NCAA
Seth Gross R12 2nd 1st
Pat Lugo R12 DNP 8th
Joe Smith 7th 4th
David McFadden 6th 5th 5th
Tanner Hall R12 3rd DNP
Jack Mueller 6th R12 2nd
Brock Hudkins R12 DNC
Stevan Micic 4th 2nd 3rd
Kaid Brock 5th 5th R12
Mitch McKee R12 R12 6th
Jaydin Eierman 5th 4th 3rd
Matt Kolodzik 7th 3rd 5th
Max Thomsen 5th R12 R12
Mike Kemerer 3rd 4th DNC
Vincenzo Joseph 1st 1st 2nd
Logan Massa 3rd DNP R12
Drew Hughes R12 DNP
Bryce Steiert R12 8th
Anthony Valencia R12 DNP
Mark Hall 1st 2nd 2nd
Zahid Valencia 3rd 1st 1st
Myles Amine 4th 3rd 3rd
Kollin Moore 3rd 4th 2nd
Cash Wilcke R12 R12
Spencer Lee 1st 1st
Nick Suriano 2nd 1st
Sebastian Rivera 6th 3rd
Louie Hayes R12
Taylor Lamont R12
Nick Piccininni 4th R12 5th
Tariq Wilson 3rd R12
Luke Pletcher 4th 4th
Montorie Bridges 8th
Austin DeSanto R12 5th
Yianni Diakomihalis 1st 1st
Nick Lee 5th 5th
Chad Red 7th 8th
Sa'Derian Perry 8th
Mike Carr R12
Brock Zacherl R12
Grant Leeth 6th
Boo Lewallen 8th
Ke-Shawn Hayes R12
Jarrett Degen R12 7th
Hayden Hidlay 2nd 4th
Josh Shields 7th 6th
Evan Wick 3rd 4th
Jon Jay Chavez 7th
Isaiah White R12 5th
Jordan Kutler 6th 7th
Dylan Lydy R12 R12
Taylor Venz 4th R12
Max Dean 8th 2nd
Jacob Holschlag 5th
Ben Darmstadt 6th
Shakur Rasheed 7th
Chris Weiler R12
Jordan Wood R12 4th
Jere Heino R12
Vitali Arujau 4th
Pat Glory 6th
Rayvon Foley 7th
Michael McGee R12
Daton Fix 2nd
Roman Bravo Young 8th
Mickey Phillippi R12
Austin Gomez R12
Dom Demas 4th
Kyle Shoop 7th
Matt Findlay R12
Tristan Moran R12
Max Murin R12
Austin O'Connor 3rd
Brock Mauller 6th
Anthony Artalona R12
Jared Prince R12
Kaleb Young 5th
Mekhi Lewis 1st
Alex Marinelli 6th 7th
Demetrius Romero R12
Mikey LaBriola 6th
Devin Skatzka 8th
Devin Kane R12
Taylor Lujan R12 R12
Ben Harvey R12
Dakota Geer 7th
Nino Bonaccorsi R12
Lou DePrez R12
Sam Colbry R12
Pat Brucki 4th
Josh Hokit 5th
Jacob Warner 7th
Tom Lane R12
Nathan Traxler R12
CJ Brunner R12
Gable Steveson 3rd
Matt Stencel 7th
Trent Hillger 8th
Mason Parris R12
Zach Elam R12
Ian Butterbrodt R12
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
SOCON 2019-2020
SOCON
Josh Heil 1st 1st
Mott Zovistoski 1st 3rd
Austin Kraisser 2nd
Jere Heino 2nd 1st
Codi Russell 2nd 1st
TyShawn Williams 1st
Andrew Morgan 2nd 2nd
Alan Clothier 2nd 2nd
Korbin Meink 1st
Noah Gonser 2nd
Tanner Smith 2nd
Neal Richards 1st
Cary Miller 1st
Josh Heil 1st 1st
Mott Zovistoski 1st 3rd
Austin Kraisser 2nd
Jere Heino 2nd 1st
Codi Russell 2nd 1st
TyShawn Williams 1st
Andrew Morgan 2nd 2nd
Alan Clothier 2nd 2nd
Korbin Meink 1st
Noah Gonser 2nd
Tanner Smith 2nd
Neal Richards 1st
Cary Miller 1st
ACC 2019-2020 Notes
ACC
David McFadden 3rd 1st 1st
Jack Mueller 3rd 2nd 1st
Sam Krivus 3rd 3rd
Taleb Rahmani 2nd 4th 2nd
Louie Hayes 2nd
Tariq Wilson 4th 2nd
Zach Sherman 5th
Josh Finesilver 6th 3rd
Brent Moore 1st
Hayden Hidlay 1st 1st
Kennedy Monday 3rd
Hunter Bolen 2nd
Dan Bullard 3rd
Matt Finesilver 4th 2nd
Gregg Harvey 4th
Andrew Dunn 5th
Joey Prata 3rd
Mickey Phillippi 1st
Korbin Myers 3rd
Mitch Moore 2nd
Austin O'Connor 2nd
BC LaPrade 3rd
Ben Anderson 4th
Josh McClure 5th
Mekhi Lewis 1st
Tom Bullard 2nd
Cam Coy 4th
Dan Bullard 3rd
Devin Kane 4th
Nino Bonaccorsi 2nd
Nick Reenan 3rd
Jay Aiello 2nd
Demetrius Thomas 1st
David McFadden 3rd 1st 1st
Jack Mueller 3rd 2nd 1st
Sam Krivus 3rd 3rd
Taleb Rahmani 2nd 4th 2nd
Louie Hayes 2nd
Tariq Wilson 4th 2nd
Zach Sherman 5th
Josh Finesilver 6th 3rd
Brent Moore 1st
Hayden Hidlay 1st 1st
Kennedy Monday 3rd
Hunter Bolen 2nd
Dan Bullard 3rd
Matt Finesilver 4th 2nd
Gregg Harvey 4th
Andrew Dunn 5th
Joey Prata 3rd
Mickey Phillippi 1st
Korbin Myers 3rd
Mitch Moore 2nd
Austin O'Connor 2nd
BC LaPrade 3rd
Ben Anderson 4th
Josh McClure 5th
Mekhi Lewis 1st
Tom Bullard 2nd
Cam Coy 4th
Dan Bullard 3rd
Devin Kane 4th
Nino Bonaccorsi 2nd
Nick Reenan 3rd
Jay Aiello 2nd
Demetrius Thomas 1st
EIWA 2019-2020 Notes
EIWA
Mike DeAngelo 7th 2nd
Ian Brown 7th 7th
Matt Kolodzik 1st 1st 3rd
Jared Prince 3rd 3rd 2nd
Hunter Ladnier 2nd
Chas Tucker 2nd 1st
Yianni Diakomihalis 1st 1st
Luke Karam 3rd
Luke Weiland 4th 4th
Gage Curry 4th 3rd
Jon Jay Chavez 1st
Jordan Kutler 1st 1st
Ben Harvey 4th 5th
Max Dean 2nd 1st
Ben Darmstadt 1st
Pat Brucki 5th 1st
Chris Weiler 6th
Jordan Wood 1st 1st
Pat Glory 1st
Vitali Arujau 2nd
Carmen Ferrante 4th
Joe Manchio 5th
Trey Chailfaux 6th
Audrey Ashkar 7th
Antonio Mininno 8th
Brandon Paetzell 3rd
Zack Trampe 4th
Lane Peters 5th
Casey Cobb 7th
Anthony Sparacio 3rd
Corey Shie 4th
Wil Gil 5th
Marshall Keller 8th
Anthony Artalona 1st
Josh Humphreys 1st
Zach Hartman 2nd
Quincy Monday 3rd
Tanner Skidgel 1st
Cael McCormick 2nd
Ebed Jarrell 4th
Spencer Carey 4th
Lou DePrez 3rd
Tanner Havery 4th
Noah Stewart 6th
Josh Roetman 4th
Jake Jakobsen 5th
Drew Phipps 6th
Ian Butterbodt 2nd
Ben Sullivan 6th
Mike DeAngelo 7th 2nd
Ian Brown 7th 7th
Matt Kolodzik 1st 1st 3rd
Jared Prince 3rd 3rd 2nd
Hunter Ladnier 2nd
Chas Tucker 2nd 1st
Yianni Diakomihalis 1st 1st
Luke Karam 3rd
Luke Weiland 4th 4th
Gage Curry 4th 3rd
Jon Jay Chavez 1st
Jordan Kutler 1st 1st
Ben Harvey 4th 5th
Max Dean 2nd 1st
Ben Darmstadt 1st
Pat Brucki 5th 1st
Chris Weiler 6th
Jordan Wood 1st 1st
Pat Glory 1st
Vitali Arujau 2nd
Carmen Ferrante 4th
Joe Manchio 5th
Trey Chailfaux 6th
Audrey Ashkar 7th
Antonio Mininno 8th
Brandon Paetzell 3rd
Zack Trampe 4th
Lane Peters 5th
Casey Cobb 7th
Anthony Sparacio 3rd
Corey Shie 4th
Wil Gil 5th
Marshall Keller 8th
Anthony Artalona 1st
Josh Humphreys 1st
Zach Hartman 2nd
Quincy Monday 3rd
Tanner Skidgel 1st
Cael McCormick 2nd
Ebed Jarrell 4th
Spencer Carey 4th
Lou DePrez 3rd
Tanner Havery 4th
Noah Stewart 6th
Josh Roetman 4th
Jake Jakobsen 5th
Drew Phipps 6th
Ian Butterbodt 2nd
Ben Sullivan 6th
MAC 2019-2020 Notes
MAC
Bryce Steiert 2nd 2nd
Brock Hudkins 3rd 2nd
Jaydin Eierman 1st 1st 1st
Max Thomsen 2nd
Taylor Lujan 1st
Jacob Holschlag 3rdMichael McGee 1st 1st
Drew Hildebrandt 3rd 2nd
Mason Smith 2nd
Grant Leeth 1st
Larry Early 4th 2nd
Connor Flynn 1st 3rd
Zac Carson 2nd
Canten Marriott 3d
Matt Stencel 1st 1st
Bryce West 3rd
Dack Punke 4th
Derek Spann 2nd
Tim Rooney 3rd
Mario Guillen 4th
Sa'Derian Perry 3rd 4th
Brock Mauller 1st
Jarrett Jacques 1st
Logan Parks 3rd
Justin Ruffin 4th
Troy Keller 1st
Colt Yinger 2nd
Britt Wilson 2nd
Dylan Wisman 1st
Andrew McNally 2nd
Tim Young 2nd
Wyatt Koelling 3rd
Colton McKiernan 2nd
Zach Elam 3rd
Bryce Steiert 2nd 2nd
Brock Hudkins 3rd 2nd
Jaydin Eierman 1st 1st 1st
Max Thomsen 2nd
Taylor Lujan 1st
Jacob Holschlag 3rdMichael McGee 1st 1st
Drew Hildebrandt 3rd 2nd
Mason Smith 2nd
Grant Leeth 1st
Larry Early 4th 2nd
Connor Flynn 1st 3rd
Zac Carson 2nd
Canten Marriott 3d
Matt Stencel 1st 1st
Bryce West 3rd
Dack Punke 4th
Derek Spann 2nd
Tim Rooney 3rd
Mario Guillen 4th
Sa'Derian Perry 3rd 4th
Brock Mauller 1st
Jarrett Jacques 1st
Logan Parks 3rd
Justin Ruffin 4th
Troy Keller 1st
Colt Yinger 2nd
Britt Wilson 2nd
Dylan Wisman 1st
Andrew McNally 2nd
Tim Young 2nd
Wyatt Koelling 3rd
Colton McKiernan 2nd
Zach Elam 3rd
BIG 10 2019-2020 Notes
BIG 10
Travis Piotrowski 4th 9th 5th
Stevan Micic 3rd 1st 6th
