Every year I do a preseason preview of the upcoming Division I Wrestling Season and each year I do it a little differently. In years past I have made NCAA predictions. The top 12 in every weight class. Other years I not only did NCAA predictions, I did predictions for each individual conference. Last year, I wrote about each team.
This year I've decided to look at each weight class and take a look at each individual wrestler and what I see their 2019-2020 season possibly looking like. Some like to look at who the possible champions will be. Some like to look at who the possible All Americans will be. Me? I like to try and determine who the Qualifiers will be. Narrow it down to who I think will contend for NCAA qualification.
Oh by the way, before I get started. I won't say I never because on rare occasion I do, but I almost never include true freshman in my preseason reports. I may be sold on a true freshman three weeks into November but I have to see you wrestle at least one collegiate match before I make up my mind on you. Once in a while a high school kid will wrestle in the Midlands or at the Olympic Trials or something of the sort. Then I'll say something. Other than that, I won't.
With that said.....I give you 125 lbs
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SPENCER LEE
Junior
IOWA
|
Two time NCAA champion. He is the man until proven otherwise. Pinned by Piccininni in the dual meet and then comes back at the NCAA's and damn near majors him 11-4. The real question here is whether or not his # is owned by Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera who defeated him twice last season. If so, the key to winning a third NCAA crown will be to once again avoid him. It's a match we probably won't see until the Midlands and speaking of the Midlands isn't hard to believe that Lee has yet to win one?
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NICK PICCININNI
Senior
OKLAHOMA STATE |
Here's the guy that I'm keeping my eye on this year. Won Reno, Won Scuffle, Won the BIG 12. A two time All American whose fifth place finish sorta took me off guard last season. Nothing against Vitali Arujau of Cornell, but I think Piccininni is a better wrestler than him. I think he's capable of beating anyone at the weight class and a true contender for the national title.
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SEBASTIAN RIVERA
Junior
NORTHWESTERN |
He won Vegas and then won both the Midlands championship and the BIG 10 title by knocking off NCAA champion Spencer Lee of Iowa in both matches. He more than earned the #1 seed he received at the NCAA tournament. Upset by Virginia's Jack Mueller in the semi-finals we didn't get to see if he had it in him to defeat Lee a third time. Of all trilogies I can think of, it's a part three I look very forward to. When thinking of the national title at 125 lbs, as far as I'm concerned it comes down to three guys. Lee, Piccininni & Rivera
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JACK MUELLER
Senior
VIRGINIA |
He quietly had himself an undefeated ACC championship season while all eyes concentrated on the BIG 10 rivalry between Iowa's Spencer Lee and Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera. Before anyone knew what to think, he was in the finals and Rivera was in the wrestlebacks. It's not like he squeaked by him either. It was a definitive 8-2 victory. Yet I also wonder in partial if it was a bit of overlooking on Rivera's part. I think Mueller will once again have an outstanding season and I think he'll have an All American performance at the NCAA championships. BUT...this year he's not sneaking up on anyone. This year he's not coming in unnoticed. He'll have a target on his back and I think that poses a challenge to making it back to the finals.
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VITALI ARUJAU
Sophomore
CORNELL |
Outstanding season for the young Big Red who saw a freshman campaign end in an impressive fourth place finish at the NCAA tournament. I predict a similar finish this year. What I look forward to the most is the in conference rivalry that he'll continue to have with Princeton's Patrick Glory. He pinned Glory in the dual at 4:31 and then lost to him in the EIWA finals 10-8.
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PATRICK GLORY
Sophomore
PRINCETON |
I do think before Glory's career is all said and done at Princeton that he wins a national title. I just don't think it'll be this year. I don't see him beating Lee or Rivera and he was 0-3 Vs Piccininni in two decisive decisions and a fall. A third place finish at the Midlands, an EIWA title and a sixth place finish at the NCAA's, he lives up to the meaning of his last name. He has a positive attitude, he listens to his coaches and he consistently fixes his mistakes. I'm anxious to see what this guy can do and if he makes me eat my words about Lee, Rivera or Piccininni, it wouldn't surprise me at all.
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RAYVON FOLEY
Junior
MICHIGAN STATE |
The Spartans haven't had a lot of highlights in recent years and knowing that Foley could potentially be a three time All American sheds some light in what has been a dark cold basement. He was seventh at last year's NCAA championships, but the bad news is all six that finished above him are back and all six proved to be ahead of him. Rivera twice, Glory and Arujau all majored him.
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JOEY MELENDEZ
Freshman
North Carolina |
The Tarheel's starter Joe Heilmann will redshirt this season as Melendez will take over the spot after redshirting himself last season. A 17-4 record indicates to me that he's more than capable of qualifying for the NCAA tournament. An ACC finals appearance is doable but I don't see him defeating Mueller for the title.
