Junior eligible wrestlers are any that competed in high school during the 2014-15 school year (i.e. were in grades nine through twelve). One bracket format change for this year is with the separation criteria. Instead of there being three tiers, this year there are ten. The intention of the change is to help create more balance within the brackets in terms of credentialed wrestlers being "properly separated".
Below is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the Junior Greco-Roman competition, based on entrants listed in Track Wrestling as of Friday evening.
100: Three Cadet double All-Americans from last year's event lead the way in this weight class. Jason Holmes (Arizona), a state runner-up this year in high school placed third in Greco-Roman at 88 pounds; Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania), fifth at state placed eighth in Greco-Roman at 88 pounds; while state sixth place wrestler Elijah Varona (Florida) placed sixth in Greco-Roman at 94 pounds. Others to watch include UWW Cadet champion in Greco-Roman at 46 kilograms Brady Koontz (Wisconsin), returning Cadet freestyle All-American Ryan Chauvin (Colorado), and state runner-up Trevor Giallambardo (Michigan).
106: Three returning All-Americans from the Junior Greco-Roman tournament last summer lead the way in this weight class. Liam Cronin (California) placed seventh at 106 pounds, and was a high school state runner-up this season; Dylan Koontz (Wisconsin) placed third at 100 pounds, and placed fifth at state this year; while Mason Nafieh (Oklahoma) placed seventh at 100 pounds, and was a state runner-up. Others to watch include Cadet Greco-Roman champion Trey Keeley (Illinois), state champions Wyatt Adams (Oklahoma) and Joe Thomas (Maryland), as well as state runner-up Brakan Mead (Ohio).
113: Leading the way in this weight class is a pair of returning Junior Triple Crown winners, each of whom has already won the first leg of the Triple Crown this year with their respective folkstyle titles at 106 and 113 in April. Randon Miranda (California) won it at 100 pounds last year, and placed fourth at state this year; while Danny Vegas (Arizona) earned Triple Crown honors at 106 last year, is a two-time state champion, and is ranked No. 33 overall in the Class of 2016.
Another formidable pair of wrestlers here are two top 50 wrestlers in the Class of 2017, No. 47 Ian Timmins (Nevada) and No. 48 Drew Mattin (Ohio); each was a Cadet double All-American last year, with Timmins winning a Greco-Roman title at 106 pounds. Nine other Greco-Roman All-Americans from last summer populate this weight class, five from Cadets and four from Juniors; most notable among those in my opinion is Drew West (Iowa), the 2014 UWW Cadet representative at 46 kilos in Greco-Roman.
120: The lone grade-level ranked wrestler in this weight class is three-time state placer Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma), who is ranked No. 82 in the Class of 2016. This field also includes a pair of UWW Cadet Greco-Roman world team members, Paul Bianchi (Wisconsin) and Dack Punke (Illinois); Bianchi is a two-time state champion, and was a Junior Greco All-American in 2013, while Punke was a Junior Greco All-American last summer.
The next two contenders on the ladder would be returning Junior freestyle runner-up Matthew Schmitt (Missouri) and returning Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Bryce West (Iowa). Four others in this field are also past All-Americans in Junior Greco-Roman, including last year's runner-up at 100 pounds Todd Small (Georgia). Other notables include two-time state champions Sawyer Degen (Montana) and Brent Jones (Minnesota), state placer Donovin Guerrero (California), and three-time state champion Toribio Navarro (Tennessee).
126: Oak Park River Forest, Ill. teammates Alex Madrigal and Gabe Townsell are the lone grade-level ranked wrestlers in the field; two-time state placer Madrigal finished as the No. 99 wrestler in the Class of 2015, while two-time state placer and 2013 Cadet Greco-Roman champion Townsell is ranked No. 58 in the Class of 2016. Primary challengers to the OPRF duo include returning Cadet Greco-Roman champion Coltan Williams (Texas); Ryan Friedman (Maryland), a two-time All-American in Junior Greco-Roman and NHSCA Senior Nationals champion; returning Junior Greco All-American Cody Karstetter (Oklahoma); and state runner-up Nathan Cervantes (California).
Others to watch include two-time state champions from Utah, Tanner Cox and Cameron Hunsaker; three-time New England placer Peter Del Gallo (Maine); state champion Ryan Leisure (Iowa); returning Junior Greco All-Americans in Chris Poland (Michigan) and Ted Rico (Arizona); state champion and Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Wilson Smith (North Carolina); along with two-time state champion and two-time Cadet Greco All-American Dalton Young (Washington).
132: With four grade-level ranked wrestlers, and plenty of other juicy talent, this is one weight class that for sure merits watching. At the top of the field is Mitchell McKee (Minnesota), who is ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2016, and seeks a fourth Fargo title in as many years (Cadet Greco in 2012 and 2013, Junior freestyle last year) as well as a possible Junior Triple Crown. However, there is one direct challenger who beat him in this style at the Junior Duals, Taylor LaMont (Utah). He is ranked No. 36 in the Class of 2016, is a defending Junior Greco-Roman champion, and has also been the UWW Cadet Greco-Roman world team representative the last two years at 58 kilograms.