Luke Pletcher 4th 2nd 2nd
Cole Martin 7th 9th 4th
Mike Kemerer 2nd
Logan Massa 2nd 5th 3rd
Vincenzo Joseph 3rd 2nd 2nd
Drew Hughes 5th 7th
Mark Hall 2nd 1st 1st
Myles Amine 3rd 2nd 2nd
Devin Skatzka 7th 8th 3rd
Kollin Moore 1st 1st 2nd
CJ Brunner 7th 5th 5th
Spencer Lee 3rd 2nd Sebastian Rivera 5th 1st
Nick Suriano 6th 1st
Rayvon Foley 7th 6th
Drew Mattin 10th 7th
Dylan Duncan 3rd 8th
Mitch McKee 4th 4th
Josh Renteria 5th
Mike Carr 2nd 8th
Nate Limmex 4th
Vince Turk 5th
Chad Red 7th 2nd
Cole Weaver 8th
Ke-Shawn Hayes 3rd 7th
Ryan Deakin 6th 5th
Mike Kemerer 5th/6th
Shane Oster 10th 7th
Evan Wick 4th 4th
Alex Marinelli 6th 1st f
Isaiah White 7th 5th
Dylan Lydy 5th 5th
Joey Gunther 6th
Taylor Venz 4th 4th
Cash Wilcke 6th 5th
Eric Schultz 7th 4th
Zach Chakonis 8th
Shawn Streck 7th
Devin Schroeder 8th
Mark Heinselman 9th
Austin DeSanto 4th
Roman Bravo-Young 5th
Nick Lee 3rd 3rd
Kanen Storr 5th
Tristan Moran 6th
Max Murin 7th
Peter Lipari 9th
Pat Lugo 3rd
Brady Berge 6th
Kaleb Young 4th
Griffin Parriott 9th
Mikey Labriola 4th
Ethan Smith 6th
Shakur Rasheed 2nd
Max Lyon 7th
Mason Reinhardt 8th
Jake Warner 3rd
Anthony Cassar 1st
Gable Steveson 2nd
Trent Hillger 4th
David Jensen 6th
Mason Parris 7th
Travis Piotrowski 4th 9th 5th
Stevan Micic 3rd 1st 6th
Luke Pletcher 4th 2nd 2nd
Cole Martin 7th 9th 4th
Mike Kemerer 2nd
Logan Massa 2nd 5th 3rd
Vincenzo Joseph 3rd 2nd 2nd
Drew Hughes 5th 7th
Mark Hall 2nd 1st 1st
Myles Amine 3rd 2nd 2nd
Devin Skatzka 7th 8th 3rd
Kollin Moore 1st 1st 2nd
CJ Brunner 7th 5th 5th
Spencer Lee 3rd 2nd Sebastian Rivera 5th 1st
Nick Suriano 6th 1st
Rayvon Foley 7th 6th
Drew Mattin 10th 7th
Dylan Duncan 3rd 8th
Mitch McKee 4th 4th
Josh Renteria 5th
Mike Carr 2nd 8th
Nate Limmex 4th
Vince Turk 5th
Chad Red 7th 2nd
Cole Weaver 8th
Ke-Shawn Hayes 3rd 7th
Ryan Deakin 6th 5th
Mike Kemerer 5th/6th
Shane Oster 10th 7th
Evan Wick 4th 4th
Alex Marinelli 6th 1st f
Isaiah White 7th 5th
Dylan Lydy 5th 5th
Joey Gunther 6th
Taylor Venz 4th 4th
Cash Wilcke 6th 5th
Eric Schultz 7th 4th
Zach Chakonis 8th
Shawn Streck 7th
Devin Schroeder 8th
Mark Heinselman 9th
Austin DeSanto 4th
Roman Bravo-Young 5th
Nick Lee 3rd 3rd
Kanen Storr 5th
Tristan Moran 6th
Max Murin 7th
Peter Lipari 9th
Pat Lugo 3rd
Brady Berge 6th
Kaleb Young 4th
Griffin Parriott 9th
Mikey Labriola 4th
Ethan Smith 6th
Shakur Rasheed 2nd
Max Lyon 7th
Mason Reinhardt 8th
Jake Warner 3rd
Anthony Cassar 1st
Gable Steveson 2nd
Trent Hillger 4th
David Jensen 6th
Mason Parris 7th
BIG XII 2019-2020 Notes
BIG 12
Seth Gross 2nd 1st 1st
Joe Smith 1st 1st 5th
Connor Flynn 4th
Nick Piccininni 1st 1st 1st
Christian Moody 4th 6th 4th
Kaid Brock 2nd 2nd 2nd Taylor Lamont 3rd
Jay Schwarm 4th 5th
Montorie Bridges 3rd 2nd
Matt Schmitt 4th 4th
Henry Pohlmeyer 4th 5th
Ian Parker 5th 4th
Boo Lewallen 1st
Max Thomsen 2nd 7th
Jarrett Degen 3rd 2nd
Sam Turner 4th 7th
Khristian Olivas 5th 6th
Chase Straw 4th 1st
Andrew Fogarty 2nd 2nd
Demetrius Romero 6th 1st
Taylor Lujan 1st 2nd
Kimball Bastian 5th 4th
Martin Mueller 4th
Jacob Holschlag 4th
AJ Nevills 2nd 2nd
Alex Mackall 3rd
Cole Verner 7th
Daton Fix 1st
Austin Gomez 3rd
Gary Joint 5th
Dom Demas 1st
Chris Sandoval 5th
Caleb Ream 6th
Garrett O'Shea 8th
Kaden Gfeller 1st
Christian Monserratt 4th
Wyatt Sheets 4th
Jake Wright 5th
Luke Weber 6th
Bryce Steiert 3rd
Logan Schumacher 6th
Nick Kiussis 7th
Lorenzo De La Riva 3rd
Marcus Coleman 5th
Hayden Hastings 6th
Sam Colbray 2nd
Dakota Geer 3rd
Jackson Hemauer 5th
Tate Samuelson 6th
Jake Woodley 3rd
Josh Hokit 4th
Noah Adams 5th
Tanner Orndorff 6th
Jake Seely 8th
Tate Orndorff 3rd
Brian Andrews 4th
Gannon Gremmell 6th
Seth Gross 2nd 1st 1st
Joe Smith 1st 1st 5th
Connor Flynn 4th
Nick Piccininni 1st 1st 1st
Christian Moody 4th 6th 4th
Kaid Brock 2nd 2nd 2nd Taylor Lamont 3rd
Jay Schwarm 4th 5th
Montorie Bridges 3rd 2nd
Matt Schmitt 4th 4th
Henry Pohlmeyer 4th 5th
Ian Parker 5th 4th
Boo Lewallen 1st
Max Thomsen 2nd 7th
Jarrett Degen 3rd 2nd
Sam Turner 4th 7th
Khristian Olivas 5th 6th
Chase Straw 4th 1st
Andrew Fogarty 2nd 2nd
Demetrius Romero 6th 1st
Taylor Lujan 1st 2nd
Kimball Bastian 5th 4th
Martin Mueller 4th
Jacob Holschlag 4th
AJ Nevills 2nd 2nd
Alex Mackall 3rd
Cole Verner 7th
Daton Fix 1st
Austin Gomez 3rd
Gary Joint 5th
Dom Demas 1st
Chris Sandoval 5th
Caleb Ream 6th
Garrett O'Shea 8th
Kaden Gfeller 1st
Christian Monserratt 4th
Wyatt Sheets 4th
Jake Wright 5th
Luke Weber 6th
Bryce Steiert 3rd
Logan Schumacher 6th
Nick Kiussis 7th
Lorenzo De La Riva 3rd
Marcus Coleman 5th
Hayden Hastings 6th
Sam Colbray 2nd
Dakota Geer 3rd
Jackson Hemauer 5th
Tate Samuelson 6th
Jake Woodley 3rd
Josh Hokit 4th
Noah Adams 5th
Tanner Orndorff 6th
Jake Seely 8th
Tate Orndorff 3rd
Brian Andrews 4th
Gannon Gremmell 6th
PAC-12 2019-2020 Notes
PAC-12
Tanner Hall 3rd 1st 3rd
Josh Maruca 1st 2nd
Josh Shields 1st 1st 1st
Gabriel Townsell 2nd 4th 3rd
Russell Rohlfing 4th 2nd 3rd
Anthony Valencia 1st 1st
Zahid Valencia 1st 1st 1st
Hunter Willits 2nd 2nd
Kordell Norfleet 1st
Dom Ducharme 3rd 3rd
Nathan Traxler 3rd 1st
Tom Lane 4th 2nd
Josiah Kline 4th
Grant Willits 1st
Requir Van Der Merwe 1st
Bob Coleman 1st
Judah Duhm 2nd
Hayden Maloy 2nd
Tanner Hall 3rd 1st 3rd
Josh Maruca 1st 2nd
Josh Shields 1st 1st 1st
Gabriel Townsell 2nd 4th 3rd
Russell Rohlfing 4th 2nd 3rd
Anthony Valencia 1st 1st
Zahid Valencia 1st 1st 1st
Hunter Willits 2nd 2nd
Kordell Norfleet 1st
Dom Ducharme 3rd 3rd
Nathan Traxler 3rd 1st
Tom Lane 4th 2nd
Josiah Kline 4th
Grant Willits 1st
Requir Van Der Merwe 1st
Bob Coleman 1st
Judah Duhm 2nd
Hayden Maloy 2nd
Monday, March 25, 2019
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE 2019-2020 Notes
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE
Austin Assad 6th
Kaid Brock 6th 1st
Jared Prince 4th R12 3rd 7th
Joe Smith 2nd 2nd 2nd
Logan Massa 2nd
Jack Mueller 2nd 1st
Gabriel Townsell 5th 7th 8th
Nick Piccininni 6th 1st
Jay Schwarm R12 2nd
Mitch McKee 6th
Korbin Meyers 7th
Jaydin Eierman 5th
Tristan Moran 6th
Boo Lewallen R12
Max Thomsen 3rd 5th
Pat Lugo 4th
Matt Zovistoski 7th 8th
Kennedy Monday R12
Jordan Kutler 1st 2nd
Austin Kraisser R12
Bryce Steiert 3rd 2nd
Taylor Lujan 7th 3rd
Andrew Morgan R12
Dakota Geer 4th 4th
Max Dean R12
Ben Darmstadt 8th
Louie Hayes 3rd
Korbin Meink 4th
Anthony DeCesaro 5th
Fabian Guiterrez R12 R12
Austin DeSanto 6th
Kaden Gfeller 1st 1st
Nick Lee 2nd
Kyle Shoop 4th 5th
Luke Karam 6th
Evan Cheek 7th
Russell Rohlfing 8th 6th
Garrett O'Shea R12
Josh Heil 2nd
Sam Krivus 4thTrevor Elfvin 6th
Jarod Verkleeren 7th R12
Ian Brown 7th
Josh McClure R12
Vincenzo Joseph 1st 1st
Mekhi Lewis 4th
Ebed Jarrell 7th
Neal Richards R12
Quentin Perez R12
Mark Hall 1st 1st
Matt Finesilver 8th 5th
Kimball Bastian R12
Spencer Carey R12 R12
Nick Reenan 4th
Alan Clothier 6th 7th
Stan Smeltzer 8th
Jacob Holschlag 2nd
Anthony Cassar 3rd 2nd
Jake Jakobsen 8th
Jay Aiello R12
Jacob Seely R12 5th
Chris Weiler R12 8th
Jordan Wood 8th
Demetrius Thomas R12
Jacob Camacho 3rd
Luke Werner 4th
Alex Mackall 6th
Aslan Kilic 7th
Sid Flores R12
Daton Fix 1st
Austin Gomez 2nd
