58th Ken Kraft Midlands Preview = 184 lbs

 

Again, as to my understanding both Iowa & Northern Iowa varsity wrestlers will be competing at the Soldier Salute, with backups here at the Midlands. I thought Iowa State was in the same boat, but recently found out (or so I've been told) that varsity is going to the Southern Scuffle. Backups/redshirts? Well, maybe here? Maybe the Salute? Be nice if this stuff was clear, cut and dry. 

Moving on....

The184 lbs is a bracket full of a long list of individuals who all have something to prove, and the Midlands gives them an opportunity to prove it. 

#9
Matt Finesilver
Michigan 

The final of the Finesilver brothers, Matt Finesilver despite his name could very well go home with some fine gold after this Midlands tournament. One of the top wrestlers at 184 lbs yet to be an All American, winning a Midlands title would be great for his both his ranking & his career.  Among the competition he owns a 3-1 victory over DeAndre Nassar & a 4-0 decision over Gavin Kane. 

#10
Lenny Pinto
Nebraska 

The young Cornhusker has found himself straddling the rankings for quite sometime & contending for a Midlands title would help him to have a more permanent place within them. Haven't said much about the Midlands from a team perspective, as I've been solely focused on the individual weight classes. With that noted, if indeed Iowa is sending varsity to Soldier Salute, I see no reason why Nebraska can't contend for a Midlands team title. Pinto winning this thing, would certainly help. 

#12
Brian Soldano
Rutgers 

In an effort to showcase the skills of New Jersey High School wrestling, three time state champ Brian Soldano has been most impressive in his true-freshman campaign. His only loss to Oregon State's Trey Munoz, he is currently 10-1 on the season, with a 18-3 technical fall over Anthony Montalvo. I'd call him a Midlands title contender. 

#16
Gavin Kane
North Carolina

Gavin Kane has stood out various times throughout his career thus far. He's certainly capable of standing out here at the Midlands. Against the competition, he has a 6-3 decision over Neil Antrassian. 

#17
Anthony Montalvo
Arizona State 

I am very anxious to see a rematch between Anthony Montalvo & Brian Soldano. I'm wondering if Soldano is really that much better than Montalvo, or if Montalvo had an off day the first time they met.  Take nothing away from Soldano, but earning a tech fall over a talent like Montalvo is truly saying something. Montalvo is a wrestler that can stay cool, calm & collected throughout the entirety of a match. He knows how to win close ones. His 2-1 victory over Tate Samuelson is evidence enough of that. 

#18
Neil Antrassian
Pennsylvania 

Guarantees are few and far between in collegiate wrestling, especially at the NCAA DI level. However, one thing I can guarantee you is that Neil Antrassian will wrestle better at this Midlands that he ever has before. Believe it or not, he's gone 0-2 in two other Midlands championships. There's no way that happens this tournament unless he gets injured/hurt. He'll contend for a spot on the award stand, no doubt about it.  Victories include an 8-5 decision over Dylan Connell, a 9-6 victory over A.J.Burkhart & a 10-2 major over Jack Jessen. 

#20
Tate Samuelson
Lehigh 

I honestly thought that by this point in the season that Tate Samuelson would be fairing a little bit better & be ranked a little bit higher. That's nothing against the competition & I'm well aware of how stiff it is. Nevertheless, I can see Samuelson stepping it up this tournament & possibly making the finals, if not even winning the tournament.  He's defeated Montalvo twice by scores of 3-2 & 4-1.  He also owns a 3-2 victory over Nassar & an 8-0 major over Grayden Penner.  He's 3-0 against Anthony Carman, with a fall in 1:40, a 9-1 major & a 5-2 decision. 

#25
Reece Heller
Pittsburgh 

The Pittsburgh wrestling team is full of transfers just dying to have their first major moment as a Panther, and Reece Heller is one of them. Earning a top 8 showing at the prestigious Midlands tournament is one heck of an honor & Heller is more than capable of it. A 3-2 victory over Nassar, he nearly majored Connell 8-1. He also owns a 6-1 victory over Ethan Ducca & a 7-6 decision over Samuelson. 

#27
Greyden Penner
Oklahoma 

A contender for a top 8 showing this Midlands, Greyden Penner owns 3-2 victories over both Nassar and Connell. 

#29
Giuseppe Hoose
Buffalo 

Here's a guy that has made some serious improvements throughout his career.  As he's battled injuries, he's ended the past three seasons with a losing record. Now he's one of the top 33 wrestlers in his weight class. It's been a while since Buffalo has had a standout star on their team. He owns a 4-3 victory over Connell. 

#30
Anthony Carman
West Virginia 

Another wrestler very capable of a top 12/8 finish here is Anthony Carman.  Among his victories of note a 5-4 decision over Neil Antrassian. 