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JAKOB CAMACHO
Freshman
NORTH CAROLINA STATE |
The other freshman that might be in the ACC finals instead of Melendez is NCST'S Jakob Camacho. One can only hope that the Melendez Vs Camacho feud turns out as intriguing on the mat as it is on paper. Camacho had a tremendous redshirt last season going 26-2. Along with a third place finish at the Southern Scuffle he defeated Virginia Tech's Joey Prata 14-3, Chattanooga's Alonzo Allen 7-3, Iowa State's Alex Mackall 5-3 and Lock Haven's Luke Werner 10-4.
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KORBIN MYERS
Senior
VIRGINIA TECH
|
Myers has made it to the NCAA tournament three times at 133 lbs. The move down to 125 lbs means one of two things. He'll be bigger and stronger than everyone, muscling his way through the weight class or he'll be sucked dry, weak and have difficulty catching his breath. Hope for the prior, but sometimes these weight cuts don't turn out like they should. Let's also keep in mind that Myers might not even win the varsity spot. Joey Prata is no pushover. He took third at last year's ACC tournament and had a winning record.
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DREW HILDEBRANDT
Junior
CENTRAL MICHIGAN |
A second place finish at the MAC and for what its worth a 7-5 sudden victory over All American Foley. For sure makes it back to the NCAA's. Could see him sneak in a top eight finish.
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FABIAN GUTIERREZ
Junior
CHATTANOOGA |
In my opinion one of the best backups in the country last season. Defeated four time NCAA qualifier Elijah Oliver 6-1 and stuck Melendez in 4:42. Should challenge for the SOCON title.
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DREW MATTIN
Junior
MICHIGAN |
The truth is, 125 lbs is just so friggin' loaded. Of course injuries can occur, people can get sick and lord knows what else can occur. Yet at this point, it's hard to see anyone knocking any of the top six out of their spots. Foley? I can see someone taking Foley's spot but the rest, I just don't see it. Yet it makes me wonder who will be in the eighth place spot. I think Michigan's Drew Mattin is as good a candidate as any. A two time NCAA qualifier. Fifth place at CKLV.
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MICHAEL MCGEE
Junior
OLD DOMINION |
Another plausible All American candidate is Old Dominion's Michael McGee. A third place finish at Reno and a MAC conference title, he was one match shy of All American status last season.
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LUKE WERNER
Junior
LOCK HAVEN |
A 25-13 record as a freshman and a 31-11 record as a sophomore that included a runner-up finish at the EWL tournament as well as a fourth place finish at the Scuffle, I'm a bit surprised that Werner hasn't made a trip to the NCAA's yet. If the EWL still existed I'd say I'd be shocked if he doesn't go this year, but I'm not sure what to think with Lock Haven joining the MAC this year. I still think he qualifies.
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ALEX MACKALL
Junior
IOWA STATE |
He turned a #5 seed into a third place finish at last year's BIG 12 championships and he placed fifth at last year's Southern Scuffle. A BIG 12 finals appearance isn't a given for this season but knowing the way that the coaching staff in Ames has their guys prepared for big tournaments, it wouldn't surprise me.
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ANTHONY CEFOLO
Senior
RIDER |
Another wrestler moving down from 133 to 125 lbs. A tall, long and lanky wrestler with long arms that should work to his advantage against shorter opponents. Weight cut could effect him in a multitude of ways, but I think in his case it'll be positive. 19-8 record last season, including a fall over Iowa State's Austin Gomez.
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BRANDON PAETZELL
Junior
LEHIGH |
Painfully inconsistent, a record of 15-13, yet still managed to find his way to the NCAA championships. At times looks like a real AA contender with victories such as a 3-1 decision vs Wyoming's Montorie Bridges and a 5-2 decision vs Missouri's All American John Erneste. Whereas I'll question the move from 133 to 125 for both Myers and Cefolo, I feel very confident in the case of Paetzell. I think part of the inconsistency had to do with not being big enough for 133.
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TRAVIS PIOTROWSKI
Senior
ILLINOIS |
With the other conferences getting better and better it's not quite the rarity that it once was for a BIG 10 wrestler to qualify for four NCAA tournaments without placing at at least one. With that said, the open space left behind by Oregon State graduate Ronnie Bresser on the award stand could be Piotrowski's. He's found his way on to the award stand at CKLV, the Midlands and the BIG 10's. Might as well at the NCAA's too.
