Talk about a tough regional. We have #5 Central Oklahoma, #7 McKendree, #21 Central Missouri (Host), #23 Indianapolis & #24 Maryville. Once again JT#1 has done his best to try and narrow down who will be the top contenders in each weight class to contend for NCAA DII qualification. Let's take a look.
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| 125 |
22-1 on the season, 2023 NCAA D2 R12'er Studd Morris looks to try and win a Super Region IV title this Saturday. Here to challenge him will be former NJCAA standout Jakason Burks, who is thus far having an outstanding season in his first year in D2 wrestling. The Broncho & the Mule have met once so far this year with Morris winning a 2-1 tiebreaker.
As to who takes the bronze here? Not for sure, but I am anxious to see how Dylan Sheler does. Talk about a wrestler who "shows up" at the right time. He was one match shy qualification in 2023 & despite having a losing record last year, made the Super Region IV finals. So maybe he'll pull off that kind of performance once again.
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| 133 |
15-3 on the season, Peter Rolle was one match shy of NCAA D2 qualification last year. He owns a 9-2 decision over James Anderson, who was 3rd at the Region last year & one match shy of being an NCAA D2 All American. Anderson owns an 8-0 major over Evan Binder, who among being a Super Region IV runner-up, was also one match shy of being an All American last year.
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| 141 |
As to bronze, a lot happening at Indianapolis I can't quite make sense of. Not sure if we'll see Brayden Lowery or if we'll see Jake Niffenegger. Might not see either one of them. What I do know is that Niffenegger is a two-time D2 All American with 7th & 6th place finishes. Lowery owns a 3:44 fall over Schuelke.
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| 149 |
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| 157 |
18-1 on the season, two-time Super Region IV champion & 2024 NCAA D2 champion, Gabe Johnson looks like he's going to win a third title this weekend. As to his finals opponent? I think we're looking at a good semi between John Ridle & Jaylon Otero. So far Ridle has defeated Otero in two close matches 6-3 s.v. & 4-2. Ridle a Region champion himself in 2023, with a 4th place finish in the D2 nation, was 5th in the Region last year. Otero has finished 5th & 4th the past two season. Against Johnson, Ridle gave him a 9-6 match. Otero has given him both a 4-2 match & a 9-6 match.
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| 165 20-4 on the season, thus far Cory Peterson has been 4th-3rd-4th in the D2 nation & will look to win a Super Region IV title this weekend as he prepares to become a four-time All American. He owns a 4-1 s.v. over Hunter Jump, who was a Super Region IV champ last year & 3rd in the D2 nation. This I believe will be our final. As to our consolation final? I think we're looking at a good match between Jace Fisher & Will Kuster. Fisher is 22-4 on the season. An NCAA DII qualifier with a runner-up finish at the Region, he was 4th a year ago. Kuster 27-6, was also an NCAA DII qualifier in 2023, with a 3rd place finish. He finished 5th a year ago. The two are split, with Fisher owning a 4-1 s.v. & Kuster owning an 8-6 decision.
23-8 on the year, Matt Ortiz was a Super Region IV runner-up last year & one match shy of being an NCAA D2 All American. Cole Ritter, was also a Super Region IV runner-up last season, and he finished 5th in the D2 nation. Ritter owns a 9-4 decision over Ortiz. I believe that Trey Sizemore, 3rd in the Region last year, and 5th in the D2 nation, may be currently redshirting this year. It's practically impossible to tell at any level other than D1, so I don't know for sure. He hasn't wrestled much this season, but ironically enough does have losses to both Ortiz and Ritter. So if here, obviously a candidate for qualification. |
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| 184 Going to be a lot of good finals here in Super Region IV & here is another other at 184. Garrett Wells, 15-4 on the year, was a Super Region IV champion last year & 6th in the D2 nation. He owns an 8-5 decision over Zeke Waltz. Waltz himself was one match shy of D2 All American honors in 2023. A match away from qualification last season, finishing 4th in the Region. He owns a 13-12 decision over Damon Ashworth. Ashworth was a region runner-up last year & 5th in the D2 nation. So looking at a good semi, as well as a good final here at 184.
After Derek Blubaugh was finally able to overcome Dalton Abney in last year's NCAA DII finals, I thought that the Greyhound might never lose again. After all he is 2nd-2nd-1st in the NCAA D2. However, Logan Kvien defeated him earlier this year 4-1 s.v. Can he once again defeat Blubaugh and keep him from winning the Super Region IV title this year? If so, Blubaugh will finish 2nd-2nd-2nd-2nd & I'm not sure if that's ever happened in Super Region IV before. Kvien himself has been 3rd the past two Regions and 6th & 3rd in the D2 nation. We also have Emmanuel Skillings in this bracket, who has done a great job of filling in for the graduated Abney. Kvien owns a 6-3 decision over Skillings. |
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| HWT |
20-2 on the season, Ryan Herman was the sole defeat of last year's NCAA DII champion, Shawn Streck, whom he defeated in the finals of the Super Region IV. 7th in the D2 nation, Herman looks to win another title this tournament. He owns a 7-5 decision over Torin Forsyth & a 5-0 decision over Tyler Hynes. Hynes was a 3rd at the Region last season.
Cale Gray is another mystery within Indianapolis. 4th in the D2 nation in 2023, not sure if he'll be wrestling this tournament or not. Don't think he will be, but if he is, note that he has a 5-1 decision over Herman.
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