JT1Wrestle College Wrestling

Monday, October 23, 2017

2017-2018 NCAA Season Top 10 Wish list.

The NCAA wrestling season is nearly upon us and everyone of us have expectations and hopes for what will happen. If I were to tell you all of mine, this list would be a novel, if not an epic. Therefore I'll keep it at my top 10.

10. Patrick Downey stays out of trouble and remains eligible the entire season

Downey's departure from Ames and his ending up in Iowa City is already big news. With the graduation of Gilman, Clark, Meyer and Brooks this looked to be a down year for Hawkeyes. Yet with Marinelli, Happel and possibly Lee joining the varsity lineup, it might not be as much of a rebuilding year as first thought. Also throw in that Sam Stoll could have a full season of health (yet another wish on the list) and the Hawks might finish just as good or even better than they did at the end of 2017.

Regardless of who starts and who doesn't (Iowa's backups could plausibly finish top 20 on their own) and how optimistic or pessimistic you are about the Hawkeye's future one thing is for certain. From a a strict winning perspective, they are better off with Downey than without. One would think that staying clean and out of trouble, fixated on winning an individual NCAA title would be a no brainer for Downey. Yet history has a voice too loud to not be heard regarding this issue, and it's tough to know where we'll be a half year down the road.

Many scenarios are possible. By season's end, Iowa could darkhorse their way to a top four team finish (Flo has Iowa 10th, Intermat has Iowa 9th, WIN has Iowa 10th). If they do it will be WITH Downey's assistance. Another possibility is that Downy makes like Andrew Long messes up early on and come March he's a distant memory. I'm hoping for the prior.

Downey is good for wrestling. Love him or hate him, he is a subject of interest. He gets butts into seats. Some come to watch him win. Some come to watch him lose. Either way, they come. He generates discussion and he brings an essence of excitement that amateur wrestling craves but often lacks.

9. Markus Scheidel makes All American

Yes, Scheidel is one of my personal favorites for the 2017-2018 season, but I also want to see him AA for other reasons as well. For one, he wrestles for Columbia and Columbia has only had a total of 5 wrestlers make All American status in their history, the last being Steve Santos in 2013. Seeing smaller schools, especially those as academically prestigious as Columbia produce All Americans is healthy for the sport. I also want to see Scheidel have a breakout season and show the rankings committees of various websites and magazines they made a mistake by keeping him out of the top twenty. I mentioned earlier that I felt Scheidel's absence on a few lists was a mistake and I was ignored. Let's see in a few months who was right and who was wrong. I'm banking Scheidel no lower than 15th by the end of December and an AA contender come conference tournament time.

8. Anthony Ashnault becomes Rutger's first Four Time All American

It would seem right now that this wish has 100% probability of coming true. Despite a serious illness or unfortunate injury, Ashnault will leave Cleveland, Ohio with a medal in hand and that medal could likely be gold. Rutgers deserves this monumental and historical moment. They've earned it. Not only have coaches and staff worked hard to build wrestling at Rutgers, they've worked hard to build wrestling period. New Jersey is one of the best when it comes to producing high school talent, and Rutgers has gone above and beyond to make sure that those kids have every reason to want to stay home to wrestle. (Rider is also doing a Hell of a job too, and yet another wish that didn't quite make top 10 is to see them have highest team finish ever.) Take a look at Rutgers schedule and the fun and exciting things they are doing to grow fan support and attendance. Crowning a four time All American is a step in the direction of becoming a perennial powerhouse and I'd love to see that happen for Rutger's this season.

Image result for Jake Smith West Virginia Wrestling

7. Jake Smith become an All American

When I read that Jake Smith had suffered an injury and wouldn't be competing at the NCAA championships last season my heart sank. It's one thing to have an opponent keep you from reaching a goal, but to be denied the opportunity to even try because of a last second injury? That's a miscarriage of justice. When I read that he was granted a sixth year of eligibility I lit up. Not only do I think that Smith can make the award stand, I think he's good enough to make the finals. Both of his losses to Virginia Tech's Jared Haught were in overtime, and his loss to Ohio State's Kollin Moore was also close, 9-7. Throw in that he had wins over All Americans Aaron Studebaker (Nebraska) and Ryan Wolfe (Rider) to add merit to my belief. At first it seemed that Smith's career was going to end on a sour note because of an injury and now he could end up in the NCAA finals. It is fun to think about.

