The top two teams in each bracket will compete in the Gold/Silver pool, and compete for the tournament championship. Teams placing third and fourth will compete in the Bronze/Copper pool, and so forth. Within each pool, teams will wrestle three dual meets and then a crossover dual meet for placement.
In order for a team to win the national title, they need to finish top two in their first day bracket. Then, they need to be on top of the standings after a three-match round-robin (generally speaking that entails going 3-0), and then win a crossover match against the top team in the other pool.
Cadet eligible wrestlers have 2000 and 2001 birthdates. This means that the eligible pool of wrestlers is virtually all Class of 2019 prospects, along with some prospects from the Class of 2018 and the Class of 2020. Illinois has swept the Greco-Roman and freestyle titles the previous three years and four of the previous five (2011, 2013-2015). In all, the Land of Lincoln seeks a sixth straight Greco-Roman title and a fourth straight freestyle title.
Based on the information posted to Track Wrestling as of Tuesday night, Washington is the top seed in the Greco-Roman competition. The other top seeds in Day 1 preliminary brackets are Pennsylvania Blue (their first team), Illinois, and Minnesota; in last year's final, it was Illinois over Washington.
The top seeded Washington team features wrestlers that finished top three in the scholastic state tournament this past year as starters in eight of the seventeen weight classes. This includes state champions Alexander Cruz (120) and Adrian St. Germain (152); state runners-up include returning Cadet double All-Americans in Chase Tebbets (100) and Blake Haney (113).
Christopher Foca (Bergen Catholic, Pa.) was a Beast of the East champion this past season (Photo/Rob Preston)Pennsylvania is the second seed, anchoring bracket B. Three state medalists feature on the team: Beau Bayless (106), Edmund Ruth (152), and Josh Stillings (160). Returning Cadet Greco All-American J.J. Wilson (113) and the nation's top rising freshman in Beau Bartlett (126) are also present. Others to watch include incoming freshman Connor Kievman (120) and state qualifier Carnell Andrews (132).
Within the preliminary bracket, Michigan Red is the most direct threat to Pennsylvania. A trio of state champions anchor this lineup, Corey Gamet (113), Kevin Davenport (126), and Cameron Amine (138). Also on the roster are four others that placed in the top four at state in the high school season: Nick Freeman (132), Layne Malczewski (145), Brian Case (152), and Ryan Ringler (170). Another one to note is Cadet folkstyle champion Andrew Chambal (94).
Defending champions Illinois feature a rather solid roster with four wrestlers that placed top three at their high school state tournament: state champion Tyler Delaware (120), state runner-up Donnell Washington (132) and Will Lewan (138), along with state third place finishers Dalton Jensen (145). Also present are state medalists Zach Braunagel (170) and Jace Punke (220). Three others to watch are returning Cadet Greco All-American Christian Goin (94) as well as Cadet folkstyle champions Sergio Villalobos (195) and Roland Tucker (285).
A rather loaded Iowa team is also present in Pool C with Illinois, presuming the brackets on Track Wrestling are correct. State champion Brody Teske (120) is the anchor wrestler, along with state runner-up Eric Faught (100), while three others placed third at state - Gable Fox (113), Zane Mulder (145), and Logan Schumacher (182). Also present are Cadet folkstyle champion Cullan Schreiver (88) and nationally ranked Class of 2019 wrestler Cade Devos (120). Five other wrestlers also earned state medals this year in the high school season: Gabe Ruepke (126), Harlan Steffensmeier (138), Lucas Roland (145), Tad Griffith (160), and Spencer Trenary (285).
Minnesota, which won both titles at the Schoolboy level last week near Indianapolis, is the top seed in Pool D (i.e. preliminary bracket). The Gopher State team features eight wrestlers that finished in the top three at the state tournament this past season, anchored by state champion Anthony Jackson (152); runners-up include Jake Svihel (106), Cael Carlson (120), Tyler Eischens (138), and Caden Steffen (170); while Israel Navarro (113), Sebas Swiggum (126), and Brock Luthens (132) finished third. Two other state medalists reside in the upper-weights, Robert Striggow (182) and Tyler Buesgens (195).
Oklahoma had the same amount of seeding points as did the Minnesota squad, but have the second seed in Pool D. They have seven state medalists in the lineup, anchored by state champion Zane Coleman (152); the trio of state runners-up include Braden Elrod (113), Colton Denney (145), and Hunter Jump (152); rounding it out are Reece Witcroft (120), Caleb Wise (160), and Montana Phillips (285). Also on the roster is nationally ranked incoming freshman Dustin Plott (138).
The freestyle competition will start on Friday with similar type of rosters for each team, though some other wrestlers are likely to be in play for a few of the teams.
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