Roman Bravo Young 3rd
Todd Small 5th
Casey Cobb R12
Real Woods 2nd
Cole Matthews 7th
DJ Fehlman 8th
Josh Finesilver R12
Ian Parker R12
Brady Berge 3rd
Requir Van Der Merwe 4th
Jarrett Degen 5th
Bo Pipher 2nd
Dom Mandarino 3rd
Zac Carson 4th
Chase Straw 7th
Ben Anderson 8th
BC Laprade R12
Nick Vestal R12
Shane Griffith 3rd
Jesse Dellavecchia 4th
Mason Manville 7th
Tanner Skidgel 8th
Colston DiBlasi R12
David McFadden 3rd
Trent Hidlay 4th
Marcus Coleman 6th
Michael O'Malley 7th
Jake Oliver R12
Shakur Rasheed 1st
Hunter Bolen 2nd
Lou DePrez 3rd
Sam Colbray 5th
Dom Ducharme 6th
Nathan Traxler 2nd
Dylan Reynolds 6th
Josh Roetman 8th
Ethan Laird R12
Eli Spencer R12
Luke McGonigal R12
Hayden Maloy 7th
Gannon Gremmell 8th
Cary Miller R12
John Doyle R12
Austin Assad 6th
Kaid Brock 6th 1st
Jared Prince 4th R12 3rd 7th
Joe Smith 2nd 2nd 2nd
Logan Massa 2nd
Jack Mueller 2nd 1st
Gabriel Townsell 5th 7th 8th
Nick Piccininni 6th 1st
Jay Schwarm R12 2nd
Mitch McKee 6th
Korbin Meyers 7th
Jaydin Eierman 5th
Tristan Moran 6th
Boo Lewallen R12
Max Thomsen 3rd 5th
Pat Lugo 4th
Matt Zovistoski 7th 8th
Kennedy Monday R12
Jordan Kutler 1st 2nd
Austin Kraisser R12
Bryce Steiert 3rd 2nd
Taylor Lujan 7th 3rd
Andrew Morgan R12
Dakota Geer 4th 4th
Max Dean R12
Ben Darmstadt 8th
Louie Hayes 3rd
Korbin Meink 4th
Anthony DeCesaro 5th
Fabian Guiterrez R12 R12
Austin DeSanto 6th
Kaden Gfeller 1st 1st
Nick Lee 2nd
Kyle Shoop 4th 5th
Luke Karam 6th
Evan Cheek 7th
Russell Rohlfing 8th 6th
Garrett O'Shea R12
Josh Heil 2nd
Sam Krivus 4thTrevor Elfvin 6th
Jarod Verkleeren 7th R12
Ian Brown 7th
Josh McClure R12
Vincenzo Joseph 1st 1st
Mekhi Lewis 4th
Ebed Jarrell 7th
Neal Richards R12
Quentin Perez R12
Mark Hall 1st 1st
Matt Finesilver 8th 5th
Kimball Bastian R12
Spencer Carey R12 R12
Nick Reenan 4th
Alan Clothier 6th 7th
Stan Smeltzer 8th
Jacob Holschlag 2nd
Anthony Cassar 3rd 2nd
Jake Jakobsen 8th
Jay Aiello R12
Jacob Seely R12 5th
Chris Weiler R12 8th
Jordan Wood 8th
Demetrius Thomas R12
Jacob Camacho 3rd
Luke Werner 4th
Alex Mackall 6th
Aslan Kilic 7th
Sid Flores R12
Daton Fix 1st
Austin Gomez 2nd
Roman Bravo Young 3rd
Todd Small 5th
Casey Cobb R12
Real Woods 2nd
Cole Matthews 7th
DJ Fehlman 8th
Josh Finesilver R12
Ian Parker R12
Brady Berge 3rd
Requir Van Der Merwe 4th
Jarrett Degen 5th
Bo Pipher 2nd
Dom Mandarino 3rd
Zac Carson 4th
Chase Straw 7th
Ben Anderson 8th
BC Laprade R12
Nick Vestal R12
Shane Griffith 3rd
Jesse Dellavecchia 4th
Mason Manville 7th
Tanner Skidgel 8th
Colston DiBlasi R12
David McFadden 3rd
Trent Hidlay 4th
Marcus Coleman 6th
Michael O'Malley 7th
Jake Oliver R12
Shakur Rasheed 1st
Hunter Bolen 2nd
Lou DePrez 3rd
Sam Colbray 5th
Dom Ducharme 6th
Nathan Traxler 2nd
Dylan Reynolds 6th
Josh Roetman 8th
Ethan Laird R12
Eli Spencer R12
Luke McGonigal R12
Hayden Maloy 7th
Gannon Gremmell 8th
Cary Miller R12
John Doyle R12
Sunday, March 24, 2019
MIDLANDS 2019-2020 Notes
MIDLANDS
Matt Kolodzik 5th 2nd 6th 1st
Mike Kemerer 5th 1st 1st
Zahid Valencia 7th 1st 1st 1st
Tanner Hall 2nd 1st 2nd 1st
Sebastian Rivera 4th 3rd 1st
Christian Moody 8th
Brock Hudkins R12
Seth Gross 3rd 1st
Chad Red 4th
Kanen Storr 5th
Henry Pohlmeyer R12 8th
Luke Pletcher R12
Ryan Deakin 3rd 3rd 1st
Josh Maruca R12 R12
Josh Shields 3rd 2nd 3rd
Evan Wick 4th 2nd
Colston DiBlasi R12
Anthony Valencia 3rd 4th R12
Alex Marinelli 4th 1st 1st
Kaleb Young 5th 5th 2nd
Lorenzo De La Riva 6th
Andrew Fogarty 8th
Demetrius Romero R12
Devin Skatzka 5th 8th
Jordan Wood 2nd
Nick Suriano 1st
Spencer Lee 6th 2nd
Devin Schroeder 8th
Travis Piotrowski R12 5th
Mickey Phillippi 4th
Dylan Duncan 4th 6th
Collin Valdiviez 5th 7th
Korbin Myers 8th
Paul Glynn R12 5th
Mason Smith 1st
Cole Weaver 2nd
Nate Limmex 4th
Max Murin 5th 2nd
Carter Happell 6th
Yahya Thomas 7th 3rd
Pat Lugo 4th 4th
Austin O'Connor 7th
Mike DeAngelo 4th 6th
Larry Early 8th
Hunter Willits R12
Zac Carson R12
Logan Parks R12 7th
Dylan Lydy 3rd
Mikey Labriola 4th
Joey Gunther R12 7th
Nino Bonaccorsi 4th
Martin Mueller 7th
Cash Wilcke 1st 2nd
CJ Brunner 3rd
Pat Brucki 5th 1st
Jake Warner 6th 5th
Tom Lane R12 6th
Matt Stencel 4th 3rd
Shawn Streck 7th
Pat Glory 3rd
Conor Brown 4th
Carmen Ferrante R12
Brandon Cray R12
Jose Melendez R12
Austin DeSanto 1st
Noah Gonser 2nd
Zach Sherman 3rd
Josiah Kline 4th
Gary Joint R12
Joey Gould 5th
Corey Shie 6th
Tristan Moran 7th
Ben Freeman 8th
Alex McKenna R12
Peter Lipari R12
Vince Turk R12
Max Thomsen 2nd
Sammy Sasso 3rd
Khristian Olivas 7th
Shane Oster R12
Josh Heil R12
Zach Hartman 3rd
Jeren Glosser 4th
Eric Barone 5th
Luke Weiland R12
Quincy Monday R12
Bryce Steiert 4th
Taylor Lujan 2nd
Britt Wilson 3rd
Andrew Morgan 4th
Will Scott 5th
Ben Harvey 8th
Mason Reinhardt 3rd
Josh Hemauer 4th
Gavin Hoffman 5th
Kevin Parker R12
Bob Coleman R12
Tanner Sloan 2nd
Lucas Davison 3rd
Josh Hokit 7th
Beau Breske R12
Mason Parris 5th
AJ Nevills 4th
Jere Heino 6th
Tony Cassioppi 7th
Trent Hillger 8th
Matt Kolodzik 5th 2nd 6th 1st
Mike Kemerer 5th 1st 1st
Zahid Valencia 7th 1st 1st 1st
Tanner Hall 2nd 1st 2nd 1st
Sebastian Rivera 4th 3rd 1st
Christian Moody 8th
Brock Hudkins R12
Seth Gross 3rd 1st
Chad Red 4th
Kanen Storr 5th
Henry Pohlmeyer R12 8th
Luke Pletcher R12
Ryan Deakin 3rd 3rd 1st
Josh Maruca R12 R12
Josh Shields 3rd 2nd 3rd
Evan Wick 4th 2nd
Colston DiBlasi R12
Anthony Valencia 3rd 4th R12
Alex Marinelli 4th 1st 1st
Kaleb Young 5th 5th 2nd
Lorenzo De La Riva 6th
Andrew Fogarty 8th
Demetrius Romero R12
Devin Skatzka 5th 8th
Jordan Wood 2nd
Nick Suriano 1st
Spencer Lee 6th 2nd
Devin Schroeder 8th
Travis Piotrowski R12 5th
Mickey Phillippi 4th
Dylan Duncan 4th 6th
Collin Valdiviez 5th 7th
Korbin Myers 8th
Paul Glynn R12 5th
Mason Smith 1st
Cole Weaver 2nd
Nate Limmex 4th
Max Murin 5th 2nd
Carter Happell 6th
Yahya Thomas 7th 3rd
Pat Lugo 4th 4th
Austin O'Connor 7th
Mike DeAngelo 4th 6th
Larry Early 8th
Hunter Willits R12
Zac Carson R12
Logan Parks R12 7th
Dylan Lydy 3rd
Mikey Labriola 4th
Joey Gunther R12 7th
Nino Bonaccorsi 4th
Martin Mueller 7th
Cash Wilcke 1st 2nd
CJ Brunner 3rd
Pat Brucki 5th 1st
Jake Warner 6th 5th
Tom Lane R12 6th
Matt Stencel 4th 3rd
Shawn Streck 7th
Pat Glory 3rd
Conor Brown 4th
Carmen Ferrante R12
Brandon Cray R12
Jose Melendez R12
Austin DeSanto 1st
Noah Gonser 2nd
Zach Sherman 3rd
Josiah Kline 4th
Gary Joint R12
Joey Gould 5th
Corey Shie 6th
Tristan Moran 7th
Ben Freeman 8th
Alex McKenna R12
Peter Lipari R12
Vince Turk R12
Max Thomsen 2nd
Sammy Sasso 3rd
Khristian Olivas 7th
Shane Oster R12
Josh Heil R12
Zach Hartman 3rd
Jeren Glosser 4th
Eric Barone 5th
Luke Weiland R12
Quincy Monday R12
Bryce Steiert 4th
Taylor Lujan 2nd
Britt Wilson 3rd
Andrew Morgan 4th
Will Scott 5th
Ben Harvey 8th
Mason Reinhardt 3rd
Josh Hemauer 4th
Gavin Hoffman 5th
Kevin Parker R12
Bob Coleman R12
Tanner Sloan 2nd
Lucas Davison 3rd
Josh Hokit 7th
Beau Breske R12
Mason Parris 5th
AJ Nevills 4th
Jere Heino 6th
Tony Cassioppi 7th
Trent Hillger 8th
RENO 2019-2020 Notes
RENO
Nick Piccininni 2nd 1st
Joe Smith 2nd 2nd
Boo Lewallen 1st 3rd
Drew Hughes 1st 4th
Daton Fix 1st 1st
