At the present moment many collegiate fans look at HWT as a duet. Two thoroughbred greyhounds racing among the pack. As the season progresses fans may discover the band has a third, maybe even a fourth member. That there may be one or two more dogs in the fight.
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ANTHONY CASSAR
Junior
PENN STATE
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What an interesting ride its been for Penn State's Anthony Cassar. Starts off 2018-2019 in question whether by year's end he or teammate Nick Nevills will be the starter. Then wins a BIG 10 and an NCAA title in what could've been his final year of eligibility. Then petitions for medical hardship and comes back in 2019-2020 only listed as a junior. Quite the ride indeed. With two wins over Minnesota's Gable Steveson his path looks to be without obstacle. However it is important to note that he did suffer a loss last season to Derek White of Oklahoma State which gives merit to the theory that he could lose again.
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GABLE STEVESON
Sophomore
MINNESOTA |
One of the most exciting and sensational freshman HWT's of all time, the only thing Gable Steveson wasn't able to figure out last season was Cassar. Two 4-3 losses were the only blemishes on a year that saw a CKLV title, a runner-up Big 10 and a third place finish at the NCAA tournament. They say in any sport it's difficult to beat someone three times. His first meeting with Cassar which might not be until the Big 10's will be one of the most anticipated match-ups of the season.
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MATT STENCEL
Junior
CENTRAL MICHIGAN |
The pinning machine Matt Stencel recorded thirty-one wins last season and twenty of them were by fall. Finishing third at the Midlands, Stencel won a MAC title and finished seventh at the NCAA tournament. For record, it should be noted that Stencel finished one match shy of placing at CKLV. For those who like to argue between CKLV, Midlands and the Southern Scuffle, which of the three is the toughest in-season tournament, that says a lot right there.
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JORDAN WOOD
Junior
LEHIGH |
The two time EIWA champion ought to absolutely own the conference this year. Finishing fourth at the NCAA's, his only losses were to Cassar, Steveson and White.
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DEMETRIUS THOMAS
Senior
PITTSBURGH |
Thomas showed great potential quite a few times throughout last season. Although he lost 17-9 to Stencel, he also pinned him at 2:04. A fourth place finisher at CKLV, he won an ACC title and gave NCAA-Runner up White all he could handle in a 9-8 loss.
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MASON PARRIS
Sophomore
MICHIGAN |
An 11-4 victory over two-time All American Amar Dhesi of Oregon State gave Parris a boost that seemed to last him all year. He enjoyed being ranked above and seeded higher than an assortment of wrestlers all season, despite an inability to beat them. A round of twelve finish at the NCAA's and a fifth place finish at the Midlands showed his ability to be an All American this year. He also pinned Stencel in fourteen seconds.
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ANTHONY CASSIOPPI
Freshman
IOWA |
The circumstances surrounding the final season of Sam Stoll left some Hawkeye fans with a bitter taste in their mouths. At this point it seems fair to hope that new comer Cassioppi will make up for it. Finishing seventh at last year's Midlands, he pinned MAC runner-up Colton McKiernan of SIU-Edwardsville & defeated two time NCAA qualifier A.J. Nevills of Fresno State 12-8.
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CHASE SINGLETARY
Sophomore
OHIO STATE |
A disappointing BIG 10 tournament but a successful year that showed hints of great potential otherwise. Singletary placed sixth in Vegas and had a 15-9 victory over Parris as well as a 4:33 fall over Stencel.
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TANNER HALL
Senior
ARIZONA STATE |
If you've been wondering who among the rest could possibly challenge Cassar and Steveson, here is your answer. Arizona State's Tanner Hall. Third at the NCAA's in 2018, Hall won a Midlands title as a redshirt last season. His only loss in eight matches was a tight 3-1 sudden victory to Steveson.
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BRIAN ANDREWS
Junior
WYOMING |
Andrews had a solid season for the Cowboys last year placing seventh at CKLV and fourth at the BIG 12's. He should contend for All American honors this season.
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COLLIN JENSEN
Senior
NEBRASKA |
NCAA qualifier Collin Jensen of Nebraska highlighted his junior year with a 3-0 win over Iowa's Sam Stoll and by pinning Parris in 3:22.
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TRENT HILLGER
Sophomore
WISCONSIN |
Eighth at last year's NCAA tournament, Hillger has the talent and ability to become Coach Chris Bono's first four time All American. A wrestler that continuously improves he has the potential to place higher this season.