6. Brooks Black makes the wrestling community remember the name Brooks Black

HWT for various reasons has been a hot topic in preseason discussion. Most notably Kyle Snyder and if anyone can legitimately challenge him or not. Adam Coon's name comes up most often, with others spitting out Jacob Kasper and Tanner Hall from time to time. Listen close enough and occasionally you'll hear Amarveer Dhesi. You know a name that you never hear? Not even when simply talking about who will finish top eight amongst the big boys? Brooks Black of Illinois. This is largely due to a career plagued with injuries, but even at the possibility of coming back at 100% no one seems to take Black seriously. While many chalk up disappointing losses for Iowa's Sam Stoll as reflections of his injuries, they refuse to grant Black the same grace. Looking at the wins he's produced during his time at Illinois, it seriously makes one question why. Brooks most likely won't be challenging Snyder for a title. He most likely won't even be challenging Coon for a spot in the finals to challenge Snyder for the title. Yet challenge Kasper, Hall and Dhesi for third place at the NCAA championships? Most certainly. If healthy and 100%, he'll do what Pat DeGain of Indiana did years ago when he moved up from 197 to HWT for his final year of competition. He'll whip butt and take names as fans ask, "Who is this new freshman?" only to learn that he's a senior that they overlooked and should have paid better attention to for years.

5. The Redemption of Chance Marsteller

It takes a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and talent to be a great wrestler. It takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude to look at yourself in the mirror, admit that you could be a better person and then not only commit to yourself but commit to the whole world that you will do everything in your power to become that better person. The wrestling community while in many ways a wonderful, loving and awesome family to be a part of can also be quite harsh. A deeply religious and conservative community, wrestling doesn't take kindly to illegal shenanigans and can be as unforgiving as it is judgmental. For Chance Marsteller to look these challenges straight in the face and come at them head on is quite admirable. To admit fault and take full responsibility for one's actions isn't an easy thing to do. Yet that is what Marsteller is doing and he's getting a second chance at Lock Haven.

I want to see him succeed. I want to see him continue on the straight and narrow and give troubled kids whether they're wrestlers or not someone to look up to. If he can change and he can make himself better, so can they. Some wrestlers think of themselves as only wrestlers. They feel no moral obligation or responsibility to be role models or figures for young people. I think Marsteller knows better and he is working hard to create the type of image that a young person can look up to and admire. I applaud that and I hope to see him succeed on the mat, as well as off.

4. BJ Clagon and Ethan Ramos both AA in final season

Both Clagon and Ramos hit the scene early on with All American finishes as freshmen, but their sophomore and junior seasons they've fallen short of reaching that goal again. It was hard watching Clagon come so close last season only to lose by 1 point in the blood round. As for Ramos, how can you not cheer for the guy? Talk about a positive, upbeat and optimistic attitude. You want to see the guy win. I was really hoping what doesn't seem that long ago that both of these guys would end their careers as four time All Americans. Unfortunately that isn't going to happen, but I have strong faith that both will become two time All Americans at the end of their collegiate careers.

3. Fresno State puts a wrestler on the Award Stand

Fresno State wrestling is back! May I repeat, FRESNO STATE WRESTLING IS BACK!! WOOOO!!! And why wait? Why not put someone on the award stand right away? I hate to put unfair pressure or expectation on Emilio Saavedra but dude, you are the man! You are the one with the opportunity and power to make it happen. (Don't get me wrong other Bulldog wrestlers will too, but Saavedra is who I put the most confidence in.) Show the administration that they made the right decision. Show the athletic director and president of Fresno State that Bulldog wrestling means business and they'll produce success and it won't take them 10 years to do it.

Image result for Jason Tsirtsis Arizona State

2. Jason Tsirtsis silences his doubters and critics

The return of Jason Tsirtsis has been another hot topic in wrestling as of late and to listen to fans talk about his potential has been disheartening and depressing to say the least. Here is a wrestler that won a national title as a freshman and then finished in third place as a sophomore and people insult the kid and wonder if he'll even be varsity come the start of the season. They point at a disappointing junior campaign and think that answers everything. It's clear to me that depression and the effect it can have on a person and their performance isn't something that is well understood by many. To go through the horrors that Tsirtsis went through a couple of years ago, it is a wonder he even wrestled as well as he did. Others want to point at his up and down performance at the Midlands. Again it takes time to recuperate mentally, physically and emotionally.

When I listen to these critics and doubters rag on Tsirtsis I want to walk up to them and slap them. Yet that isn't how you deal with these types of people. The only way to deal with them, is to hope that Tsirtsis walks into this season and wrestles as good as his potential says he can. That he has another NCAA title finish or runner up or third place. No one will admit they're wrong. There will be no crow eating, but they'll shut up and they'll disappear. It's not quite the same as slapping them upside the head for being so bitter and pessimistic but its not a bad consolation prize.

And what if I'm wrong? What if they're right? Well ok, but I have no shame in putting faith in Tsirtsis and backing him up with my belief in him and what I think he can do. You can look at my predictions I made a while back and I'm not afraid to say I have him winning 157 lbs. He wrestles 149 lbs, do I think he CAN beat Retherford? Yes, I think he can. A 100% Tsirtsis, and I mean that mentally and emotionally as much as I mean it physically can beat Retherford. Will he? I don't know.

