This article looks at five wrestlers that return to high school during the 2015-16 season, and had most excellent tournaments. All five went undefeated, and had quality wins along the way; while some of those wins were "expected," they still merit mention.
In weight class order …
Rhett Golowenski was 7-0 at the Junior Duals in freestyle (Photo/Sam Janicki)This sophomore-to-be was a state champion during the past high school season as an undersized 106-pound wrestler, after earning fourth in Cadet freestyle last summer at 94 pounds. Prior to the Junior Duals, Golowenski was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals at 46 kilos (approximately 101 pounds). During the past weekend, he won six contested matches without giving up a single point, and five of them were by technical fall. Three of those wins came over wrestlers likely to also be in the rankings pool at 106 pounds this coming season: Peter Ogunsanya (Illinois), Kyle Biscoglia (Iowa), and Patrick McKee (Minnesota).
Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.), 6-0 record at 126 pounds
This two-time state champion entered the Junior Duals ranked No. 31 overall in the Class of 2017, but ended the 2014-15 season outside the top 20 in the weight class rankings at 120 pounds, though he was a FloNationals champion at 113 (+5) pounds in April. Among his wins this weekend was a pin over graduated Nolan Hellickson (Iowa), who ended the season weight class ranked at 126 pounds; a 12-2 technical fall over top 100 Class of 2016 wrestler Ian Parker (Michigan); and a 10-0 technical fall over Austin Gomez (Illinois), who is ranked No. 13 in the Class of 2017, though Gomez did bump up a weight class for that match.
Austin O'Connor (St. Rita's, Ill.), 5-0 record at 145 pounds
This rising junior is already a two-time state champion, and ranked No. 11 in the Class of 2017. His performance level has continued to be strong, even as he goes through the weight classes, winning state at 106 as a freshman and at 132 this past season. Notable wins included a 6-4 decision over top 50 Class of 2016 wrestler Kyle Bierdumpfel (New Jersey), a 6-3 decision over Oklahoma State bound Tristan Moran (Oklahoma), and a 12-1 technical fall over state champion Dresden Simon (Michigan).
Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.), 8-0 record at 152 pounds
Though yet to make a state final in Pennsylvania's big-school division, the resume for Hidlay is not lacking. He placed third this year in a weight class with the two finishers above him being top five in the nation, placed third in the Super 32 Challenge this past fall, and was a Cadet freestyle finalist in 2013 among his myriad of accomplishments. This past weekend, the nation's No. 20 Class of 2016 wrestler had a 13-2 technical fall over top 100 senior Canten Marriott (Missouri) and an 11-10 decision victory over top 50 senior Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma).
Keegan Moore lost in the UWW Cadet Nationals finals, but bounced back to go undefeated at Junior Duals in freestyle (Photo/Sam Janicki)A Cadet Triple Crown winner last year, this two-time state champion came into the Junior Duals seeking to bounce back from a disappointing upset loss in the best two-of-three finals at the UWW Cadet Nationals in the 85-kilo (approximately 187-pound) weight class. And that is what the nation's No. 11 overall Class of 2016 wrestler did with much aplomb. Quality wins included a 2-1 decision over top 100 graduated senior Cash Wilcke (Iowa), a 5-1 decision over top 100 Class of 2016 wrestler Wyatt Koelling (Utah), and a 6-0 decision over top 10 Class of 2017 wrestler Chase Singletary (New Jersey).
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