In 18 years of following collegiate wrestling as I have, this is undisputed, the toughest I have ever seen the Navy Classic look. A tournament that in years past you had to win in order to have much merit on your ranking or significance within your season. Today, it's loaded enough to wear placing in the top six, is an accomplishment worth noting on one's career.
Let's take a look at each weight class
125 lbs
Last year's champion Rayvon Foley of Michigan State who is currently ranked #6 in the nation should receive the top seed here. He'll have plenty of challenge including that of #13 Killian Cardinale of Old Dominion. Even more ironic, is that Michael McGee the other 125 lbs'er for the Monarchs is even more of a threat than is Cardinale. He's taken Foley into sudden victory before and the last time he wrestled Cardinale, he tech'd him. Another wrestler to look out for here is #20 Joey Prata of Virginia Tech who is continuously showing the wrestling world how tough a backup can be. Filling in for an injured Korbin Myers, Prata has more than earned his #20 ranking.
Not even close to being done here yet.
Air Force's Sid Flores is itching for a spot in the rankings as he continues to win noteworthy matches. Then there's the ever so elusive Gage Curry of American who likes sneak in whenever he can with an upset here or there. You have to think Campbell's Korbin Meink a Southern Conference Champ is a chess piece waiting to make a move and there's also Alan Kilic whom I'm sure wants to earn a medal wrestling on a home mat in front of his home crowd. Rutger's Nic Aguilar and Kent State's Jake Ferri will also fight for a spot in the top six.
Then if that isn't enough to show you how packed 125 lbs is here, there's also Luke Werner of Lock Haven who is currently redshirting, who could enter the tournament. His backup is a guy named TyShawn White who is tough enough to place top six here as well.
133 lbs
Last year's champ Casey Cobb is looking to add another home title to his resume but it looks to be easier said than done. Even though Devan Turner of Oregon State is the highest ranked wrestler here at #11, I don't think he'll be the best of the competition. I reserve that spot for currently unranked D.J. Fehlman of Lock Haven, who if he spends the majority of his matches on top could rack up a serious amount of points.
I'm anxious to see the A vs B Vs C outcome of what could be between #18 Noah Gonser of Campbell, Mario Guillen of Ohio and Tye Varndell of Oregon State. Guillen seems to have Gonser's number as he beat him two weeks ago. Yet Varndell beat Guillen this past week and I can't see Varndell beating Gonser. That makes things interesting doesn't it?
Then of course Sammy Alvarez of Rutgers despite being upset recently has a shot in here as well. Collin Gerardi of Virginia Tech is another one to keep an eye on and while both could just as easily fail to place, both Tim Rooney of Kent State and Garrett Pepple of Michigan State are capable of top six finishes as well.
141 lbs
#16 Josh Heil of Campbell won a title here at 149 lbs last season and #14 Sa'Derian Perry of Old Dominion took runner-up honors. Most likely not the finals match we'll see with #6 Kyle Shoop of Lock Haven being the forerunner for a top seed. While having suffered a loss to #1 Luke Pletcher of Ohio State, I'm anxious to see how #18 Mitch Moore of Virginia Tech looks here against the likes of Shoop, Perry and Heil. I've been thinking for a while he's better than his #18 ranking but I'm not sure how much better. This tournament should reveal.
#19 Grant Willits of Oregon State and #20 Evan Cheek of Cleveland State are also in the hunt for good showings. Cheek especially as he's the face of Viking wrestling at the moment.
Anxious to see what Sal Profaci of American can do here as he continues to fight for recognition and respect in his new home after leaving Michigan. Then you have Peter Lapari of Rutgers who could make some noise as well as Alex Madrigal of George Mason.
The one wrestler you won't hear anyone at Flo or Track say much if anything about is Bucknell's Joey Gould. A guy that if on, will place top six.
149 lbs
If seedings are based off of rankings then #14 Kizhan Clarke would have to be your number one. Although no one else is currently ranked in the bracket, it'd still be a statement for Clarke to win the title. For one perhaps we'll see the return of Jared Prince whom most everyone in the wrestling world is wondering where he is. He's champ material without a doubt. Colston DiBlasi of George Mason placed second here last year which places him in the discussion & then there's also 2018 NCAA Division II Champion Daxton Gordon of Oregon State.
