2019-2020 133 lbs Division I Outlook

And now it's time for 133 lbs! Ironically enough a weight class I feel has less parity over all than 125 lbs, yet at the same time a larger pool of potential candidates for the national title.  The greatest question of all, that will have the most effect on the outcome is who all will redshirt?  You take eighth place in this loaded weight class, you have a right to brag.

NICK SURIANO
Senior
RUTGERS

He was the first NCAA champion in Rutgers wrestling history and he looks to become the first two-time NCAA Champion in Rutgers wrestling history.  It's most certainly not a given and it's likely to be just as tough if not tougher to achieve than last year's title. He'll have plenty of competition as he tries to defend his throne.

STEVAN MICIC
Senior
MICHIGAN 

Despite facing a series of injuries last season, Micic's tenacity and talent still managed to secure him a third place finish at the NCAA tournament. If 100%, he poses perhaps what will be the greatest challenge to Suriano. However, there is a chance that Micic skips out on the 2019-2020 season in order to represent team Serbia in the Olympic Games.  His absence opens up a lot of doors for other wrestlers that would otherwise remain closed.

DATON FIX
Sophomore
OKLAHOMA STATE 

Reno, Southern Scuffle, BIG XII, Fix won every tournament he entered up until he finished runner-up to Suriano at the NCAA's.  Like Micic he poses a threat to Suriano and like Micic he could potentially take an Olympic redshirt.  In a lot of ways for a lot of reasons it seems a practical move.  Two, potentially three of his greatest threats graduate after this season, giving him in 2021, 2022 & 2023 a greater chance at three national titles. He still has others to contend with but no Suriano and no Gross does make it a bit easier.

SETH GROSS
Senior
WISCONSIN 

The other big question here, is where exactly does Seth Gross fit in?  If he's the Seth Gross he was two years ago, then we could be looking at the very small list of wrestlers to win a Division I national title at two different schools grow by one this March.  A year removed from wrestling leaves one to wonder. Some come back the same, some come back a shadow of themselves and some come back even better.  At this point, he's a contender.

AUSTIN DESANTO
Junior
IOWA

DeSanto is like a wild horse and the University of Iowa wrestling staff are the wranglers doing their best to tame him. If he can keep his head, a national title is not out of the question. Yet, it is often his radical nature and inability to keep his cool that cost him in matches. It often takes a flawless performance, of absolute concentration to win an NCAA semi-final match.  We'll see if he's that far yet.

LUKE PLETCHER
Senior
OHIO STATE 

Third at CKLV, second in the BIG 10 and fourth at the NCAA's the greatest thing that could happen for Pletcher this year would be for Micic to take an Olympic redshirt.  With Micic out of the way, that means one less loss on the record, a higher BIG 10 finish and a better seed at the NCAA tournament.  Based on last year's results, Micic was his worst match-up.  Pletcher's greatest strength is also what makes him so vulnerable. He keeps all of his matches very close, with a defense that a times seems impregnable (with exception to Micic).  Yet when you keep a match within one point, that does create an opportunity for your opponent.  Win by a takedown or lose by takedown, will likely describe most of his season (with 95% of the prior).

AUSTIN GOMEZ
Sophomore
IOWA STATE 

An impressive freshman campaign that included a second place finish at the Southern Scuffle and a third place finish at the BIG 12's, finishing one match shy of All American status at the NCAA tournament. Under the guidance of the Cyclone wrestling staff, he's only going to get better.  What stands out most to me is defeating DeSanto 14-9 and then losing 16-5 to him.  I think that's more of a reflection of DeSanto's struggle to stay focused, but wonder in general if that were a bit of the freshman jitters in the round of twelve for Gomez.  All American caliber for sure.

And I'll say this.  Todd Small, who is likely to be Gomez's backup this year, is one of the best backups in the country.  Obviously I don't think he would have the results of Gomez, but a fifth place finish at the Southern Scuffle and a 4-2 victory over NCAA R12 Mason Pengilly of Stanford, tell me that if called upon, he's more than ready.

ROMAN BRAVO-YOUNG
Sophomore
PENN STATE 

A few rookie mistakes last year led to losses that would have other wise been wins. By the end of the season he had harnessed in on what needed to be fixed and made the necessary adjustments so that he could secure himself his first All American status.  I think he'll have a better season this year overall, but I don't see him in the picture for a national title.  I don't think he can turn an 0-2 record against DeSanto into a win, and I think beating Suriano, Micic & if healthy Gross is out of the question. 

MICKY PHILLIPPI
Junior
PITTSBURGH

Are we looking at our darkhorse NCAA champion here?  What says no to that question is failing to place at last year's NCAA's & an 11-3 major decision loss to Suriano in the CKLV finals.  What says yes to that question is a 3-1 victory over Fix.  I'm not giving the beggar's chance to wrestlers who defeated Phillippi last season, yet I am giving it to him.  Simply because I think if on, he's capable of beating anyone.