Montorie Bridges 1st
Tariq Wilson 2nd
Jaydin Eierman 3rd
Josh Heil 4th
Haydin Hidlay 1st
Connor Flynn 2nd
Tom Lane 2nd
Cordell Eaton 4th
Jere Heino 2nd
Tate Orndorff 4th
Rayvon Foley 2nd
Michael McGee 3rd
Gage Curry 4th
Cole Verner 5th
Brandon Courtney 6th
Sam Turner 1st
Kaid Brock 3rd
Kaden Gfeller 1st
Dazion Castro 6th
Cam Caffey 1st
Dakota Geer 1st
Cale Davidson 2nd
Brian Andrews 2nd
Nick Piccininni 2nd 1st
Joe Smith 2nd 2nd
Boo Lewallen 1st 3rd
Drew Hughes 1st 4th
Daton Fix 1st 1st
Montorie Bridges 1st
Tariq Wilson 2nd
Jaydin Eierman 3rd
Josh Heil 4th
Haydin Hidlay 1st
Connor Flynn 2nd
Tom Lane 2nd
Cordell Eaton 4th
Jere Heino 2nd
Tate Orndorff 4th
Rayvon Foley 2nd
Michael McGee 3rd
Gage Curry 4th
Cole Verner 5th
Brandon Courtney 6th
Sam Turner 1st
Kaid Brock 3rd
Kaden Gfeller 1st
Dazion Castro 6th
Cam Caffey 1st
Dakota Geer 1st
Cale Davidson 2nd
Brian Andrews 2nd
CKLV 2019-2020 Notes
CKLV
Bryce Steiert 6th 6th
Noah Gonser 5th R12
Stevan Micic 2nd 5th
Mitch McKee 4th
Cole Martin 3rd
Russell Rohlfing 4th R12
Pat Lugo 2nd
Chase Straw 8th
Josh Shields 5th 3rd
Logan Massa 1st R12 3rd
Anthony Valencia 5th 7th
Zahid Valencia 1st 1st
Myles Amine 3rd 3rd 1st
Kimball Bastian 7th 8th
Kollin Moore 3rd 1st 1st
Taylor Lamont 1st
Drew Mattin 4th 5th
Jay Schwarm 6th
Louie Hayes 7th
Christian Moody 8th
Luke Pletcher 1st 3rd
Jack Mueller 3rd
Austin DeSanto 4th
Korbin Myers 6th R12
Zach Sherman 8th
Montorie Bridges R12 6th
Yianni Diakomihalis 1st
Chad Red 4th
Kanen Storr 8th 3rd
Ke-Shawn Hayes 3rd 4th
Max Thomsen 4th 7th
Josh Maruca 5th
Zander Wick 7th
Sam Krivus R12 7th
Jarrett Degen R12
Taleb Rahmani 7th 5th
Tristan Rifenburg 8th
David McFadden 1st
Evan Wick 2nd
Isaiah White 3rd 1st
Demetrius Romero R12 3rd
Dylan Lydy 8th 6th
Taylor Venz 3rd 2nd
Max Dean R12 6th
Gregg Harvey R12
Jacob Holschlag 4th
Nathan Traxler 7th 4th
Jake Seely 8th
Tom Lane R12
Tanner Hall 2nd
Shawn Streck 5th
Andrew Dunn 7th
Sebastian Rivera 1st
Travis Piotrowski 6th
Devin Schroeder 8th
Tyshawn White R12
Dylan Ryder R12
Gabriel Townsell R12
Nick Suriano 1st
Mickey Phillippi 2nd
Chas Tucker 7th
Dylan Duncan R12
Jaydin Eierman 2nd
Dom Demas 4th
Sam Turner 8th
AC Headlee R12
Austin O'Connor 3rd
Brock Zacherl 4th
Josh Heil 6th
Jared Prince 8th
Grant Leeth R12
Khristian Olivas R12
Alec Opsal R12
Daxton Gordon R12
Ryan Deakin 1st
Griffin Parriott 2nd
Kennedy Monday 6th
Eric Barone 7th
Hunter Willits 8th
Dom Mandarino R12
Jarrett Jacques R12
Mekhi Lewis 2nd
Connor Flynn 7th
Joey Gunther 8th
Jake Wentzel R12
Carson Brolsma R12
Cam Coy R12
Taylor Lujan 3rd
Mikey Labriola 4th
Spencer Carey 5th
Devin Skatzka 7th
Andrew Morgan R12
Matt Finesilver R12
Devin Kane R12
Lou DePrez 5th
Nino Bonaccorsi 7th
Jelani Embree R12
Eric Schultz 2nd
Jay Aiello 3rd
CJ Brunner 5th
Greg Bulsak 6th
Cordell Eaton R12
Gable Steveson 1st
Tate Orndorff 2nd
Zach Elam 3rd
Demetrius Thomas 4th
Chase Singletary 6th
Brian Andrews 7th
Carter Isley R12
Matt Stencel R12
AJ Nevills R12
Bryce Steiert 6th 6th
Noah Gonser 5th R12
Stevan Micic 2nd 5th
Mitch McKee 4th
Cole Martin 3rd
Russell Rohlfing 4th R12
Pat Lugo 2nd
Chase Straw 8th
Josh Shields 5th 3rd
Logan Massa 1st R12 3rd
Anthony Valencia 5th 7th
Zahid Valencia 1st 1st
Myles Amine 3rd 3rd 1st
Kimball Bastian 7th 8th
Kollin Moore 3rd 1st 1st
Taylor Lamont 1st
Drew Mattin 4th 5th
Jay Schwarm 6th
Louie Hayes 7th
Christian Moody 8th
Luke Pletcher 1st 3rd
Jack Mueller 3rd
Austin DeSanto 4th
Korbin Myers 6th R12
Zach Sherman 8th
Montorie Bridges R12 6th
Yianni Diakomihalis 1st
Chad Red 4th
Kanen Storr 8th 3rd
Ke-Shawn Hayes 3rd 4th
Max Thomsen 4th 7th
Josh Maruca 5th
Zander Wick 7th
Sam Krivus R12 7th
Jarrett Degen R12
Taleb Rahmani 7th 5th
Tristan Rifenburg 8th
David McFadden 1st
Evan Wick 2nd
Isaiah White 3rd 1st
Demetrius Romero R12 3rd
Dylan Lydy 8th 6th
Taylor Venz 3rd 2nd
Max Dean R12 6th
Gregg Harvey R12
Jacob Holschlag 4th
Nathan Traxler 7th 4th
Jake Seely 8th
Tom Lane R12
Tanner Hall 2nd
Shawn Streck 5th
Andrew Dunn 7th
Sebastian Rivera 1st
Travis Piotrowski 6th
Devin Schroeder 8th
Tyshawn White R12
Dylan Ryder R12
Gabriel Townsell R12
Nick Suriano 1st
Mickey Phillippi 2nd
Chas Tucker 7th
Dylan Duncan R12
Jaydin Eierman 2nd
Dom Demas 4th
Sam Turner 8th
AC Headlee R12
Austin O'Connor 3rd
Brock Zacherl 4th
Josh Heil 6th
Jared Prince 8th
Grant Leeth R12
Khristian Olivas R12
Alec Opsal R12
Daxton Gordon R12
Ryan Deakin 1st
Griffin Parriott 2nd
Kennedy Monday 6th
Eric Barone 7th
Hunter Willits 8th
Dom Mandarino R12
Jarrett Jacques R12
Mekhi Lewis 2nd
Connor Flynn 7th
Joey Gunther 8th
Jake Wentzel R12
Carson Brolsma R12
Cam Coy R12
Taylor Lujan 3rd
Mikey Labriola 4th
Spencer Carey 5th
Devin Skatzka 7th
Andrew Morgan R12
Matt Finesilver R12
Devin Kane R12
Lou DePrez 5th
Nino Bonaccorsi 7th
Jelani Embree R12
Eric Schultz 2nd
Jay Aiello 3rd
CJ Brunner 5th
Greg Bulsak 6th
Cordell Eaton R12
Gable Steveson 1st
Tate Orndorff 2nd
Zach Elam 3rd
Demetrius Thomas 4th
Chase Singletary 6th
Brian Andrews 7th
Carter Isley R12
Matt Stencel R12
AJ Nevills R12
Saturday, March 23, 2019
2019 NCAA Wrestling: Final (Random) Thoughts
As always what an outstanding tournament! Full of great action and exciting wrestling! When you follow the sport as closely and passionately as I do, you can't help but get caught up in all of the great stories that make this sport magical. Some that define triumph and success. Other that define heartbreak and disappointment. In some regards it is the most rewarding environment these kids will ever take part in and to others the most unforgiving.
First off a huge congratulations to the six wrestlers who capped off their careers as four time All Americans. That in my opinion is the toughest thing to do in NCAA Division I wrestling.
Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers 8th-4th-6th-1st
Willie Miklus of Iowa State 7th-6th-8th-6th
Jason Nolf of Penn State 2nd-1st-1st-1st
Myles Martin of Ohio State 1st-5th-2nd-3rd
Bo Nickal of Penn State 2nd-1st-1st-1st
Daniel Lewis of Missouri 4th-6th-4th-4th
It should be noted that three of Miklus' honors were achieved while wrestling for Missouri and that of all four time All Americans, he now passes Oklahoma State's Kirk Mammen who was 6th-6th-5th-8th during his career as the four time All American with the lowest finishes. All other four time All Americans have placed 4th or higher at some point.
Very happy to see Iowa's Spencer Lee crowned his second NCAA title. Kid is a class act and along with Alex Marinelli (who I'll get to in a second) he's what Iowa wrestling should be all about. Intensity on the mat. Prove who you are on the mat. He's all about that. With that said, he'll get a ton of flack in the off season. "Never had to face Piccininni" and "Never had to face Rivera." Trust me we'll hear plenty of that between now and the beginning of next season.
Heart goes out to Zeke Moisey of Nebraska. God, I hate injuries with a passion. Injuries are about the only thing I hate about this sport. Hate to see a guy with such talent and passion go out like that.