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BRODY TESKE
Freshman
PENN STATE |
He did have a 4-3 win over Ohio's Shakur Laney and I'm not ignoring that. BUT he also got whipped like a red-headed step son in a technical fall loss to Werner, and I'm not going to ignore that either. Here's what I have to say about Brody Teske. Sanderson in many cases is every bit as good of a coach as he was a wrestler. How he gets his guys to perform at the level they do, is a talent that anyone leading any group of people would love to have. Teske coming back a whole new man next season is formulaic of what Sanderson does. Yet, there are those rare occasions where that doesn't happen. So that's a possibility too.
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DEVIN SCHROEDER
Junior
PURDUE |
A solid 21-13 season with an 8th place finish at CKLV and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Should improve on the record, as well as the CKLV placement and make another trip to the NCAA's.
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DACK PUNKE
Sophomore
MISSOURI |
An 11-12 record last season as a freshman doesn't even come close to reflecting the potential that Punke has. In my opinion it was simply a matter of adjusting to Division I wrestling. Highlights last season include a 6-3 victory over Jay Schwarm of Northern Iowa, taking Arujau into overtime and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Look for a twenty plus win season including upsets that move up him in the rankings as the year progresses.
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BRANDON COURTNEY
Sophomore
ARIZONA STATE |
Filled in for Ryan Millhof when he was injured last season and will be Millhof's replacement this season. A sixth place showing at RENO, it'll be a tough road to the NCAA's for Courtney, but he is more than capable of doing it.
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BRYCE WEST
Sophomore
NORTHERN ILLINOIS |
NIU has been looking for something to bring them out of a slump for quite sometime and West along with some other teammates may be that answer. Only a 16-16 record last year, he proved he wrestles best when it counts. At the MAC tournament he placed third avenging losses to Kyle Akins of Buffalo, Punke and Shakur Laney of Ohio. He also defeated four time NCAA qualifier Elijah Oliver 11-7 and EWL champion Willy Girard of Bloomsburg 6-5.
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TREY CHAILFAUX
Junior
ARMY |
A 21-15 record along with an NCAA qualification better reflected his season last year than did the sixth place finish he had at a disappointing EIWA tournament. Fine tuning some areas and wrestling more consistent should see a higher placement in the conference this season.
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CHRISTIAN MOODY
Senior
OKLAHOMA |
You ever look at a wrestler and ask yourself, "How in the hell did he manage that?" That's how I look at Oklahoma's Christian Moody. One way or another he's somehow managed to qualify himself for three NCAA championships. And each time I'm left thinking, "How did he do that?" He's been 4th-6th-4th so far in three BIG XII championships. It's probably wishful thinking to want to see him in the finals, but I do think he's as good as third.
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DYLAN RYDER
Sophomore
HOFSTRA |
An NCAA qualification for Ryder this season? There's certainly evidence to suggest that. He defeated EWL champ Willy Girard 20-0 technical fall. A 13-3 major decision over Rico Montoya of Northern Colorado and a 12-8 victory over two time NCAA qualifier Gage Curry of American. Yet he also failed to place at the EIWA tournament and he can't seem to figure out Binghamton's Audey Ashkar who defeated him three times last season.
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GAGE CURRY
Junior
AMERICAN |
Another one of those "not sure how you did it" type wrestlers that seems to fly under the radar all season long and then come qualification time, suddenly "POOF!" here he is. A two time NCAA qualifier who finished an impressive third at last year's EIWA tournament.
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PAUL BIANCHI
Junior
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK
|
I really, really, really...let me stress it again...really want to see the Trojans have an NCAA qualifier in their inaugural season. I think for an assortment of different reasons, most importantly showing other schools that success can happen immediately, it is important. For UALR, I think their best bet is in NDSU transfer Paul Bianchi. Didn't have the greatest 2019 season, but take a look at how he did in 2018. An NCAA qualification with victories over Drew Hildebrandt, Korbin Meink of Campbell and Brock Hudkins of Northern Illinois (now Indiana).
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WILLY GIRARD
Senior
BLOOMSBURG |
I hate being negative but the one thing I hate worse than being negative is being dishonest. I have to come out and say the way I feel and I feel that the move from the EWL to the MAC is going to take its toll on Girard. 23-13 last season & an EWL title, I don't know if he'll have the type of success in the MAC or not. By the time you're done reading this, you'll notice I have 44 wrestlers (I didn't miscount, I have two for Virginia Tech and Two for Northern Iowa) at 125 lbs that I think are capable of NCAA qualification. Only 33 of them get to go, plus there will be more added as the season goes on. Will Girard be one of them?
