(photo courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com)With more than half of the 2021-22 season in the books, it's time to look ahead to the finish line. Way ahead, as we are focusing on the most prestigious award in collegiate wrestling, the Dan Hodge Trophy. Named after the legendary pinning machine from Oklahoma, the Hodge is awarded each year to the best collegiate wrestler.
The criteria for the Hodge Trophy are as follows: 1. Record, 2. Number of pins, 3. Dominance, 4. Past Credentials, 5. Quality of competition, 6. Sportsmanship/Citizenship, 7. Heart.
In developing our January Hodge Trophy voting, InterMat's conference correspondent team has turned in their ballots. Each voter numbered their Hodge list from 1-10 (with one being the best) and each candidate received a vote # (1=10, 2=9, etc.). The highest vote total won. After getting ballots from six team members, InterMat has released our results, starting at ten and going to the winner.
10) Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech)
The stats: 13-0 record; 3 falls; 3 techs; 2 major decisions
We'll see tomorrow night just how much of a Hodge contender Lewis is. Currently ranked #3 at 174 lbs, he'll face fellow-unbeaten, Hayden Hidlay (NC State), in one of the highlight duals of the weekend. Lewis has already surpassed his fall total (2) from his NCAA title-winning season and also has increased his bonus-point percentage by almost 20%.
9) Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin)
The stats: 14-0 record; 4 falls, 3 techs, 5 major decisions
It seems crazy that a true freshman could jump onto a list like this in a stacked season, but Hamiti has been extremely impressive. Hamiti has done his best work when the stakes have been the highest. His two non-bonus point wins have come against unranked competition, while three of his four falls have come against ranked competition. He also competes at a weight that is generally considered up-for-grabs. That increases his title-winning chances, though it makes it a difficult prospect to do so undefeated.
8) Mason Parris (Michigan)
The stats: 7-0 record; 3 falls, 1 tech, 3 major decisions
This is interesting because Parris certainly has the type of numbers that warrant Hodge Trophy consideration. The only problem? He's a huge longshot to win a national title, or even go unbeaten, since he will likely face Gable Steveson three times this year. Gable aside, Parris has been excellent in limited action. Heavyweights get graded on a curve with their fall/tech type numbers; however, Parris still has some quality stats.
7) Daton Fix (Oklahoma State)
The stats: 9-0 record; 3 falls, 1 tech, 3 major decisions
Last year, Daton Fix was the top-seed at the NCAA Championships and fell in sudden victory to Roman Bravo-Young, so seeing him on top of the podium in Detroit is not a long shot. Fix really opened up his scoring and bonus point output in 2021 and it has continued into this season. He also has the international credentials that could serve as a tiebreaker in the minds of voters in a close Hodge race.
6) Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers)
The stats: 16-0 record; 2 falls, 9 techs, 3 major decisions
The man they call Seabass has been perfect in terms of racking up bonus points during the 2021-22 campaign. He has done so in all 14 opportunities (with two forfeits). Currently, Rivera has NCAA finalists Nick Lee and Jaydin Eierman ahead of him, but he appears ready to defeat either. Wins over both and the gaudy bonus point numbers will make it hard to vote against Rivera.
5) Carter Starocci (Penn State)
The stats: 11-0 record; 2 falls, 4 techs, 3 major decisions
As many elite wrestlers before him have done, Carter Starocci has thrived and improved greatly between his freshman and sophomore years at Penn State. Instead of “just†winning like he did last season, Starocci has increased his bonus point percentage from 25% to over 80%. With multiple Nittany Lions expected to win titles, and therefore be in Hodge consideration, could Starocci or other PSU wrestlers fall victim to vote-splitting?
4) David Carr (Iowa State)
The stats: 11-0 record; 4 falls, 4 techs, 1 major decision
The proud owner of a 42-match winning streak, David Carr is looking more dominant than ever on his way to a second consecutive NCAA title. Carr brings a four-match pin streak into this weekend, the first of which came over perennial contender Kendall Coleman. He averted near-disaster at the Daktronics Open and defeated Peyton Robb in sudden victory during his 2021-22 season debut. 157 is a strong weight with plenty of contenders, so Carr will have to contend with plenty of able competitors if he is to extend the streak.
3) Aaron Brooks (Penn State)
The stats: 9-0 record: 2 falls, 1 tech, 5 major decisions
Minus Gable Steveson, Aaron Brooks has the highest bonus point percentage (89%) out of the returning national champions. Brooks is set to face his most formidable challenge tomorrow evening, in the form of 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, Myles Amine. Getting multiple wins over an opponent of Amine's caliber looks good on the resume, and should help in lieu of eye-popping pin numbers. Brooks also has a long winning streak of his own, which currently is at 31 matches.
2) Keegan O'Toole (Missouri)
The stats: 13-0 record; 5 falls, 1 tech, 5 major decisions
The trendy pick and probably the best selection in terms of the dominance and pin criteria surrounding the Hodge is Keegan O'Toole. The Missouri Tiger has the highest pin total amongst any of the ten wrestlers on our list. Last year, as a true freshman, O'Toole managed to tally six falls on his way to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. If O'Toole can successfully navigate the minefield that is 165 lbs and continue to rack up bonus-point wins and a few falls here and there, it'll be hard to vote against him.
1) Gable Steveson (Minnesota)
The stats: 6-0 record, 0 falls, 1 tech, 5 major decisions
The co-Hodge Winner from 2021, Gable Steveson, is back and intent on becoming the sole winner of the award in 2022. We'll see how voters wish to stick to the criteria that has pins as a primary factor. While Gable has none this year, he has been utterly dominant. His closest match has been a nine-point major decision over #14 Lucas Davison and you know we give the 285 lber's a benefit of the doubt when it comes to bonus points/falls. Oh yeah, Steveson also has an Olympic gold medal which more than qualifies for the “past credentials†criteria. He should also benefit from the quality of his competition (another criteria). Aside from him, four other age-group world champions are at 285 lbs and none of them have shown the ability to keep it close with the Gopher big man. Unless something significant happens, expect another Hodge for Gable.
Others receiving votes:Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell), AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State), Evan Wick (Cal Poly), Max Dean (Penn State), Nick Lee (Penn State)
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