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In my opinion this could turn out to be the craziest of all the weight classes at the BIG XII tournament. For one the parity is quite peculiar, in particularly when speaking of Oklahoma State's Joe Smith. I sure wish I knew what was going on inside of that guy's head & what's going on in regards to him period. The two time BIG XII champion at times looks like his old self. Against Sam Colbray of Iowa State, he looked like he wanted to be there. Solid and smooth, cruised to a 5-2 victory. Yet against Bryce Steiert of Northern Iowa, he looked like he'd never wrestled a day in his life, getting manhandled in a 13-2 major decision. What makes this even more bizarre is that Colbray defeated Steiert 7-6. Your head hurt yet?
Honestly I can Smith turning it on and winning this thing as if it were fate. I can also see him facing his Achilles heel, Lorenzo De La Riva of North Dakota State early on, losing & walking out the door to never be seen or heard from again, allowing his next opponent to receive a bye in the consolations. De La Riva has only won three matches this season, but one of them has been against Smith.
Not to put the entire focus on Smith, Oklahoma's Anthony Mantanona as far as I'm concerned is in the running for most improved wrestler of the year. I think the sophomore him of this season would likely tech the freshman him of last season. A simple adjustment would have turned a loss to Colbry into a win and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the young Sooner in the finals.
I also give Utah Valley's Kimball Bastian a darkhorse shot at the title as well. He's a man of attrition. He knows how to get tough when the time calls for it.
The weight class is taking the top five to the NCAA tournament. As to those sixth and lower, Wyoming's Hayden Hastings could steal a spot as could Fresno State's Jackson Hemauer. The Bulldogs might start Brandon Martino instead but I look for it to be Hemauer.
North Dakota State's Luke Weber I don't see qualifying for the NCAA tournament, but it is plausible that he places in the top 8.
Match De La Riva up in the right first round match up and he could place in the top eight as well.
How I would seed?
#1 Bryce Steiert senior Northern Iowa
#2 Sam Colbray senior Iowa State
#3 Anthony Mantanona sophomore Oklahoma
#4 Joe Smith senior Oklahoma State
#5 Kimball Bastian senior Utah Valley
#6 Hayden Hastings sophomore Wyoming
#7 Jackson Hemauer sophomore Fresno State
#8 Cody Surratt junior Air Force
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