Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Preview - 165 lbs (Fri Dec 6 & Sat Dec 7)

 

Here are 165 lbs we have twenty ranked individuals and eight of these twenty are ranked in the top 10.  6 place-winners return, including two former champions. From R1 on, every match here will be one worth watching.  This war begins right from the start. 

#3
Peyton Hall
West Virginia

I'm not sure when the last time West Virginia had a CKLV champion.  I'm not even real sure they ever have.  I've been keeping records since the '08-'09 season and all I can tell you, is that they haven't had a champion since that time.  So if WVU has had a champ (maybe Greg Jones won titles back in the day? Idk) it's been a while.  Quite the opportunity for Peyton Hall this weekend.  Quite the opportunity. 

#4
Julian Ramirez
Cornell

3rd-1st-2nd in CKLV thus far, the way I understand it, Julian Ramirez will actually not be participating in this year's championships because he is not currently enrolled at Cornell. I trust the source I received this information from, but I also don't want egg all over my face if for one reason or another, he does show up.  I mean you can't leave off a guy that is most likely to get the *2 seed.....if of course he is here. 

#5
Terrell Barraclough
Utah Valley

Terrell Barraclough is one of the coolest stories in all of collegiate wrestling at the moment.  Spending a majority of his career as one of the best backups in the nation, he transferred to Utah Valley, and is now having an outstanding season, while helping the up & coming program to gain recognition & success.  An 11-9 victory over Hunter Garvin, a 5-4 tiebreaker over Cam Amine & an 8-0 major decision over Bubba Wilson, Barraclough will contend for a CKLV title. 

#6
Hunter Garvin
Stanford

Highs and lows thus far for Hunter Garvin at the start of '24-'25.  The Iowan out enjoying the California sun still has the pedigree to suggest that he'll perform well this weekend.  6th here a year ago, he's proven he can beat the tougher competition.  Owns a 4-2 victory over Cam Amine. 

#7
Sammy Sasso
Ohio State

Ironic as it may be, another really awesome story, currently in development within collegiate wrestling is also taking place at 165 lbs in NCAA Division I.  Sammy Sasso has overcome an assortment of issues, as he enters his final season of collegiate wrestling. This will also be his final CKLV performance.  We haven't seen much of him at 165 yet, but here's what I can tell you about him concerning 149 lbs.   Sasso is a two time CKLV champion.  He carries an 88-12 career record.  He's not laying his cards down for anything else other than the jackpot. 

With that said....

I have to throw in a word for Bryce Hepner.  The Buckeye lineup is intensively tough, and unfortunately there always seems to be an odd man out. This time it is Hepner.  To emphasize how much depth he would add to this bracket, he owns both a 6-4 win over Cam Amine & a 4-0 win over Maxx Mayfield. 

#8 M.J. Gaitan Or U.R. Connor Euton
Iowa State

I'd be extremely shocked if the Cyclones don't go with M.J. Gaitan here. While the Midlands and Southern Scuffle aren't treated with much dignity or respect anymore, CKLV is still held with the utmost honor.  It's what I wish Midlands and Scuffle were treated like, seriously.   Gaitan had an outstanding freshman season last year competing at 174 lbs.  He placed 8th here in Vegas.  Things look to be going just as good (if not better) for him here at 165. 

#9
Cam Amine
Oklahoma State

Wrestling can often be about reestablishing yourself, making some noise and once again being heard.  That's the situation that Cam Amine currently finds himself in and what better place to get loud and scream at the top of your lungs than Vegas?  Thus far the Wolverine turned Cowboy has placed 5th & 4th in these championships. For what it is or isn't worth, he owns a 2:47 fall over Julian Ramirez. 

#10
Will Miller
Appalachian State

Two time NCAA DI qualifier Will Miller has consistently been climbing his way up the ladder and garnering more and more accolades to his resume.  A match shy of a medal here last season, earning a top 8 finish would a great addition to what Miller has already accomplished. 

#12
Brock Mantanona
Michigan

What a brilliant start to the career it has been for Brock Mantanona at Michigan.  The true-freshman really impressed recently with an 18-3 technical fall over Cesar Alvan.  Anxious to see what else this youngster has up his sleeve.  After all Vegas is also a place of Magic, right? 

#17
Maxx Mayfield
Northwestern

The Wildcat is most certainly among those who will contend for place-winner status here in Vegas this weekend.  A match shy of earning a top 8 finish last year, he does own a 9-8 victory over Will Miller.  He also owns both a 7-2 as well as a 3-1 decision over Bubba Wilson. 