MONTORIE BRIDGES
Junior
WYOMING 

After an All American performance as a freshman, he fell into a slump last year as a sophomore that he never quite recovered from.  Five losses in a row, he was still able to make the BIG 12 finals but failed to place at the NCAA's.  The positive to take away is that his final win of 2019 was an 11-5 win over Noah Gonser of Campbell who had defeated him 4-0 earlier in the season.  He had 10 losses over all last year, but should turn most of those into wins in 2020. 

CHAS TUCKER
Senior
CORNELL

In wrestling you have to earn everything you get, nothing is a given.  However, Chas Tucker is a workman's wrestler, one who has paid his dues and I for one would like to see that translate into another EIWA title and an All American finish for the Big Red senior.   Easier said than done, Tucker needs a few more wins similar to that of his 2-1 victory over Pletcher, to boost his confidence. 

DJ FEHLMAN
Senior
LOCK HAVEN

As he demonstrated against Tucker at the NCAA's last season, Fehlman is very dangerous in the top position.  So dangerous that coaches better be paying attention and not having their wrestlers choosing down in critical situations.  Mark my word, he'll upset someone at some point this season and it'll likely be in a third period ride out.

MATT SCHMITT
Junior
WEST VIRGINIA 

I think with the right draw Schmitt could be an All American this season and I particularly like his chances if both Micic and Fix are out with Olympic Redshirts.  Otherwise, I think he has another solid season but too loaded to make the award stand yet.

COLLIN GERARDI
Freshman
VIRGINIA TECH

A solid 16-6 redshirt season that included two wins (11-5 and 9-4) over Southern Conference champion Codi Russell of Appalachian State. He also place seventh at the Southern Scuffle. Should translate into NCAA qualification this season. 

DEREK SPANN
Junior
BUFFALO

A 21-6 season that led to a MAC finals appearance. Spann should have a similar performance this year. 

CODI RUSSELL
Junior
APPALACHIAN STATE

The 2019 Southern Conference champion returns to defend his title with his greatest challenge being in rival Noah Gonser of Campbell. He was 2-1 against him last season. 

NOAH GONSER
Senior
CAMPBELL

First year under the helm of Cary Kolat saw an assortment of highlights for the former Eastern Michigan Eagle now turned Campbell Camel.  He finished an impressive runner-up at the Midlands and he defeated Wyoming's Montorie Bridges 4-0.  With Kolat's ability to improve his wrestler's performance, Russell will have difficulty repeating at Southern Conference champion.  Could be one of the most improved wrestlers of the year.

CAM SYKORA
Senior
NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Sykora has had three 20+ win seasons with three NCAA qualifications.  It'd nice to think that he might end his career with an All American finish but as loaded as 133 lbs is, even without plausible Olympic redshirts, that's a tall order. Sykora falls in line. He's a top 10-15 wrestler but not a top 8 wrestler.  For the most part he'll abide to the rankings, winning and losing as "on paper" indicates he "should."

TAYLOR LAMONT
Junior (Maybe sophomore??)
UTAH VALLEY 

He took the wrestling world by storm two years ago winning CKLV as a freshman.  In terms of talent and ability, don't be the least bit surprised if he again "comes out of nowhere" again this season.  Of course he's up a weight class and the most important question is how much did last year's injury effect him?  Is he going to be 100% this season? The Wolverines are in position to have one of their best seasons yet, but they're going to need Lamont at his best.  I think he may be trying for a medical hardship, hence why I wasn't sure on his eligibility.

MARIO GUILLEN
Junior
OHIO 

A 17-5 record with a fourth place finish at the MAC and an NCAA qualification last season.  This season ought to mirror that. 

LOUIE HAYES
Junior
VIRGINIA 

Hayes is an interesting case. He's not a 133 lbs'er.  A comparison of his freshman season to his sophomore season is all the evidence you'll need to prove that.  At 125 a 31-8 record, including a seventh place finish at CKLV, a third place finish at the Southern Scuffle and a runner-up finish at the ACC.  Last season as a sophomore he was 18-13 and he failed to make the NCAA tournament.  Problem is, he can't go down to 125 lbs, with Jack Mueller in the way.  So for now he's stuck at 133.  In 2021, Mueller will have graduated and it'll be interesting to see if Hayes will then go back to 125.  For those not paying as close of attention, it'll seem like a senior who came out of nowhere.

CASEY COBB
Junior
NAVY

I think he might be able to stand on the floor and still be taller than someone standing in the first place slot on an award stand. Navy's Casey Cobb is tall!! He missed out on last year's NCAA tournament but I think he gets through this year. 

