Grade rankings updated, Snyder moves to No. 1

One week ago, InterMat posted its initial weight class rankings for the 2013-14 high school season. As follow up this week, InterMat publishes an update of the grade level top prospect rankings. These rankings are compiled for each grade regardless of weight class. They feature 100 seniors (Class of 2014), 50 juniors, 50 sophomores, 25 freshmen, and 15 junior high wrestlers respectively.

The major change from the last rankings publication in early-to-mid August is the presence of a new No. 1 senior. With his FILA Junior World Championships title in freestyle at 96 kilos (211.5 pounds), Kyle Snyder has elevated to the top position. This title came in mid-August competing against wrestlers from 17-to-20 years in age (1993-1996 birthdays). It is an extraordinary accomplishment for a wrestler of would-be high school age.

Kyle Snyder won a FILA Junior World title in freestyle (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)

During the course of his three-year high school career, Snyder did not lose a single match in competition at 215 and 220 pounds. He was champion of the Beast of the East three times, champion of the Walsh Ironman two times, and a champion at the Super 32 Challenge, POWERade, and FloNationals in addition to his exploits in freestyle (and Greco-Roman). Snyder is foregoing competition during his senior year to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before enrolling at Ohio State in 2014-15. Since his is not competing in high school this year, he is not in the weight class rankings; however, as an eligible to compete senior, he is evaluated for class ranking.

Other wrestlers ranked at the top of their respective grade level are Lance Benick (Totino Grace, Minn.) in the Class of 2015, Aaron Pico (St. John Bosco, Calif.) in the Class of 2016, Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) in the Class of 2017, and Cade Olivas (California) in the Class of 2018-plus.

InterMat Platinum is required to view all the rankings.