Ryan Karoly will look to repeat as Cadet National freestyle champion (Photo/Juan Garcia)While the Cadet Greco-Roman event is reaching its conclusion on Monday, the freestyle event at the Cadet level starts on Wednesday morning. Its medal matches will be held on Friday afternoon. This competition is a very robust one featuring a significant amount of the elite wrestlers born in 2000 and 2001, whom will be the stars of scholastic wrestling over the coming years. Below is an overview of the expected field in each weight class, based on participant lists posted to Trackwrestling as of Sunday evening (July 17).
88 pounds: A pair of Cadet National folkstyle champions anchor the field in this weight class, Andrew Chambal (Michigan) and Cullan Schriever (Iowa); Chambal also placed at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month at 42 kilos (92 pounds), while Schriever is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2020. Also in this weight class are a pair of UWW Cadet freestyle All-Americans in Kase Mauger (Idaho) and Blake Noonan (Michigan), each doing so at 42 kilos. Additional contenders in this weight are Cadet folkstyle runner-up Emilio Haynes (Nebraska), Daniel Kimball (Iowa), Paxton Creese (Minnesota), and Wyatt Yapoujian (Colorado).
94 pounds: Two of the nation's best Class of 2020 wrestlers anchor this weight class, No. 6 Jeremiah Reno (Missouri) and Justin Bierdumpfel (New Jersey). The pair of wrestlers placed second and third respectively at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle at 42 kilos last month. Joining those two as placers at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month were Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) and Caden McCrary (Georgia). The lone returning Cadet freestyle All-American in this weight class is Destin Summers (Idaho), who also was a scholastic state champion this past season. Additional contenders include Adam Allard (Iowa) and Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington).
100 pounds: Anchoring this weight class is UWW Cadet National freestyle runner-up Eric Faught (Iowa), who is also a two-time Cadet National folkstyle runner-up and was a state runner-up this past high school season. Joining Faught as All-Americans at 46 kilos (101 pounds) in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month were Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), Lucas Byrd (Ohio), Ridge Lovett (Idaho), Steele Dias (Nevada), and Matthew Ramos (Illinois); these wrestlers placed third through seventh. Dias is a two-time Cadet National folkstyle champion, Lovett was a state champion this school season and a Cadet National freestyle runner-up last summer, Byrd placed third in Cadet freestyle last summer and was a state medalist this year, while Barnett was a state medalist this past school year.
Others to watch include incoming freshmen Anthony Clark (New Jersey) and Kellyn March (South Dakota), along with state runner-up and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Derek Ramos (Idaho) as well as Oscar Sanchez (Ohio).
106 pounds: Four scholastic state champions from the 2015-16 season are among the primary contenders in this weight class - Corey Gamet (Michigan), Greg Diakomihalis (New York), Jace Koelzer (Kansas), and Josh Blatt (North Carolina). It can be argued that Cadet National folkstyle champion Koelzer is the overall favorite in this weight class as he is the lone returning Cadet freestyle All-American in the field, fourth at 94 pounds last year.
At least five others in this field placed within the top four at their high school state tournament this season: state runners-up Colt Newton (Oklahoma) and Isaac Lopez (Washington), third place finishers Dalton Rohrbaugh (Pennsylvania) and Kai Orrine (Missouri), along with fourth place finisher Beau Bayless (Pennsylvania). Additional wrestlers to watch are Cadet folkstyle runner-up Jon Prata (California), UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Sammy Alvarez (New Jersey), and impact incoming freshman Julian Tagg (Ohio), ranked No. 18 overall in the Class of 2020.
113 pounds: The favorite in this weight class is Adam Busiello (New York), who ended the 2015-16 scholastic season as the No. 1 wrestler in the country at 106 pounds. He is currently ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2019 after winning the Super 32 Challenge this past fall and a second high school state title this winter. At least seven other wrestlers join Busiello as state champions in this weight class.
Most notable among the group is FloNationals runner-up Ben Kamali (Michigan). Others include Antonio Saldate (Nevada), Asa Garcia (Michigan), Bryce Andonian (Ohio), Isaiah Delgado (Texas), Jordan Hamdan (Michigan), and Legend Lamer (Oregon); Saldate is a two-time state champion.
Joining Busiello as a grade-level ranked wrestler is state medalist Coltan Yapoujian (Colorado), who is ranked No. 22 in the Class of 2019 after placing fourth in Cadet freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Others to watch include state runner-up Gabriel Tagg (Ohio), who placed third in Cadet freestyle last summer; state medalist Malyke Hines (Florida), who placed at the FloNationals; and state medalist Israel Navarro (Minnesota).