Now for the unranked talent that could make some noise here....

Redshirt
John Poznanski
Rutgers 

Currently redshirting, don't at all be surprised if John Poznanski ends up being the best wrestler in this bracket come the end of the tournament. The All American hasn't faced much of the competition here, but there's no one here he can't beat.  He owns a 7-1 decision over Nassar. 

U.R.
Peter Acciardi
California Baptist 

In their transition to NCAA DI, California Baptist is looking for their first place-winner of a major DI tournament. That someone could very well be Peter Acciardi. Competition is stiff, but he does own a 3-1 victory over Nassar & a 3-2 tiebreaker over James Lledo of Pittsburgh. 

U.R.
DeAndre Nassar
Cleveland State 

DeAndre Nassar's name has come up a lot thus far this preview. Here's the thing, he has some losses and those losses have caused him to slip out of the rankings. Yet here's the other thing. Most of those losses have been by 1 or 2 points. You can turn those types of losses into wins. If Nassar is able to do that, then he's right back in the rankings & right back into contention for another NCAA qualification by season's end.  Among his victories he's defeated Acciardi twice by scores of 3-2 & 5-4.  He also owns a 3-2 victory over Ducca, an 8-6 tiebreaker over Carman & a 5-3 decision over Kyle Davis. 

U.R. 
Ethan Ducca
Edinboro 

Another extremely tough unranked wrestler in this bracket is Ethan Ducca.  The Fighting Scot owns a 5-2 victory over Accidardi, an 8-5 decision over Davis & a 6-3 victory over Lledo. You already know reading my other Midlands previews my thoughts on the Edinboro program & what it needs to do to propel itself in the right direction. Ducca can very well be a part of the process & he can be a part of it right here, right now at the Midlands. 

U.R.
Kyle Davis
George Mason 

We have yet to see Kyle Davis this season, but I'm really hoping to see him make his debut here at the Midlands. As far as I'm concerned if he wasn't the best, he was one of the best wrestlers in the nation to be left home last season. I feel when it comes to who does and who doesn't get at large/wildcard selections that if someone gets the short end of the stick it is often a Patriot. Thing about it is, make it so they have no other choice but to take you. Take it out of subjectivity's hands & make it objective.  Kyle Davis has the talent to do that. It'd take some upsets, but he can certainly walk out of this tournament with a top 12 showing & he has what it takes to walk out of here with a top 8 showing.  He has a 3-1 s.v. over Nassar & an 8-2 decision over Hoose. He's also defeated Duccas three times by scores of 9-4, 4-1 & 10-7. 

U.R.
Dylan Connell
Illinois 

Dylan Connell strikes me as one who could potentially have a good Midlands tournament.  He has a 3-2 victory over Jarritt Shinoster & a 9-3 decision over Jessen. 

U.R.
A.J. Burkhart
Lehigh

One of the top backups at 184 lbs in the country, don't be all that shocked if you see A.J. Burkhart on the award stand come tournament's end.  He's right there with Samuelson & I'd think that the spot is still being fought for tooth and nail.  He owns a 6-5 decision over Antrassian. 

U.R.
James Lledo
Pittsburgh 

Another tough backup in NCAA DI wrestling at 184 is James Lledo of Pittsburgh. Wouldn't be surprised to see him do well this tournament either. 

U.R.
Jack Jessen 
Northwestern 

By all means there isn't a logical or rational reason to include Jack Jessen on this list. There really isn't. Between the last two seasons & his current status he carries a 7-25 record.  Yet sometimes in the sport of wrestling you take logic & reason, and you throw them straight out the window. Jessen is one of those times.  Believe it or not, he's placed here in the past.  He was 7th in 2019.  He also, believe it or not, owns a 15-3 major decision over Acciardi. He has to be wrestling's most, "How in the world?!?!?" head scratch case.  Yet, some how or another he manages to do it. He entered last year's BIG 10's with 1 win. 1 win!! Yet he still qualified for the NCAA championships.  Make of it what you will, this is his tournament, on his home mats, with his home crowd.  Clark Kent as he is 90% of the time, could turn into Superman. 

Non DI talent to look at??

#2 (NCAA DIII)
Jarritt Shinhoster
UW-Whitewater

If anyone non-DI is gonna do anything in this bracket, that someone is gonna be Jarritt Shinhoster. The DIII champ carries a 77-9 record against D3 competition. 

#2 (NJCAA)
Giovanni Jackson
Harper 

I'm not sure how Giovanni Jackson will fare against DI competition but what I do know is that Harper has some talent at this tournament & Jackson is one of them. What better place to get noticed & possibly offered a scholarship than the Midlands?