I'm not a rich man. I can't put any money down and besides that's not only unethical, it also violates NCAA rules. However, I will say this. I predict Tsirtsis to finish top 3 regardless of which weight he ends up at.

1. Michigan wins the Team NCAA Title

Do I honestly believe that Michigan can upend Penn State and Ohio State and win the NCAA team title this year? Yes, I do. Will it take a tournament where everything has to fall into place and go right for Michigan while "going wrong" for others? Yes, but is that possible? Yes, it is.

Let's look at it logically.

Micic can and will contend for a title at 133 lbs. Kaid Brock and Seth Gross create his biggest challenge. I don't see him finishing any lower than third.

Be it Profaci or Fisher, I say we're looking at another All American at 141 lbs either way.

Pantaleo who I thought would be 157 this year, I think may be going 149. Either way, doesn't matter, AA.

Which then leaves me at Hall, who I also think can sneak in a low AA.

Defeating both Isaiah Martinez and Vincenzo Joseph for an NCAA title will be tough, but I do think that Massa will contend. Finishes no lower than third.

Amine I think can contend for a title at 174 lbs and I don't see him any worse than 4th.

Abounader can contend for the NCAA title and I think he will. (Did I really just say that? Yes, I did)

Beazley is an AA.

Coon is the most likely candidate to meet Snyder in the finals and as far as I'm concerned the only real threat Snyder has this season.

I hate using this terminology and I value all members of a team, but the only wrestler I don't see scoring serious points for the Wolverines is Assad at 125 lbs. Yet I do think he'll qualify and I do think he'll win a match or two at the NCAA tournament. In tight team races, those points add up.

I want to remain realistic while also calculating best case scenario.

125 - Assad (2-2)
133 - Micic (Champion)
141 - Fisher or Profaci (5th)
149 - Hall (8th)
157 - Pantaleo (2nd)

165: Massa (Champion)
174: Amine (Champion)
184: Abounader (Champion)
197: Beazley (2nd)
HWT: Coon (2nd)

That's the best I can see Michigan doing and if they do that well, they win the team title.

Taking off my maize and blue colored glasses I'm a bit more realistic in my "more fair" predictions if you want to call them that.

125: (2-2)
133: 3rd
141: 5th
149: (2-2)
157: 7th
165: 2nd
174: 4th
184: Champion
197: 4th
HWT: 2nd

Even with this prediction, that could still be enough to win the NCAA title. Eight All Americans, with one NCAA champion, two runner-ups and one third.

What favors Michigan most is an ability to put as many as 9 wrestlers on the award stand in All American status. What hurts them is whether they can get bonus points in route to these AA finishes or not.

And with that, there you have it. My top 2017-2018 NCAA Top 10 Wish List.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

JT#1's 2017-2018 Schedule

Saturday November 11th - Grand View Open-9:00 AM- Des Moines, Iowa

Sunday November 12th - Iowa State Vs Drexel - 12:00 PM - Ames, Iowa

Sunday November 26th - Iowa State Vs Rider - 2:00 PM - Ames, Iowa

Friday December 1st - Iowa Vs Illinois - 7:00 PM - Iowa City, Iowa

Saturday December 9th - UNI OPEN - 9:00 AM - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Saturday January 6th - Central College Invite-9:00 AM - Pella, Iowa

Friday January 12th - Grand View Vs Graceland - 7:00 PM - Des Moines, Iowa

Sunday January 14th - Iowa vs Oklahoma State - 3:00 PM - Iowa City, Iowa

Sunday January 21st - Iowa State Vs West Virginia - 2:00 PM - Ames, Iowa

Saturday January 27th - Iowa Vs Michigan - 5:00 PM - Iowa City, Iowa

Friday February 2nd - Iowa Vs Minnesota - 8:00 PM - Iowa City, Iowa

Friday February 9th - Iowa State Vs Fresno State - 7:00 PM - Ames, Iowa

Sunday February 18th - Iowa State Vs Iowa - 2:00 PM - Ames, Iowa

Friday/Saturday - March 2nd/3rd - NAIA Championships - Des Moines, Iowa

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

PRESEASON NCAA PREDICTIONS

125
1. Nathan Tomasello senior Ohio State
2. Zeke Moisey junior West Virginia
3. Darian Cruz senior Lehigh
4. Nick Suriano sophomore Rutgers
5. Ethan Lizak junior Minnesota
6. Nick Piccininni sophomore Oklahoma State
7. Jack Mueller sophomore Virginia
8. Sean Russell sophomore Edinboro
R12 Ryan Millhof junior Arizona State
R12 Ronnie Bresser junior Oregon State
R12 Barlow McGhee senior Missouri
R12 Josh Terao junior American