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ZACH ELAM
Sophomore
MISSOURI |
Missed being an All American by a nose hair last season. Third in Vegas and third at the MAC championships, Elam makes yet another Missouri native of the "show me state" showing exactly what home grown Missourians can do on the mat.
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TATE ORNDORFF
Sophomore
UTAH VALLEY |
Another reason to believe this could be UVU's best season yet. A finalist at CKLV, Orndorff finished third at the BIG 12 championships.
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JERE HEINO
Senior
CAMPBELL |
Laugh, raise your eyebrows, do whatever you need to. I'm cool with that. Here is your possible fourth I was talking about earlier. The darkhorse in the race. I spent 11 months in a casino, I'm fine with taking a gamble. Heino took a redshirt last season, forfeiting to a sixth place finish at the Midlands after losing 3-1 to Hall in the semi-finals. He majored Cassioppi 11-3.
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CARY MILLER
Senior
APPALACHIAN STATE |
Last year's Southern Conference Champion, Miller also finished a match shy of placing at the Southern Scuffle. This year he should place at the Scuffle, but will have a greater challenge repeating as SOCON champ with Heino's return.
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AJ NEVILLS
Senior
FRESNO STATE |
A two time NCAA qualifier Nevills was 24-9 last season. He finished fourth at the Midlands and runner-up at the BIG 12 tournament.
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COLTON MCKIERNAN
Sophomore
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE
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Another highlight as head coach Jason Spates continues to grow his young team. McKiernan finished second at last year's MAC championships and pinned Elam in 7:30.
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ANDREW GUNNING
Junior
NORTH CAROLINA |
Gunning did not qualify for last year's NCAA tournament but showed signs, including a round of twelve finish at Midlands that he is capable of doing so this season.
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BRANDON METZ
Sophomore
NORTH DAKOTA STATE |
Another wrestler who didn't qualify for last year's NCAA championships but very well could this season. Metz's greatest win last year was a 1:03 fall over Orndorff.
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GANNON GREMMEL
Junior
IOWA STATE |
And yet another Cyclone who continuously gets better under Dresser and staff. Gremmel finished eighth at the Scuffle, fifth at the BIG 12's and owns a 5-3 victory over Elam.
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HAYDN MALEY
Sophomore
STANFORD |
Maley placed seventh in Vegas and finished runner-up at the PAC 12's. He'll most likely be the starter for the Cardinal although Trevor Rasmussen could also start. Rasmussen defeated three time NCAA qualifier Conan Jennings of Northwestern 2-0 last season.
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BEN SULLIVAN
Sophomore
ARMY |
Suffered a bit of a hiccup at the EIWA tournament which most likely kept him from getting what would have otherwise been an at large entry into the NCAA tournament. He should vastly improve upon his sixth place finish within the conference and qualify for this year's championships.
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CARTER ISLEY
Junior
NORTHERN IOWA |
Isley has yet to qualify for the NCAA championships but I think he does in his final two years as a Panther.
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CHASE BEARD
Sophomore
MICHIGAN STATE |
Watching Beard wrestle last season, I saw an aggressive wrestler who continuously attacks lose a lot of close matches. One of the few heavy heavyweights left, I thought to myself that a little trimming mixed with heavy lifting this summer would do him wonders. The BIG 10 as it is in every weight class, is once again loaded here and I'm excited to see how he'll do. Sometimes that initial first year of varsity can be rough, but then wrestlers find their groove. I think that'll be the case with Beard.
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BRANDON NGATI
Senior
WEST VIRGINIA |
Despite finishing the season with a losing record, Ngati still managed to get himself to the NCAA tournament last season. He should end his career as a two time NCAA qualifier.
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QUINN MILLER
Sophomore
VIRGINIA |
He was a mere 5-4 last season, but it is the quality of two of those five wins that tells me that Miller will be an NCAA qualifier this season. He defeated Drexel's Joey Goodhart 7-1 and Elam 6-3.
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COLLIN COLUCCI
Senior
RUTGERS |
Colucci who owns a 3-1 sudden victory over SOCON champ Cary Miller, has yet to qualify for the NCAA's, but could in his final season as a Scarlet Knight.
And there's HWT. Reminds me of 197 in that there door is open in a lot of ways for a lot of "yet to be somebodies" to become somebodies in NCAA Division I wrestling. A lot of opportunity here.
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