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SIDNEY FLORES
Sophomore
AIR FORCE |
The Air Force wrestling team is sorta like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. A lot of potential mixed with a ton of variables. Flores showed what he can do last season with a 9-5 win over Cole Verner of Wyoming, a 9-4 win over Elijah Oliver of Indiana and a 8-2 win over Audey Ashkar of Binghamton. Consistency and more quality wins is key for qualification.
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ASLAN KILIC
Junior
NAVY |
I'm not sold on Kilic making it out of what should be a fairly tough EIWA bracket but a seventh place finish at last year's Scuffle does help to persuade me.
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GABRIEL TOWNSELL
Senior
STANFORD |
Been watching this guy for three seasons and I keep wondering when he's going to let loose, break out and have himself and outstanding season. You want a guy that should based on talent and ability take that open eighth place spot at the NCAA's? It's Townsell. In the very, very least the three time NCAA qualifier should win his first PAC-12 title.
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BROCK HUDKINS
Junior
INDIANA |
Must be something about the BIG 10 that makes wrestlers wanna leave Dekalb. Like former Minnesota wrestler Steve Bleise, Hudkins trades the MAC for the BIG 10. Anxious to see how he adjust to the grind that is the BIG 10 schedule. Anxious to see how he fits in with the warriors that are the BIG 10 125 lbs'ers. Time will tell.
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SHAKUR LANEY
Senior
OHIO |
I don't know if he was injured or if he was sick or what, but Laney was not at all himself at last year's MAC tournament. He lost to West, Punke and McGee all whom he has defeated before and wound up in sixth place. Here's to that simply being a bad tournament and to this season going much better.
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KORBIN MEINK
Sophomore
CAMPBELL
|
Once Cary Kolat gets inside your head, that's a good thing. Seeing how Meink turned a 7-2 loss to Alonzo Allen of Chattanooga into a 6-0 win at the Southern Conference, it's clear to see the marks in the making. Only a sophomore, there's a lot of room for growth.
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COLE VERNER
Senior
WYOMING |
A 23-15 record and an NCAA qualification last season, Verner should have similar results this year.
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KYLE BISCOGLIA
Freshman
NORTHERN IOWA |
I sometimes wonder if Biscoglia chose Northern Iowa because he liked the school colors. (Northern Iowa has similar colors to Biscoglia's high school Waukee). All jokes aside, Biscoglia has already shown the valuable asset that he'll be to Doug Schwab's Panthers. A 7th place finish at last year's Midlands including wins over Chailfaux, Oliver and Hildebrandt. But he might not be the starter either with two time NCAA qualifier Jay Schwarm also fighting for the spot. Schwarm's most impressive win last season was his last an 8-2 decision over Piotrowski. Normally in wrestle-off situations I go with the senior over the freshman, but I see Biscoglia winning this one.
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JOE MANCHIO
Sophomore
COLUMBIA |
A fair EIWA performance of fifth place with wins over Chailfaux and Ashkar lead me to buy that Manchio could qualify for this year's NCAA's.
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TySHAWN WHITE
Sophomore
CLARION |
Whoever runs Clarion's Wrestling Twitter page once said that they felt Clarion wrestlers often got overlooked. I have to say that I somewhat agree with that. Seen a few publications talk about 125 lbs, some rather in depth and no one seemed to mention TyShawn White. Before he got hurt, he was looking pretty good. A R12 finish at the prestigious CKLV invite. Clarion hasn't had a real successful year in a long time. This could be the start of something good, and White's a part of it.
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MALIK HEINSELMAN
Sophomore
OHIO STATE |
A very aggressive wrestler with a great arsenal of offense. Seems capable of scoring on anyone. Yet, has difficulty keeping others from scoring on him. His matches are often high scoring affairs where takedowns are exchanged and whoever gets the last one wins. His conditioning led to a 24-11 record and an NCAA qualification. A bit of fine tuning on the defense and that may make a world of difference.
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AUDEY ASHKAR
Junior
BINGHAMTON |
If I'm going to include Hofstra's Dylan Ryder in my list of potential NCAA Qualifiers then I have to include a guy that majored him 15-1, pinned him in 2:48 and defeated him 3-1 as well. That simple.
OVERALL THOUGHTS ON 125: You have the top six, maybe top seven and then you have that middle ground of top eight to twelve, at the most fifteen. After that, it's wide open. Tons of parity and it'll be exemplified multiple times throughout the season. Lee, Rivera & Piccininni in my opinion on this weight class with Mueller, Arujau and Glory knocking hard on the door. Foley is going to have to work his tail off, earn a good seed and have a little luck in his back pocket to maintain that seventh place finish. As to who takes eighth? Call Harvey Dent and have him flip a coin.
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