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  • Photo: Photo/John Sachs

    Photo: Photo/John Sachs

    Preseason Nationals Preview

    This Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, at the UNI-Dome is the annual USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals event. One of the unique features of this tournament is the split into two different grade level groupings, one tournament is for (primarily) juniors and seniors, while the other is for freshmen and sophomores. This format enables fans to see the emergence of some freshmen and sophomores for the first time on the national landscape in a high school setting.

    In addition, the field here -- while not necessarily chock full of national stars -- does offer significant quality throughout. The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown for both divisions of the tournament, based on the field composition as of Wednesday evening.

    Junior/Senior

    106: Junior National double All-American Elijah Varona (South Dade, Fla.), a returning state placer, is the anchor figure in this weight class. Others to watch include Cadet freestyle All-American Joseph Harrison (Omaha Burke, Neb.) and state qualifier Kory Cavanagh (Penn, Ind.).

    113: Among the lead contenders in this weight class is a pair of state champions, Ethan Cota (Kenyon-Wannamingo, Minn.) and Josh Venia (Toledo Central Catholic, Ohio). Also meriting mention is state qualifier Charles Faber (Glenbard West, Ill.), a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American.

    120: Leading the way in this weight class are a pair of two-time state champions, Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Sidney Oliver (Holt, Mo.). Also in this weight class are two-time state placers Brenden Baker (Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Iowa), Noah McQuigg (Tuttle, Okla.), and Skylour Turner (Warren Central, Ind.). Additional wrestlers to watch include state runner-up Victor Gliva (Farmington, Minn.), as well as 2014 state runners-up Connor Cleveland (New Hampton, Iowa) and Lane Glover (Goddard, Kans.).

    126: State champion Kyran Hagan (Eureka, Mo.), a Cadet National double All-American, might be the slight favorite in this weight class over a formidable field of wrestlers. Also here are three-time state placer Jimmy Pawleski (Montini Catholic, Ill.), a Junior Greco-Roman runner-up; three-time state placer Seth Beard (Napoleon, Ohio); two-time state placers Adam Brown (Southeast Polk, Iowa), Derek Holschag (Union, Iowa), and Triston Lara (Fort Dodge, Iowa); a pair of Junior Greco-Roman All-Americans in Aslan Kilic (Wheele, Ga.) and David Rivera-Kohr (Evanston, Ill.); as well as state placer Abdullah Assaf (Lockport, Ill.).

    132: Three top 100 Class of 2016 prospects anchor this weight class, No. 46 Dylan Duncan (Montini Catholic, Ill.), No. 59 Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.), and No. 65 Colby Smith (Holt, Mo.). Additional state champions in this weight class include 2014 titlist Clay Weil (Dodge City, Kans.), Reiley Brown (Whitehall, Mich.), and Wyatt Alvis (Arlington Martin, Texas). Other returning state medalists include Austin Yant (Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa), Blaine Martinez (Keller Central, Texas), and Jacob Silzer (St. Rita, Ill.); two-time medalists include Jaden van Maanen (LaCrosse Central, Wis.) and Jason Crary (Munster, Ind.); while Yahya Thomas (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) was a Cadet freestyle All-American, and Zachary Barnes (Southeast Polk, Iowa) placed at state in 2014.

    138: Three multi-time state champions are among the many wrestlers to watch in a relatively wide open and balanced weight class, Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio), Nick Noel (Pulaski Academy, Ark.), and Ozzy Lugo (South Dade, Fla.). Another pair of wrestlers have state titles to their credit, 2014 state champion Ryan Deakin (Legacy, Colo.), a two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American; as well as Taylor Nein (Bismarck, N.D.). Others to watch here include two-time state placer Gavin Dewitt (Jefferson City, Mo.); returning state placers Brice Everson (Camanche, Iowa), Cole Needham (West Marshall State Center, Iowa), and Jackson Gallagher (Bettendorf, Iowa); along with 2014 state medalists Gavin Sutton (Richmond Burton, Ill.) and Jimmy McAuliffe (Revis, Ill.).

