Now some do write-up previews solely concerned about who might win the tournament. That's great in all, but a tournament of this size? Of this prestigious nature? Oh no, we can't only care about who might take home gold & who might take home silver. This is the type of competition where we gotta ask ourselves who will place in the top 8! Earning a medal here is every bit as difficult as it will be in any of the end of the year Regions. I'd argue that earning a top 8 finish here in many ways can be as challenging as earning one at nationals. This tournament is no joke.
So may argue that ole JT#1 takes it a step too far in trying to figure out who the top 12 will be, but if I've learned anything over the years, the round many of us known as either the R12 or the bloodround is often where some of the best wrestling takes place. I can't help but think of tournaments this tough, this important anything less than 12.
I've decided to tackle these particular previews differently than I ever have before. I normally post a collage of photos of each wrestler & then talk about where I would seed him and why. This time I'm simply going to go through all of the wrestlers I feel are going to contend for a top 12 finish one by one. Figure might as well try something new and see if it's a hit or a miss.
Here's who I'm watching 125 lbs, Midwest Classic....
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| U.R. Dawson Collins Colorado Mesa |
I must be missing something because for the life of me I cannot understand why Dawson Collins isn't currently ranked. He's a returning All American who took 5th last season, plus he finished runner-up at the Midwest Classic last season. I most certainly feel that he will contend for a title this season. Wins over Weston DiBlasi, Kevin Radcliff, Jaden Verhagen & Christian Mejia, there isn't anyone in this bracket that he can't beat.
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| #10 Christian Mejia McKendree |
Never quite know what to expect out of Christian Mejia. An All American himself in 2021, he actually won this tournament last season. However, that does not guarantee him title #2 & with his inconsistency, as well as his current ranking it's difficult to say where he'll be seeded. What he has going for him is that along with being champion here last year, he has wins over both Collins as well as Brandon Mendoza. What he has going against him is that he has losses to Studd Morris, Mendoza, & Collins.
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| #4 Brandon Mendoza Tiffin |
Channeling the spirit of Rick Sanders in looks if not a little bit in style, as mentioned Brandon Mendoza owns a victory over Mejia. He was also one match shy of earning All American honors at the NCAA Division II championships last season. I would consider him a title threat here at the Midwest Classic.
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| #3 Kevin Radcliff Limestone |
Here's another extremely tough wrestler that will be potentially (team is there, but of course we never know for sure on individuals until day of tournament) competing at the Midwest Classic. 7th in the nation last year, Radcliff owns an 8-4 victory over Zach Shupp.
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| #7 Studd Morris Central Oklahoma |
Studd Morris has been looking exceptional thus far this season. Currently 15-1, as mentioned previously he owns a victory over last year's Midwest Classic champion Christian Mejia. If Morris can continue down the road he's going, he's going to be very difficult to beat.
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| #8 Quade Smith Chadron State |
A bit inconsistent but has definitely shown that he's one to think of when considering who all at 125 lbs will be taking home a medal. He stuck Western Colorado's Cody Fatzinger last season who went on to place 8th at the NCAA Division II tournament. He also owns a 4-0 win over Patrick Allis.
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| #9 Logan Seliga UNC-Pembroke |
Along with being ranked within the top 10, Logan Seliga also owns a very impressive 10-0 major decision over Zach Shupp.
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| #11 Tommaso Frezza Central Missouri |
Binghamton transfer Tommaso Frezza is so far making quite the splash in NCAA Division II wrestling. He's already shown us what he can do with wins over both Allis & Collins. The Midwest Classic gives him full range to really showcase his skills and see where he stands. He's currently ranked #11, but it's a very real possibility that he could show us he's way better than that.
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| #12 Patrick Allis Western Colorado |
Very anxious to see how Patrick Allis ends up doing. As a freshman during the 19'-20' season he made it to the finals taking a Midwest Classic runner-up finish. With COVID-19 providing the extra season he spent sophomore #1 & sophomore #2 seasons at 133 lbs, earning a 6th place finish at the Midwest Classic this past season. For record he was an All American in 2021 & he's beaten Collins twice. Once 7-6 & then majoring him 15-6.
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| U.R. Weston DiBlasi Colorado School of Mines |
The DiBlasi's have always fascinated me. An unorthodox style of wrestling & really an unorthodox style of just about everything they do in life. They march to the beat of their own drum. Brother Colston was always one I enjoyed watching. Weston actually graduated from the University of Missouri & is wrestling his final season of eligibility at Colorado School of Mines. He currently has a 5-3 record, a notable match, a 3-1 loss to Collins. If is season turns out anything at all like those of his older brother, then we could very well be looking at a top 8 Midwest Classic place-winner that I'll bet right now, few other than me are considering.
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| U.R. Zach Shupp Newberry |
Said earlier that Radcliff owns a victory over Shupp, well Shupp also owns a victory over Radcliff. 7-3 to be precise.
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| U.R. Jaden Verhagen Mary |
Jaden Verhagen strikes me as a potential top 12 wrestler here, that could have an outside shot at making it into the top 8. It would definitely take a few upsets but for what it's worth he owns a 12-3 major decision over Garrett Ricks an NJCAA champion who is currently wrestling Division I for Wyoming.
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| U.R. Shane Corrigan UW-Parkside |
The freshman has thus far looked great in his first varsity season as a Ranger. 14-2, he took two time NCAA DII champion Cole Laya of West Liberty to a 7-5 match. There may be a lot of experience in this bracket he has to overcome but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did. We could be looking at our champ.
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| U.R. Trevon Gray |
It seems every now and again someone will come out of absolutely nowhere to win a tournament. I'm trying really hard not to let that happen to me & I think I might actually see one for once before it happens. We haven't seen a whole lot out of Trevon Gray of Pittsburgh-Johnstown yet, but what we have seen of him involved him taking two time NCAA DII champion Laya into the tiebreakers before dropping a 1-0 decision. How telling is that? Well, we'll see here at the Midwest Classic!
I watched that Laya vs. Gray match. Kid has the talent...get confidence in him and WATCH OUT!
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