Special shout out to Indiana's Elijah Oliver. While I've done various writing assignments during my life and I've interviewed wrestlers/coaches over the phone/via email, he was the first wrestler I ever interviewed live. Class act. Treated me with a ton of respect and dignity. Loved seeing him take his #10 seeding at the BIG 10 tournament and turn it around into a fourth place finish. Wished he'd have had a little better NCAA.
Rutger's became a wrestling school tonight! They've been preaching it for quite some time now, but tonight I think it became official. Crowned their first and second NCAA champion tonight. History is now.
You know I'm almost positive that the day will come when a school is home to more than one four time NCAA champion. Honestly, I did not think that school would be Cornell though. The way things look, Diakomihalis could soon enough join Kyle Dake.
I get a lot of flack for the opinion I'm about to state, and I'm cool with it. I feel that we put too much emphasis on the NCAA tournament and I hate the mentality that it is the only thing that matters in NCAA DI wrestling. You can't take a guy's career like Northern Iowa's Josh Alber's and conclude that it didn't amount to much just because he never made All American. I don't buy that, not for a second. He was 5th-2nd-5th at CKLV, 3rd-3rd at the Scuffle, 2nd-1st at Midlands, 3rd-3rd at MAC and 3rd at BIG XII's. Not to mention all of the vast talent he defeated.
Oklahoma State fans will get angry with me over this, but I'd like to see Kaid Brock transfer out and wrestle 133 lbs for another school. I really would. He's not a 141 lbs'er and it shows. He was 5th-5th as a freshman and sophomore and I wanna see him back on the award stand next year as a senior. Maybe he's too big anymore for 133, but he doesn't look that way to me.
Navy's Jared Prince has officially cemented himself as the best wrestler yet to be an All American during his career headed into the 2019-2020 season. Others might give a run as well, but looking over his career for all seniors next season, he has the most impressive credentials/accomplishments.
I'm going to miss Michigan's Alec Pantaleo. He was a lot of fun to watch. I have said for close to twenty years that Andy Hrovat has the best double leg of any Wolverine who ever wrestled. I think Pantaleo's is just as good, if not better.
The first time I ever saw Steve Bleise wrestle as a freshman, I thought to myself as long as this guy stays small and doesn't get injured he'll be an All American. Well guess what? He didn't stay small and he did get injured and yet he still almost made All American!! One match shy. So freakin' close. A heartbreaker.
Gotta list Ohio State's Joey McKenna as 3rd-R12-3rd-2nd as one of the best to never win an NCAA title don't we?
I am still trying to figure out exactly what the strategy was with Joe Smith of Oklahoma State this year. Wrestling 184 and 174 and then last second 165. Whatever it was, it was detrimental to his success. Hopefully next season it's all figured out and he'll earn his third All American honor.
As to Marinelli he had a bad tournament. It happens. As said earlier, this can be an unforgiving tournament. Nevertheless he STILL finished seventh and he beat Logan Massa to do so. I think he needs to learn to be a consolation wrestler. While I want to see him win an NCAA title before his career is said and done, he seems to struggle in the consolations. Iowa can preach till the cows come home about individual titles, beat team points add up when you're hungry for third.
North Carolina's Chip Ness takes home the "anything can happen at the NCAA tournament" award. Failed to place at CKLV this season and takes fourth at the ACC, only to capture his second AA award with a sixth place finish.
Watching Ben Honis of Cornell make All American status was a treat for me. Wasn't even supposed to be this year's starter for the Big Red and then Ben Darmstadt ends up getting hurt. Honis fills in and caps off a great season with an eighth place finish. Just goes to show you that some of the best guys in the country, aren't even varsity.
I said at the beginning of the year that I thought Oklahoma State's Preston Weigel could be an NCAA champion this year. Seeing how disappointing his season was last year, ending due to a crappy injury, it was awesome seeing him take home a third place finish this year.
Happy to see Youssif Hemida make All American status. Maryland needed it.
Last thought even though I have 10,000 more is that it made my night to see Northern Iowa's Drew Foster win a national title. To see a kid who never won a state title win a national title is really special. It's magical. It truly is. It's no secret to anyone that on a personal level I'm not a big Doug Schwab fan, but hat's off to him and he has my stamp of approval because he not only recruits guys, he develops them. He got inside Foster's head and it showed out on the mat. Even cooler that Mediapolis, Iowa isn't all that far from where I grew up.
Till next year. I'm excited already.
First off a huge congratulations to the six wrestlers who capped off their careers as four time All Americans. That in my opinion is the toughest thing to do in NCAA Division I wrestling.
Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers 8th-4th-6th-1st
Willie Miklus of Iowa State 7th-6th-8th-6th
Jason Nolf of Penn State 2nd-1st-1st-1st
Myles Martin of Ohio State 1st-5th-2nd-3rd
Bo Nickal of Penn State 2nd-1st-1st-1st
Daniel Lewis of Missouri 4th-6th-4th-4th
It should be noted that three of Miklus' honors were achieved while wrestling for Missouri and that of all four time All Americans, he now passes Oklahoma State's Kirk Mammen who was 6th-6th-5th-8th during his career as the four time All American with the lowest finishes. All other four time All Americans have placed 4th or higher at some point.
Very happy to see Iowa's Spencer Lee crowned his second NCAA title. Kid is a class act and along with Alex Marinelli (who I'll get to in a second) he's what Iowa wrestling should be all about. Intensity on the mat. Prove who you are on the mat. He's all about that. With that said, he'll get a ton of flack in the off season. "Never had to face Piccininni" and "Never had to face Rivera." Trust me we'll hear plenty of that between now and the beginning of next season.
Heart goes out to Zeke Moisey of Nebraska. God, I hate injuries with a passion. Injuries are about the only thing I hate about this sport. Hate to see a guy with such talent and passion go out like that.
Special shout out to Indiana's Elijah Oliver. While I've done various writing assignments during my life and I've interviewed wrestlers/coaches over the phone/via email, he was the first wrestler I ever interviewed live. Class act. Treated me with a ton of respect and dignity. Loved seeing him take his #10 seeding at the BIG 10 tournament and turn it around into a fourth place finish. Wished he'd have had a little better NCAA.
Rutger's became a wrestling school tonight! They've been preaching it for quite some time now, but tonight I think it became official. Crowned their first and second NCAA champion tonight. History is now.
You know I'm almost positive that the day will come when a school is home to more than one four time NCAA champion. Honestly, I did not think that school would be Cornell though. The way things look, Diakomihalis could soon enough join Kyle Dake.
I get a lot of flack for the opinion I'm about to state, and I'm cool with it. I feel that we put too much emphasis on the NCAA tournament and I hate the mentality that it is the only thing that matters in NCAA DI wrestling. You can't take a guy's career like Northern Iowa's Josh Alber's and conclude that it didn't amount to much just because he never made All American. I don't buy that, not for a second. He was 5th-2nd-5th at CKLV, 3rd-3rd at the Scuffle, 2nd-1st at Midlands, 3rd-3rd at MAC and 3rd at BIG XII's. Not to mention all of the vast talent he defeated.
Oklahoma State fans will get angry with me over this, but I'd like to see Kaid Brock transfer out and wrestle 133 lbs for another school. I really would. He's not a 141 lbs'er and it shows. He was 5th-5th as a freshman and sophomore and I wanna see him back on the award stand next year as a senior. Maybe he's too big anymore for 133, but he doesn't look that way to me.
Navy's Jared Prince has officially cemented himself as the best wrestler yet to be an All American during his career headed into the 2019-2020 season. Others might give a run as well, but looking over his career for all seniors next season, he has the most impressive credentials/accomplishments.
I'm going to miss Michigan's Alec Pantaleo. He was a lot of fun to watch. I have said for close to twenty years that Andy Hrovat has the best double leg of any Wolverine who ever wrestled. I think Pantaleo's is just as good, if not better.
The first time I ever saw Steve Bleise wrestle as a freshman, I thought to myself as long as this guy stays small and doesn't get injured he'll be an All American. Well guess what? He didn't stay small and he did get injured and yet he still almost made All American!! One match shy. So freakin' close. A heartbreaker.
Gotta list Ohio State's Joey McKenna as 3rd-R12-3rd-2nd as one of the best to never win an NCAA title don't we?
I am still trying to figure out exactly what the strategy was with Joe Smith of Oklahoma State this year. Wrestling 184 and 174 and then last second 165. Whatever it was, it was detrimental to his success. Hopefully next season it's all figured out and he'll earn his third All American honor.
As to Marinelli he had a bad tournament. It happens. As said earlier, this can be an unforgiving tournament. Nevertheless he STILL finished seventh and he beat Logan Massa to do so. I think he needs to learn to be a consolation wrestler. While I want to see him win an NCAA title before his career is said and done, he seems to struggle in the consolations. Iowa can preach till the cows come home about individual titles, beat team points add up when you're hungry for third.
North Carolina's Chip Ness takes home the "anything can happen at the NCAA tournament" award. Failed to place at CKLV this season and takes fourth at the ACC, only to capture his second AA award with a sixth place finish.
Watching Ben Honis of Cornell make All American status was a treat for me. Wasn't even supposed to be this year's starter for the Big Red and then Ben Darmstadt ends up getting hurt. Honis fills in and caps off a great season with an eighth place finish. Just goes to show you that some of the best guys in the country, aren't even varsity.
I said at the beginning of the year that I thought Oklahoma State's Preston Weigel could be an NCAA champion this year. Seeing how disappointing his season was last year, ending due to a crappy injury, it was awesome seeing him take home a third place finish this year.
Happy to see Youssif Hemida make All American status. Maryland needed it.
Last thought even though I have 10,000 more is that it made my night to see Northern Iowa's Drew Foster win a national title. To see a kid who never won a state title win a national title is really special. It's magical. It truly is. It's no secret to anyone that on a personal level I'm not a big Doug Schwab fan, but hat's off to him and he has my stamp of approval because he not only recruits guys, he develops them. He got inside Foster's head and it showed out on the mat. Even cooler that Mediapolis, Iowa isn't all that far from where I grew up.
Till next year. I'm excited already.