    145: Three returning state champions are among the primary contenders in a wide open and balanced weight class, Kameron Frame (Goddard, Kans.), Mason Kauffman (Stratford, Wis.), and Thomas Lisher (Park Hill, Mo.); Lisher was a Junior Greco-Roman All-American this past summer as well. Another pair of wrestlers in this field have past state titles on the resume, Bailey Vanderpool (Skutt Catholic, Neb.) and two-time state champion Sean Hosford (Park Hill, Mo.). Also in the field are two-time state runner-up Brik Filippo (Tutlte, Okla.) along with returning third place state tournament finishers Aidan Yde (Arrowhead, Wis.) and Gavin Londoff (Holt, Mo.).

    152: Four wrestlers with state titles on their resume lead the way in this weight class, two-time state champions Beau Guffey (Tuttle, Okla.) and Zemua Baptista (Friend, Neb.), as well as Hunter Grau (Geneseo, Ill.) and Kendall Frame (Goddard, Kans.). Others to watch include multi-time state placers Jose Champagne (Marian Catholic, Ill.) and Logan Moriarty (Jefferson City, Mo.), state runner-up Jacob Messer (Norman North, Okla.), along with 2014 state medalists Fernie Silva (Hononegah, Ill.) and Jake Tucker (Mt. Carmel, Ill.).

    160: Two-time state placer Trace Carello (Marmion Academy, Ill.), ranked as the No. 100 overall prospect in the Class of 2016, leads the way in this weight class. Others to watch include state runners-up Seth Vosters (Freedom, Wis.) and Tristan Johnson (Osage, Iowa), along with state placer Jack Koethe (West Des Moines Valley, Iowa).

    170: Leading the way in this weight class are three returning state champions, Riley DeMoss (Marmion Academy, Ill.), Canten Marriott (Park Hill, Mo.), and Tanner Johnson (Tuttle, Okla.). Others to watch include Cadet double All-American Anthony Sherry (Glenwood, Iowa), who is ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2018; UWW Cadet Greco-Roman champion Logan Gruszka (Schaumburg, Ill.); three-time state placer Taylor Venz (Farmington, Minn.); along with returning state medalists Dylan Anderson (Hudson, Wis.), Jonah Egli (Fort Dodge, Iowa), and Riley Vanik (Kaneland, Ill.).

    182: Leading the way in this weight class is two-time state finalist, 2014 state champion, Kyle Betourne (Bishop McNamara, Ill.). Others to watch include state champion Dalton Miller (Allen, Texas) and state placer Isaac Bartel (Mason City, Iowa).

    195: Cadet National freestyle champion Jacob Raschka (Pewaukee, Wis.) is the lead figure in this weight class. Others to watch include two-time state placers August Peplinski (Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Wis.) and Tre Campbell (Wauseon, Ohio), as well as returning state placers Brendan McKenna (Lafayette, Mo.) and Tage McNutt (Benton, Mo.).

    220: A pair of returning Illinois state medalists are among the leaders in this weight class, state runner-up Eric Johnson (Plainfield South) and Nick Graziano (Oak Forest).

    285: Two of the names to watch in this weight class are Cadet National double All-American Zach Muller (Downers Grove South, Ill.), who also won the Cadet folkstyle tournament, and returning Preseason Nationals placer Blake Schjoll (Perry Meridian, Ind.).

    Freshman/Sophomore

    100: Leading the way in this weight class is Cadet Triple Crown winner Mosha Schwartz (Ponderosa, Colo.), who won the national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle during the past off-season at 88 pounds. Additional wrestlers to watch include Jace Koelzer (Olathe South, Kansas), a Cadet National double All-American at 94 pounds; Lucas Byrd (LaSalle, Ohio), a Cadet double third place finisher at 88 pounds; along with Cadet Greco-Roman All-American Cevion Severado (CBC, Mo.).

