Southeast Open Recap & Review

 

Like I said in my Patriot Open recap & review, I've done a ton of previews since launching Johnnythompsonnum1 blog back in 2014, but I haven't done a lot of recaps & reviews.  Figure I might as well.  There's an audience for what is going to happen, but I believe there's also an audience for what did happen.  Not 100% positive on that, but I figure I'll give er a go. 

NJCAA Champ Proves He's Big Leagues 

In the world of collegiate wrestling & often rightly so, the fanbase sees it as DI = majors & everything else = the minors.  As Aaron "Swayz" Sweazy pointed out, Jett Strickenberger of West Virginia was pretty disrespected by not receiving a ranking at the beginning of the year.  But that's how DI rankings have always worked.  Those "in the know" will be more likely to rank a true freshman who has never participated in a single college event, before they'll give a non-DI  transfer much credit. 

Strickenberger's 4-1 victory over All American Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State is huge! Not only for him but also for the Northwest Kansas Tech program that he transfers from. I know not all NJCAA coaches will want to hear me say this, but it's the truth. Competing NJCAA is in many ways marketing and promoting yourself. Many want to and will go on to compete at higher levels.  People notice who is producing.  Kids that want to go NJCAA first & then transfer later on, will now take a second look at Northwest Kansas Tech.  He may compete for West Virginia now, but in many ways he still represents the Mavericks. At least in terms of advertising he does. 

The other happening here at 125 that is being overshadowed is Mac Cafurello's 4th place performance.  This is a D3 guy that didn't even place at his Regionals last  season & was 6th at the Regionals in '22!  A guy who doesn't even take top 6 last year in his Regional & he goes toe to toe with All American Brandon Kaylor in the semis in a 5-4 loss!  Is this a sign of things to come from Cafurello? 

Gabe Wisenhunt Upsets His Way To Title At 133 lbs 

What a great tournament it was for Oregon State's Gabe Wisenhunt.  Huge 10-9 semi-final victory over two time All American Sam Latona of Virginia Tech in the semi-finals.  It was far from the only upset that took place though.  Mason Leiphart of Franklin & Marshall scored a fall over Haiden Drury.  Then Thaddeus Long of Life took it to Sean Carter of Appalachian State 8-4. Carter would then be eliminated from competition when Kase Mauger of Utah Valley upended him 11-3.  I hate to sound anything like an overrated paparazzo but I can't help but wonder if Carter may have been under the weather. Not like him to go out as harshly as he did. 

Jordan Titus Wins a tough 141 lbs bracket

A very nice 6-5 victory for Jordan Titus over Cleveland Belton of Oregon State in the finals.  He also nearly majored Jack Gioffre of Virginia 11-4 in the semi-finals.  This title, along with these two valuable victories will help to propel him up the rankings ladder. 

Caleb Henson takes the crown at 149 lbs among the Upsets 

All American Caleb Henson winning 149 lbs didn't come much of a shock, but some of the other matches did.  Ty Watters of West Virgina knocking off last year's 141 lbs champ Tom Crook 4-2 was pretty noticeable.  So was Derek Raike of Ohio finishing 3rd, to a list of notables 4th through 6th.  His 17-7 major decision over Michael Gioffre of Virginia stuck up in particularly. 

Peyten Kellar Wins 157 lbs as DI reminds us why it's DI 

Nice win for Peyten Kellar of Ohio as he stuck Clayton Ulrey of Virginia Tech at the 5:56 mark in the finals. What really sticks out to me though is Brevin Balmeceda's 4th place finish.  Very nice finish for the Life Running Eagle, but I tell you it blows my mind.  Balmeceda won the NAIA title last season & he's without dispute, the #1 contender to do so again this season.  Ulrey nearly tech'd him 17-4 in the semi-finals & by year's end Ulrey probably won't even be varsity.  With Bryce Andonian also at this weight for the Hokies, I would most likely bet on Ulrey not being varsity.  I've seen Balmeceda just destroy guys.  This isn't a knock on NAIA, as I love NAIA wrestling. I just want to show how much separation there can be between the Divisions.  I don't know if everyone who watches collegiate wrestling has a full understanding of just how hard it is to compete at this level.  Results like this illustrate it very well. 

Garrett Thompson Upsets All American In Route To Title 

I said in my preview that despite being unranked that I felt Garrett Thompson would place top 6 here.  He did a Hell of a lot more than that! He won the whole darn thing!  A very impressive 8-5 win over All American Peyton Hall of West Virginia in the semi-finals. Huge win for the Bobcat! 

Beavers Share Title At 174 lbs 

I was under the impression that the 174 lbs spot at Oregon State would be Travis Wittlake's this season.  From the looks of things, he's gonna have to earn it.  Mason Reiniche looks pretty impressive making to the finals himself. A 5-4 win over Sal Perrine of Ohio.  Meanwhile Wittlake punched his ticket to the finals with a 2-1 victory over Austin Murphy of Campbell.  Not sure if Murphys' 3rd place showing will earn him a ranking or not. I do think Wittlake will prove himself to be All American worthy & I also think Murphy will too.  Life's Riley Smucker, a former DI wrestler for Cleveland State finished 5th here. 

Trey Munoz Gives Oregon State Another Champ at 184 

The sun rose today, the gas station sells gas & in other obvious news, Trey Munoz won a title at 184 lbs. I didn't figure he'd have much trouble once I saw all the names in the bracket.  I tell you what WAS news to me though.  Zayne Lehman of Ohio failing to place in the top 6.  A 7-4 loss to Denis Robin of West Virginia, he was sent packing by James Conway of Franklin & Marshall in an 8-3 loss. Wasn't expecting this at all. 

Wolverine The Best of The X-men

Maybe Wolverine isn't the best of the X-men. Maybe he is.  I really don't know.  What I do know is that at 197 lbs in the Southeast Open, a Wolverine by the name of Evan Bockman was the best.  After a beautiful 17-3 major of Justin Radenmacher of Oregon State, Bockman scored a very nice 7-2 decision over Levi Hopkins. 

Taye Ghadiali Pins His Way To A Title as DI reminds NAIA why it's DI

Sticking Boone McDermott of Oregon State at 6:21 in the semi-finals, he didn't take anywhere near as long to stick Michael Wolfgram of West Virginia in the finals.  He stuck the Mountaineer at the 3:13 mark.  He also tech'd Zane Lanham 19-4, who then nearly got tech'd again in a 16-3 major decision loss to McDermott. Again, not to knock NAIA, which I love dearly, but to simply illustrate just how good the level of wrestling is at the DI level.  

My last thoughts concerning the Southeast Open is that I was shocked to see Tyler Mousaw of VMI competing at HWT.  I would hope this is experimental & not a permanent thing.  I didn't even think he was big enough for 197 last year. Great technician & you can tell the guy has a lot of skills, but he just didn't seem to have the size or strength for 197. Really don't think he has it for HWT.  Wolfgram defeated him 7-3 & then McDermott took all of 1:27 to pin him.   Doubt he could make 184 lbs, but I do hope to see him back at 197. There he'll do some good things, & contend for NCAA qualification. I don't know if he can do that at HWT. 

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These are my thoughts and observations, take em' or leave em'.