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| 133 |
It's a young man's world here at 133 lbs in Vegas. We have sophomore, among two very talented freshmen & a junior looking to come home with some Cliff Keen gold. Dark horses? I think there could possibly be one. Semis are for sure going to be fire, as too should be the quarters. Let's take a look at the talent.
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| #5 Tyler Knox Stanford |
Bernard Muir has his head so far up football & basketball's rump that he probably doesn't even realize that Stanford stands a very good shot at crowning a CKLV champion this weekend. 5th the past two tournaments in a row, Tyler Knox is likely to be our *1 seed. For what it's worth, he owns a 13-9 decision over Richard Figueroa & a 9-0 decision over Derek Cardinal.
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| #6 Evan Frost Iowa State |
If Tyler Knox isn't the *1 seed, then Evan Frost will be. In fact, it may even be more likely that Frost is the *1 seed here. After all he's a two-time CKLV runner-up & he owns both a 3-1 & 2-1 decision over Knox. He also has an 11-3 major over Derek Cardinal.
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| #15 Kyler Larkin Arizona State |
Pop, a four-time All American & national champion (4th-3rd-2nd-1st), also won if memory serves me correct two CKLV titles during his time as a Sun-Devil for Arizona State. While not quite a said & done thing yet, prepare yourself to hear the phrase, "like father, like son" soon enough. Will it be this weekend? Kyler Larkin already owns a win over 2024 NCAA DI Champion Richard Figueroa. I think he's going to continue to have such wins as the season progresses. Champion contender for sure.
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| #9 Dillon Campbell Virginia Tech |
While 125 lbs is an absolute madhouse, I think things are a little more concrete here at 133 lbs. Whoever gets the *1 seed between Frost & Knox is likely to be our finalist on one side. Whoever gets the *2 seed, is likely to see Larkin in the semi-finals. Where does this leave Campbell? I think the talented freshman is very capable of having a very good CKLV, but I'm not sure if this means a finals appearance. I'm not feeling that level of an upset yet. A top four finish? Certainly.
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| U.R. Sean Spidle Northwestern |
I feel very confident that we're looking at five of our place-winners here at 133 lbs when we look at Knox, Frost, Larkin, Campbell & Ramirez/Figueroa. That leaves three more places yet to be filled & its a little trickier trying to figure out who will be in those 6th, 7th & 8th place spots. Sean Spidle is a good pick. A 10-3 decision over Derrick Cardinal sticks out, as does a 3-2 decision over Markel Baker.
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| U.R. Derrick Cardinal South Dakota State |
133 lbs is loaded with some great talent, but it was in 2023 & 2024 too, and Derrick Cardinal managed to find his way on to the award stand both of those tournaments. No reason to think he can't do the same this weekend. 6th in 2024, he was 7th a year ago.
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| U.R. Tyler Ferrara Cornell |
The sophomore owns an 11-9 decision over Richard Figueroa and will be looking for more such type wins this weekend.
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These are the eight I feel strongest about being on the award stand come the medal ceremony. Still there are others to keep an eye on and watch out for.
MASON LEIPHART of Franklin & Marshall
MARKEL BAKER of Northern Illinois
GABE WISENHUNT of Oregon State
ISAIAH SCHAEFER of Purdue
All four of these guys strike me as the type to be in the blood round for a medal this weekend. All four capable of pulling off upsets.
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