Starting off where we left off at 125 lbs, it's now time to take a look at 133 lbs. Now this is one, tough weight class. We're looking at four of the top eight Midwest Classic Place-winners returning from last season. This includes 8 returning NCAA DII qualifiers, two of which are All Americans. 13 of those ranked in the top 20. Earning a top 12 position here is worth noting on your wrestling resume. This is why I say the Midwest Classic is nearly as good as the DII tournament itself.
Here are the top dawgs.....
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| #11 Collin Metzgar Colorado Mesa |
Metzgar is to wrestling what Smuckers is to jam. With a name like Metzgar, you have to be good. Collin Metgar won the Midwest Classic last season & will look to defend the title this season. Among his victories against the upcoming competition, he owns 6-4 & 6-5 victories over Reece Barnhardt & a 10-7 victory over Eric Bartos.
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| #12 Reece Barnhardt Mary |
Runner-up here last season to Metzgar, Reece Barnhardt certainly had a better NCAA DII tournament appearance than his Maverick rival. Finishing 4th in the nation, he hasn't quite had the "on fire" start to 2022-2023 that I would have expected. Keep in mind last season he handed DII champion Jonathan Andreatta a 6:24 fall, right here in Indianapolis. He also has a 4-3 victory over Eric Bartos & a 9-6 victory over Brandon Borlinghaus.
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| #4 Eric Bartos Mercyhurst |
8th here a year ago, the way Eric Bartos has been wrestling as of late, I wouldn't be surprised to see him much higher on the award stand this tournament. He's a three NCAA DII qualifier, one match shy of All American honors last year. A tournament of this importance would help him throughout the remainder of the year in Regions as well as the national tournament. The better the does, I would think the better of a seed he would get in those tournaments.
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| U.R. Isaiah Delacerda Adams State |
I'm not sure why Isaiah Delacerda isn't currently ranked or why he hasn't wrestled yet this season. He's on the current roster & what I do know is that if he enters this tournament, he'll contend for a title. 7th in the nation last season, he owns a 7-4 victory over last year's champion Collin Metzgar. He also has a 7-2 victory over Manuel Leija and he pinned Mason Turner in 1:24.
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| #6 Elijah Lusk Lander |
An NCAA DII qualifier last season, I definitely feel that Elijah Lusk will contend for place-winner status at the 43rd Midwest Classic. Among victories against the competition, he has a 5-3 decision over Gavin Quiocho, a 9-2 decision over Tim DeCatur & a 10-2 major over Ben Fielding.
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| #8 Quentrevion Campbell Chadron State |
NIACC NJCAA transfer Quentrevion Campbell, has thus far wrestled well enough this season to earn himself the #8 ranking. Among his victories, a 7-3 decision over Reece Barnhardt.
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| #9 Dylan Lucas Central Oklahoma |
An Oklahoma State transfer, Dylan Lucas has thus far looked very good competing for the Broncos this season. Although he hasn't faced any of the competition he will see here yet, he did take his former DI teammate Reece Witcraft to the line in a 12-10 decision. It is thus far his only loss on the year.
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| #7 Gavin Quiocho Glenville State |
Coming all the way down from 149 lbs from last season, seeing Gavin Quiocho at 133 really surprised me. He looked plenty big enough for 149 lbs & his 30-13 record is testimony enough stand by that statement. I wondered if the massive cut might effect his performance, but so far he's looks just as good at 133 as he did at 149, if not better. 15-3 into the 22'-23' season, he owns a 3-2 decision over Eric Bartos.
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| #15 Brandon Borlinghaus Drury |
4th at last season's Midwest Classic, you know good and well that Borlinghaus will be looking for medal #2 & preferably the one cloaked in gold. Against the competition, he has an 8-6 s.v. against Eric Bartos.
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| #13 Kaden Anderlik Upper Iowa |
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| #14 Ryan Wehner Lake Erie |
Along the same lines as Anderlik, Ryan Wehner is one who will contend for a top 12 showing here, maybe even better.
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| #16 Tim DeCatur Newberry |
Another DII wrestler with DI experience, Tim DeCatur qualified for NCAA DII championships last season
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| #17 Ben Fielding Belmont Abbey |
An NCAA DII qualifier in 2021, you know Ben Fielding will be looking for a good showing here.
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| #20 Mason Turner Fort Hays State |
What sticks out to me most about Mason Turner going into the Midwest Classic is that he pinned Collin Metzgar in only 43 seconds the last time that they met. An NCAA DII qualifier in 2020, a top 8 finish here would do him a world of good. He's more than capable of it.
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| U.R. Manuel Leija Davenport |
Here's a guy I'm anxious to see against some of the top competition at 133 lbs. Manuel Leija was an NCAA DII qualifier at 125 lbs last season. We'll get an opportunity to see him 8 lbs up here at the Midwest Classic.
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| U.R. Franky Medina King |
Currently unranked here's a guy I can see coming in here and opening up some eyes with a solid performance. He was once match shy of placing last season & I wouldn't put it past him to pull off a few upsets.
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| U.R. Alex Alvarez Western Colorado |
I hate to put so much emphasis on a single victory but you can't overlook a recent 4-2 decision over last year's champ, Collin Metzgar can you? It may have very well been a fluke, but if a man can have one good day, he can certainly have two. I'd say this makes Alvarez a threat to finish top 12 in the least, if not top 8.
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