Class of 2020: 141 lbs

Now for a look at the seniors at 141 lbs that I have followed the past 4-5 years.

LUKE PLETCHER
OHIO STATE
Career Record: 111-21
NCAA: 18'4th, 19'4th
BIG 10: 17'4th, 18'2nd, 19'2nd, 20'1st
CKLV: 18'1st, 19'3rd, 20'1st

During his sophomore & junior seasons I felt that Pletcher had the talent and ability to be an NCAA champion, but it seemed to me that he was always holding something back on the mat. Almost as if he were afraid of making a mistake or doing something wrong.  Like he had something within that he couldn't let loose.  Then this season as a senior, whatever that was, like a caged beast dying for freedom, he let it out.   Throughout the first three years of his time as a buckeye, I'd describe him as a conservative, low scoring, defensive wrestler.  Yet this past season as a senior, he was one of the most aggressive, looking for points wrestlers of the season.  I really think he would have won the national title this year.  I really do.

He's taking his skills to Pittsburgh where he will be an assistant coach for the 2020-2021 season & I think this will have a dramatic effect on Cole Matthews.  I see Matthews being one of the most improved wrestlers next season & it'll be as a result of Pletcher.

MITCH McKEE
MINNESOTA
CAREER RECORD: 92-43
NCAA: 17'R12, 18'R12, 19'6th
BIG 10: 17'6th, 18'4th, 19'4th, 20'6th
CKLV: 17'4th, 20'2nd
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 17'6th 

I first became aware of McKee do to a news story when after winning a state title as a sophomore his opponent came up and gave McKee's dad (who was suffering from cancer) a hug & told him to stay strong.  The more I read up on McKee, the more I became a fan of the quiet & mild mannered wrestler who was also actively involved in choir and band.   After losing in the blood round two seasons in a row, it was rewarding to see him finally win & secure All American honors as a junior last season.  I suppose to him that was the highlight of his career, although I personally feel that making the finals of CKLV this season was very impressive.

TRISTAN MORAN
WISCONSIN
Career Record: 109-35
NCAA: Two Time NCAA Qualifier
BIG 10: 19'6th, 20'4th
RENO: 17'3rd
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 17'6th
MIDLANDS: 19'7th, 20'6th 

Tristan Moran's wrestling career is best described as Forrest Gump described life.  It was a box of chocolates, you never knew what you were going to get.  I think that's what made watching him fun.  Frustrating as a guy who likes to make his own rankings & predictions, but fun.  I don't think there was any at the weight class Moran couldn't beat, but at the same time I don't know if there were too many ranked #25 and above who couldn't beat him.  When he was on, he was on.  The year Ronnie Perry made the NCAA finals, Moran pinned him.  So despite never standing on the award stand at the NCAA's, he was more than capable.

EVAN CHEEK
CLEVELAND STATE
Career Record: 123-39
NCAA: Two Time Qualifier
EWL: 17'3rd, 18'1st
MAC: 20'2nd
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 18'7th, 20'7th

Cleveland State hasn't had a whole lot of ups in recent years & it was very rewarding to see Evan Cheek have as much success as he had for the Vikings.  Winning the EWL title as a true junior & making the MAC finals as a redshirt senior this season was pretty cool.  I love it when kids go to these smaller programs with a mission to help put not only themselves, but their school on the map.  The sport of wrestling needs more kids like Cheek. 

KYLE SHOOP
LOCK HAVEN
Career Record: 146-62
NCAA: Four Time NCAA Qualifer & 19'7th
EWL: 17'3rd, 19'5th, 18'3rd
MAC: 20'5th
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 18'4th, 19'5th, 20'4th 

Another Lock Haven Eagle that was an absolute monster in the top position.  You may have his # on your feet, but if you didn't do your homework & you choose down against him, you'll pay. It was that simple. 

SA'DERIAN PERRY
OLD DOMINION
Career Record: 85-60
NCAA: Three time Qualifier & 18'8th
MAC: 18'3rd, 19'4th, 20'4th 

A wrestler who really had the odds stacked against him various times throughout his career, who exemplified what wrestlers are by continuously making the most out of his situation.  In a lot of ways, Perry is an example of the hardships that wrestling has faced as a sport.  Coming from Florida, he wrestled in a state that produces an ample amount of talent at the high school level, but provided only one (has three now) collegiate opportunity & none at the Division I level. He then leaves home to compete for Eastern Michigan University where after achieving All American honors for the Eagles, is given a hard slap in the face by the school by being told that he has to find a new home because they're cutting the wrestling program. 

So he finds a new home at Old Dominion & two years later faces the same inequitable fate.  He qualifies twice for the NCAA championships, representing Monarchs & in turn they slap him straight across the face by showing him through the elimination of wrestling that what he did is not important to them. 

