Navonte Demison celebrates his state titles with Bakersfield coaches Andy Varner and Frank Lomas (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Considering that only 17 schools have ended the season nationally ranked in the Fab 50 over five of the last six seasons, it is no guarantee that being ranked in one season means holding a ranking during the next season. Furthermore, it seems that about 20 teams from the final rankings of the previous season do not end up in the rankings the next season.
With that being the case, let's take a look at some teams that were not ranked at the end of the 2015-16 season that could be ranked during the course of 2016-17.
Bakersfield, Calif.
The Drillers finished in the Fab 50 national team rankings during the first two years of their publication, No. 8 overall in 2010-11 and No. 16 in 2011-12. Interestingly, they have been ranked at some point during at least the last two seasons based on their projected roster talent. However, the in-season performance has not been as kind.
For the upcoming season, Bakersfield features four returning and/or previous state medalists, led by state champion Navonte Demison, who is ranked No. 26 overall in the Class of 2017. He was a Junior National freestyle runner-up in 2015, and is a three-time state placer (3rd/2nd/1st). Izzak Olejnik placed fifth at state this past year in the 106 pound weight class, Sam Loera has placed seventh each of the last two years at 160 pounds, while J.J. Figueroa was a medalist in 2015. Three others return with state tournament experience: two-time qualifier Ricky Gonzalez, Dillon Cravens, and Anthony Arenas.
Broken Arrow, Okla.
Even in finishing as Class 6A runners-up in the individual state tournament and narrow semifinal losers in the state dual meet tournament, it was a relative rebuilding campaign for the Tigers, who lost five 2015 state finalists (four champions) to graduation. However, a return of seven state qualifiers, including five state medalists means a likely return to the Fab 50 this coming season.
Broken Arrow will be anchored by returning state champions Zach Marcheselli and Skyler Haynes; while Tyler Lawley, Caleb Wise, and Trenton Lieurance each placed third at state this past season; Tajuan Daniels made a third straight state tournament, with Brady Mattioda making his state tournament debut. The Tigers appeared in the Fab 50 national team rankings each of the five seasons prior to 2015-16 (29th, 19th, 36th, 12th, 13th from 2011 to 2015).
Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.
This past season was a second straight finish outside the Fab 50 after the Shamrocks ended the initial four seasons of the national team rankings as a ranked team (49th, 15th, 18th, 17th from 2011 to 2014). However, the ending weekend of the 2015-16 season was a banner one for Detroit Catholic Central. They had a hot weekend, with eight of their nine state qualifiers finishing on the podium, including an unexpected five for five state championship finals finish.
More important for the upcoming season is that eight of those nine state qualifiers return, including all five state champions: Ben Kamali, Kevon Davenport, Cameron Amine, Tyler Morland, and Nick Jenkins. Stone Moscovic and Jackson Ross also placed sixth at the state tournament, while Aidan Wagh earned an initial state tournament qualification.
Gilroy, Calif.
While the Mustangs have yet to end a season in the InterMat Fab 50 national team rankings, it is a program known for producing excellent wrestlers. It is the alma mater of two-time NCAA champion Jesse Delgado. Gilroy has also seen multiple wrestlers place on the state tournament podium in each of the last twelve seasons. For the upcoming season, they return three state medalists: Junior National freestyle champion Nico Aguilar, two-time state placer Alex Felix, and Juan Villarreal; in addition another three wrestlers finished one match away from a state tournament medal: Joseph Delgado, John Fox, and Joe Barnes.
Lockport, Ill.
The Porters have yet to end a season in the Fab 50 national team rankings. However, this is a program headed in the right direction, as the last two seasons have arguably been the two best in school history. They lost in the state dual meet tournament semifinal each year, finishing fourth in 2015 and third in 2016. Their other team state appearance came in the 2011-12 season.
Lockport returns five state qualifiers for the 2016-17 season, including a pair of two-time state placers in Abdullah Assaf and Trevell Timmons. Additional state qualifiers include Brandon Ramos, Baylor Fernandes, and Ronald Tucker, Jr. Fernandes and Tucker, Jr. were joined by Matthew Ramos as a Cadet freestyle All-American, while Anthony Molton earned All-American honors in Greco-Roman; all four of those wrestlers are rising sophomores.