JOSIAH KLINE
Junior
ARIZONA STATE

I suppose the Sundevils could end up going with Josh Kramer this season but I'm going to imagine that Kline will the nod. For one he defeated Kramer twice last season, once by fall and he had a better overall season as well.  Finished fourth at the Midlands, I really think that had he started in all situations and not split time with Kramer that he would have qualified for last year's NCAA tournament.

DYLAN DUNCAN
Junior
ILLINOIS 

Duncan is a hard wrestle to know where to place. His 13-14 losing record says don't put much faith in him, but his performances in tournaments say to never take your eye off him.  He finished one match away from placing at CKLV, which many now conclude to be the toughest in season tournament.  He placed sixth at the prestigious Midlands and he qualified for his second trip to the NCAA tournament.  I don't see him making All American status this season but a handful of upsets throughout the year? I think so. 

TIM ROONEY
Senior
KENT STATE 

An NCAA qualifier last year with 20+ wins.  Should have a similar season.

TY AGAISSE
Junior (Sophomore??)
PRINCETON 

Maybe the ship has already sailed. I don't know.  I've been accused of holding on to things too long in the past and that may be the case in this instance.  Agaisse has been injured for such a long time that maybe there's nothing left of his career.  Yet, I swear if this guy could just get healthy that we're looking at a winning record, a competitor within the EIWA conference, a decent EIWA tournament appearance and an NCAA qualification.  

GARY JOINT
Sophomore
FRESNO STATE 

I was honestly a little surprised that a fifth place finish at the BIG 12's got Joint into the NCAA's last season. Yet that's the beauty of wrestling in a tough bracket with many earned spots, upsets and steals. His win over Sykora is what got him in.  Now that he's been and his rookie varsity season is out of the way, I think he has a better year. One that he won't have to steal someone else's spot in order to qualify.

ZACK TRAMPE
Sophomore
BINGHAMTON 

He qualified last year and I think he'll qualify again this year.

LANE PETERS
Junior
ARMY

Considering teammate Matt Marino pinned him in thirty seconds it may seem weird that I still think Peters will be the starter for Army.   Not only that but that I think he'll qualify for this year's NCAA championships.   He defeated Cobb twice, 7-4 and 3-2. He also had wins against American's Josh Terao 3-2 and Pennsylvania's Doug Zapf 7-5.  He also has kept it close with some of the top ten ranked wrestlers in the nation.  A few adjustments here and there and I think he's as good as a top twenty.

PAUL KONRATH
Sophomore
INDIANA 

He had a pretty decent season last year  going 20-13.  I think now that Pepple is gone and he'll have the entire season to wrestle at 133,  he'll add ten matches to the win column. 

GARRETT PEPPLE
Senior
MICHIGAN STATE 

Speaking of Pepple, he's now at Michigan State for his final year of competition.  Having yet to make the NCAA tournament, I think Pepple does wrestling for his new home. He's shown ability in the past, for example a 3-2 win over Gonser. He just has to put it all together at the right time. If anyone from Michigan State for some unforeseen reason is reading this, please tell me the singlet in this picture is the one you are going with this season.  That is freakin' awesome.

COLLIN VALDIVIEZ
Junior
NORTHWESTERN 

He didn't have anywhere near as good of a sophomore season as he did a freshman season.  I mean he did still manage to place at the Midland's, but he ended last year on a losing record.  I think he rediscovers himself his season and qualifies for his second NCAA appearance.

DOUG ZAPF
Sophomore
PENNSYLVANIA 

133 lbs at least in my opinion seems to be full of wrestlers who are right on the line.  The line of I can see them qualifying for the NCAA's and yet I can see them not.  Zapf placed sixth in the EIWA's last season and had a handful of notable wins. 

NICK FARRO
Junior
LEHIGH 

He only had eight varsity wins last season, but its in looking at who those eight wins were against that give merit to feeling confident Farro makes the NCAA tournament this year.  Wrestling down at 125 lbs, he defeated three time NCAA qualifier Christian Moody of Oklahoma and NCAA qualifier Trey Chailfaux of Army.  Then at 133 lbs he defeated Noah Baughman of Cornell (who I hope gets another year of eligibility in 2021) and Southern Conference Champion Codi Russell of Appalachian State. 

DEVAN TURNER
Junior
OREGON STATE 

An NCAA qualifier last season, ironically his most impressive win was his last.  A 7-5 victory over Illinois' Duncan.  Went from a 10-16 in 2018 record to a 20-11 record last year.  Should make similar improvements this season.


 And there you have it! My thoughts on 133 lbs in 2019-2020.  Ironically enough I feel that the hunt for the NCAA title is perhaps fiercer than it'll be at any other weight class.  NCAA championship contenders that could easily find themselves wrestling for seventh place or even suffering a loss in the blood round.  This won't be an easy weight to make All American in, yet at the same time I feel the doors for qualification are wide open.