A small before the new year tournament featuring some of the smaller schools in Ohio's third biggest city.
The #1 seed here should be Indiana's Jacob Morgan, with what should be a good semi-final matchup between Cleveland State's Logan Heil and Central Michigan's Brock Bergelin. Heil recently defeated Bergelin 7-6. The real opportunity here though is for Kent State's Jake Ferri. Currently unranked, he wrestled Morgan to a tight 6-5 decision and only lost to Heil 7-4. Wins over either should propel him back into the rankings. Wins over both, WILL propel him back into the rankings.
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| 125 lbs |
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| 133 lbs |
I predict the finals here will be between Indiana's Brock Hudkins and Kent State's Brendon Fenton in a match that heavily favors the Hoosier.
The should be final here is Central Michigan's Dresden Simon Vs Indiana's Cayden Rooks in a match that favors the Chippewa over the Hoosier, but will be more competitive than the wide gap between their rankings suggest. Look for a strong 3rd place finish out of Kent State's Louis Newell. I'd love to see Indiana's Paul Konrath in action, but at this point it's wishful thinking. He's hasn't wrestled a full schedule since the 2018-2019 season. We may never see him back in action again.
As far as I'm concerned Cleveland State's Marcus Robinson is one of the most underrated wrestlers in the country. An MAC finalist and NCAA qualifier last season & he doesn't even crack the top 33 in the rankings? His only loss thus far this season is to BIG 10 3rd place finisher Mike Van Brill of Rutgers. He has the opportunity here, on his home mat, in front of his home crowd to knock off Indiana's Graham Rooks and hopefully gain the attention of those who are currently overlooking him. With that said the thorn in the side here is Kent State's Kody Komara. Komara caught Robinson on his back in this tournament last season sticking him in the first period. While Rooks owns a 10-2 major over Komara, the last time the two met Komara took him to the line in a 4-3 decision. Then also factor in that Central Michigan's Corbyn Munson owns an 8-3 victory over Komara. For what it's worth, Robinson defeated Munson 8-5. I think we're looking at a fun semi-final, a fun final and a fun consolation final.
Central Michigan's Johnny Lovett is favored to win the Viking title here, but I wouldn't get caught sleeping against Kent State's Enrique Munguia. Lovett has already been upset twice this season and he'll want to be on his toes to avoid a third.
If you're a wrestler who is not ranked in the top 33, but you'll finish top 33 by season's end, I suppose there is a good chance you wrestle for Cleveland State. Riley Smucker marks another Viking who probably should be ranked in the top 33 who currently isn't. While I do think Central Michigan's Tracy Hubbard could give him some trouble in the finals, Smucker should win a title on his own turf.
I predict a final here between Indiana's Nicholas South and Kent State's Michael Ferree. Both have looked good at moments in their careers & it should prove to be a competitive final.
Predict a final here between Cleveland State's DeAndre Nassar and Indiana's D.J. Washington that favors the Hoosier on paper, but doesn't ignore the advantage the Viking could have competing on his home mat. Should be a good match. A question mark here is, can Colin McCracken of Kent State upset either one of these guys? The probability isn't high, but it isn't exactly zero either.
The final here should be between Cleveland State's Ben Smith and Indiana's Nick Willham. The last these two met, Smith took a 5-3 decision and I see a similar outcome when they meet again.
I don't see anyone even remotely challenging Stencel here. This will simply be an opportunity for the pinning machine from Oregon, as in Oregon, Ohio to rack up falls.
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Johnnythompsonnum1 at the time does not and plans on never charging for content. However, I would like to extend the coverage I do for the sport and can only do so through donation. Your contributions would help in a variety of ways including but not limited to the following examples below.
To purchase a camera in order to conduct interviews with wrestlers, coaches and wrestling personnel.
To start a wrestling podcast with Dennis Doderer, a former Iowa High School state runner-up, Michigan State wrestler & writer of NYPD BLUE
To help cover the cost of travel and lodging to attend more wrestling events
To create more content to where eventually Johnnythompsonnum1 is covering all Divisions of Collegiate Wrestling. Right now based on money, time & resource restraints Johnnythompsonnum1 is mainly NCAA DI with a bit of NAIA mixed in here and there. I want to eventually be able to cover DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, NCWA & all of Women’s wrestling.