A psychology major, I'd like Perry to ask both Scott R Whetherbee & Camden Selig what in good conscious, from a perspective of something other than the almighty dollar does cutting wrestling do for the well-being of the students who attend a university? 

It makes me sick to my stomach that Perry attended two universities that have in turn treated him so poorly.  It is though something that our sport has faced a multitude of times.  I'd like to say it's few and far between but Perry is a tragedy of 100's of thousands.  And no, I am not exaggerating.

The last thing I want to say about Perry is that he also helps to illustrate why I feel that we as wrestling fans could stand to put a little more emphasis and importance into the actual wrestling season, instead of making it all about the post season.   The year Perry made All American status as the NCAA's?  He wrestled in and failed to place at both CKLV & the Midlands. It's not a shot on Perry but instead evidence that those tournaments are tough & placing at them ought to be held in higher regard.

SHAKUR LANEY
OHIO
Career Record: 85-41
NCAA: Three time NCAA qualifier
MAC: 16'5th, 17'1st, 20'WC
MIDLANDS: 17'5th, 20'5th 

A career full of ups and downs, I always thought Laney looked like he was a pretty cool guy.  I was sad to see his final MAC tournament not turn out too well, but I was glad to see him wrestle well at the Midlands earlier this season.  I know one thing that he and I have in common, we would both like to see the Cleveland Browns win a superbowl. 

NOAH BAUGHMAN
CORNELL
Career Record: 77-37
NCAA: One Time Qualifier
EIWA: 18'2nd, 20'3rd

True Grit.  That's the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Noah Baughman.  Every time he stepped on the mat, he came to wrestle. He wasn't gonna give you a battle, he was gonna give you the whole war.  To this day I still can't believe that after wrestling NCAA champion Darian Cruz to a 1-0 loss that he was left home in 2018.  I called him the best wrestler to be left home from the NCAA's that season & I still feel that way.   In 2019, Cornell's lineup didn't have a place for Baughman but he readjusted, put on some muscle & came back to wrestle at 141 lbs this season.  It gives testimony to tough.   Wrestled his heart out through the EIWA consolations to finish third & had the NCAA tournament took place, it wouldn't have surprised me at all to have seen him grind his way to All American status.

SAL PROFACI
AMERICAN
Career Record: 81-54
NCAA: Two time Qualifier
BIG 10: 17'WC
EIWA: 20'WC
MIDLANDS: 20'8th 

He was only a two time state place winner in the state of New Jersey & both of his finishes were fourth. Not exactly the resume you'd expect for a Division I wrestler, which is what made cheering him all the easier.  As said before I'm a fan of the underdog.  While everyone else seems to get all excited about the blue chipper four time state champs (and I'm a fan of them too), I enjoy watching the "not supposed to's" do exactly what it is they're "not supposed to do." 

I think by now I've also made it apparent that I'm a fan of redemption.  After a pretty solid rookie campaign at Michigan, things sort of fell apart for him.  He put himself back together & found a new home at American.  Had a tremendous season.  I really think he did in spite of what others may feel in regards to a bad EIWA tournament.  The way I see it, bad tournaments happen.  They suck & you wish they wouldn't have happened, but they shouldn't define someone's entire career or even their season.  Profaci placed 8th at a tough Midlands and he defeated EIWA champ Trybus 7-5 earlier this season. He also defeated MAC champion Dresdon Simon of Central Michigan 6-5. 

A bit of trivia, he's not the only Sal Profaci to have wrestled at the Division I level.  His father Sal Profaci was a three time NCAA qualifier for Central Connecticut State in 87', 89 & 90'.   Shame that had Sal wanted to have followed in his father's footsteps he would have been unable too.  Another program we've lost.

CHRIS DEBIEN
CHATTANOOGA
Career Record: 68-40
NCAA: Two time Qualifier
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: 17'1st, 18'3rd, 19'1st
SOUTHERN SCUFFLE: 19'6th 

A four time state champion out of Tennessee, Debien took the only option the Volunteer state gave him to wrestle in his home state & suited up for the Mocs of Chattanooga.  I was looking forward to seeing him improve upon his sixth place Scuffle finish & to him winning his third SOCON title.   Unfortunately right at the beginning of the season I received a message in my twitter inbox from one of the Chattanooga coaches informing me that Chris had suffered a career ending injury.  Nevertheless winning two SOCON titles in your first three years of collegiate wrestling is very impressive. 

Debien's sister played soccer at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, another school that used to have a wrestling program.  Matter of fact all along that interstate you go past or near a long list of schools that used to have wrestling programs.   Middle Tennessee State, Sewanee, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Florida.... At one time Chattanooga's travel schedule wasn't near as far.  Thought I'd throw that in there.