The other two grade-level ranked wrestlers are Dylan Duncan (Illinois), ranked No. 45 in the Class of 2016; and Ben Freeman (Michigan), ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2017. Duncan was champion in Cadet freestyle last year, after a Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up finish in 2013; while Freeman was a double Cadet All-American last year, third in Greco-Roman. Both wrestlers are two-time state champions.
Additional notables in this field include two-time state champion Josh Bird (Wisconsin), a 2013 Cadet Greco-Roman champion; returning Junior double All-American Ryan Deakin (Colorado); NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Chris Debien (Tennessee); along with returning Cadet double fourth place finisher Corey Shie (Ohio), also a two-time UWW Cadet Greco All-American.
138: Three grade-level ranked wrestlers are among the primary contenders in this weight class, including a pair of rising seniors in No. 86 Jarrett Degen (Montana) and No. 98 Michael Murphy (Tennessee); each is a three-time state champion, while Murphy is a two-time Cadet Greco All-American. Also grade-level ranked is Quentin Hovis (Arizona), a two-time Cadet Greco All-American, and currently No. 28 overall in the Class of 2017.
Other primary contenders returning Junior freestyle All-American Ben Brancale (Minnesota), New England champion Charles Kane (Connecticut), and returning Junior Greco-Roman runner-up William Kui (New Jersey). Additional wrestlers to watch are Hayden Bates (Oregon), a two-time Cadet Greco All-American; a pair of two-time state runners-up in Brik Filippo (Oklahoma) and Aaron Meyer (Iowa); 2012 Cadet Greco runner-up Brady O'Keefe (Nevada); and state runner-up Ben Hornickle (Wisconsin).
145: Compared to the weights immediately preceding, this class is rather weak, as it's without a grade-level ranked wrestler. Anchoring the field though are five returning Junior Greco All-Americans, which are headlined by two-time state champion Johnny O'Hearon (Utah), who placed third last year in Fargo. Others in that pool are two-time state champion Andrew Webb (Georgia), state champion Paul Fitterer (Minnesota), National Prep placer Leonard Merkin (New York), and Kenan Carter (Illinois). Additional wrestlers meriting attention are state runner-up Anthony Cheloni (Illinois), two-time state placer Joshy Cortez (California), state champion Jaron Jensen (Utah), and two-time state runner-up Keegan Shaw (Iowa).
152: Three grade-level ranked rising seniors, as well as a top Class of 2017 wrestler, anchor this weight class. Leading the way here is returning Junior freestyle champion Mason Manville (Virginia), who is ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2016; he is also a two-time Cadet Greco-Roman champion and a UWW Cadet world team member in both styles last summer, who won gold in freestyle. Also here are No. 20 Hayden Hidlay (Pennsylvania) and No. 35 Austin Kraisser (Maryland); Hidlay was fifth in Junior Greco-Roman last summer, and each placed in a major national folkstyle tournament during 2014-15 (Hidlay at the Super 32, Kraisser at Flo Nationals). Rounding out that quartet of grade-level ranked wrestlers is Austin O'Connor (Illinois), ranked No. 11 in the Class of 2017, a two-time state champion and returning Cadet double All-American.
Others to watch in this field include two-time state champion Jimmy Fate (Colorado); state champion Liam Corbett (Hawaii), a two-time Cadet Greco All-American; state runner-up Tristan Johnson (Iowa), a Cadet Greco All-American; state champion Chase Straw (Iowa), a returning Junior Greco All-American; as well as state runner-up Dan Kelly (Iowa) and state champion James Nereim (Florida).
160: Got another "core weight" here at the Junior level that is surprisingly bereft a grade-level ranked wrestler. The most notable credential here is from Jesse Porter (New York), a two-time state placer, returning Junior Greco All-American, and Cadet double All-American in 2013 (Greco runner-up). Next on the ladder would have to be three-time state champion Colston DiBlasi (Missouri). Others to note include returning Cadet Greco-Roman champion Riley Jaramillo (Oregon), as well as state champions in John Anderson (Missouri), Blake Montrie (Michigan), Matt Njos (Minnesota), Taylor Owens (Idaho), and Matt Waddell (Georgia). Also meriting attention is state placer and returning Cadet double All-American Jeremiah Moody (Wisconsin).
170: On the other hand, the talent level in this weight class is all kinds of ridiculous. It is the reverse of the weight class before. Leading the way here are a pair of elite Class of 2016 wrestlers, No. 13 Beau Breske (Wisconsin) and No. 14 Kamal Bey (Illinois). Last year as Cadet in Fargo, Breske beat Bey in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle finals on the way to a repeat Cadet Nationals double title; while for Bey in Fargo, his four career losses have come in pairs to Breske and Mark Hall.