If every reader of mine donated even $0.50 per month it’d be enough to achieve these goals. So please think about making a contribution to Johnnythompsonnum1 to help me extend the collegiate wrestling coverage that I do.
Send donnation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1
P.O. Box to send cash, check or money order coming soon.
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| 141 lbs |
The should be final here is Central Michigan's Dresden Simon Vs Indiana's Cayden Rooks in a match that favors the Chippewa over the Hoosier, but will be more competitive than the wide gap between their rankings suggest. Look for a strong 3rd place finish out of Kent State's Louis Newell. I'd love to see Indiana's Paul Konrath in action, but at this point it's wishful thinking. He's hasn't wrestled a full schedule since the 2018-2019 season. We may never see him back in action again.
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| 149 lbs |
As far as I'm concerned Cleveland State's Marcus Robinson is one of the most underrated wrestlers in the country. An MAC finalist and NCAA qualifier last season & he doesn't even crack the top 33 in the rankings? His only loss thus far this season is to BIG 10 3rd place finisher Mike Van Brill of Rutgers. He has the opportunity here, on his home mat, in front of his home crowd to knock off Indiana's Graham Rooks and hopefully gain the attention of those who are currently overlooking him. With that said the thorn in the side here is Kent State's Kody Komara. Komara caught Robinson on his back in this tournament last season sticking him in the first period. While Rooks owns a 10-2 major over Komara, the last time the two met Komara took him to the line in a 4-3 decision. Then also factor in that Central Michigan's Corbyn Munson owns an 8-3 victory over Komara. For what it's worth, Robinson defeated Munson 8-5. I think we're looking at a fun semi-final, a fun final and a fun consolation final.
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| 157 lbs |
Central Michigan's Johnny Lovett is favored to win the Viking title here, but I wouldn't get caught sleeping against Kent State's Enrique Munguia. Lovett has already been upset twice this season and he'll want to be on his toes to avoid a third.
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| 165 lbs |
If you're a wrestler who is not ranked in the top 33, but you'll finish top 33 by season's end, I suppose there is a good chance you wrestle for Cleveland State. Riley Smucker marks another Viking who probably should be ranked in the top 33 who currently isn't. While I do think Central Michigan's Tracy Hubbard could give him some trouble in the finals, Smucker should win a title on his own turf.
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| 174 lbs |
I predict a final here between Indiana's Nicholas South and Kent State's Michael Ferree. Both have looked good at moments in their careers & it should prove to be a competitive final.
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| 184 lbs |
Predict a final here between Cleveland State's DeAndre Nassar and Indiana's D.J. Washington that favors the Hoosier on paper, but doesn't ignore the advantage the Viking could have competing on his home mat. Should be a good match. A question mark here is, can Colin McCracken of Kent State upset either one of these guys? The probability isn't high, but it isn't exactly zero either.
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| 197 |
The final here should be between Cleveland State's Ben Smith and Indiana's Nick Willham. The last these two met, Smith took a 5-3 decision and I see a similar outcome when they meet again.
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| #11 Matt Stencel Central Michigan HWT |
I don't see anyone even remotely challenging Stencel here. This will simply be an opportunity for the pinning machine from Oregon, as in Oregon, Ohio to rack up falls.
=========
Johnnythompsonnum1 at the time does not and plans on never charging for content. However, I would like to extend the coverage I do for the sport and can only do so through donation. Your contributions would help in a variety of ways including but not limited to the following examples below.
To purchase a camera in order to conduct interviews with wrestlers, coaches and wrestling personnel.
To start a wrestling podcast with Dennis Doderer, a former Iowa High School state runner-up, Michigan State wrestler & writer of NYPD BLUE
To help cover the cost of travel and lodging to attend more wrestling events
To create more content to where eventually Johnnythompsonnum1 is covering all Divisions of Collegiate Wrestling. Right now based on money, time & resource restraints Johnnythompsonnum1 is mainly NCAA DI with a bit of NAIA mixed in here and there. I want to eventually be able to cover DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, NCWA & all of Women’s wrestling.
If every reader of mine donated even $0.50 per month it’d be enough to achieve these goals. So please think about making a contribution to Johnnythompsonnum1 to help me extend the collegiate wrestling coverage that I do.
Send donnation via Venmo to Stephen-Stonebraker-1
P.O. Box to send cash, check or money order coming soon.
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