Looking over all of the teams that are scheduled to be here this weekend, the Scuffle has potential to quite competitive & have some really good wrestling. I'm already 99.9% positive that Penn State will only be sending redshirts & reserves, but I'm in hope that every other team coming is sending their varsity starters.
My job here is to determine two things. First and foremost, I'm interested in who is likely to win this tournament & make the finals. Secondly, I want to know who has the potential to leave here with a top 8 finish. Who will make the award stand. Who's going to be in that blood-round match that determines who leaves home with a medal & who doesn't? That's what I'm here to discuss.
**NOTE** - This article will feature Intermat Rankings.
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| #4 Eddie Ventresca Virginia Tech |
If the Hokies send their starters, Eddie Ventresca is head & shoulders, the clear favorite to win this year's Scuffle at 125 lbs. The Two-time All-American with an 8-0 major over Keyveon Roller, a 9-5 decision over Marcello Milani & a 5-0 win over Bridger Ricks should cruise to a title without much issue.
The Cavalier was 6th at last year's Scuffle & is looking to improve upon that finish.
The Sooner pulled off some big upsets & was one match shy of placing at Cliff Keen Las Vegas, so it is very likely that he could make some noise here at the Scuffle. Owns a 2-1 win over Bridger Ricks.
The freshman from the powerhouse program of Wyoming Seminary is continuing to make a name for himself in the collegiate ranks. A good showing here at the Scuffle, would be a good asset to have on the belt.
Ezekiel Witt would definitely be a guy that I'd be worried about this tournament. A guy to keep your eye on and not overlook. The Bison not only has a win over Nico Provo, but he recently gave Luke Lilledahl all he could handle in a 6-5 match.
It's still uncertain who will be the starter for the Big Red come Ivy League championship time. Marcello Milani or once he returns, Greg Diakomihalis. Not that it would have much effect on getting the nod, but what a good showing at the Scuffle would do is give Milani the confidence when competing with Diakomihalis in the wrestle-off.
One of the terms I heard a lot lately among fans, wrestlers & Coaches is, "Sneaky good." Talking about someone off the radar, unranked with the potential to do very well in a situation. Well, the situation is the Southern Scuffle & that person is Bridger Ricks. A recent win over Nicolar Rivera, he has close 1-point matches with both Terukina & Hendrikson.
With Intermat ranking all the way to 33, I was very surprised to not see Charlie Farmer within the #'s. An NCAA DI qualifier, he's shown he can be quite tough in the past. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him within the rankings once this tournament is a said & done thing.
The Runnin' Bulldog has yet to wrestle a match in the '25-'26 season, but if he is to make his debut here, one would think he'd be among the candidates for a top 8 finish. He was 8th here a year ago, after all.
I'm anxious to see what Cooper Flynn can do this tournament for three reasons.
1 - years ago he was neck-in-neck with Eddie Ventresca. While he never defeated the two-time All-American, he wrestled him to five really close matches, four of which were decided by 1 point & two of which were decided in the tiebreakers. Flynn's career thus far hasn't come anywhere near the potential that it had, but it's still not too late. There's plenty of season left in his final year of collegiate eligibility & the path to greatness could very well start right now.
2 - He has W's that suggest this could be a good weekend for him. An 8-1 decision over Marcello Milani serves as an example.
3 - This tournament takes place in Flynn's new home, among his new family of teammates & fans. That can work as an advantage, and I'm sure Flynn wants to make a positive impression this weekend.
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| #23 Keyveon Roller Virginia |
The Cavalier was 6th at last year's Scuffle & is looking to improve upon that finish.
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| #24 Conrad Hendrikson Oklahoma |
The Sooner pulled off some big upsets & was one match shy of placing at Cliff Keen Las Vegas, so it is very likely that he could make some noise here at the Scuffle. Owns a 2-1 win over Bridger Ricks.
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| #29 Davis Motyka Pennsylvania |
The freshman from the powerhouse program of Wyoming Seminary is continuing to make a name for himself in the collegiate ranks. A good showing here at the Scuffle, would be a good asset to have on the belt.
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| #31 Ezekiel Witt North Dakota State |
Ezekiel Witt would definitely be a guy that I'd be worried about this tournament. A guy to keep your eye on and not overlook. The Bison not only has a win over Nico Provo, but he recently gave Luke Lilledahl all he could handle in a 6-5 match.
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| #33 Marcello Milani Cornell |
It's still uncertain who will be the starter for the Big Red come Ivy League championship time. Marcello Milani or once he returns, Greg Diakomihalis. Not that it would have much effect on getting the nod, but what a good showing at the Scuffle would do is give Milani the confidence when competing with Diakomihalis in the wrestle-off.
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| U.R. Bridger Ricks Utah Valley |
One of the terms I heard a lot lately among fans, wrestlers & Coaches is, "Sneaky good." Talking about someone off the radar, unranked with the potential to do very well in a situation. Well, the situation is the Southern Scuffle & that person is Bridger Ricks. A recent win over Nicolar Rivera, he has close 1-point matches with both Terukina & Hendrikson.
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| U.R. Charlie Farmer Army |
With Intermat ranking all the way to 33, I was very surprised to not see Charlie Farmer within the #'s. An NCAA DI qualifier, he's shown he can be quite tough in the past. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him within the rankings once this tournament is a said & done thing.
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| U.R. Jeff Jacome Gardner Webb |
The Runnin' Bulldog has yet to wrestle a match in the '25-'26 season, but if he is to make his debut here, one would think he'd be among the candidates for a top 8 finish. He was 8th here a year ago, after all.
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| U.R. Cooper Flynn UT-Chattanooga |
I'm anxious to see what Cooper Flynn can do this tournament for three reasons.
1 - years ago he was neck-in-neck with Eddie Ventresca. While he never defeated the two-time All-American, he wrestled him to five really close matches, four of which were decided by 1 point & two of which were decided in the tiebreakers. Flynn's career thus far hasn't come anywhere near the potential that it had, but it's still not too late. There's plenty of season left in his final year of collegiate eligibility & the path to greatness could very well start right now.
2 - He has W's that suggest this could be a good weekend for him. An 8-1 decision over Marcello Milani serves as an example.
3 - This tournament takes place in Flynn's new home, among his new family of teammates & fans. That can work as an advantage, and I'm sure Flynn wants to make a positive impression this weekend.
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