Arguably the biggest event of the whole wrestling year came to its conclusion three weeks ago -- the Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. Despite all the highlight matches, intriguing events, and interesting happenings the five No. 1 positions remain unchanged.
Ben Whitford was a Junior National double champion (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Class of 2013: Bo Jordan (St. Paris Graham, Ohio)
Class of 2014: Chance Marsteller (Kennard Dale, Pa.)
Class of 2015: Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.)
Class of 2016: Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.)
However, that was about the only thing that was left unchanged. In three of the five groups, there is a new No. 2 wrestler.
Class of 2013: Ben Whitford (St. Johns, Mich.)
Class of 2015: Matthew Kolodzik (Miami Valley, Ohio)
Class of 2016: Aaron Pico (California)
Whitford swept the Greco-Roman and freestyle tournaments at the Junior Nationals last month in the 135-pound weight class. In six Fargo competitions, he now has five titles and six finals appearances to his credit. Kolodzik finished fifth in the Cadet freestyle at 105 pounds. Finally, Pico swept his way to titles in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the Cadet Nationals in the 119 pound weight class.
This year's senior group has excellent geographical diversity in its talent, with the top ten kids each coming from a different state; 14 states are represented in the Top 20, 18 in the Top 50, and 21 in all. The excellent group of seniors in the Buckeye State, anchored by Nate Skonieczny, leads all states with 14 in all from Ohio among the Top 100.
Next on the list is Pennsylvania, who has ten ranked Class of 2012 wrestlers. Iowa's excellent senior class, which will be participating in the Wrestling USA Magazine Dream Team Classic this coming year, has nine ranked wrestlers. This represents a tie for the third most with Minnesota and Illinois.
Geographical diversity, as well as wrestlers from Ohio and Pennsylvania, dominates the Class of 2013 rankings. The top nine wrestlers reside from different states, 13 states are represented in the Top 20 wrestlers, while the Top 50 is made up of wrestlers from 21 states. Seven wrestlers each from Ohio and Pennsylvania are in the Class of 2013 rankings. Three states with four are next -- Michigan, New Jersey, and Minnesota.
Chance Marsteller toyed with opponents in Fargo (Photo/Dave Jedlicka, jedicheetah.com)Among incoming ninth-graders in the Class of 2015, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma lead the way with four in the Top 25 rankings. Yet again, this is not a surprise given the longstanding history of talent in the Keystone State, and its excellent PJW state tournament series for wrestlers prior to high school. Additionally, the underclassmen in Oklahoma represent some excellent groups of per capita talent.
Finally, a trio of Pennsylvania and Minnesota wrestlers is featured among the Top 15 junior high wrestlers in the nation; California also has a pair of wrestlers in this select group.
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