A rather tough weight class, there will be a rather large # of wrestlers gunning for the title here at 149 lbs, as well as a large number of wrestlers looking to finish within the top 8. Let's take a look.
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| #2 Jaxon Joy Or Ethan Fernandez Cornell |
The way Jaxon Joy wrestled & dominated at Cliff Keen Las Vegas, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him come in here & leave not only with a Scuffle title, but also with the Scuffle's MVW. He owns both an 8-2 decision over David Evans & a 5-1 win over Collin Gaj.
It also wouldn't surprise me if the Big Red gave Joy the weekend off & let Fernandez wrestle in what will most likely be the final big tournament of his career. It's practically written in stone that Joy will be our starter come the post season & they may want to give Fernandez one last hurrah. Not quite the shoe-in that Joy would be, Fernandez without a doubt is top 8 material this tournament. Owns an 8--2 decision over last year's finalist Connor Pierce.
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| #4 Cross Wasilewski Pennsylvania |
Another strong contender for the 149 lbs Scuffle title this weekend will be the Quaker's Cross Wasilewski. A young, hungry wrestler looking to collect on al levels. Owns a 10-0 major over Connor Pierce, a 2-1 decision over Collin Gaj & a 7-3 decision over Carson DesRosier. He's also defeated Ethan Fernandez on three occasions, 5-4, 5-1 & 4-1.
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| #13 David Evans Utah Valley |
The former Nittany Lion is having himself an outstanding '25-'26, and it looks to continue into the new year as he competes at the Southern Scuffle this weekend. He's already pulled off some big wins this year and is likely to again.
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| #24 Max Petersen North Dakota State |
We talk a lot about wrestling from an individual perspective. Who has the opportunity to really stand out? Who has the opportunity to improve upon their ranking & status within the world of collegiate wrestling? In some ways, we could say the same about teams. The more I look over the Southern Scuffle, the more I realize that North Dakota State as a whole in a pretty good position to really stick out this tournament. Of course, it'll take some strong individual showings, which wrestlers such as Max Petersen are capable of showing. He was 2nd here a year ago competing up at 157.
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| #26 Brock Herman Little Rock |
The former Buckeye, now Trojan is out to prove himself and this weekend in Chattanooga gives him a great opportunity to do just that. Place within the top 8 and add an impressive credential to his resume.
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| #31 Eugene Harney Morgan State |
I've talked about it before in the previous weights & I'll bring it up again. Coach Kenny Monday is slowly starting to build up the Bears wrestling program to the heights that it once enjoyed many years ago before being discontinued. The Southern Scuffle presents itself an excellent occasion to demonstrate that effort. They have wrestlers on their team, capable of a top 8 showing this weekend. Eugene Harney, standing 13-2 on the year, with a 9-8 win over Wynton Deakins is one of them.
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| #32 Kaden Keiser Appalachian State |
What do Mountaineers do? They climb mountains, and right now Kaden Keiser is on Mount Rank, looking to get higher and higher as he climbs. It's a loaded weight class, but it is within his reach.
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| U.R. Connor Pierce Penn State |
Here will be another opportunity for Coach Cael Sanderson to show off his reserve talent. Connor Pierce may not be beating Shayne Van Ness out for the varsity position this season, but what he is more than capable of doing this weekend, is showing off that he's one of the best backups in the country. A Southern Scuffle finalist last year, eh owns a 21-5 tech over Kaden Keiser & a 7-4 s.v. over Carson DesRosier.
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| U.R. Wynton Denkins Virginia |
Currently outside the top 33 in Intermat's rankings, Wynton Denkins strikes me as the type to immediately jump back in after this weekend. 4th here a year ago, he owns both 12-8 & 4-2 decisions over Kaden Keiser. he also owns both a 4-2 & an 8-5 s.v. over Zac Cowan.
**NOTE** - We haven't seen Jack Gioffre in action yet this season. I don't think we are going to here. I will note that in the case that we do, he does own an impressive 4-3 win over Wasilewski.
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| U.R. Carson DesRosier The Citadel |
Carson DesRosier is much like Wynton Deakins in this regard. A wrestler currently outside of the top 33 according to Intermat, who more than has the capability to be top 33 come late March. The Bulldog was 7th here a year ago. Owns a 1:15 fall over Zac Cowan, a 4-1 s.v. over Kaden Keiser and both a 6-5 as well as a 7-4 decision over Wynton Denkins.
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| U.R. Zac Cowan Bellarmine |
The Knight is up and down, and thinking positively, Chattanooga could be an up for Zac Cowan this weekend. Owns an 11-6 decision over Kaden Keiser.
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| U.R. Connor Eck Clarion |
What kind of JT1Wrestle prediction would this be if I didn't raise a couple of eyebrows? Connor Eck may not be a name you think of when talking about talent that will be in that blood-round looking for a top 8 finish this weekend, but the Eagle, former Bald Eagle (transfer of Lock Haven) has pulled off some impressive wins in the past.
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