133
1. Kaid Brock sophomore Oklahoma State
2. Seth Gross junior South Dakota State
3. Stevan Micic sophomore Michigan
4. Emilio Saavedra junior Fresno State
5. Conor Schram senior Stanford
6. Dom Forys senior Pittsburgh
7. Mitch McKee sophomore Minnesota
8. Luke Welch senior Purdue
R12 John Erneste sophomore Missouri
R12 Scott Parker senior Lehigh
R12 Corey Keener senior Penn State
R12 Brian Lantry junior Buffalo

141
1. Dean Heil senior Oklahoma State
2. Anthony Ashnault senior Rutgers
3. Kevin Jack senior North Carolina State
4. Bryce Meredith senior Wyoming
5. George Fisher senior Michigan
6. Jared Prince sophomore Navy
7. Tommy Thorn junior Minnesota
8. Russell Rohlfing sophomore Bakersfield
R12 Ronny Perry senior Lock Haven
R12 Jaydin Eierman sophomore Missouri
R12 Ke-Shawn Hayes junior Ohio State
R12 Mike Pongracz senior Chattanooga

149
1. Zain Retherford senior Penn State
2. Solomon Chishko junior Virginia Tech
3. Brandon Sorensen senior Iowa
4. Steve Bleise junior Minnesota
5. Mike Kolodzik sophomore Princeton
6. Josh Shields sophomore Arizona State
7. Justin Oliver junior Central Michigan
8. Josh Reyes junior Fresno State
R12 Max Thomsen junior Northern Iowa
R12 Geo Martinez senior Oklahoma State
R12 Joey Galasso senior Cornell
R12 Matt Zovistoski junior Appalachian State

157
1. Jason Tsirtsis senior Arizona State
2. Jason Nolf junior Penn State
3. B.J. Clagon senior Rider
4. Joey LaVallee senior Missouri
5. Mike Kemerer sophomore Iowa
6. Tyler Berger junior Nebraska
7. Joey Smith junior Oklahoma State
8. Markus Schiedel senior Columbia
R12 Paul Fox senior Stanford
R12 Alec Pantaleo junior Michigan
R12 Kyle Langenderfer senior Illinois
R12 Micah Jordan junior Ohio State

165
1. Isaiah Martinez senior Illinois
2. Logan Massa sophomore Michigan
3. Vincenzo Joseph sophomore Penn State
4. Anthony Valencia sophomore Arizona State
5. Daniel McFadden sophomore Virginia Tech
6. Chad Walsh senior Rider
7. Chandler Rogers sophomore Oklahoma State
8. Chance Marstellar senior Lock Haven
R12 Alex Marinelli freshman Iowa
R12 Lorenzo De La Cruz sophomore Bakersfield
R12 Keaton Subjeck senior Stanford
R12 Mitch Finesilver Duke

174
1. Zahid Valencia sophomore Arizona State
2. Bo Jordan senior Ohio State
3. Mark Hall sophomore Penn State
4. Myles Amine sophomore Michigan
5. Ethan Ramos senior North Carolina
6. Daniel Lewis junior Missouri
7. Taylor Lujan junior Northern Iowa
8. Brandon Womack junior Cornell
R12 Ryan Preisch sophomore Lehigh
R12 Jonathan Schleifer senior Princeton
R12 David Kocer senior South Dakota State
R12 Jacobe Smith junior Oklahoma State

184
1. Domenic Abounader senior Michigan
2. Bo Nickal junior Penn State
3. Myles Martin junior Ohio State
4. Zach Zavatsky junior Virginia Tech
5. Patrick Downey senior Iowa
6. Drew Foster junior Northern Iowa
7. Steve Schneider senior Binghamton
8. Nick Gravina senior Rutgers
R12 Emery Parker junior Illinois
R12 Jordan Ellingwood senior Central Michigan
R12 Forrest Przbysz senior Appalachian State
R12 Andrew Marsden freshman Oklahoma State

197
1. Peter Renda senior North Carolina State
2. Jake Smith senior West Virginia
3. Willie Miklus senior Missouri
4. Kevin Beazley senior Michigan
5. Matt McCutcheon senior Penn State
6. Frank Mattiace senior Pennsylvania
7. Preston Weigel junior Oklahoma State
8. Jared Haught senior Virginia Tech
R12 Kollin Moore sophomore Ohio State
R12 Matt Williams senior Bakersfield
R12 Ricky Robertson junior Wisconsin
R12 Cash Wilcke sophomore Iowa

