Apple Valley, Minn.
Ranked second last week in the last four year "dynasty rankings," the Eagles are anchored for 2014-15 by a trio of returning state champions: Mark Hall, Bobby Steveson and Maolu Woiwor. Hall is the nation's top-ranked Class of 2016 wrestler, while Steveson is within the top 20 for the Class of 2015. Gable Steveson, one of that nation's best incoming freshmen, finished second at state last year; while two other wrestlers, Kyle Rathman and Brock Morgan, placed third at state last year.
Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.
After four consecutive state dual meet titles and three straight in the individual bracket tournament, the rest of Class AA is thankful that the Hawks have elected to move up to the big-school Class AAA competition. Based on their roster composition, they will be well-equipped to contend for a fifth straight dual meet title, but an individual title may be out of reach. In addition to the big-school state tournament competition being tougher, their regional is now much less forgiving in terms of competition and structure (four qualify from the Northeast Regional in Class AAA, instead of the five qualifying from their previous stint in the Class AA Southeast Regional).
The Hawks will be an experienced, but relatively young squad in 2014-15, as six of their seven rostered wrestlers with state tournament experience are either rising sophomores or juniors. The lone senior is two-time state placer Andrew Dunn. They feature a pair of returning state champions in rising sophomore Jake Reigel and rising junior Luke Karam. Additional returning state placers include Class of 2016 wrestlers Joey Gould and Stephen Maloney, along with Class of 2017 wrestler Mikey Labriola.
Bettendorf, Iowa
The Bulldogs have finished top three in both the state individual and dual meet tournaments each of the last five seasons (double titles in 2012 and 2014), and are well positioned to do the same this year. Even as defending champions with seven returning state qualifiers, six returning state placers, and four past state champions (three defending) -- they will not enter the upcoming season as the best team in Iowa. Instead Bettendorf will be playing second fiddle to 2013 double state champions Southeast Polk, who were runners-up in both tournaments this past season (the Rams return all nine of their state placers and 11 of 12 qualifiers).
However, still look for the Bulldogs to be positioned among the nation's elite anchored by a core of excellent seniors in Freddy Stroker, a two-time state champion who is ranked in the top 10 in the Class of 2015; state champion Jacob Schwarm; returning state runner-up Paul Glynn; and 2013 state champion Jacob Woodard, a three-time state placres. Rising juniors Jack Wagner and Max Erpedling both placed at state last year, with Wagner taking home a state title.
Blair Academy, N.J.
The three-time defending national champions are anchored by defending National Prep champions Matthew Kolodzik and Mason Manville, both of whom are elite wrestlers within their respective grade levels (2015 and 2016). Another pair of rising seniors on this squad has won National Prep titles in the past, Chaz Tucker and Jordan Kutler. Other past National Prep placers within this lineup could include Zach Sherman, Matt Deehan, Requir van der Merwe, Brandon Dallavia, David Showunmi, and Neil Putnam.
Brian Antonelli, the interim head coach last year for the Naval Academy, takes over as the head coach. Since Jeff Buxton left, Charles Danhof served as an interim coach for 2012-13 and Solomon Fleckman was the coach in 2013-14. While this may represent somewhat of a "break" from the Buxton Era, what won't represent a break is the level of wrestling success; as the Buccaneers are loaded with that existing core, and a projected stellar group of incoming ninth graders.
Brandon, Fla.
This program came to the forefront with their seemingly never-ending dual meet win streak that got them featured on ESPN's "The Season". However, in many ways, more recognition has come for the Eagles since "the streak" ended. The productivity in major off-season events (Fargo, NHSCA grade-level nationals, Super 32 Challenge) has continued, and in some ways expanded, while the high school season has featured a seemingly upgraded schedule with some trips to The Clash and the Cheesehead Invitational.
Russ Cozart's program will remain among the nation's elite this coming year, as five returning state champions will be present in the lineup: top 35 Class of 2015 prospect Dylan Lucas, fellow rising seniors Dakota Greene and Dontae McGee, top 15 Class of 2016 wrestler Kyle Norstrem, and fellow junior-to-be Frankie Bruno. Two other projected starters placed second at state last year -- Troy Joyce and Ty Lucas -- with three others placing at state last year as well.
Broken Arrow, Okla.
Though lacking the juice that some of their colleagues on this list possess, coach Shawn Jones and his Tigers have a solid enough core to remain in contention for a position in the top half to middle of the Fab 50 national team rankings. They feature four rising seniors who placed in the top three at state last year, including three that will almost assuredly appear in the top 100 rankings to be published next week. Markus Simmons and Davion Jeffries are both three-time state finalists and two-time state champions, Paden Bailey has placed second in the state twice, while Steve Allen placed third at state this year. Two other Broken Arrow wrestlers return with state tournament experience: rising junior Isaiah Page and rising sophomore Tajuan Daniels.
Clovis, Calif.
Going after a fifth consecutive California state title, which would be a record, the Cougars will again be among the nation's best teams. They are anchored by returning state champion Justin Mejia, who also is a top 20 wrestler in the Class of 2017. Five other wrestlers on the team roster have placed in past California state wrestling tournaments: Tristan Gilliland, Khristian Olivas, Isaiah Hokit, Josh Hokit, and A.J. Nevills. Another five wrestlers will bring state tournament experience to the table: Lane Barnes, Jared Hill, Dominic Kincaid, Adam Prentice, and Hexton Coronado.
