's Larry Early is sitting on the highest ranking of his career at #3 and will only help his status with a Reno Title. Easier said than done with #19 Andrew Shomers of Oklahoma State and #20 Hunter Willits of Oregon State, both hungry for their chance to knock him off.
Isaiah Hokit of Fresno State and Dewey Krueger of Wyoming, but currently unranked, look to be our medalists.
165 lbs
Arguably, the most interesting match-up of the entire tournament. Rivals #9 Branson Ashworth of Wyoming and #10 Chandler Rogers of Oklahoma State. Although Rogers does own a 10-6 victory over Ashworth, it has been Ashworth with a 6-0 and 4-1 decision that has taken the last two matches. Should be a fun, heated and exciting match up.
As to the other four place winners, let me say this. I think it provides a great opportunity for some other wrestlers to place at an important in season tournament. The Citadel's Dazion Castor is adjusting to Division I and a medal here could do wonders for his confidence. I'll say the same about Fresno State's Brandon Martino.
174 lbs
I want to know what is up with Joe Smith of Oklahoma State? Not having the answer to that question is driving me nuts. Is he hurt? Can he not beat out Jacobe Smith? Is he too big for 174? Is he at 184? If so, can he not beat out Dakota Geer? What is the deal? Will Reno have the answer?
If Joe Smith isn't there, I look for Jacobe Smith to take the title with a possible threat from unranked Drew Hughes of Michigan State.
The rest of the weight class looks to be rather weak with exception to Wyoming's Hayden Hastings who damn near upset Smith (the Jacobe one) earlier this season in a tight 6-5 loss.
184 lbs
Transfer Dakota Geer has been a great addition to the Cowboy lineup this season. He currently holds a #15 ranking and a 7-0 record. He should add a Reno title to his resume, although Michigan State's #16 Cam Caffey may have something to say about that. I feel very confident that this will be our finals match-up.
197 lbs
So happy to see #7 Preston Weigel of Oklahoma State back. I think he's good enough to win the NCAA's this year and he might as well start off strong by winning a Reno title first. I don't see anyone giving him any fits.
As to who his finals opponent will be, that could be quite the story. You have Weigel's teammate Andrew Marsden, the Citadel's Sawyer Root and Cal Poly's Tom Lane, all more than capable of reaching that spot.
Another successful football season now said and done, Josh Hokit returns to action for the Bulldogs.
HWT
You can ask me to use 285 lbs as the official marker, but ask all you want, I strongly protest in defiance! It's been HWT for as long as I can remember and note a man who generally is all about progressive change, in this circumstance call me a traditionalist. It's HWT.
As to Reno, #3 Derek White of Oklahoma State should be one of many Cowboys to win a title, but I wouldn't put it past #20 Brian Andrews of Wyoming to possibly give him a scare.
Chase Beard of Michigan State and Andrew Nevills of Fresno State will most likely be our other place winners.
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