HWT
1. Kyle Snyder senior Ohio State
2. Adam Coon senior Michigan
3. Jacob Kasper senior Duke
4. Brooks Black senior Illinois
5. Nathan Butler senior Stanford
6. Tanner Hall junior Arizona State
7. Nick Nevills junior Penn State
8. Amaveer Dhesi junior Oregon State
R12 Billy Miller junior Edinboro
R12 Sam Stoll junior Iowa
R12 Garrett Ryan junior Columbia
R12 Gage Hutchinson senior Eastern Michigan

TEAMS

1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Arizona State
5. Oklahoma State
6. Virginia Tech
7. Missouri
8. Iowa
9. Illinois
10. North Carolina State
11. Minnesota
12. Rutgers
13. Stanford
14. Rider
15. South Dakota State

Monday, September 25, 2017

Preseason EWL Predictions

125

1. Sean Russell junior Edinboro
2. Jake Gromacki junior Clarion

133

1. Korbin Myers sophomore Edinboro

141

1. Ronnie Perry senior Lock Haven
2. Brock Zacherl junior Clarion
3. Tyson Dippery senior Rider

149

1. Kyle Shoop sophomore Edinboro

157

1. B.J. Clagon senior Rider

165

1. Chad Walsh senior Rider
2. Chance Marstellar senior Lock Haven

174

1. Ty Schoffstall senior Edinboro

184

1. Dakota Greer sophomore Edinboro

197

1. Tristan Sponseller junior Lock Haven

HWT

1. Billy Miller junior Edinboro
2. Thomas Haines junior Lock Haven

TEAM
1. Edinboro
2. Lock Haven
3. Rider
4. Clarion
5. George Mason
6. Cleveland State
7. Bloomsburg

PRESEASON SOCON PREDICTIONS

125

1. Alonzo Allen sophomore Chattanooga

133

1. Nathan Boston junior Campbell
2. Chris Debien sophomore Chattanooga

141

1. Michael Pongracz senior Chattanooga

149

1. Chris Vassar sophomore Gardner Webb
2. Matt Zovistoski junior Appalachian State

157

1. Neal Richards junior VMI

165

1. Tyler Marinelli junior Gardner Webb

174

1. Justin Lampe senior Chattanooga

184

1. Forest Przbysz senior Appalachian State
2. Bryce Carr Senior Chattanooga

197

1. Scottie Boykin senior Chattanooga

HWT

1. Jake McKiernan junior SIU-Edwardsville
2. Jere Heino junior Campbell

TEAM

1. Chattanooga
2. Gardner Webb
3. Appalachian State
4. Campbell
5. SIU-Edwardsville
6. VMI
7. The Citadel
8. Davidson

PRESEASON PAC 12 PREDICTIONS

125

1. Ronnie Bresser junior Oregon State
2. Ryan Millhof junior Oklahoma
3. Gabriel Townsell sophomore Stanford

133

1. Conor Schram senior Stanford
2. Ali Naser junior Arizona State
3. Keagan Calkins junior Oregon State

141

1. Russell Rohlfing sophomore Bakersfield
2. Jack Hathaway senior Oregon State
3. Christian Pagdilao senior Arizona State
4. Colton Schilling senior Cal Poly

149

1. Josh Shields sophomore Arizona State
2. Cole Hammond senior Bakersfield

157

1. Jason Tsirtsis senior Arizona State
2. Paul Fox junior Stanford
3. A.J. Fierro senior Bakersfield

165

1. Anthony Valencia sophomore Arizona State
2. Lorenzo De La Riva sophomore Bakersfield
3. Keaton Subjeck senior Stanford

174

1. Zahid Valencia sophomore Arizona State

184

1. Lane Thomas sophomore Cal Poly

197

1. Matt Williams senior Bakersfield
2. Corey Griego junior Oregon State

HWT

1. Nathan Butler senior Stanford
2. Tanner Hall junior Arizona State
3. Amaveer Dhesi junior Oregon State

TEAM

1. Arizona State
2. Bakersfield
3. Stanford
4. Oregon State
5. Cal Poly

Preseason MAC Predictions

125

1. Barlow McGhee senior Missouri
2. Brock Hudkins sophomore Northern Illinois
3. Shakur Laney junior Ohio
4. Kyle Akins junior Buffalo
5. Noah Gonsor sophomore Eastern Michigan

133

1. John Erneste junior Missouri
2. Brian Lantry junior Buffalo
3. Anthony Tutolo junior Kent State
4. Cam Kelly junior Ohio