North Allegheny, Pa.
Even though the Tigers have never ended a season within the InterMat Fab 50 national team rankings, they are a team that has appeared in the rankings at varying points during past seasons. They had a stretch of four consecutive state dual meet tournament appearances from 2012 through 2015, culminating with a fourth place finish in 2015 after a semifinal and consolation semifinal loss in the 2014 edition of the tournament.
The projected individual talent on this year's team is most excellent, anchored by a trio of returning state medalists in state champion Jake Woodley, along with two-time state placers in Jake Hinkson and Francis Duggan. Three other Tigers wrestlers made the state tournament last year: Jacob Downing, now two-time state qualifier Luke Landefeld, and A.J. Boeh; while Sean Hoover was one match away from the state tournament, losing 3-2 and 3-1 at the regional level.
Parkersburg South, W.Va.
Having won state titles in four straight years from 2009-2012, the Patriots then suffered a two-year state title drought before regaining their throne atop the Mountaineer State each of the last two seasons. Most impressive about their 2015-16 season was how young the key wrestlers on the team's roster were. All seven top three finishers at the individual state tournament return for the 2016-17 season.
Parkersburg South will be anchored by state champions Luke Martin and Justin Allman, along with incoming freshman phenom Braxton Amos, the Cadet National double champion who is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2020. Returning state runners-up include Tucker Windland, T.J. Lambiotte, Hunter DeLong, and Louden Haga; Drew Dunbar placed third at state, while Jarritt Flinn placed sixth. In fact, the whole lineup made the state tournament and consisted of underclassmen.
Roseburg, Ore.
The Indians ended the first two seasons of the Fab 50 national team rankings as a ranked squad, 38th in 2010-11 and 49th in 2011-12. However, they have not been ranked at the end of any of the last four seasons. Headed into the coming season they return four state champions, including national caliber wrestlers in Layne van Anrooy and Haydn Maley; each was an All-American in Junior Greco-Roman and a placer at the Flo Nationals. Van Anrooy is ranked No. 19 overall in the Class of 2017, while Maley was a champion in Junior Greco.
Two other Indians return as state champions, Hunter Sparks and Bennett Mesa. Seven others return having finished on the podium this past season, including a pair of two-time medalists in Shane Sabins and Austin Harris. Additional placers include Cody Pickle, Garrett Russell, Matthew McDowell, state runner-up Brandon Jeffers, and Cameron Campbell.
Simley, Minn.
The Trojans program is very familiar with national excellent, having finished in the Fab 50 national team rankings during the first three seasons of their existence (6th, 11th, 39th from 2011-2013). Headed into the 2016-17 season, they return eight wrestlers with state tournament experience, including seven who made state this past season. Most notable in this group are a trio of state champions, Jake Gliva, Anthony Jackson, and Greg Kerkvleit.
Ryan Sokol placed fifth at 106 pounds during his seventh grade season, rising sophomore Anthony Dawson is now a two-time state qualifier, Zach Moon is also a two-time state qualifier, and Luke Zaiser made his state tournament debut. Raven Jackson qualified for state in 2015 during his seventh grade season.
Stratford, Wis.
The Tigers started the 2015-16 season as a nationally ranked team, but quickly dropped out of the rankings by mid-December to never return. They dominated the individual bracket state tournament, but were then upset in a 27-26 criteria tiebreaker match to lose the Division 3 state title to Fennimore. Ten of the eleven wrestlers that made the individual state tournament last year return, including a quartet of state champions.
That quartet is led by a trio of two-time champions, A.J. Schoenfuss, Jeremy Schoenherr, and Kamren Bornbach. Also winning state gold was Tyson Kauffmann. Four others medaled at the state tournament: runner-up Macey Kilty, Jake Drexler, David Marquardt, along with 2015 state champion and two-time state finalist Mason Kauffmann. Also qualifying to state were Derek Marten and Jon Aguirre.
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