#18
Nicco Ruiz
Arizona State

Another phenomenal young talent here in this bracket is Sun Devil Nicco Ruiz.  Thus far he's shown us what he's capable of with a 4-1 sudden victory over Cam Amine.  It should also be noted, because he's a darn good win that he also owns a 6-3 victory over Matt Olguin. 

#20 Bubba Wilson Or U.R. Chris Minto
     Nebraska

If I could wave a magic wand and have Bubba Wilson walk into these championships 100%, I would do that. Why? Cause if I had it my way, physically, mentally & emotionally, every single wrestler would be entering CKLV 100% & I am not convinced that we've ever seen Wilson 100% during his time as a Husker.  This is such a rough sport & does it ever take a toll on your whole being. Mind, body, spirit, wrestling is extraordinarily taxing.  A healthy Wilson is a tough wrestler.  A healthy Wilson owns victories like a 5-3 decision over Cam Amine & a 3-1 s.v. over Matt Olguin.  A healthy Wilson has collected medals of 8th & 4th at these prestigious championships in the past. 

With that said, it doesn't escape me that a very talented Chris Minto could get the nod here for Nebraska. He's had some notable wins thus far in his collegiate career & Coach Manning could want to see him against some stiffer competition in a high pressure situation. 

#21
Luka Wick
Cal Poly

I sometimes feel that Cal Poly could call their wrestling program, "The Lamer & Wick Show" because it seems nearly everyone on the team either has the last name Lamer or the last name Wick.  Like Wilson I spoke about above, Luka's career has unfortunately been hampered by injuries.  It's also a fact that he hasn't wrestled much at 165 lbs.  So what exactly to expect?  Who knows? 

#22
Stoney Buell
Purdue

A match shy of picking up a top 8 finish here last season, Stoney Buell will be among the talent here at 165 lbs looking to pick up a medal. 

#25
Drake Rhodes
South Dakota State

Here's a guy that I think is very capable of outwrestling both his ranking & his seed this weekend.  Drake Rhodes from my estimation has made some vast improvements.  Last year he was unable to figure out Jack Thomsen in three matches & earlier this year avenged those three losses with a 12-7 victory.  The wrestle all 7 minutes, don't stop until the final whistle is blown style can often serve someone very well in a grueling two day tournament like this one. 

#27
Cesar Alvan
Columbia

Been a few setbacks as Cesar Alvan continues to adjust to the 165 lbs weight class.  A wrestler who embraces the grind, I could see him pulling off an upset or two this tournament. 

#28
Derek Fields
North Carolina State

I'm 99.9% positive that the Wolfpack will be entering Derek Fields here.  This is a situation where I really wish that teams could enter more than one wrestler per weight class.  When A.J. Kovacs collegiate career first got started, I thought by now he'd be a 1-2 punch, sharing the same types of success that teammate Ed Scott has thus far enjoyed.  Unfortunately, Kovacs' career has been bombarded with injuries and we haven't gotten out of him what we otherwise would have. 

To be honest, I don't know if he's even healthy as of right now.  What I do know is that here's a guy that I would love to see really given an opportunity to run. A wild wolf, locked in a cage, ready to be let loose and tear through the competition.  A 5-4 win over Will Miller, is suggestion enough for me.   With all that said, I know how tough Fields can be.  He'll contend for a medal in his own right. 

#30 Jack Thomsen Or U.R. R.J. Weston
Northern Iowa

Doug Schwab isn't someone that I'd want to play poker against.  Has one heck of a bluff.  Hard to tell what kind of hand he holds or what exactly he's going to lay down on the table.  Here at 165 lbs, he has two extremely good wrestlers.  Jack Thomsen and R.J. Weston. 

Thomsen as mentioned before owns three wins over Drake Rhodes (4-1, 9-8 & 12-9).  He also owns a 9-3 decision over Chris Minto.  Weston owns a 12-4 major over Drake Rhodes himself. 

#32
Enrique Munguia
Rider

I've said it about every weight class, so of course I'm going to say it about 165 lbs too.  There will be upsets.  Someone capable of making those upsets? Enrique Munguia.  The former Golden Flash turned Bronco has 10-6 victories over both Stoney Buell & Bubba Wilson. 

#33
Mac Church
Virginia Tech

Yet another guy looking to pull off some big wins and make a name for himself here in Vegas.  Doesn't really have that "big" win yet at 165, but he did hold likely *1 seed Peyton Hall to a 1-0 decision. 


********

Injured
Matt Olguin
Oregon State

It should be noted that Matt Olguin is currently injured and while it isn't fact, it's close enough, that his absence does make an extra spot on the CKLV podium that otherwise wouldn't be there.  Thus far the Beaver has been 3rd & 7th in these illustrious championships.  Among the competition he owns a 12-4 major over Enrique Munguia, an 11-4 decision over Stoney Buell & a 7:41 fall over Bubba Wilson. 