141

1. Jaydin Eierman sophomore Missouri

149

1. Justin Oliver junior Central Michigan

157

1. Joey LaVallee senior Missouri
2. Colin Heffernan senior Central Michigan
3. Casey Sparkman senior Kent State

165

1. Seldon Wright junior Old Dominion
2. Dakota Jaurez junior Eastern Michigan

174

1. Daniel Lewis junior Missouri
2. C.J. Brucki junior Central Michigan

184

1. Jordan Ellingwood senior Central Michigan
2. Dylan Wisman sophomore Missouri

197

1. Willie Miklus junior Missouri
2. Kyle Conel junior Kent State

HWT

1. Gage Hutchinson senior Eastern Michigan

TEAMS

1. Missouri
2. Central Michigan
3. Eastern Michigan
4. Kent State
5. Buffalo
6. Old Dominion
7. Ohio
8. Northern Illinois

Preseason EIWA Predictions

125

1. Darian Cruz senior Lehigh
2. Josh Terao junior American
3. Zach Fuentes senior Drexel
4. Noah Baughman sophomore Cornell
5. Ty Agaisse sophomore Princeton

133

1. Scott Parker senior Lehigh
2. Pat D'Arcy junior Princeton

141

1. Jared Prince sophomore Navy
2. Tyler Smith senior Bucknell
3. Cortland Schuyler junior Lehigh
4. Will Koll junior Cornell

149

1. Matt Kolodzik sophomore Princeton
2. Joey Galasso senior Cornell
3. Conner Prince sophomore Navy

157

1. Markus Scheidel senior Columbia
2. Justin Staudenmayer senior Brown
3. Fredy Stroker sophomore Cornell
4. May Bethea senior Pennsylvania
5. Garrett Hammond senior Drexel

165

1. Jordan Kutler sophomore Lehigh
2. Tyrell White senior Columbia

174

1. Brandon Womack junior Cornell
2. Ryan Preisch junior Lehigh
3. Jonathan Schleifer senior Princeton
4. Jadaen Bernstein senior Navy
5. Andrew LaBrie senior Brown
6. Ben Harvey sophomore Army

184

1. Steve Schneider senior Binghamton

197

1. Frank Mattiace senior Pennsylvania
2. Tom Sleigh junior Bucknell
3. Rocco Caywood junior Army
4. Jeric Kasnuic senior American
5. Ben Honis junior Cornell

HWT

1. Garrett Ryan senior Columbia
2. Mike Hughes senior Hofstra
3. Joey Goodhart junior Drexel
4. Jordan Wood freshman Lehigh

TEAM

1. Lehigh
2. Cornell
3. Princeton
4. Columbia
5. Navy
6. Drexel
7. Pennsylvania
8. Bucknell
9. Brown
10. American
11. Army
12. Binghamton
13. Hofstra
14. Harvard
15. Franklin and Marshall
16. Sacred Heart

Preseason ACC Predictions

125

1. Jack Mueller sophomore Virginia
2. Dalton Macri junior North Carolina
3. Sean Fausz junior North Carolina State
4. Kyle Norstrem freshman Virginia Tech
5. L.J. Bentley junior Pittsburgh

133

1. Dom Forys senior Pittsburgh
2. Jamal Morris junior North Carolina State
3. Dennis Gustafson senior Virginia Tech

141

1. Kevin Jack senior North Carolina State
2. Nick Zanetta senior Pittsburgh
3. A.C. Headlee sophomore North Carolina

149

1. Solomon Chishko junior Virginia Tech
2. Troy Heilman senior North Carolina State
3. Zach Finesilver junior Duke

157

1. Andrew Atkinson senior Virginia
2. Hayden Hidlay freshman North Carolina State

165

1. Daniel McFadden sophomore Virginia Tech
2. Mitch Finesilver junior Duke
3. Taleb Rahmani sophomore Pittsburgh
4. Brian Hamann senior North Carolina State

174

1. Ethan Ramos senior North Carolina

184

1. Zach Zavatsky junior Virginia Tech
2. Matt Macchiavello senior North Carolina State
3. Chip Ness senior North Carolina

197

1. Peter Renda Senior North Carolina State
2. Jared Haught senior Virginia Tech

HWT

1. Jacob Kasper senior Duke
2. Ryan Solomon senior Pittsburgh
3. Michael Boykin senior North Carolina State

TEAM

1. North Carolina State
2. Virginia Tech
3. Pittsburgh
4. North Carolina
5. Duke
6. Virginia

Preseason BIG 12 Predictions

125

1. Zeke Moisey junior West Virginia
2. Nick Piccininni sophomore Oklahoma State
3. Drew Templeman senior Wyoming
4. Christian Moody sophomore Oklahoma

133

1. Kaid Brock sophomore Oklahoma State
2. Seth Gross junior South Dakota State
3. Emilio Saavedra junior Fresno State
4. Markus Simmons sophomore Iowa State