120 pounds: Six grade-level ranked wrestlers are among those in the field at this weight class. Two-time state runner-up Patrick Glory (New Jersey), also a Super 32 Challenge runner-up, is ranked No. 35 overall in the Class of 2018. From the Class of 2019 it is No. 11 Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois), No. 15 Theorius Robison (Colorado), No. 17 Andrew Alirez (Colorado), No. 35 Aden Reeves (Iowa), and No. 40 Cade Devos (Iowa); Ford-Melton, Robison, and Alirez were All-Americans last month in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals (Robison at 58 kilos, the other two at 54), while Ford-Melton, Alirez, and Reeves were Cadet freestyle All-Americans last summer (Ford-Melton a runner-up at 100 pounds). Last among those grade ranked is Joshua Saunders (Missouri), No. 2 overall in the Class of 2020.
At least another trio of wrestlers in this weight class are two-time state champions, Alexander Cruz (Washington), Brody Teske (Iowa) and Patrick McCormick (Virginia). While at least two others have a state title to their credit, Brandon Fenton (Ohio) and Orion Anderson (New York). Also to watch in this weight class are two-time state runner-up Aaron Schulist (Wisconsin), two-time state placer and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Carmen Ferrante (New Jersey), and state medalist Josh Tibbits (Iowa).
126 pounds: Two of the five Cadet eligible champions from last year's Cadet National freestyle tournament reside in this weight class, Nick Raimo (New Jersey) and Jordan Decatur (Ohio); they are ranked No. 2 and No. 5 respectively in the Class of 2019. Raimo was a state runner-up during the past scholastic season, third in the Super 32 Challenge this past fall, and a UWW Cadet freestyle third place finisher at 54 kilos (119 pounds); while Decatur was runner-up at 54 kilos in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals, and also a NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion.
Three other ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2019 are in this field as well, No. 12 Jaden Abas (California), No. 13 Chris Cannon (New Jersey), and No. 49 Kevon Davenport (Michigan). Abas finished as state runner-up and was a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American last year, Cannon was a National Prep champion but his freestyle skills are not nearly as good as those in folkstyle, while Davenport was also a state champion in 2015-16.
Additional wrestlers to watch include two-time state champ Peyton Robb (Minnesota), state champ Dayton Porsch (Kansas), state placer and FloNatonals placer Ryan Moore (Kentucky), state placer and Cadet National folkstyle champion Sebas Swiggum (Minnesota), 2015 state placer Robbie Precin (Illinois), and state qualifier Andy Garr (Ohio).
132 pounds: Six grade-level ranked wrestlers are among the field in this weight class, led by a pair from the Class of 2018 in No. 29 Jacori Teemer (New York) and No. 38 Josh Humphreys (West Virginia). Three-time state champion Teemer is a returning Cadet freestyle All-American, while Humphreys is a two-time state champion. The other four are from the Class of 2020: No. 11 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma), No. 16 Alfonso Martinez (Arizona), No. 19 Sonny Santiago (California), and No. 21 Frankie Tal-Shahar (Florida). Martinez, Plott, and Santiago placed third through fifth in this weight class at Cadet folkstyle this spring, while Tal-Shahar was a scholastic state medalist this past season.
Additional contenders include two-time National Prep placer Malcolm Robinson (Virginia), state qualifier Carnell Andrews (Pennsylvania), state champion Andrew Gamble (Missouri), two-time state champion River Curtis (Virginia), state placer Nick Freeman (Michigan), and 2015 state placer Zach Melloh (Indiana).
138 pounds: With six grade level ranked wrestlers, this is arguably the most talented overall weight class in Cadet freestyle. Leading the way here is defending champion Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania), who is ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2018. In addition, he was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month, is a two-time state placer, and was third in the Super 32 Challenge this fall. Two other ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2018 are present, No. 26 Brock Hardy (Utah) and No. 28 Will Lewan (Illinois). Cadet folkstyle champion Hardy was runner-up to Sasso last summer in this event, and is a two-time state champion, while Lewan is a two-time state placer, placed at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring, and was a Cadet double All-American last summer.
The other three grade ranked wrestlers are Cameron Amine (Michigan), Fidel Mayora (Illinois), and Jason Kraisser (Maryland). State champion Amine is ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2019, Cadet folkstyle runner-up Mayora is No. 15 in the Class of 2020, while state champion Kraisser is No. 26 in the Class of 2019.
Additional wrestlers to watch include state champion Roderick Mosley (Oklahoma), 2015 state runner-up Jake Silverstein (New York), two-time state runner-up Tyler Eischens (Minnesota), along with a pair of two-time state medalists in Harlan Steffensmeier (Iowa) and Ryan Steffen (Iowa); Steffensmeier was a Cadet National folkstyle runner-up this spring.
145 pounds: Two returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans are among the contenders in this weight class, Jared Franek (North Dakota) and Logan Jensen (Utah). Franek is a three-time state champion and was the Cadet National folkstyle champion this spring, while Jensen was a state runner-up this scholastic season. Another pair of wrestlers are ranked within their grade level, Cole Matthews (Pennsylvania) and Sam Dover (Ohio). Matthews is ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2018, a 2015 state champion and two-time state medalist; while Dover is No. 19 overall in the Class of 2019 and a state medalist this past season.
Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Adrian St. Germain (Washinton), state runners-up Colton Denney (Oklahoma) and Garrett Lange (Kansas), state medalists Brian Case (Michigan) and Nathan Moore (Washington), two-time state placers Justin McCoy (Pennsylvania) and Zane Mulder (Iowa), along with state qualifier Abe Assad (Illinois).
152 pounds: The favorite in this weight class is two-time state champion Frankie Gissendanner (New York), who is ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2018 and placed fourth in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Two other grade level ranked wrestlers join Gissendanner in this weight class, both of them from the Class of 2019; No. 28 Zane Coleman (Oklahoma) and No. 34 Edmund Ruth (Pennsylvania). Coleman was a state champion this scholastic season, while Ruth was a state medalist.
However, the most direct threats to Gissendanner are likely a pair of state runners-ups, each of whom was an Cadet National All-American in both styles last summer: Michael O'Malley (New Jersey) and Tyler Dow (Wisconsin). O'Malley is a two-time state medalist and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion, while Dow was a Cadet National folkstyle champion this spring and an All-American in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month.
Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Mason Reiniche (Tennessee), at least three other wrestlers whom were state runners-up during the 2015-16 school year, at least three other state medalists, and Cadet folkstyle runner-up Oszkar Kasch (Indiana).
160 pounds: The clear favorite in this weight class is two-time state champion Julian Ramirez (Florida), who is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2019 after also placing third in Cadet freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Two additional ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2019 are in this weight class, No. 44 Chris Foca (New Jersey) and No. 47 Zach Borer (Nebraska); Foca was champion at the Beast of the East in December, while Borer was a state champion this past winter. Others to watch include state medalist and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Josh Stillings (Pennsylvania) as well as UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania).
170 pounds: It came as a major shock when Travis Wittlake (Oregon) did not win a Cadet Triple Crown last year. This year, the No. 8 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 is favored to accomplish that feat. In addition, the two-time state champion is also going to represent the United States at the UWW Cadet World Championships in early September at 76 kilos (167 pounds).
The other grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is fellow Cadet folkstyle champion Devin Winston (Missouri), No. 39 in the Class of 2019. Additional wrestlers to watch are two-time state placers Joel Shapiro (Iowa) and Nick Casperson (South Dakota); 2015 state runner-up Sebastian Mordecai (Arizona); along with state medalists Cade Pederson (North Dakota), Nate Jimenez (Illinois), Bill Janzer (New Jersey), and Zach Braunagel (Illinois)
182 pounds: Returning Cadet National freestyle champion Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) is the anchor figure in this weight class. The National Prep champion is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2018. Two other grade level ranked wrestlers are among the contenders, Jared Krattiger (Wisconsin) and Daniel Kerkvleit (Minnesota).
Two-time state placer Krattiger is ranked No. 34 in the Class of 2018, and has placed at both the FloNationals and in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals since the end of the 2015-16 season; while state champion Kerkvleit is ranked No.36 in the Class of 2019, and was runner-up in this weight class at the Cadet folkstyle tournament earlier this spring. Additional contenders include state runner-up Caden Steffen (Minnesota), NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Drake Barbee (Oklahoma), two-time state placer Logan Schumacher (Iowa), Cadet folkstyle champion Lucas Davison (Indiana), and state placer Robert Striggow (Minnesota).
195 pounds: The lone grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is Braxton Amos (West Virginia), who is No. 5 overall among Class of 2020 wrestlers. Others to watch include state medalists Joseph Miller (Nevada) and Jace Punke (Illinois), Cadet folkstyle champion Sergio Villalobos (Illinois), along with Cameron Sauerwein (Ohio) and Kaleb Reeves (Iowa).
220 pounds: Leading the way in this weight class is the nation's top Class of 2019 wrestler Cohlton Schultz (Colorado), a state champion this past year. He was also a Cadet freestyle runner-up last summer and third in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring, with losses in both events to the nation's top Class of 2018 wrestler Gable Steveson; Steveson is also Cadet eligible, but not competing as he is on the Cadet World team competing this September.
Other contenders include Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania), a state champion who placed in both the Super 32 Challenge and FloNationals during 2015-16 and is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2018; state medalists Jordan Pryor (Maryland) and Luke Luffman (Illinois); along with state medalist Tyler Curd (Missouri), who upset Schultz in Greco-Roman during Sunday evening's Cadet National quarterfinals.
285 pounds: The pair of wrestlers that met in the Cadet folkstyle final look to be the favorites in this event, Ronald Tucker (Illinois) emerged victorious in the tiebreaker over Spencer Trenary (Iowa). Tucker is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2019, and was also a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American, while Trenary was a state medalist this past season. Additional contenders include state runner-up Louden Haga (West Virginia) and state medalist Montana Phillips (Oklahoma).
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