Friday, March 15, 2019
2019 NCAA Division I Final Predictions
125
(3) 1. Spencer Lee sophomore Iowa
(1) 2. Sebastian Rivera sophomore Northwestern
(4) 3. Ronnie Bresser senior Oregon State
(2) 4. Nick Piccininni junior Oklahoma State
(14) 5. Sean Fausz senior North Carolina State
(7) 6. Patrick Glory freshman Princeton
(5) 7. Jack Mueller junior Virginia
(6) 8. Sean Russell senior Minnesota
(15) R12 Elijah Oliver senior Indiana
(8) R12 Vitali Arujau freshman Cornell
(20) R12 Gabriel Townsell junior Stanford
(18) R12 Zeke Moisey senior Nebraska
133
(2) 1. Stevan Micic junior Michigan
(1) 2. Daton Fix freshman Oklahoma State
(6) 3. Ethan Lizak senior Minnesota
(3) 4. Nick Suriano junior Rutgers
(4). 5. Mickey Phillippi sophomore Pittsburgh
(5). 6. Luke Pletcher junior Ohio State
(8). 7. John Erneste senior Missouri
(7). 8. Austin DeSanto sophomore Iowa
(9) R12 Chas Tucker junior Cornell
(12) R12 Montorie Bridges sophomore Wyoming
(19) R12 Josh Terao senior American
(15) R12 Ben Thornton senior Purdue
141
(5) 1. Jaydin Eierman junior Missouri
(2) 2. Joey McKenna senior Ohio State
(1) 3. Yianni Diakomihalis sophomore Cornell
(4) 4. Josh Alber senior Northern Iowa
(3) 5. Nick Lee sophomore Penn State
(10) 6. Nic Gil senior Navy
(9) 7. Dom Demas freshman Oklahoma
(16) 8. Chad Red sophomore Nebraska
(22) R12 Max Murin freshman Iowa
(19) R12 Sa'Derian Perry junior Old Dominion
(14) R12 Jamal Morris senior North Carolina State
(17) R12 Ian Parker sophomore Iowa State
149
(1) 1. Anthony Ashnault senior Rutgers
(2) 2. Micah Jordan senior Ohio State
(3) 3. Mitch Finesilver senior Duke
(5) 4. Matt Kolodzik junior Princeton
(18) 5. Jared Prince junior Navy
(10) 6. Pat Lugo junior Iowa
(6) 7. Austin O'Connor freshman North Carolina
(22) 8. Henry Pohlmeyer junior South Dakota State
(4) R12 Brock Mauller freshman Missouri
(16) R12 Davion Jeffries senior Oklahoma
(8) R12 Jarrett Degen sophomore Iowa State
(20) R12 Tommy Thorn senior Minnesota
157
(1) 1. Jason Nolf senior Penn State
(2) 2. Tyler Berger senior Nebraska
(4) 3. Alec Pantaleo senior Michigan
(5) 4. Hayden Hidlay sophomore North Carolina State
(14) 5. Zach Hartman freshman Bucknell
(8) 6. Josh Humphreys freshman Lehigh
(3) 7. Ryan Deakin sophomore Northwestern
(13) 8. Jarrett Jacques freshman Missouri
(7) R12 Larry Early junior Old Dominion
(9) R12 Christian Pagdilao senior Arizona State
(10) R12 Steve Bleise senior Minnesota
(6) R12 Kaleb Young sophomore Iowa
165
(1) 1. Alex Marinelli sophomore Iowa
(2) 2. Vincenzo Joseph junior Penn State
(3) 3. Josh Shields junior Arizona State
(6) 4. Logan Massa junior Michigan
(5) 5. Chance Marsteller senior Lock Haven
(9) 6. Demetrius Romero junior Utah Valley
(4) 7. Evan Wick sophomore Wisconsin
(10) 8. Branson Ashworth senior Wyoming
(8) R12 Mekhi Lewis freshman Virginia Tech
(20) R12 Tyler Marinelli senior Gardner Webb
(11) R12 Bryce Steiert junior Northern Iowa
(33) R12 Joe Smith junior Oklahoma State
174
(1) 1. Mark Hall junior Penn State
(2) 2. Daniel Lewis senior Missouri
(3) 3. Zahid Valencia junior Arizona State
(6) 4. Daniel McFadden senior Virginia Tech
(4) 5. Myles Amine junior Michigan
(8) 6. Taylor Lujan junior Northern Iowa
(5) 7. Jordan Kutler junior Lehigh
(13) 8. Britt Wilson freshman Northern Illinois
(16) R12 Brandon Womack senior Cornell
(11) R12 Dylan Lydy junior Purdue
(10) R12 Mikey Labriola freshman Nebraska
(9) R12 Devin Skatzka junior Minnesota
184
(1) 1. Myles Martin senior Ohio State
(2) 2. Shakur Rasheed senior Penn State
(3) 3. Zack Zavatsky senior Virginia Tech
(6) 4. Drew Foster senior Northern Iowa
(8) 5. Ryan Preisch senior Lehigh
(5) 6. Max Dean sophomore Cornell
(4) 7. Emery Parker senior Illinois
(7) 8. Nick Reenan sophomore North Carolina State
(15) R12 Chip Ness senior North Carolina
(11) R12 Lou DePrez freshman Binghamton
(13) R12 Nino Bonnaccorsi freshman Pittsburgh
(9) R12 Taylor Venz sophomore Nebraska
197
(1) 1 Bo Nickal senior Penn State
(2) 2. Preston Weigel senior Oklahoma State
(4) 3. Pat Brucki sophomore Princeton
(2) 4. Kollin Moore junior Ohio State
(5) 5. Jacob Warner freshman Iowa
(6) 6. Willie Miklus senior Iowa State
(9) 7. Ben Honis senior Cornell
(10) 8. Tom Sleigh senior Virginia Tech
(16) R12 Josh Hokit junior Fresno State
(12) R12 Rocco Caywood senior Army
(14) R12 Eric Schultz sophomore Nebraska
(18) R12 Jake Woodley freshman Oklahoma
HWT
(2) 1. Anthony Cassar senior Penn State
(1) 2. Derek White senior Oklahoma State
(3) 3. Gable Steveson freshman Minnesota
(10) 4. Youssif Hemida senior Maryland
(8) 5. Demetrius Thomas junior Pittsburgh
(12) 6. Conan Jennings senior Northwestern
(6) 7. Amar Dhesi senior Oregon State
(4) 8. Jordan Wood sophomore Lehigh
(9) R12 Matt Stencel Sophomore Central Michigan
(13) R12 Matt Voss senior George Mason
(28) R12 Sam Stoll senior Iowa
(18) R12 Joey Goodhart Senior Drexel
TEAM
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Iowa
4. Oklahoma State
5. Michigan
6. Missouri
7. Minnesota
8. Rutgers
9. Northern Iowa
10. Princeton
11. Northwestern
12. Cornell
13. Lehigh
14. Arizona State
15. Nebraska
(3) 1. Spencer Lee sophomore Iowa
(1) 2. Sebastian Rivera sophomore Northwestern
(4) 3. Ronnie Bresser senior Oregon State
(2) 4. Nick Piccininni junior Oklahoma State
(14) 5. Sean Fausz senior North Carolina State
(7) 6. Patrick Glory freshman Princeton
(5) 7. Jack Mueller junior Virginia
(6) 8. Sean Russell senior Minnesota
(15) R12 Elijah Oliver senior Indiana
(8) R12 Vitali Arujau freshman Cornell
(20) R12 Gabriel Townsell junior Stanford
(18) R12 Zeke Moisey senior Nebraska
133
(2) 1. Stevan Micic junior Michigan
(1) 2. Daton Fix freshman Oklahoma State
(6) 3. Ethan Lizak senior Minnesota
(3) 4. Nick Suriano junior Rutgers
(4). 5. Mickey Phillippi sophomore Pittsburgh
(5). 6. Luke Pletcher junior Ohio State
(8). 7. John Erneste senior Missouri
(7). 8. Austin DeSanto sophomore Iowa
(9) R12 Chas Tucker junior Cornell
(12) R12 Montorie Bridges sophomore Wyoming
(19) R12 Josh Terao senior American
(15) R12 Ben Thornton senior Purdue
141
(5) 1. Jaydin Eierman junior Missouri
(2) 2. Joey McKenna senior Ohio State
(1) 3. Yianni Diakomihalis sophomore Cornell
(4) 4. Josh Alber senior Northern Iowa
(3) 5. Nick Lee sophomore Penn State
(10) 6. Nic Gil senior Navy
(9) 7. Dom Demas freshman Oklahoma
(16) 8. Chad Red sophomore Nebraska
(22) R12 Max Murin freshman Iowa
(19) R12 Sa'Derian Perry junior Old Dominion
(14) R12 Jamal Morris senior North Carolina State
(17) R12 Ian Parker sophomore Iowa State
149
(1) 1. Anthony Ashnault senior Rutgers
(2) 2. Micah Jordan senior Ohio State
(3) 3. Mitch Finesilver senior Duke
(5) 4. Matt Kolodzik junior Princeton
(18) 5. Jared Prince junior Navy
(10) 6. Pat Lugo junior Iowa
(6) 7. Austin O'Connor freshman North Carolina
(22) 8. Henry Pohlmeyer junior South Dakota State
(4) R12 Brock Mauller freshman Missouri
(16) R12 Davion Jeffries senior Oklahoma
(8) R12 Jarrett Degen sophomore Iowa State
(20) R12 Tommy Thorn senior Minnesota
157
(1) 1. Jason Nolf senior Penn State
(2) 2. Tyler Berger senior Nebraska
(4) 3. Alec Pantaleo senior Michigan
(5) 4. Hayden Hidlay sophomore North Carolina State
(14) 5. Zach Hartman freshman Bucknell
(8) 6. Josh Humphreys freshman Lehigh
(3) 7. Ryan Deakin sophomore Northwestern
(13) 8. Jarrett Jacques freshman Missouri
(7) R12 Larry Early junior Old Dominion
(9) R12 Christian Pagdilao senior Arizona State
(10) R12 Steve Bleise senior Minnesota
(6) R12 Kaleb Young sophomore Iowa
165
(1) 1. Alex Marinelli sophomore Iowa
(2) 2. Vincenzo Joseph junior Penn State
(3) 3. Josh Shields junior Arizona State
(6) 4. Logan Massa junior Michigan
(5) 5. Chance Marsteller senior Lock Haven
(9) 6. Demetrius Romero junior Utah Valley
(4) 7. Evan Wick sophomore Wisconsin
(10) 8. Branson Ashworth senior Wyoming
(8) R12 Mekhi Lewis freshman Virginia Tech
(20) R12 Tyler Marinelli senior Gardner Webb
(11) R12 Bryce Steiert junior Northern Iowa
(33) R12 Joe Smith junior Oklahoma State
174
(1) 1. Mark Hall junior Penn State
(2) 2. Daniel Lewis senior Missouri
(3) 3. Zahid Valencia junior Arizona State
(6) 4. Daniel McFadden senior Virginia Tech
(4) 5. Myles Amine junior Michigan
(8) 6. Taylor Lujan junior Northern Iowa
(5) 7. Jordan Kutler junior Lehigh
(13) 8. Britt Wilson freshman Northern Illinois
(16) R12 Brandon Womack senior Cornell
(11) R12 Dylan Lydy junior Purdue
(10) R12 Mikey Labriola freshman Nebraska
(9) R12 Devin Skatzka junior Minnesota
184
(1) 1. Myles Martin senior Ohio State
(2) 2. Shakur Rasheed senior Penn State
(3) 3. Zack Zavatsky senior Virginia Tech
(6) 4. Drew Foster senior Northern Iowa
(8) 5. Ryan Preisch senior Lehigh
(5) 6. Max Dean sophomore Cornell
(4) 7. Emery Parker senior Illinois
(7) 8. Nick Reenan sophomore North Carolina State
(15) R12 Chip Ness senior North Carolina
(11) R12 Lou DePrez freshman Binghamton
(13) R12 Nino Bonnaccorsi freshman Pittsburgh
(9) R12 Taylor Venz sophomore Nebraska
197
(1) 1 Bo Nickal senior Penn State
(2) 2. Preston Weigel senior Oklahoma State
(4) 3. Pat Brucki sophomore Princeton
(2) 4. Kollin Moore junior Ohio State
(5) 5. Jacob Warner freshman Iowa
(6) 6. Willie Miklus senior Iowa State
(9) 7. Ben Honis senior Cornell
(10) 8. Tom Sleigh senior Virginia Tech
(16) R12 Josh Hokit junior Fresno State
(12) R12 Rocco Caywood senior Army
(14) R12 Eric Schultz sophomore Nebraska
(18) R12 Jake Woodley freshman Oklahoma
HWT
(2) 1. Anthony Cassar senior Penn State
(1) 2. Derek White senior Oklahoma State
(3) 3. Gable Steveson freshman Minnesota
(10) 4. Youssif Hemida senior Maryland
(8) 5. Demetrius Thomas junior Pittsburgh
(12) 6. Conan Jennings senior Northwestern
(6) 7. Amar Dhesi senior Oregon State
(4) 8. Jordan Wood sophomore Lehigh
(9) R12 Matt Stencel Sophomore Central Michigan
(13) R12 Matt Voss senior George Mason
(28) R12 Sam Stoll senior Iowa
(18) R12 Joey Goodhart Senior Drexel
TEAM
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Iowa
4. Oklahoma State
5. Michigan
6. Missouri
7. Minnesota
8. Rutgers
9. Northern Iowa
10. Princeton
11. Northwestern
12. Cornell
13. Lehigh
14. Arizona State
15. Nebraska
2019 NCAA DI First Round Upset Predictions
125
#21 Gabe Townsell over #12 Michael McGee
#19 Zeke Moisey over #14 Ryan Millhof
133
#19 Josh Terao over #14 Korbin Myers
141
#22 Max Murin over #11 Tristan Moran
149
#20 Tommy Thorn over #13 Anthony Artalona
#22 Henry Pohlmeyer over #11 Josh Heil
#18 Jared Prince over #15 Max Thomsen
157
#21 Justin Thomas over #12 Taleb Rahmani
165
#17 Jonathan Viruet over #16 Thomas Bullard
#20 Tyler Marinelli over # 13 Andrew Fogarty
#19 Tanner Skidgel over #14 Jesse Dellavecchia
Not calling it but #30 Colston DiBlasi damn near upset #3 Josh Shields the last time the two met. It came down to a 4-3 decision where DiBlasi nearly got the reversal at the end. Happened two years ago in Ames. Excited for this one. On paper you'd think Shields would have his way with DiBlasi, but that memory creeps in as I anticipate this match.
