The first Who's Number One event was held on Nov. 2, 2013, at Grace Hall (Photo/Rob Preston)The second edition of Who's Number One, an event organized by Flowrestling, will be held on Saturday at Grace Hall on the campus of Lehigh University. The event places wrestlers projected to be among the nation's best during the 2014-15 scholastic season against one another.
Below is an overview of each matchup.
106: Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco, Calif.) vs. Gavin Teasdale (Jeff.-Morgan, Pa.)
This match places wrestlers ranked No. 1 and No. 3 overall in the Class of 2018. Each incoming freshman represented the United States in the FILA Cadet World Championships in freestyle this summer; Olivas at 101 pounds, and Teasdale at 92.5 pounds. During the previous off-season, Olivas competed in Greco-Roman at the FILA Cadet World Championships, while Teasdale was a Cadet National freestyle champion at 88 pounds.
Predicted winner: Olivas
152/160: Larry Early (OPRF, Ill.) vs. Joseph Smith (Stillwater, Okla.)
This match pairs up elite Class of 2015 prospects in No. 34 Early and No. 13 Smith. This past year Early won his first state title, after placing second and third during his previous two campaigns. During this summer, Early placed third in Junior Greco-Roman at 145 pounds; while last summer Early was fourth in FILA Cadet freestyle and a Cadet National double All-American (Greco-Roman champion). Smith is a two-time state champion, and three-time state finalist, during his high school career. This past summer, he finished fourth in Junior freestyle at 152 pounds; while in the 2013 off-season, he was third in Junior freestyle and fifth in FILA Cadet freestyle.
Predicted winner: Smith
120: Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) vs. Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.)
This is a rematch of the FILA Cadet Nationals final in freestyle at 119 pounds this past spring, a 1-1 match won by Fix on criteria, as the wrestlers traded points after their opponent was unable to score when put on the shot clock. Ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2016, Suriano is undefeated during two high school campaigns, and a two-time Super 32 Challenge finalist (champion in 2012). Fix counters with the No. 4 ranking in the class of 2017, and was an undefeated state champion during his freshman high school season. He is also a two-time Cadet National folkstyle champion, and was a Cadet Triple Crown winner in 2013.
Predicted winner: Suriano
195: Bobby Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.) vs. Hunter Ritter (John Carroll, Md.)
Like the second match on the docket, this is also a match placing elite Class of 2015 prospects against one another; Steveson is No. 10 overall, while Ritter is No. 35. This summer, the two-time state champion Steveson won a Junior National freestyle title at 195 pounds. Ritter counters with a FILA Cadet National freestyle title this spring at 187.5 pounds, and a pair of top three finishes at the National Prep Championships.
Predicted winner: Steveson
138: Ke-Shawn Hayes (Park Hill, Mo.) vs. Matthew Kolodzik (Blair Academy, N.J.)
This match places wrestlers both ranked within the top ten of the Class of 2015 against one another. Ranked No. 4 Hayes brings a pair of state titles into this match, and was also a Junior National freestyle runner-up at 132 pounds this summer. Kolodzik, ranked No. 7 in this senior class, has three state tournament/National Prep titles in as many seasons; and was a FILA Junior National freestyle runner-up at 132 pounds this spring. Each wrestler won a Walsh Jesuit Ironman title last season; Hayes at 120 pounds, Kolodzik at 126.
Predicted winner: Hayes
152/160: Isaiah White (OPRF, Ill.) vs. David McFadden (DePaul Catholic, N.J.)
This match places Junior National freestyle finalists from the summer against one another. White, presently ranked No. 7 in the Class of 2016, won the title at 145 pounds; while McFadden, ranked No. 18 in the Class of 2015, finished runner-up at 152 pounds. Each wrestler won their first state title this past season; White was third as a freshman in Illinois, while McFadden was sixth and second during previous campaigns in New Jersey.
Predicted winner: White
132: A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa.) vs. Mitchell McKee (STMA, Minn.)
Both wrestlers in this match were top three finishers in Junior freestyle this summer. Headlee, ranked No. 23 in the Class of 2015, was third at 132 pounds; while McKee, ranked No. 19 in the Class of 2016, was an unexpected champion at 126. Headlee has placed sixth and third each of the last two years in the Pennsylvania state tournament, and finished third this past spring at the Flo Nationals. McKee, who is expected to compete down one weight class (at 126) during the 2014-15 season, won an initial state title this past season after placing third and second in previous seasons.
Predicted winner: Headlee
126: Nick Piccininni (Ward Mellville, N.Y.) vs. Kaid Brock (Stillwater, Okla.)
This match pairs up future college teammates, as the pair of Oklahoma State commits both reside within the top 35 overall in the Class of 2015; Piccininni sits at No. 9, while Brock is positioned No. 33 overall. Piccinnini is a three-time state champion in New York, who placed fourth at the Super 32 and was a Flo Nationals champion during the 2013-14 season; while Brock is a two-time state champion in Oklahoma, and a two-time Junior National freestyle All-American (5th in 2014, 2nd in 2013).
Predicted winner: Piccininni
145: Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh CC, Pa.) vs. Fredy Stroker (Bettendorf, Iowa)
This is a rematch of a semifinal bout from the Junior National freestyle tournament, one that was won by Joseph on the way to a runner-up finish at 145 pounds; Stroker went on to place fourth in that bracket. Each wrestler is positioned within the top 15 of the 2015 class; Joseph at No. 8, Stroker at No. 15. Both wrestlers are now two-time Junior National freestyle All-Americans; Joseph is a three-time state placer (7th/3rd/1st), and Stroker a three-time state finalist (two-time state champion).
Predicted winner: Joseph
182: Myles Martin (McDonogh, Md.) vs. Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.)
This match showcases a pair of top five prospects within the 2015 recruiting class, Martin at No. 4 and Valencia at No. 5. In the December 2013 Ironman final, Martin lost to Zahid's older brother (by birth date) Anthony at 170 pounds; while Zahid won his third Ironman title down at 132. During the most recent summer, Martin won a Junior National freestyle title at 182 pounds in dominant fashion; while Zahid was a two-time Cadet National freestyle champion, winning titles in 2012 and 2013.
Predicted winner: Martin
170: Anthony Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) vs. Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.)
Here is a bout that places the top recruit in the Class of 2015 against the top recruit in the Class of 2016. When these two wrestlers met in October 2013, it was Valencia coming out on top in the final of the Southwest Kickoff Classic. Since then, Valencia won a second California state title and a FILA Junior Naitonal freestyle title; while Hall won a fourth state title in Minnesota and a FILA Cadet World freestyle title.
Predicted winner: Valencia
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