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Preview - 157 lbs (Fri Dec 6 & Sat Dec 7)

 

18 ranked wrestlers and 7 of those 18 ranked in the top 10.  157 lbs is loaded with talent, as four place-winners return.  A good opportunity for many wrestlers to make their mark and have a good tournament. 

#2 
Meyer Shapiro
Cornell 

'23-'24 was an outstanding season for Meyer Shapiro.  He looked great nearly every time he stepped out onto the mat, capturing a very impressive 3rd place finish at the NCAA Division I championships.  Matter of fact, the only time he didn't look great last year, was ironically enough, at CKLV! Chalk it up to the fact that everyone has a bad day once in a while if you want, it is still a testimony to how incredibly tough this tournament can be.  This weekend Shapiro should receive the *1 seed. 

*NOTE* - Shapiro was injured at the Journeyman Classic here a few weeks ago.  Hopefully he's healed up and 100%. 

#3
Antrell Taylor
Nebraska

Competing at 165 lbs last season, 8th in the NCAA DI nation, Antrell Taylor provides more testimony to just how incredibly tough CKLV can be as he went 2-2 at last year's championships.  Now he's down at 157 lbs, with a very high ranking, that should translate into a very high seed.  It'll be fun to see how he fares against other top 157 lbs'ers. 

#5
Peyten Kellar
Ohio

Even MORE testimony to just how incredibly tough CKLV can be, Peyten Kellar is yet another NCAA DI All American (5th) who came up short of a medal last season!  A champion contender this year, Kellar does own a 2:50 fall over Antrell Taylor.  He owns both a 7-4 s.v. & a 1:03 fall over Ed Scott, and he majored Trevor Chumbley 9-1. 

#6
Ryder Downey
Northern Iowa

Ryder Downey was one match shy of a medal at both CKLV & the NCAA DI championships last season.  The ultimate lover of purple and gold looks to capture medals at both illustrious tournaments this year & it starts with capturing one in Vegas this weekend.  Among his many impressive wins, an 8-2 victory over Trevor Chumbley, an 8-5 decision over Paddy Gallagher & a 4-1 decision over Teague Travis. 

#8
Ed Scott
North Carolina State

The Wolfpack starter here will be Ed Scott.  Jackson Arrington is currently redshirting.  I simply like letting you know how much tougher this bracket would be, if Arrington were a part of it.  One of the best wrestlers in the DI nation yet to All American, the two time NCAA DI R12'er, would be a threat.  And......

So IS Ed Scott.  The master of the headlock, Scott has collected back to back CKLV bronze medals.  He has his up and down moments, but when he has his up moments, they are UP.  Scott owns both a 7-6 & 4-1 win over Ryder Downey.  He owns a 4-2 win over Paddy Gallagher and he's defeated Trevor Chumbley by an 11-1 major decision. 

#9
Paddy Gallagher
Ohio State

 7th at last year's CKLV championships, here's a guy that I feel could really showcase his talents at this year's tournament.  Paddy Gallagher owns two victories over Peyten Kellar by 7-5 & 6-5 decisions.  He's also defeated Ryder Downey by a 4-1 decision & he owns a 9-5 win over Trevor Chumbley. 

#10
Paniro Johnson
Iowa State

I've been dying to see just how good this guy is going to be at 157 lbs for quite some time now.  Unfortunately an injury robbed us from seeing how he was going to truly fare against #1 ranked Jacori Teemer of Iowa.  That was unfortunate.  However, there is plenty of competition, highly ranked competition here in Vegas to let us know exactly how the young Cyclone matches up in the 157 lbs weight class.   This is a guy that defeated Austin Gomez 9-4 & took Yianni Diakomihalis into sudden victory competing at 149 lbs. If he can wrestle like that 8 lbs of muscle up, look out! 

#11
Trevor Chumbley
Northwestern

If you're looking for your bracket buster, I may have found him.  Trevor Chumbley has his fair share of losses against the competition but he also has his fair share of wins.  He's one of those guys that somehow or another digs deep down inside and avenges losses (even sometimes really ugly losses) during opportune times.  5th & 8th thus far in the CKLV championships, it was he who upended Meyer Shapiro last season with a 2-1 decision.  The Wildcat also owns a 5-3 s.v. over Paddy Gallagher & both a 3-2 decision as well as a 6:43 fall over Cobe Siebrecht.   Not to mention he's taken Ed Scott into sudden victory & he's taken Peyten Kellar into the tiebreakers. 

