The following list of 10 impact freshmen combines the redshirts and the true young ones; as both are taking their first crack at the NCAA Championships.
Logan Stieber (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)International accomplishments and consistent mention in discussion of an NCAA title make Stieber the most popular choice to make the NCAA finals in 2011. Standing between him and an NCAA title is loose-kneed, heavy-hipped defensive juggernaut, defending NCAA champion Matt McDonough. Oh, the symmetry. Go ahead and circle your wall calendar for January 23, 2011: Stieber. McDonough. Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
2. Chris Perry (Oklahoma State, 184)
He beat his (former) coach ... and that coach was Chris Pendleton, two-time NCAA champion. The family legacy seems safe with this Perry. In many ways (physical maturity, coaching, redshirt success) the Oklahoma native seems the surest bet to place as a freshman. His third-place finish this year at the FILA Junior Worlds shows that he's coming into the season with the idea of winning the title, not settling. If his last six months is any indication, I'd place money on him in March. (Note: Perry is a humble kid ... "Coach still hands me some beatings. He's been my favorite coach since I was in sixth grade.")
David Taylor (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)Is love as powerful a motivator as fear? Taylor is a trendy choice for All-American honors in Philadelphia, but could this youthful Ohioan actually make the NCAA finals as a Nittany cub? While he lacks the physical maturity of a Chris Perry or Jake Deitchler, he's won at every level and because of that success has been talked about on message boards since he was a baby-faced sub-100-pound high school freshman, so expect the young man to be under immense pressure to win every match from now until March 19. Judging from his relationship with Coach Cael, he'll have a trusty resource to tap should he go undefeated for a spell, or stumble on the path to an NCAA title.
4. Chris Villalonga (Cornell, 141)
The Jersey Kid's toughest test might be in the wrestling room where he'll compete against fifth-year senior Corey Manson. While others around Manson's weight (and hometown) have won NCAA titles for the Big Red, the Chattanooga-native Manson has become a fan favorite in Ithaca by working hard and wrestling without fear. If Villalonga can beat Manson for the starting spot, look for him to have an explosive season. The weight is competitive nationally, so he'll have to improve with haste, but if he follows the trajectory of his prep career, there could be an All-American plaque in Villalonga's future. First up, though: Manson.
5. Ed "Baby" Ruth (Penn State, 174)
Coach Cael again. Ruth's down from 184 pounds, but Cael feels he's ready and improving. If the prep accolades out of Susquehanna Township weren't enough to make him a top recruit, a year under Buxton at Blair and another as a redshirt for Coach Cael should lead to a respectable finish in March. Maybe one of his biggest assets is Casey Cunningham, a coach geared to help upper middleweights dominate on the mat, as well as on their feet.
Jake Deitchler (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)I'll always bet on the Olympian. Yes, it was in Greco, but making the U.S. Olympic Team as a high school student lets me know that Deitchler has uncommon poise. That's good because he'll have a tough year in his conference, facing up-and-comers David Taylor and Northwestern's Jason Welch. Though Deitchler's eligibility was ultimately reinstated by the NCAA after appeal, I'm pulling for the Minnesota native to win the NCAA title and pull Quint Kessenich aside and tell America what he thinks of the Eligibility Gestapo in Indianapolis.
7. Josh Kindig (Oklahoma State, 141)
Like several freshmen on this list, Kindig might be stuck behind a talented upperclassmen, but he's on the list because if we've learned one lesson about Oklahoma State, it's that their bench prepares to win (see: Pat Smith, Jake Rosholt).
8. Jake Swartz (Boise State, 174)
Boise State's room is among the best in the country for upper weight talent. Leading a group of tough-looking blue-turfers is Kirk Smith who is a consensus No. 1 at 184 pounds and one of the leading preseason candidates for the Dan Hodge Trophy. According to coach Greg Randall, little Swartz will battle Brock Gutches for the starting spot, but should he emerge unscathed from his own room, expect him to make easy work of the Pac-10 and steal a seed at the NCAAs. Randall and others in Boise are expecting an All-American performance from the former Fargo champion.
9. Derek St. John (Iowa, 157)
Like Perry, St. John has a wrestling pedigree. With a room full of middleweight talent, look for St. John to start strong and finish strong. He went 26-4 as a redshirt. The goal is yellow medals.
Marshall PeppelmanPeppleman is at best a 50/50 shot to make the Big Red lineup, as he's parked behind 2010 round-of-12'er Justin Kerber. Whoever makes the lineup, I'd expect to become an All-American. If Peppleman makes it out, it'll be him, for a team contending for the NCAA team title. That'll always make an impact.
Honorable Mention:
Eric Grajales (Michigan, 133)
Expect Grajales, who went 217-0 in high school, to make an immediate impact for a young Michigan team looking to get back to national prominence. He and 141-pound All-American Kellen Russell should form a solid one-two punch for the Wolverines.
Mike McMullen (Northwestern, 285)
Athletic, hard-working PA kid who came out as a top recruit. Can Jake Herbert prove to be an effective coach and send this true freshman to the podium?
David Thorn (Minnesota, 133)
Winning is a family trait. His brother, Mike is a returning All-American for the Gophers, and his father, John, was an All-American for Iowa State. Who else wants to see another come-from-behind-miracle takedown from a Gopher 133-pounder capped off by a Lambeau Leap? I do.
John Fausey (Virginia, 174)
Coach Steve Garland has been praising his Pennsylvania redshirt, "Natural feel, good redshirt year ... We think he's going to be a big one." Can he become the first freshman All-American from the ACC since ... since ... I have no idea, but a very, very long time.
Andrew Alton/Dylan Alton (Penn State, 141)
According to Coach Cael, there is nothing stopping one of the Pennsylvania twins from cracking the lineup, "We are looking to field the best team we can. One of the Altons could see the lineup." Will they have an impact? Probably a big one.
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