174
#17 Neal Richards over #16 Brandon Womack
184
#21 Nick Gravina over #12 Cash Wilcke
#19 Cam Caffey over #14 Wisman
197
#20 Noah Adams over #13 Malik McDonald
#22 Sawyer Root over #11 C.J. Brunner
#18 Josh Woodley over #15 Randall Diabe
HWT
#18 Joey Goodhart over #15 Tate Orndorff
Gotta point out how they gave Mason Parris the #5 seed and Conan Jennings who beat him THREE TIMES!!! the #12 seed. I wonder when Jennings beats him for the FOURTH time this season in the second round if they'll finally give Jennings the nod that he is indeed better than Parris.
#21 Gabe Townsell over #12 Michael McGee
#19 Zeke Moisey over #14 Ryan Millhof
133
#19 Josh Terao over #14 Korbin Myers
141
#22 Max Murin over #11 Tristan Moran
149
#20 Tommy Thorn over #13 Anthony Artalona
#22 Henry Pohlmeyer over #11 Josh Heil
#18 Jared Prince over #15 Max Thomsen
157
#21 Justin Thomas over #12 Taleb Rahmani
165
#17 Jonathan Viruet over #16 Thomas Bullard
#20 Tyler Marinelli over # 13 Andrew Fogarty
#19 Tanner Skidgel over #14 Jesse Dellavecchia
Not calling it but #30 Colston DiBlasi damn near upset #3 Josh Shields the last time the two met. It came down to a 4-3 decision where DiBlasi nearly got the reversal at the end. Happened two years ago in Ames. Excited for this one. On paper you'd think Shields would have his way with DiBlasi, but that memory creeps in as I anticipate this match.
174
#17 Neal Richards over #16 Brandon Womack
184
#21 Nick Gravina over #12 Cash Wilcke
#19 Cam Caffey over #14 Wisman
197
#20 Noah Adams over #13 Malik McDonald
#22 Sawyer Root over #11 C.J. Brunner
#18 Josh Woodley over #15 Randall Diabe
HWT
#18 Joey Goodhart over #15 Tate Orndorff
Gotta point out how they gave Mason Parris the #5 seed and Conan Jennings who beat him THREE TIMES!!! the #12 seed. I wonder when Jennings beats him for the FOURTH time this season in the second round if they'll finally give Jennings the nod that he is indeed better than Parris.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
State of Emergency: Protecting Seeds
Wise individuals often give the advice that one should not discuss a problem unless they can properly address it with a solution. Perhaps that is so, but despite not having a perfect solution, seed protection is too big of a problem in NCAA Division I wrestling for me to ignore.
It's horrible for the sport in a variety of different ways for a variety of different reasons. First and foremost it kills the sport from a spectator perspective. Fans want to see the marquee matches. People have whined and moaned about the popularity of professional wrestling for decades. Cried about how unfair and unjust it is that millions of people tune in each week to watch "that fake rasslin' crap" while amateur wrestling to this day still has to fight for television coverage. Well let me tell you something you may or may not need to hear. If Hulk Hogan would've medical forfeited to Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III to protect his championship, WWE probably wouldn't be around today.
Now you can make whatever you want to out of my statement, but it holds true. Fans come to duals and tournaments excited to see highly ranked wrestlers go at it. If you don't think it hurts amateur wrestling's popularity when a wrestler sits out a dual or MFF's at a tournament, you're only fooling yourself. Highly anticipated matches are fun and exciting and they generate hype. They put butts into seats and amateur wrestling would be doing itself a favor by becoming self aware of that fact. When people turn the station to ESPN or the BIG 10 network and they see the #1 Vs the #2 kid step out onto the mat, they sit and watch with undivided attention. When they turn on the TV and the #2 kid steps out onto the mat and gets his hand raised in a MFF or ends up wrestling the backup, they change the channel in frustration. Protecting seeds isn't a way to grow wrestling from a spectator standpoint. If anything, it's a way to kill it.
Yet it works. To state the obvious and that's why coaches do it. Looking at the conference seedings and now the NCAA seedings it's obvious that sitting your wrestlers in duals and MFF'ing them out in tournaments will work to their advantage. It'll get them a higher seed, which means an easier road to a higher finish. As long as the formula is set up to work this way, then it's a problem we're going to have year in and year out.
And the unfairness of it ought to at least have the amateur wrestling community concerned enough to at least contemplate the idea of fixing it.
I have an idea. Actually I have two.
A - Medical Forfeits should count as losses.
When you medical forfeit at a tournament, I believe that it ought to count as a loss to the opponent you are medical forfeiting against. For example Shakur Rasheed Medical Forfeited his match against Myles Martin of Ohio State. That ought to count as a loss to Martin for Rasheed. All of the matches Micic forfeited at the BIG 10's, again counted as losses. If medical forfeits are counted against you, then you're going to wrestle when you can. If you're legit banged up, yeah that sucks but injuries have always been a part of the sport. The kids who step out onto the mat and compete, are the ones that should be rewarded. Not the ones who don't.
B - A win over the team should count as a win over the starter.
Here's where I'm going to boil a lot of blood and maybe lose a couple of friends. Let me explain what I mean. When Northwestern dualed Iowa on January 27th in Iowa City, Sebastian Rivera defeated Iowa backup Perez Perez 11-1. What I am saying is that the win for Rivera should count when going into both the BIG 10's and the NCAA tournament. He defeated Lee at the Midlands. So when going into the BIG 10's, his record should indicate that he defeated Iowa twice. Two wins against Iowa. Now that he defeated Lee at the BIG 10's, three wins.
It begs the question what if at a tournament, like the Midlands, a team has more than one wrestler in the bracket? So for example, what if at the Midlands, Rivera had to face both Perez and Lee? Good question and it has a very simple solution. At such in season tournaments, the victory counts against the starter. Which then raises another question.
If victories/losses only count against the starter, what if a team enters wrestlers at a tournament like the Midlands or the Scuffle and neither wrestler entered is the starter at the conference championships? Now that's an excellent question. John Doe and Bob Coe enter the Midlands representing University. Yet at the conference tournament neither Doe or Coe start, Eric Foe represents University. Now what? Should wins Vs Doe and Coe count? That I don't know.
As I said before, I don't have perfect solutions. Only suggestions. Yet, this is a huge problem in NCAA Division I wrestling. One that despite not knowing exactly how to fix, I refuse to ignore.
I'm all ears. Let's discuss how to address this problem.
It's horrible for the sport in a variety of different ways for a variety of different reasons. First and foremost it kills the sport from a spectator perspective. Fans want to see the marquee matches. People have whined and moaned about the popularity of professional wrestling for decades. Cried about how unfair and unjust it is that millions of people tune in each week to watch "that fake rasslin' crap" while amateur wrestling to this day still has to fight for television coverage. Well let me tell you something you may or may not need to hear. If Hulk Hogan would've medical forfeited to Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III to protect his championship, WWE probably wouldn't be around today.
Now you can make whatever you want to out of my statement, but it holds true. Fans come to duals and tournaments excited to see highly ranked wrestlers go at it. If you don't think it hurts amateur wrestling's popularity when a wrestler sits out a dual or MFF's at a tournament, you're only fooling yourself. Highly anticipated matches are fun and exciting and they generate hype. They put butts into seats and amateur wrestling would be doing itself a favor by becoming self aware of that fact. When people turn the station to ESPN or the BIG 10 network and they see the #1 Vs the #2 kid step out onto the mat, they sit and watch with undivided attention. When they turn on the TV and the #2 kid steps out onto the mat and gets his hand raised in a MFF or ends up wrestling the backup, they change the channel in frustration. Protecting seeds isn't a way to grow wrestling from a spectator standpoint. If anything, it's a way to kill it.
Yet it works. To state the obvious and that's why coaches do it. Looking at the conference seedings and now the NCAA seedings it's obvious that sitting your wrestlers in duals and MFF'ing them out in tournaments will work to their advantage. It'll get them a higher seed, which means an easier road to a higher finish. As long as the formula is set up to work this way, then it's a problem we're going to have year in and year out.
And the unfairness of it ought to at least have the amateur wrestling community concerned enough to at least contemplate the idea of fixing it.
I have an idea. Actually I have two.
A - Medical Forfeits should count as losses.
When you medical forfeit at a tournament, I believe that it ought to count as a loss to the opponent you are medical forfeiting against. For example Shakur Rasheed Medical Forfeited his match against Myles Martin of Ohio State. That ought to count as a loss to Martin for Rasheed. All of the matches Micic forfeited at the BIG 10's, again counted as losses. If medical forfeits are counted against you, then you're going to wrestle when you can. If you're legit banged up, yeah that sucks but injuries have always been a part of the sport. The kids who step out onto the mat and compete, are the ones that should be rewarded. Not the ones who don't.
B - A win over the team should count as a win over the starter.
Here's where I'm going to boil a lot of blood and maybe lose a couple of friends. Let me explain what I mean. When Northwestern dualed Iowa on January 27th in Iowa City, Sebastian Rivera defeated Iowa backup Perez Perez 11-1. What I am saying is that the win for Rivera should count when going into both the BIG 10's and the NCAA tournament. He defeated Lee at the Midlands. So when going into the BIG 10's, his record should indicate that he defeated Iowa twice. Two wins against Iowa. Now that he defeated Lee at the BIG 10's, three wins.
