2019 ACC Thoughts

The ACC continues to grow as the NCAA granted 37 allocations to the conference for this year's NCAA tournament.  With the depth of some weight classes and the likelihood of steals, I can see them getting even more. It's proof in the pudding that the teams of the ACC take wrestling seriously and want their conference to be known for wrestling. With the addition of Presbyterian College next season, maybe it's not all that wishful after all to think that maybe we might see Clemson or Louisville add wrestling.  Technically every team in the ACC should have wrestling, but I'm here to talk about the 2019 ACC tournament. So enough of that and on to what I see.

 Allotments will be in blue and plausible steals will be in pink.  I'll seed according to how I view things and then I'll post at the end how many wrestlers I believe each team qualifies.  

125 lbs


1. Fausz
2. Mueller

The NCAA allotted two wrestlers from the ACC at 125 lbs and it is crystal clear that the two are North Carolina State's Sean Fausz and Virginia's Jack Mueller.  Seeing that the two have not met yet this year, it is tricky as to who will get the #1 seed.  Mueller is ranked higher in the NCAA, but Fausz in the returning ACC champion.  I gave Fausz the nod, as the last time the two met two years ago, Fausz won a 12-5 decision.

133

1. Phillippi
2. Wilson
3. Myers
4. Wayne Harding 
5. Hayes 

A fun weight class that will be rather exciting for the ACC fans as the race for a title will be between three wrestlers.  Phillippi has established himself as the #1 seed but one of his only losses this season is to Myers.  Then there is Wilson who if he wrestles anything like he did at last year's NCAA tournament, will be a nightmare for anyone he steps onto the mat with. 

Lastly I'll say that results thus far indicate that Louie Hayes will be staying home this year.  The move up to 133 lbs has been rough.  With Mueller only a junior, I would not be surprised to see Hayes transfer out and wrestle 125 lbs for another program next season.  He's a top twelve 125 lbs'er or better.  At 133 lbs he'll continue to struggle just to find his way to the NCAA tournament. 

141 lbs


1. Morris
2. Headlee
3. Moore
4. Finesilver
5. Bentley
6. Krivus 
The NCAA has allotted four spots at 141 lbs for the ACC.  I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Bentley who has fourth and third place finishes as well as Krivus who has two third place finishes steal one of those spots. Neither one has any intention of staying home from this year's NCAA tournament. Josh Finesilver may have earned the spot, but it'll take every ounce of everything he has to keep it.

149 lbs 



1. Finesilver
2. O'Connor
3. Oliver
4. Blees

I find this to be an extremely interesting weight class for a number of reasons.  First and foremost the NCAA allotted four spots here and for the life of me I cannot figure out who the fourth allotment is meant for.  Having no other option at this point other than to guess, I'm going to have to go with Virginia Tech's Ryan Blees.  At a 14-12 record, no wins that stick out to me, I'm having a Hell of a time coming up with how he earned a spot here, but other wrestlers with far better 2018-2019 season showings are being told they didn't.  Nevertheless unless, unless I'm overlooking someone, he's all I could come up with.

Mitch Finesilver has thus far finished as the ACC runner-up three times in a row.  Will he finally break through and win a title?  He's 2-1 Vs O'Connor right now with a 3-2 and 6-4 victory vs as 3-1 loss. 

Lastly is Justin Oliver who spent his first three seasons at Central Michigan.  He was an All American with a seventh place finish as a freshman, but has finished one match shy of another medal the past two seasons.  Will he finally make his way back onto the award stand? 

157 lbs

1. Hidlay
2. Rahmani
3. LaPrade
4. Keating
5. Monday 
The NCAA has allotted four spots to the ACC at 157 lbs and this is a classic example of how while the system is much better than it was prior to 2009, it still has flaws or at least ways in which it can be abused.  With only fifteen matches, one of which was at 165 lbs, it's clear that Kennedy Monday  is the odd man out.  Meaning that he'll most likely knock Keating or LaPrade out of the spot that they earned.  So is such, this is wrestling. Nevertheless the point is made.

As to who wins this weight class?  Hidlay has earned the #1 seed, but a close match with Monday indicates that even without earning an automatic bid, that he could challenge for the title.

165 lbs



1. Lewis
2. Coy
3. Bullard
4. Finesilver 

I had difficulty seeding 2017 ACC runner-up Zach Finesilver fourth.  Yet with losses to both Coy and Bullard, I had no other choice but to.   Perhaps he'll upset his way to the finals as he did last year.  The NCAA allotted four spots here, and these are the four guys that should go to the NCAA's.

174 lbs

1. McFadden
2. Finesilver
3. Bullard

In terms of plausible seedings and predictions, it'd be nice if everything were as cut and dry as 174 lbs in the ACC. Three allotments and this is the order they ought to be in.  I wonder if this will make the first time in ACC history when two wrestlers, both with twin brothers meet one another in the ACC semi-finals.

184 lbs


1. Zavatsky
2. Bonaccorsi
3. Reenan
4. Schany
5. Ness

The NCAA is taking five at this weight class, and perhaps not in this order, but these are the five it is most likely going to be.  It's so particular to me to seed a returning All American at fifth in his own conference, but in head to head results against the other four, fifth is where Chip Ness ought to be. 

Zavatsky took second place as a junior last season after winning titles as a freshman and as a sophomore. It won't be easy by any means as he looks for his third ACC crown.

197 lbs 

1. Sleigh
2. Aiello
3. Stout
4. McDonald
5. Whitman 

The NCAA has allotted four spots at 197 lbs for the ACC.  Tom Sleigh who spent his first three years at Bucknell in the EIWA, is poised to win the title in his first ACC appearance. With that said, I cannot overlook the fact that even though he recently beat Aiello 7-3, he did lose 9-1 major decision  back in November.  His other in conference loss was a more recent one to Whitman, 7-4.   All things to keep in mind as we look forward to the tournament.

HWT

1. Daniel
2. Thomas
3. Miller 

Now I could be wrong.  Thomas might get the nod above Daniel for the #1 seed. I'm not sure.  They're one and one right now.  Thomas won the first meeting 3-1 tiebreaker and Daniel won the last meeting 7-5 s.v.  Either way as long as Miller doesn't upset one of them, it's going to make for an exciting ACC finals match.


Before I move on there is something that I HAVE TO point out.  That I HAVE TO bring to your attention.  I mentioned 42 wrestlers in this blog. 

Three are from Georgia
Three are from Texas
One is from Kentucky
One if from Florida

It may be laughable compared to the number from New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania but it illustrates a fact that cannot be ignored.  Kids, and albeit, GOOD kids, TALENTED kids, DIVISION I kids from these "non-wrestling" States......States with little to no collegiate wrestling....obviously WANT to wrestle in college.  Point that out anytime some know it all clown from a University in one of these states says, "We don't have local kids who want to wrestle in college."  Like Hell you don't.  Proof is right here.

I digress.....

NORTH CAROLINA STATE 
As far as I'm concerned the Wolfpack should have no problem sending nine to this year's NCAA tournament.

NORTH CAROLINA 
Six maybe as many as seven NCAA qualifiers for the Tarheels.

VIRGINIA 
I see five, possibly six qualifiers for the Cavaliers

VIRGINIA TECH
Define irony.  I see the Hokies sending nine to the NCAA tournament the same as NC State.  HWT is the only weight I don't see NC sending and 125 lbs is the only weight I don't see V.T. sending. 

DUKE 
Four qualifiers for the Blue Devils this year and every one of them a Finesilver.

PITTSBURGH
Five, possibly six qualifiers for the Panthers this season.