Not Done Yet.
Brent Moore of Virginia Tech has to be coming into this tournament on a high after sticking Sammy Sasso of Ohio State. Is Gerard Angelo of Rutgers for real or was his dismantling of Bakersfield's Russell Rohlfing more of a reflection of Rohlfing? It's a question I'm sure will be answered. Also look for American's Alec Hagan to contend for spot in the top six.
Mason Smith of Campbell going to wrestle here? Don't know. Then last but not least is Air Force's Alec Opsal whom I'm waiting to start wrestling like he's capable of. Hasn't yet, might here.
157 lbs
#4 Larry Early of Old Dominion won a title here last season and he's slotted to win another this season but he'll more than have his work cut out for him. #14 B.C. LaPrade of Virginia Tech and #18 Alex Klucker look to duke it out for a spot in the finals against him. Yet with Campbell's Austin Kraisser, Bucknell's Zach Hartman and Oregon State's Hunter Willits (who took second here last year) good luck even making the semi-finals. Rutgers Mike Van Brill has looked good lately. I wouldn't put a top six finish past him. Then either Bobcat from Ohio be it Nick Vestal or Zac Carson will fight for a place in the top six.
I'd be a fool to think that Connor Prince won't fight hard for placement and Jake Tucker of Michigan State has been known to wrestle better than his prediction as well. I'd like to think that perhaps Peter Pappas of Edinboro has a trick or two up his sleeve as well. Doesn't seem promising but stranger things have happened.
165 lbs
The competition drops off a bit here as it isn't as loaded as the fist five weight classes. #7 Daniel McFadden of Virginia Tech looks to take home the top honors. What fascinates me here most is what I see being a potential semi-finals match between #10 Tanner Skidgel of Navy and #17 Quentin Perez of Campbell. The monkey wrench here is Michigan State's Drew Hughes, whom I'm rather surprised isn't in the top twenty. Then of course I'll also be watching the Citadel's Dazjon Casto to see if he can finally get that high quality win over a ranked opponent he's been gunning for.
174 lbs
Like 165 lbs, 174 lbs isn't as loaded as 125 through 157. Of all the Midshipmen hoping to win titles in front of a home audience the best bet on paper is #16 Spencer Carey. I think he should. Edinboro's Jacob Oliver and Rutger's Joe Grello issue the most challenge. As to contenders for top six placements? Kent State's Andrew McNally should wrestle well enough and I would think that Alex Cramer of Old Dominion as well as he's been wrestling thus far this season should as well.
184 lbs
Getting back to the status of a little more loaded #10 Hunter Bolen of Virginia Tech will most likely receive the top seed. #11 Andrew Morgan of Campbell and #13 Tanner Harvey Navy's rep will battle it out for a spot in the finals. I see the fourth seed here being Cam Caffey of Michigan State who Bolen better not over look. A fight will be between Lock Haven's Corey Hazel, Ohio's Hunter Yeargan and Old Dominion's Antonio Agee.
197 lbs
On paper the finals match we're looking at here is between #14 Josh Roetman of Navy and #16 Jordan Pagnano of Rutgers but I'm not sold it'll unfold that way. As well as Bucknell's Drew Phipps has looked as of late, I think he's a title contender. Then there's the other Scarlet Knight in the discussion Matt Correnti. Neither Virginia Tech's Stan Smeltzer or Old Dominion's Tim Young has looked as sharp as I thought they would this season, but both are more than capable of placing in the top six here.
HWT
#10 Jere Heino of Campbell should be the champion here although I can see #19 Christian Colucci of Rutgers standing a Darkhorse's chance at giving him a match. I'd like to see Michigan State's Chase Beard have a good tournament. Air Force's Kayne Hutchison and Virginia Tech's John Borst will battle it out as well.
26 wrestlers ranked in the top twenty competing in this tournament. Each weight class having what should prove to be some very exciting matches. More than just the finals this year! Some weight classes will have excitement straight from the get go. Quarter-final and semi-final matches most certainly worth watching.
197 lbs
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