141

1. Dean Heil senior Oklahoma State
2. Bryce Meredith senior Wyoming
3. Josh Alber junior Northern Iowa
4. Mike Longo senior Oklahoma
5. Kanen Storr freshman Iowa State
6. Mitch Bengston senior North Dakota State

149

1. Max Thomsen junior Northern Iowa
2. Josh Reyes junior Fresno State
3. Geo Martinez senior Oklahoma State
4. Davion Jeffries junior Oklahoma

157

1. Joe Smith junior Oklahoma State
2. Colston DiBlasi sophomore Iowa State
3. Clayton Ream senior South Dakota State
4. Archie Colgan senior Wyoming
5. DeWaylon Barnes senior Oklahoma
6. Sam Kreimier senior Air Force
7. Raider Lofthouse senior Utah Valley

165

1. Chandler Rogers junior Oklahoma State
2. Bryce Steiert junior Northern Iowa
3. Keilan Torres senior Northern Colorado
4. Yoanse Mejias senior Oklahoma
5. Branson Ashworth junior Wyoming
6. Andrew Fogarty sophomore North Dakota State
8. Alex Lopouchanski senior Air Force
9. Skyler St John junior Iowa State

174
1. Taylor Lujan junior Northern Iowa
2. Jacobe Smith junior Oklahoma State
3. David Kocer senior South Dakota State
4. Dane Pestano senior Iowa State

184
1. Drew Foster junior Northern Iowa
2. Austin Marsden junior Oklahoma State
3. Dylan Gabel junior Northern Colorado

197
1. Jake Smith Senior West Virginia
2. Preston Weigel junior Oklahoma State
3. Nate Rotert senior South Dakota State
4. Tanner Orndorff sophomore Utah Valley

HWT
1. Carter Isley freshman Northern Iowa
2. Marcus Harrington sophomore Iowa State

TEAM

1. Oklahoma State
2. Northern Iowa
3. Iowa State
4. South Dakota State
5. Oklahoma
6. Wyoming
7. West Virginia
8. Northern Colorado
9. Utah Valley
10. North Dakota State
11. Air Force

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Preseason BIG 10 Predictions

125

1. Nathan Tomasello senior Ohio State
2. Nick Suriano sophomore Rutgers
3. Ethan Lizak junior Minnesota
4. Elijah Oliver junior Indiana
5. Travis Piotrowski sophomore Illinois
6. Ben Thornton senior Purdue
7. Johnny Jimenez senior Wisconsin
8. Sebastian Rivera freshman Northwestern
9. Austin Assad sophomore Michigan
10. Kris Williams sophomore Nebraska

133

1. Stevan Micic sophomore Michigan
2. Mitch Mckee sophomore Minnesota
3. Luke Welch senior Purdue
4. Corey Keener senior Penn State
5. Scott DelVecchio senior Rutgers
6. Luke Pletcher sophomore Ohio State
7. Philip Laux senior Iowa
8. Eli Stickley sophomore Wisconsin
9. Austin Eicher junior Michigan State

141

1. Anthony Ashnault senior Rutgers
2. George Fisher senior Michigan
3. Tommy Thorn junior Minnesota
4. Ke-Shawn Hayes sophomore Ohio State
5. Jered Cortez junior Penn State
6. Javier Gasca senior Michigan State
7. Chad Red freshman Nebraska
8. Cole Martin junior Wisconsin
9. Carter Happel freshman Iowa

149

1. Zain Retherford senior Penn State
2. Brandon Sorensen senior Iowa
3. Steve Bleise junior Minnesota
4. Baby J Bannister junior Maryland
5. Zac Hall junior Michigan
6. Andrew Crone senior Wisconsin
7. Colton McCrystal senior Nebraska
8. Eleazar DeLuca senior Rutgers
9. Ryan Deakin freshman Northwestern

157

1. Jason Nolf junior Penn State
2. Tyler Berger junior Nebraska
3. Michael Kemerer sophomore Iowa
4. Alec Pantaleo junior Michigan
5. Micah Jordan junior Ohio State
6. Kyle Langenderfer senior Illinois
7. Jake Short senior Minnesota
8. Richie Lewis senior Rutgers
9. Jake Danishek junior Indiana

165

1. Isaiah Martinez senior Illinois
2. Logan Massa sophomore Michigan
3. Vincenzo Joseph sophomore Penn State
4. Alex Marinelli freshman Iowa
5. Te'Shan Campbell junior Ohio State
6. Jack Van Brill junior Rutgers
7. Nick Wanzek senior Minnesota
8. Johnny Sebastian sophomore Northwestern

174

1. Bo Jordan senior Ohio State
2. Mark Hall sophomore Penn State
3. Myles Amine sophomore Michigan
4. Jacob Morrissey senior Purdue
5. Devin Skatzka sophomore Indiana
6. Ryan Christensen junior Wisconsin
7. Drew Hughes sophomore Michigan State
8. Kaleb Young freshman Iowa