Next on the ladder are a trio of Junior National All-Americans. Brett Bye (South Dakota) was a double All-American last summer, Carter Nielsen (Minnesota) was fifth in Greco-Roman, and Jordan Bushey (New York) placed eight in freestyle; each was also an in-season state champion. Another pair of wrestlers were state champions this past year and Cadet double All-Americans last summer, Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada) and James Handwerk (Ohio).
Three two-time state champions to track in this weight class are Sergio Chavez (Arizona), Dale Hilleman (Iowa), and Gary Jantzer (Oregon). Another trio to watch are state champions Regan Bye (South Dakota), Kevin Parker (New York), and Matthew Rundell (Illinois). Also meriting attention are a pair of state runners-up in Jared Bird (Idaho) and Jason Hoffman (New York).
182: Three grade-level ranked wrestlers lead the way in this weight class, a pair of Class of 2016 competitors in No. 9 Nick Reenan (Texas) and No. 60 Owen Webster (Minnesota), while Mason Reinhardt (Wisconsin) finished as the No. 37 wrestler in the Class of 2015. National Prep champion this year, Reenan was a 2013 Cadet Triple Crown winner; Webster finished as state champion in 2014, won Cadet Greco-Roman last summer, and is the UWW Cadet freestyle world team representative at 85 kilograms; while Reinhardt upset Breske to win his first state title, and placed seventh in Junior Greco last summer.
Others to watch include three returning Cadet double All-Americans: Troy Allen (Virginia), Luke Drugac (New Jersey), and Isaac Luellen (Kansas); Allen and Luellen were state champions this past year. Additional medal contenders include UWW Cadet Greco runner-up Andrew Buckley (Missouri), state champions Cade Brownlee (Nebraska) and Trevor Nichelson (Nebraska), state placer Aaron Paddock (New York), along with two-time state runners-up in Antonio Agee (Virginia) and Guy Patron (Louisiana).
195: Samuel Colbray (Oregon) has won Greco-Roman titles in Fargo each of the previous three summers, including at the Junior level in this weight class last summer. The three-time state champion and three-time double All-American is ranked No. 10 in the Class of 2016. Joining Colbray in this weight class are two other grade level ranked competitors, Wyatt Koelling (Utah) and Zane Black (Pennsylvania). Koelling finished as runner-up to Keegan Moore in all three Cadet Triple Crown competitions last year, and is ranked No. 78 in the Class of 2016; while National Prep place Black is a returning Cadet freestyle All-American, and ranks No. 38 in the Class of 2017.
Other contenders include state champion Timothy Young (Illinois), who upset Colbray to earn the UWW Cadet Greco-Roman world team spot at 85 kilograms in 2014; two-time state champion Jared Langley (Kansas); returning Cadet Greco All-Americans Jeffrey Allen (Virginia) and George Bessette (Illinois); two-time Cadet Greco All-American Dean Drugac (New Jersey); state placer Jake Buell (New York); and two-time state placer Donovan Doyle (Iowa).
220: A pair of elite Class of 2016 prospects anchor this weight class, No. 6 Jordan Wood (Pennsylvania) and No. 41 Matt Stencel (Ohio). Wood will be the UWW Cadet world team representative in Greco-Roman next month at 100 kilograms after winning a silver medal last summer in freestyle at the world championships; while Stencel was a Cadet National double champion last summer at 195 pounds. Each wrestler won their first state title this past season.
Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Christian Colucci (New Jersey), a pair of returning Junior Greco All-Americans in G'Angelo Hancock (Colorado) and Jacob Godinez (Illinois); two-time state champion Trevor Eicher (Washington); along with state placers Darryl Aiello (California), Kyler Childers (Oklahoma), Eric Johnson (Illinois), and James Ford (Ohio).
285: Last year's contestants in both Cadet finals at this weight class have moved up to the Junior level, and anchor the field here. Kevin Vough (Ohio) won the Greco-Roman title, and is ranked No. 12 overall in the Class of 2017; while UCLA defensive line recruit Osawaru Odighizuwa (Oregon) won the freestyle title, and is ranked No. 39 in the Class of 2016. A third grade-level raked recruit joins the weight class in Carter Isley (Iowa), who is ranked No. 79 in the Class of 2016; Isley is a three-time state placer, who won his initial state title this year and was a Junior folkstyle runner-up down at 220.
A whole slew of other wrestlers are present in this weight class and will battle it out for All-American honors in what is a deep field. The best of the group is probably National Prep champion Michael Rogers (Pennsylvania), an All-American in both styles at Junior Nationals last summer. Others to note include Dante Jiovanetta (Florida), a returning Junior Greco All-American; Hunter Mullins (Washington), a state champion and returning Cadet double All-American; Junior freestyle All-American Dan Stibral (South Dakota); Preseason Nationals champion Frank Tomaskovic (Illinois); state champions Sam Bouis (Virginia), Jarrod Hinrichs (Nebaska), and Alex Silberstein (Iowa); two-time state runner-up Korey Walker (Oklahoma); Cadet double All-American Andrew Piehl (Minnesota); along with state placres Trenton Lieurance (Oklahoma) and Jacob Lill (Georgia).
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