2023 Southern Scuffle Preview = 141 lbs

 

We have 9 ranked in this weight class that returns two Southern Scuffle runner-ups who could very well meet in this year's finals. Let's take a look. 

#3
Andrew Alirez
Northern Colorado 

Andrew Alirez set the precedent when he upended #1 ranked Cole Matthews of Pittsburgh at the NWCA All-Star Classic 4-2. The Bear has finishes of 2nd & 3rd so far in his Southern Scuffle appearances & with a bronze & a silver already within his possession now is the time to go for gold. Against his top challenger, Allan Hart he is 2-0 defeating the Tiger twice by two point decisions, 6-4 & 3-1 s.v. He also owns a 4-0 win over Dylan Droegemueller. 

#4
Allan Hart
Missouri 

Owner of a Scuffle silver himself, Allan Hart is another title contender.  He owns a 9-2 decision over Angelo Martinoni & he's had his way with Droegemueller every time he's stepped on the mat with him.  An 8-3 decision & a 14-1 major decision, he pinned the Jackrabbit in 26 seconds the last the two met.

#3
Jake Bergeland
Minnesota 

Another title contender here is Golden Gopher Jake Bergeland. A 2:35 fall over Alirez on his resume, he also owns a 6-2 decision over Droegemueller & he's majored Martinoni twice by scores of 9-1 & 9-0. 

#11
Dylan Droegemueller
North Dakota State

His struggles with Hart make it difficult to see him making the Scuffle finals, but with his strong skills & abilities especially from the top position, seeing him in the consolation finals is a very real possibility. Really don't see him upsetting anyone, but I don't see him getting upset either. Every once in a while a wrestler will actually finish where they're seeded. How bout that? I predict that for Dylan Droegemueller. 

#12
Casey Swiderski
Iowa State 

The young Cyclone is a big part of the landscaping going on in Ames & what a time to really prove himself here at the Midlands. I would say at this point he's predicted to be on the award stand, somewhere in the middle. Now would be the time to pull off a huge upset & finish somewhere near the top. Iowa State is transitioning from a program that develops guys & sees them improve, to a program that they're already THERE as soon as they arrive. Now's a great time to make a statement. 

#16
Parker Filius
Purdue

With as strong as his season ended last year, I was expecting Parker Filius to put on his running shoes and just take off on a dead sprint this season. That hasn't happened yet. He's suffered some losses, including a headscratcher. While he wrestled well at CKLV, with a 7th place finish, I was expecting him to contend for the title. I still think he can do that here.  The fact that he owns a 7-3 decision over Hart tells me he can do that here. For the record he also owns a 9-6 decision over McKenzie Bell. 

#28
Carter Young 
Oklahoma State 

Here's a guy that could jump many spaces in the rankings by the time the Southern Scuffle is said and done. Cowboys often have a tendency to ride off into the sunset once the dust settles & Carter Young is no different. A 5-1 decision over Berge on his belt, I'd call him as good as a darkhorse finalist. 

#32
Jason Miranda
Stanford 

Stanford has quite a few place-winner candidates this tournament & I would love to see all those who bring home a medal, take it and drop it on Bernard Muir's door. That man has as much business being an athletic director as Freddy Krueger has babysitting. I digress. Miranda is most certainly a contender for a top 8 finish this Scuffle. He owns an 11-1 major decision over Heath Gonyer. 

The best of the unranked talent? 

U.R. 
Zach Price 
Gardner Webb 

Place your bets Bob Barker & Rod Roddy cause the Price, Zach Price that is may very well be right by the end of the Scuffle. The Runnin' Bulldog with an 8-2 record has somehow or another been forgotten by just about every ranking committee out there. This is a guy that nearly made All American in 2021. No matter, he'll be remembered soon enough. He owns a 6:25 fall over Hart. 

U.R.
McKenzie Bell
Rider 

As inconsistent as he may be, you can't overlook the fact that McKenzie Bell has both an 8-6 decision over Hart & a 9-6 decision over Filius. The Bell, make that McKenzie Bell may very well toll for those he is about to face. 

U.R. 
Angelo Martinoni
Bakersfield 

Angelo Martinoni has shown to be very tough at various times throughout his career. He's gonna have to work extremely hard in order to crack the top 8 here, but I do think a top 12 finish is most certainly within his grasp. 

U.R. 
Heath Gonyer
Appalachian State 

At first glance Heath Gonyer doesn't seem a likely candidate to be within the top 12 here, but these are the types of tournaments that favor him. He performs well in such situations. He nearly placed top 8 here last season.