Yet again this squad will be extremely deep and balanced. Veteran co-head coach Steve Tirapelle, younger co-head coach Ben Holscher, and lead assistant coach Adam Tirapelle are excellent program builders and technicians, who have shepherded a sustainable legacy program from top to bottom.
Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.
It's been an excellent five year run for the Shamrocks, as they have won four of the last five state dual meet titles in Michigan's big-school division. The only blemish being an upset one-point defeat in the 2011 state dual meet final. However, heading into the 2014-15 season, they lose (at least) eight key contributors to this sustained legacy of excellence to graduation. It includes four major Division I recruits in Malik Amine (Michigan), Nick Bennett (Nebraska), Andrew Garcia (Cornell), and Logan Marcicki (Indiana).
Returning to the lineup are only three wrestlers with state tournament experience: state champions Trevor Zdebski and Myles Amine, as well as two-time state third placer Nick Giese. It is an open question as to if this will be a Fab 50 team to start the 2014-15 season. However, an ambitious off-season program and regular season schedule should have this team ready to contend for a fifth title in six seasons for head coach Mitch Hancock.
Massillon Perry, Ohio
After winning that elusive state title and finishing in the top 10 of the national rankings, the Panthers move on to the 2014-15 season in kind of a rebuild mode after losing three state champions, another state runner-up, two additional state placers, and an additional state qualifier to graduation. However, this "rebuild" is a matter of degree, as the core of a viable Fab 50 squad is present.
This core reflects three returning state runners-up, all rising seniors: Jose Rodriguez, a 2013 state champion and projected top 100 Class of 2015 prospect; Jake Newhouse; and Nick Steed. Two other rising seniors bring state tournament experience to the table as well.
Montini Catholic, Ill.
Similar to Bethlehem Catholic, the Broncos will move up to the big-school division (Class AAA) in the 2014-15 season after making medium-school competition (Class AA) their personal fiefdom in recent years. In all six years since Illinois went to three classes of competition, as opposed to two, they won the dual meet state title. Their streak is now actually at seven consecutive state titles, as they won the big-school state title in the last year of two classes (2007-08).
While Oak Park River Forest is loaded to the nines in Class AAA next year, Montini Catholic has as good a chance as anyone in this behemoth of a classification to take second place. The Broncos are anchored by a pair of top 30 Class of 2015 wrestlers, two-time state champion Xavier Montalvo and three-time state/National Prep runner-up Michael Johnson, Jr. Two other wrestlers return as state champions, Dylan Duncan and Vincent Turk, with another pair having placed at state last year.
St. Edward, Ohio
After three consecutive years in the top five (and possibly longer, since InterMat had not done team rankings prior to 2010-11), the Eagles barely finished in the Fab 50 last season. Headed into 2014-15, they feature only three returning state placers: fourth place finisher L.J. Bentley, sixth placer Parker Knapp, and seventh placer Allan Hart. They also feature returning state qualifier Hunter Ladnier, and three more wrestlers that were state alternates (one match away from state qualification).
The upcoming Eagles' squad is one that is more deep and balanced than it is anchor-based. While things are very speculative at over five months to go until the season, a back half Fab 50 position is the probable ceiling. The key to St. Edward success in the coming season will be the emergence of program depth, which is something that had always been a staple.
St. Johns, Mich.
A long time ago China had the Ming Dynasty, in recent years it has been the Massa Dynasty at St. Johns. In the last six years, starting with Taylor Massa's freshman year in 2008-09, the Redwings have been in the Division 2 state dual meet semifinals or better each and every season. They were semifinal losers in 2008-09, won championships the next four years, before finishing runners-up losing the state final on criteria this past season. The 2014-15 season marks the senior season of Logan Massa, who currently is the nation's No. 2 rising senior.
With four other state placers augmenting Massa, the Redwings should be battling it out with Lowell for a state title in Michigan's Division 2 this year, and look to be somewhere in the middle the Fab 50 team rankings. Two-time state champion Angus Arthur, currently ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2015 is in some ways the co-anchor of that squad. They are joined by two-time state placers Ian Parker and Tyler Wildmo, along with Drew Wixsom as wrestlers with state tournament podium appearances. Four other St. Johns wrestlers return after qualifying for state last year.
St. Paris Graham, Ohio
Jeff Jordan (Photo/Rob Preston)However, with these wrestlers congested around relatively the same size -- and three of the nation's best incoming freshmen coming into the program -- the composition of the lineup will be interesting. Those top freshmen are Ryan Thomas, Mitch Moore, and Rocky Jordan. Given that Rocky is head coach Jeff Jordan's youngest son, don't look for this program to vacate its elite position anytime soon.
Wyoming Seminary, Pa.
The Blue Knights will seek to build upon last year's National Prep title, as head coach Scott Green continues to build upon what John Gordon started. They will be led by five wrestlers who have finished runners-up at National Preps in the past: Trent Olson, Will Verallis, Danny Boychuck, Nick Reenan, and Chris Weiler. Other returning placers include John Busiello, Jimmy Overheiser, and Michael Rogers.
That is an excellent core to what is assured to be an elite national squad and contender for a national title and National Prep title.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now