As I have done for the ACC & the BIG 12, it is now time to take a look a the Southern Conference! The number of allocations & those who will be in the fight for them!
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| 125 lbs Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 3 |
The SOCON only got one allocation at 125 lbs & our likely champion here is Caleb Smith of Appalachian State. The Mountaineer defeated Dominic Chavez of Presbyterian 9-3 & Anthony Molton of Appalachian State 4-1. It's a shame that the runner-up here wouldn't stand a shot at getting an at large bid/wild card. Even if all of the conference tournaments went nice and smooth (which we all know they won't) it'd still be unlikely that a wildcard would go to the SOCON. Too bad because the blue hose is still looking for their first NCAA DI qualifier & Chavez would make an excellent representative. It is likely that he makes the SOCON finals. A 10-3 decision over Molton gives testimony to that prediction. That in itself, a great achievement.
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| 133 lbs Spots Available: 2 Contenders: 4 |
I tell you what. Brayden Palmer of Chattanooga & Domenic Zaccone of Campbell are both two time NCAA qualifiers, but one of the two might very well be staying home this year. The reason? Ethan Oakley of Appalachian State. Despite an early season 11-4 loss to Todd Carter of Gardner Webb, the redshirt freshman has looked very solid within the conference. He owns a 5-2 decision over Palmer, a 3-1 sudden victory over Zaccone & he's avenged his loss against Carter twice (6-5 & 7-3). Zaccone defeated Palmer 4-2 s.v. & Carter 10-2, while Palmer defeated Carter 1-0.
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| 141 lbs Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 3 |
The fight for the one allocation given here is most likely gonna be an excellent final between Shannon Hanna of Campbell & Zach Price of Gardner Webb. Both NCAA qualifiers, Hanna defeated Price in a 2-1 tiebreaker earlier this season. I'll give it a very slight possibility that it could be Heath Gonyer of Appalachian State in the finals instead of Price. Price defeated Gonyer 3-2 earlier this season. Hannan on the other hand majored Gonyer 11-3.
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| 149 lbs Jon Jon Millner Appalachian State Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 1 |
Jon Jon Millner in front of his home crowd, on his home mat is gonna get his hand raised for the fifth time and make history as he becomes the first & the only 5 time SOCON champion!
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| 157 lbs Tommy Askey Appalachian State Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 1 |
I don't see anyone challenging Tommy Askey of Appalachian State here. The fans of Boone, North Carolina are gonna watch Milner win title #5 & then turn around and watch another Mountaineer win 157.
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| 165 lbs Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 2 |
I love feuds don't you? If there are any two guys in the SOCON that know one another, it is R.J. Mosley of Gardner Webb & Will Formato of Appalachian State. Thus far in their illustrious collegiate careers, the two have met a total of 7 times. Mosley has won a 5-2 as well as a 9-4 decision, while Formato has won three 2-1 decisions (two of them tiebreakers), a 5-3 decision & a 3-2 decision. Meeting #8 has everything on the line. A trip to the NCAA championships. Just to think, both are still only juniors. We'll get to see this match a number of times next season too.
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| 174 lbs Spots Available: 2 Contenders: 2 |
It's ironic isn't it? For decades and decades, with exception to a few out of place seasons here and there, Chattanooga all but owned the Southern Conference. Now here we are & while I can see the Mocs having up to three champs, the only shoe-in title they have here is at 174 lbs. Three time NCAA qualifier Rocky Jordan will be our champion here & it's almost a guarantee that his finals opponent will be Will Miller of Appalachian State. Jordan defeated Miller 11-5 the last they met.
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| 184 lbs Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 3 |
It doesn't sit real well with me that we have three quality wrestlers here and only one of them gets to go to the NCAA tournament. This fatal three way is gonna be an all out war as parity ensues.
Caleb Hopkins of Campbell is a two time NCAA qualifier. He goes into the SOCON with a 2-1 decision over Jha'Quan Anderson of Gardner Webb.
Matt Waddell is a four time NCAA qualifier, looking for his fifth trip. He owns a 4-3 decision over Hopkins.
Anderson, an NCAA qualifier in 2021, owns a 3-1 s.v. over Waddell.
Finger nails already chewed off, may have to move on to toes.
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| 197 lbs Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 1 Levi Hopkins Campbell |
I don't see anyone challenging Levi Hopkins for a SOCON title here. Carson Floyd of Appalachian State has had himself a very respectable season, but when the two met, Hopkins controlled a 5-0 decision. Our champ here is a Camel.
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| HWT Spots Available: 1 Contenders: 1 Taye Ghadiali Campbell |
Even more so than Hopkins at 197, I feel the HWT SOCON championship is all but claimed by Taye Ghadiali. I see no one even remotely challenging the Camel for a title.
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