Below is a preview of the 11 matches to be contested.
Luke Kemerer (Hempfield Area, Pa.) vs. Cade Devos (Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa)
The Pitt commit Kemerer is a two-time state medalist, including a third-place finish during his sophomore season before placing sixth at 138 this past season. He enters the 2017-18 season with excellent momentum after going undefeated at the AAU Scholastic (i.e. Disney) Duals this summer. Devos finished as a state runner-up this past scholastic season at 132 pounds, and the No. 48 overall Class of 2019 wrestler nationally added All-American finishes in both styles this summer at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo.
Matthew Ramos (Lockport, Ill.) vs. Caleb Rathjen (Ankeny, Iowa)
This match features a pair of Cadet National freestyle All-Americans at 106 pounds this summer, Ramos finished as runner-up while Rathjen placed seventh. It was a second straight Cadet freestyle runner-up finish for Ramos, who placed fifth at state competing at 106 as a high school sophomore last season, and is also a two-time Cadet National double All-American. Rathjen is ranked No. 19 nationally among Class of 2021 wrestlers, and also has a third place finish in Cadet folkstyle this spring on the resume.
Malik Johnson (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) vs. Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
Three-time state champion Johnson, including this past high school season at 120 pounds, is currently ranked No. 43 overall in the Class of 2018. The Mizzou commit is also a two-time Cadet World team member in Greco-Roman. Fellow senior Bennett has placed third each of the last two years at the state tournament, including this past season at 113; he also placed third at 120 at this springs NHSCA Junior Nationals.
Carly Valleroy (Mehlville, Mo.) vs. Felicity Taylor (South Winneshiek, Iowa)
Valleroy is a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American, placing at the Cadet level in 2014 and at the Junior level in 2015 and 2016; while Taylor has twice placed fifth in Fargo freestyle, as a Cadet in 2015 and a Junior this summer.
Jace Koelzer (Olathe South, Kansas) vs. Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa)
After failing to win state this past season, taking third at 120 pounds, Koelzer had a very positive run of form in the off-season and summer period. The Northern Colorado commit was champion of the NHSCA Junior Nationals down at 113 pounds before earning double All-American honors at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, including fourth at 113 in freestyle. Two-time state champion Biscoglia was third in Junior folkstyle this spring, and ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 16 nationally at 113 pounds.
Malcolm Robinson (Blair Academy, N.J.) vs. Michael Millage (New Hampton, Iowa)
The Rutgers commit Robinson is a three-time placer at the National Prep Championships, finally winning the title this past season at 138 pounds. The No. 68 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 was third in Cadet freestyle back in 2016. Three-time state finalist Millage won a second state title this past season, this one coming at 126 pounds. The Northern Iowa commit would add a Junior National freestyle All-American finish this summer, finishing sixth at 138.
Jeremiah Reno (Liberty, Mo.) vs. Cullan Schriever (Mason City, Iowa)
This match pairs together wrestlers that won state titles at 106 pounds during their freshman campaigns this past season, and were both Cadet National freestyle champions in 2016; Reno at 94 pounds, Schriever at 88. Reno has out-placed Schriever the last two years at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament; Reno finishing second on both occasions, while Schriever finished DNP at 42 kilos and fourth at 46 kilos. In another common event, Reno was second in Cadet folkstyle at 106 this spring, while Schriever was a semifinal loser defaulting down to sixth. Reno is currently ranked No. 27 in the Class of 2020.
Peyton Robb talks with his coaches in Fargo (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.) vs. Andrew Merola (Blair Academy, N.J.)
This is clearly the program's best bout in terms of overall ability level of both competitors, as each is within the top 40 of the Class of 2018 rankings. No. 26 Robb is a three-time state finalist, winning state as a freshman and sophomore; this off-season he was runner-up at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament before finishing third in freestyle and champion in Greco at the Junior Nationals in Fargo (152 pounds). No. 38 Merola is a two-time National Prep champion and finished fifth in Junior freestyle this summer (160).
Cody Phippen (Platte County, Mo.) vs. Aden Reeves (Albia, Iowa)
This is a rematch of a consolation semifinal from the Junior National freestyle tournament at 113 pounds, a match that Phippen prevailed one round after Reeves fell to a narrow defeat in the championship semifinals. Two-time state champion Phippen is also a commit to the Air Force, and added a Junior folkstyle title at 113 pounds this past spring. The junior Reeves won a first state title last high school season, ended the 2016-17 season ranked No. 18 nationally at 113 pounds, and is now a three-time Fargo freestyle All-American (placing at the Cadet level in both 2015 and 2016).
Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.) vs. Ronald Tucker (Lockport, Ill.)
It's an all-Illinois showdown between 285 pound wrestlers, Cassioppi won a state title, while Tucker finished in fifth place. The University of Iowa commit Cassioppi is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2018, and was a double champion at both the Pan-Am Juniors and Junior Nationals this summer. Tucker is ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2019.
Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.) vs. Joel Shapiro (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa)
This match pairs wrestlers who were both Junior freestyle All-Americans at 195 pounds this summer in Fargo, Whitman finished third splitting matches against Jake Woodley, while Shapiro was seventh including a head-on loss to Whitman in the consolation quarterfinal round. Each is also among the top Class of 2018 wrestlers nationally, three-time state champion Whitman is No. 22 while state champion and three-time state medalist Shapiro is ranked No. 64. Whitman is a verbal commit to North Carolina, with Shapiro committed to Iowa State.
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