#12
Chase Saldate
Michigan

Former Spartan, now Wolverine, Chase Saldate is on a mission to prove himself an All American candidate for the '24-'25 season & what better place to make that statement than Cliff Keen Las Vegas?   Saldate owns a 4:16 fall over Antrell Taylor, both a 2:06 fall as well as a 8-5 decision over Trevor Chumbley, a 5-4 decision over Paddy Gallagher & a 9-2 decision over Cobe Siebrecht. 

#15
Joey Blaze
Purdue

Marcus, Marcus, Marcus!  You can't go onto Twitter, Facebook, or any wrestling message board without seeing the name Marcus Blaze mentioned and discussed multiple times per day.  the wrestling community is absolutely fixated with the high school phenom. I'm sure Joey is very supportive and proud of all the attention that his brother is receiving, but I'd also wager to think he wouldn't mind a little attention himself.  He wrestles well this weekend, he'll receive it.  Blaze owns 4-1 sudden victories over both Ed Scott and Trevor Chumbley.

#18
Teague Travis
Oklahoma State

Making the jump from 141 lbs to 157 lbs last year, I was impressed with how quickly Teague Travis adjusted to life two weight classes up.   An NCAA DI qualifier last season, among his wins, a 7-6 decision over Ed Scott.  The Cowboy will be among the place-winner candidates this tournament & like many others wearing the orange and black, I'm excited to see how David Taylor leads his team through his first major tournament as head coach. 

#19
Cobe Siebrecht
South Dakota State

I hear varying opinions on the whole transfer portal process on a daily basis.  It has its pros and it has its cons.  Looking at it from the positive, it gives guys like Cobe Siebrecht an opportunity to shine that they might not have had otherwise.  Siebrecht is a tough wrestler and I'm glad that the rules allowed him to be able to transfer out in order to compete.  This weekend he could very well pick up a medal at NCAA DI's toughest in-season tournament.  Credentials such as an 8-0 decision over Paddy Gallagher & a 6-3 victory over Trevor Chumbley provide the evidence. 

#20
Colton Washleski
Rider

Talk about a guy that has made serious improvements.  Two years ago as a freshman, Colton Washleski went 6-16 on the year.  6-16.  Then last year, he turned that into a 31-10 record, earning himself his first trip to the NCAA DI tournament. He's the kind of wrestler where you aren't exactly sure what to expect, but when it's his turn to walk onto the mat, you'll be watching. 

#21
Jared Hill
Wyoming

The two time NCAA DI qualifier is thus far undefeated as he enters his first major tournament competing for his new team.  

#23
Rafael Hipolito
Virginia Tech

Thus far the redshirt freshman is undefeated in his first season of DI varsity wrestling. I'm anxious to see how he fares against the competition here in Vegas & I'm interested to see how his Brazilian jiujitsu may or may not come into play on the mat.  Often seen how wrestling translates very well to BJJ, but haven't seen a lot of it the other way around.   

#24
Ethan Stiles
Oregon State

We haven't seen a whole heck of a lot out of Ethan Stiles yet, but we've seen enough of the young Beaver to know that it's a real possibility that he could make some serious noise here in Vegas.  A 7-4 sudden victory over Teague Travis, he also took former teammate Antrell Taylor into sudden victory recently as well. 

#29
Grigor Cholakyan
Stanford

The starter here for the Cardinal is going to be Grigor Cholakyan.  I simply like to point out how much tougher the bracket would be, if Dan Cardenas was also a part of it. 5th in last year's championships, I'd personally call him a CKLV title contender. 

Back to Cholakyan....

I can't help but think that Cholakyan is a much better wrestler than what he is currently ranked.  And, I can't help but feel that we could very well find that out this weekend in Vegas.  His 15-2 dismantling of Legend Lamer really sticks out to me.  Anxious to see what he does this weekend. 

#31
Jimmy Harrington
Havard

The upset.  A favorite happening among wrestling fans everywhere.  I've said it in every write-up thus far and I'll say it again here at 157.  There ARE going to be upsets this tournament. No doubt about it.  When or where they will happen is completely at random.  Still fun to try and predict though.  Jimmy Harrington has already proven that he's capable of pulling off some upsets.  Recently he defeated Ed Scott 12-9. 

U.R. 
Legend Lamer
Cal Poly

It's been a rough start thus far in '24-'25 for Legend Lamer.  Yet if there is anyone Unranked in the 157 lbs bracket that could potentially make some noise, it is the Mustang.  Keep in mind that despite things looking damper at the moment, we are dealing with a three time NCAA DI qualifier here.  We're also dealing with a guy that took 7th at these very championships three seasons ago.  Guys who haven't been wrestling well, suddenly get hot at different times.  It wouldn't be the first time it happened in Vegas either.