    106: Among the lead contenders in this weight class are three of the nation's best Class of 2019 wrestlers, No. 7 Travis Ford-Melton (Marian Catholic, Ill.), No. 13 Aden Reeves (Albia, Iowa), and No. 17 Cade Devos (Waukee, Iowa). Additional wrestlers to watch include Cadet folkstyle champion Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa), Cadet National double All-American Cody Phippen (Platte County, Mo.), Junior National double All-American Ryan Chauvin (Pine Creek, Colo.), Cadet freestyle All-American Sean McKenna (Marmion Academy, Ill.), a two-time Cadet Greco-Roman All-American in Joey Melendez (Montini Catholic, Ill.), and UWW Cadet Greco-Roman champion Eric Barnett (Wisconsin).

    113: The favorite in this weight class returning state champion Real Woods (Montini Catholic, Ill.). Three other high school state champions from last year serve as primary challengers, Malik Johnson (CBC, Mo.), Michael Millage (Crestwood, Iowa), and Brody Teske (Fort Dodge, Iowa); Johnson was a Cadet National champion in Greco-Roman. Others to watch include state placer Gauge Perrien (Southeast Polk, Iowa) and Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Benji Peak (Elkhorn, Wis.).

    120: Leading the way in this weight class is returning Preseason Nationals champion Tate Steele (Lawrence Free State, Kans.). Others to watch include a pair of state third place finishers in Nathan Lendt (Southeast Polk, Iowa) and Noah Fye (New Hampton, Iowa), each of whom was a Cadet National All-American in 2014.

    126: The arguable favorite in this weight class is returning state champion Jackson Henson (University, W.Va.). Others to watch include nationally ranked eighth grader Dustin Plott (Tuttle, Okla.), state placer and returning Preseason Nationals placer Weston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.), and notable incoming freshman Abe Assad (Glenbard North, Ill.)

    132: Three wrestlers who won state last year lead the way in this weight class, Brevin Balmeceda (South Dade, Fla.), Jacob Greenwood (Poudre, Colo.), and Brock Mauller (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.). Others to watch include state runner-up Tyler Eischens (Anoka, Minn.), and state placer Will Lewan (Montini Catholic, Ill.), who was also a Cadet National double All-American.

    138: Leading the way in this weight class is state champion Jarrett Jacques (Kirksville, Mo.), who also was one match away from placing at the FloNationals last spring. Others to watch in this weight class include returning state placers Jaxen Gilmore (Yukon, Okla.) and Garrett Lange (Goddard, Kans.)

    145: Returning state placer Sandro Ramirez (Wauseon, Ohio), who also placed in last fall's Southwest Kickoff Classic leads the way in this weight class. Others to watch include solid sophomore Gage Grunden (Wauseon, Ohio) and notable freshman Brian Case (Davison, Mich.)

    152: Anchoring the way in this weight class is state champion Braeden Redlin (Allen, Texas), a returning Preseason Nationals champion and Cadet National double All-American, who is also rankd No. 50 overall in the Class of 2018. Others to watch include returning Preseason Nationals placer Billy Higgins (Skutt Catholic, Neb.) and returning state placer Kenny O'Neill (Prior Lake, Minn.).

    160: A couple of wrestler to watch in this weight class include returning Preseason Nationals placers Izzy Fox (Evanston, Ill.) and Noah Warren (Perry Meridian, Ind.).

    170: Leading the way in this weight class is returning Preseason Nationals runner-up Joshua Myers (Allen, Texas), who also placed third in his state tournament last year as a freshman. Additional wrestlers to watch include returning state placers Jared Krattiger (Waterford, Wis.) and Nick Casperson (Beresford, S.D.).

    182: Among the wrestlers to watch in this weight class is returning state champion Layne Hatcher (Pulaski Academy, Ark.).

    195: A pair of returning Preseason Nationals placers, Dylan Olson (Dubuque Wahlert, Iowa) and Easton Rendelman (Choctaw, Okla.), are among those to watch in this weight class.

    220: Leading the way in this weight class are returning Cadet double All-American Colin Lawler (The Kinkaid School, Texas) and returning state placer Max Darrah (Whitfield, Mo.).

    285: Among those to watch in this weight class is impact freshman Ronald Tucker, Jr. (Lockport, Ill.).

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