It begs the question what if at a tournament, like the Midlands, a team has more than one wrestler in the bracket? So for example, what if at the Midlands, Rivera had to face both Perez and Lee? Good question and it has a very simple solution. At such in season tournaments, the victory counts against the starter. Which then raises another question.
If victories/losses only count against the starter, what if a team enters wrestlers at a tournament like the Midlands or the Scuffle and neither wrestler entered is the starter at the conference championships? Now that's an excellent question. John Doe and Bob Coe enter the Midlands representing University. Yet at the conference tournament neither Doe or Coe start, Eric Foe represents University. Now what? Should wins Vs Doe and Coe count? That I don't know.
As I said before, I don't have perfect solutions. Only suggestions. Yet, this is a huge problem in NCAA Division I wrestling. One that despite not knowing exactly how to fix, I refuse to ignore.
I'm all ears. Let's discuss how to address this problem.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
The Best to Not Qualify for the 2019 NCAA tournament.
For the most part I'm pretty content and satisfied with the NCAA qualification process. Matter of fact, I'll go as far to say that not only do I support it, I often praise it. For the most part I'm not going to raise to much of a fuss because I believe in most cases the best 33 wrestlers per weight class are the wrestlers that we're going to see compete for All American honors in Pittsburgh. However there are a few that I don't agree with. One that outright boils my blood. As far as I'm concerned there are 10 wrestlers this year that in particularly stick out.
Werner is one of them. Not only a decent record but a win over NCAA qualifier Alonzo Allen of Chattanooga 5-2 who was selected as an at large bid. He also tech'd PSU golden boy Gavin Teasdale for whatever that is worth now. Apparently not as much as it was then.
I would at least like to think the selection committee took a long hard look at 2017 NCAA qualifier Akins. Loses out to West by 'caught' fall Vs legit sticking him in 4:30 earlier in the season. One match shy of qualifying legit at the MAC tournament. If he's not #34, I'd like to know who is.
Not many will but I'm going to go to bat for Baby J Bannister. I'm not sure who Kerry McCoy ticked off but drawing Bannister against the #1 seed at the BIG 10's was a cruel and unusual punishment, one that may I add was unwarranted. The two time NCAA qualifier this season defeated PAC-12 champion Requir Van De Merwe 3-2, EIWA runner-up Jared Prince 3-2, and EWL Champion Tejon Anthony 5-3 s.v. Not to mention he took EIWA champion Anthony Artalona into sudden victory as well.
I really, really disagreed with only giving one allocation to 157 lbs in the BIG XII and looking at Wright having to stay home helps to illustrate as to why. He's 1-1 with champion Chase Straw of Iowa State, who earlier this season he beat 5-4 t.b. Has three more seasons to compete. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see him become a three time NCAA qualifier for the Bulldogs.
Gawd did Alex Mossing look good at the BIG XII championships this past weekend. Not only capturing a third place finish but ending his career with a 7-4 victory over Oklahoma State's Wyatt Sheets who had tech'd him earlier this season. Have to say if he would have wrestled that way all season, I have no doubt he'd have been in this year's NCAA tournament. One match from a medal at CKLV and one match from a medal at Southern Scuffle. If there ever be an example of a guy who was "right there" it's Alex Mossing.
I'm legit ticked about this. My blood is boiling. Seriously leaving 2017 All American and 2018 R12, Paul Fox at home? He took third at the PAC-12's, same as he did as a sophomore and as a junior, and they take him those years but leave him home this one? His record is identical as well. Reno champion, fifth place at the Southern Scuffle. NCAA selection committee I am not happy with you about this decision at all.
I could go either way on Embree. I think they made the right choices at 184, but if they had selected Embree I'd have been cool with it. Tech fall victory over Dom Ducharme 22-7 for whatever that's worth. In the future not only do I believe he'll be an NCAA qualifier, but as he develops I think he'll be one to bring home a medal or two from the NCAA tournament.
I was a little shocked when I didn't read Atienza's name amongst the list of NCAA qualifiers. Not as shocked as I was not seeing Paul Fox's name at 157, but still shocked. 10-8 win over Jackson Hemauer, a 8-5 win over Cam Caffey and a 5-4 win over Max Lyon. I'd like to hear the justification for making him stay home every bit as much as I would for Fox. This doesn't anger me as much as it does Fox, but it still doesn't feel right.
Like Embree, I'm take it or leave it with Clothier. His win over Chris Weiler sticks out as does his seventh place finish at the Southern Scuffle. Yet that's about all that does. I think he makes it the next two years though.
It seems every year since 2009 when I look through and see the best wrestlers per weight who did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, Army wrestlers almost always seem to make the list. Ben Harvey a couple of years ago and now Ben Sullivan. I have to admit, looking it over HWT was bizarre this year and extenuating circumstances are what most likely left Sullivan out of the selection. He's a tough kid though. A future AA. Keep your eye on him.
There you have it. I'm sure there are others I left out that should have been mentioned. If you're wondering if I'm still hot about Fox being left at home, I am. That just isn't right.
 |
| LUKE WERNER SOPHOMORE -125 LOCK HAVEN 31-11 Record |
 |
| KYLE AKINS SENIOR - 125 BUFFALO 18-11 Record |
 |
| BABY J BANNISTER SENIOR - 149 MARYLAND 14-9 Record |
 |
| JACOB WRIGHT FRESHMAN - 157 FRESNO STATE 28-11 |
 |
| ALEX MOSSING SENIOR - 157 AIR FORCE 24-13 record |
 |
| PAUL FOX SENIOR - 157 STANFORD 22-9 Record |
 |
| JELANI EMBREE FRESHMAN - 184 MICHIGAN 13-7 record |
 |
| JORDAN ATIENZA SENIOR - 184 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 19-11 |
 |
| ALAN CLOTHIER SOPHOMORE - 184 APPALACHIAN STATE 19-14 record |
 |
| BEN SULLIVAN FRESHMAN- HWT ARMY 21-13 Record |
It seems every year since 2009 when I look through and see the best wrestlers per weight who did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, Army wrestlers almost always seem to make the list. Ben Harvey a couple of years ago and now Ben Sullivan. I have to admit, looking it over HWT was bizarre this year and extenuating circumstances are what most likely left Sullivan out of the selection. He's a tough kid though. A future AA. Keep your eye on him.
There you have it. I'm sure there are others I left out that should have been mentioned. If you're wondering if I'm still hot about Fox being left at home, I am. That just isn't right.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
2019 - MAC My Thoughts
Last but certainly not least is my review for the upcoming MAC tournament. Much like I did for the PAC-12 I will include the allocations and who I believe could be plausible steals. I will also include other wrestlers who I don't think will qualify but deserve mention regardless.
To explain why my seeding may look different than the actual seeding that takes place at the tournament, I'll say this. I personally believe and stand by my belief that seeding for a conference tournament should be based on in conference rankings and head to head results within the conference. I do not believe that national rankings should trump either of those criteria. For example if in the NCAA rankings you are ranked #17 and a guy in your conference is ranked #15. If you have two wins against him, even though he has a higher NCAA ranking than you, I'd still seed you higher because of the two wins you have against him. I've noticed in looking at pre-seeds for both the BIG 10 and the BIG XII that NCAA ranking trumps those two wins. I don't agree with it. So there is your explanation.
125 lbs
1. McGee
2. Laney
3. Hildebrandt
4. Akins
5. Punke
The NCAA has allotted four spots at 125 lbs for the MAC and seeing that McGee and Laney are currently 1-1, I believe McGee will get the #1 seed being ranked #14 Vs being non-ranked for Laney.
Despite only having a 9-8 record I would keep a close eye on Punke from Missouri. He took both Laney and Hildebrandt into sudden victory this season and is more than capable of pulling off an upset.
133 lbs
1. Erneste
2. Guillen
3. Spann
4. Rooney
Led by NCAA champion contender John Erneste of Missouri, 133 lbs in the MAC has been allotted three spots by the NCAA. Even though Kent State's Tim Rooney has some rather ugly losses on his record, I could plausibly see him stealing the spot from Spann.
141 lbs
1. Eierman
2. Kelly
3. Lantry
4. Perry
Once again led by a NCAA champion contender from Missouri, 141 lbs in the MAC has been allotted four spots. These are the four that it will likely be.
149 lbs
1. Mauller
You're looking at the MAC champ and sole qualifier at 149 lbs.
157 lbs
1. Jacques
2. Early
3. Carson
4. Ruffin
5. Parks
6. Smythe
This is exactly what I was referring to. Larry Early is currently ranked #9 in the nation, while Jarrett Jacques is ranked #16 and Logan Parks is ranked #17. Therefore I know good and well that Early will end up getting the #1 seed at the MAC. Why do I disagree with that? Because Jacques is undefeated in the MAC, and Early lost to Logan Parks. What complicates the whole thing is that Parks lost to Ruffin and Ruffin lost to Carson, but Early beat Carson. So it's a mess, but I still think in the end Jacques deserves the #1 seed, that he most likely won't get.
Now that we're done talking about that tornado of a subject, there is also Alex Smythe of Buffalo to consider. I am happy that there are five spots here, for five guys who I feel have earned one but Smythe could come in and spoil it for everyone. He has some notable wins this season, and in his losses he's kept it very close with Ruffin, Carson and Parks.
165 lbs
1. Flynn
The sole qualifier and MAC champion at 165 lbs will be Connor Flynn of Missouri.
174 lbs
1. Lewis
2. Wilson
3. Wright
184 lbs
1. Wisman
2. McNally
3. Atienza
Only two allocations here for MAC at 184 lbs, one of which will go to Wisman of Missouri. The other will be fought over in what should be a highly anticipated semi-final. The last time McNally and Atienza met, McNally escaped with a 9-8 victory. Look for another high scoring match to take place between the two.
197 lbs
Would you believe me if I told you of yet another Tiger likely to win a MAC title? Well, here you go.
HWT
1. Stencel
2. Elam
3. Gunning
4. McKiernan
5. Parker
Led by my prediction for the 2019 Gorriaran award winner Matt Stencel, HWT in the MAC has been allotted four spots. Zack Parker of Ohio, who has been known in the past to occasionally wrestle well, could plausibly steal a spot.
OLD DOMINION
Jason Bryant's Alma Mater looks to send three wrestlers to the NCAA tournament.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Coach Tom Borrelli ought to send at least three, if not four to the NCAA touranment.
OHIO
Four, with a slight possibility of five NCAA qualifiers for Coach Greenlee
MISSOURI
Keep this in mind as you read the words I'm about to write. 25 years ago the University was in serious consideration of dropping the wrestling program because of a lack of success. A lack of success in which they believed at the time could not be built upon or improved. Today we're looking at, at least nine qualifiers with a decent possibility of sending all ten. Eight of those ten, with a high probability of winning individual MAC titles. The Tigers all but own the MAC.
BUFFALO
Four, possibly five to the NCAA tournament for the Bulls.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE
Head coach Jeremy Spates continues to build his program in a rather competitive conference and should send two wrestlers to the NCAA championships this season.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
It's been a long and slow process but their are some good things happening in Dekalb, Illinois. This year it looks to only be one NCAA qualifier, but you gotta start somewhere.
KENT STATE
It's riding the fence right now for the Golden Flashes. They have a possibility of not having an NCAA qualifier this season, but they could also send as many as two. Hopefully the latter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)