Cornell
Line them up, one by one, no matter who Cornell's Yianni Diakomihalis has had thrown in front of him, he's beaten them. Like he did at CKLV he'll have some close matches, but at the end of the day 0 will still be the number written in the loss column.
To think that we have two returning Southern Scuffle champions, one of them a two-timer and neither is the odds on favorite to win a title this season. It just goes to show you how good Diakomihalis really is. After a disappointing season last year, Oklahoma State's Kaden Gfeller is back and looking pretty tough, with a recent 9-3 decision over All American Dom Demas of Oklahoma. His only loss on the season thus far, is to Jaden Abas of Stanford who beat the Cowboy soundly 15-6. This is not a guaranteed semi-final or even a guaranteed match, but if the two should meet again, I think Gfeller will give him a better match.
What makes this bracket even more insane, is that not only are returning champions Gfeller and Abas not favored to win, they're not even favored to make the finals. Rankings point to North Carolina State's Tariq Wilson getting the #2 seed and a probability of Appalachian State's Jonathan Millner receiving the #3. Virginia Tech's Bryce Andonian and Duke's Josh Finesilver will be two more challenges, in the road to even getting on the award stand.
North Carolina's Zach Sherman has thus far had a rocky start to the season, but it should be noted that his last five matches have all been against top quality competition. He's lost three 1 point heartbreakers in a row, and recently a 5-2 match to Millner. Based on a 2-5 record and a lower ranking, he probably won't receive a high seed. Nevertheless, the true calling of a Darkhorse is an entrant of a contest who is not expected to succeed a top level. Talent wise, the Tar Heel can make the finals & those close matches I was saying that Diakomihalis will have this tournament? Sherman is one of them.
What makes this bracket even more insane, is that not only are returning champions Gfeller and Abas not favored to win, they're not even favored to make the finals. Rankings point to North Carolina State's Tariq Wilson getting the #2 seed and a probability of Appalachian State's Jonathan Millner receiving the #3. Virginia Tech's Bryce Andonian and Duke's Josh Finesilver will be two more challenges, in the road to even getting on the award stand.
North Carolina's Zach Sherman has thus far had a rocky start to the season, but it should be noted that his last five matches have all been against top quality competition. He's lost three 1 point heartbreakers in a row, and recently a 5-2 match to Millner. Based on a 2-5 record and a lower ranking, he probably won't receive a high seed. Nevertheless, the true calling of a Darkhorse is an entrant of a contest who is not expected to succeed a top level. Talent wise, the Tar Heel can make the finals & those close matches I was saying that Diakomihalis will have this tournament? Sherman is one of them.
With the eight wrestlers listed above plus some others I'll mention below, it's going to be an extremely tough order for George Mason's Alex Madrigal to find his way back onto the award stand after placing 5th at the last Scuffle. He's finally starting to get a little bit of respect and recognition, but man in a loaded bracket like this, to place would permanently mean that he'd get the acknowledgement that he deserves. 10-1 on the season, Millner is thus far his only loss. However his season could still use a couple of top notch victories and a top notch performance. This tournament provides plenty of opportunity for both.
Other talent to watch this tournament...
#23 Josh Edmond of Missouri
#33 Luke Nichter of Drexel
Peyton Omania of Michigan State
Michael Blockhus of Minnesota
Chris Sandoval of Northern Colorado
Other talent to watch this tournament...
#23 Josh Edmond of Missouri
#33 Luke Nichter of Drexel
Peyton Omania of Michigan State
Michael Blockhus of Minnesota
Chris Sandoval of Northern Colorado
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