184

1. Domenic Abounader senior Michigan
2. Bo Nickal junior Penn State
3. Myles Martin junior Ohio State
4. Patrick Downey senior Iowa
5. Nick Gravina senior Rutgers
6. Emery Parker junior Illinois
7. Hunter Ritter sophomore Wisconsin
8. Mitch Sliga senior Northwestern

197

1. Kevin Beazley senior Michigan
2. Matt McCutcheon senior Penn State
3. Kollin Moore sophomore Ohio State
4. Ricky Robertson sophomore Wisconsin
5. Cash Wilcke sophomore Iowa

HWT

1. Kyle Snyder senior Ohio State
2. Adam Coon senior Michigan
3. Brooks Black senior Illinois
4. Nick Nevills junior Penn State
5. Sam Stoll junior Iowa
6. Youssif Hemida junior Maryland
7. Conan Jennings junior Northwestern

1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Ohio State
4. Iowa
5. Minnesota
6. Rutgers
7. Illinois
8. Wisconsin
9. Purdue
10. Nebraska
11. Indiana
12. Mayland
13. Northwestern
14. Michigan State

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Conference Championships Won by Schools That No Longer Have Wrestling Programs

SEC

PAC-12

BIG 12

EIWA

MAC

SOCON

Rocky Mountain

BIG SKY

MASON DIXON

*NOTE - I realize that this list is missing some information. For example Team Champions from The East Regional. I know Duquense, Liberty and Slippery Rock all won championships. However I was unable to find a history of the conference as a whole. I also know that SIU-Carbondale won a series of titles in the conference they participated in as well. I was also unable to find more information about that. If you have information to be added to this blog, please contact me and let me know. Thank you.

We Are Not The Only Sport In The Fight:

Ask yourself this question: Are you a college sports fan?

Obviously you are or you wouldn't be reading this blog. Yet what does that term mean, "College sports fan?" For most Americans it means that you watch and follow Football and Men's basketball. In this particular case, it most likely also means you are a wrestling fan.

What other sports?

You may have added a few sports to the list and if you did, may I commend you for that. If you didn't, don't feel bad. If you count up all of the sports that the NCAA offers to men, women and coed the number comes out to 37. The majority of Americans only follow two of them. Only 5% of the available sports to spectate, and people consider themselves diehard and passionate "sports fans." And before you call hypocrisy, I'll be the first to admit that I'm no better. 37 sports, and the only two I pay attention to are wrestling and baseball. Trust me, I speak to myself as much as I speak to anyone.

What is my point? Why am I bringing this up?

We as a wrestling community strive. We strive for attention. We strive for recognition. We strive for survival. For over forty years we have fought those who have misused and perverted Title IX. We have fought greedy and selfish administrations, athletic directors and University/College presidents. We've struggled against budget cuts. We have continuously worked to grow our sport and popularize it.

Truth is, we're not alone. There are so many other sports besides wrestling that are going through the same trials and tribulations that we are. Why all of these sports choose to fight this battle alone makes no sense.

Maybe you don't care about other sports. Maybe what has happened and continues to happen to Men's gymnastics, Men's Swimming and Diving, Baseball, Men's Tennis and many other sports is of no concern to you.

They should be.

We want people to care about wrestling. We want people to be as upset as we are when a wrestling program is cut from a school's athletics program. Yet how can we expect someone else to give a hoot about wrestlers and wrestling teams, if we don't give a hoot about them in return?

This isn't a didactic speech, preaching that you should suddenly start attending the Gymnastics events at the closest college near you or that you should suddenly bookmark the NCAA's official fencing website.

What it means is that you should have enough of an understanding that other sports, their athletes, their coaches and their fans are going through the same things that we are.

I imagine that some of you that are reading this probably know Penn State football fans who do not follow wrestling. Would it bother you if these fans didn't have the slightest clue of Penn State's wrestling success? I would hope that it would. Yet, as a Penn State wrestling fan yourself, are you aware that the Nittany Lions won three Men's Gymnastics titles in the last 17 years?

And speaking of Men's Gymnastics, did you know that eight of the teams that have won the NCAA Division I team title since the first championships were held in 1932, have since dropped their Men's Gymnastics team? This includes Chicago, Temple, Florida State, USC, SIU-Carbondale, UCLA, Arizona State and three time champs Iowa State.

Have you seen Mike Houston's post about how the numbers are down for high school wrestling participation? In 1977 3,655 high schools in the United States had boy's gymnastics teams, with 84,943 participants. By 2001, 1,629 high schools and 21,620 participants.

In 1982, there were 79 NCAA Men's Gymnastics teams. By 2001, that number had dwindled to 21.