Richard Figueroa claimed a silver medal at last year's World Championships (Photo/Martin Gabor, United World Wrestling)Each year the UWW Cadet National Championships serve as a testing ground for the wrestlers that will star during the upcoming season(s) of scholastic wrestling. This weekend's event -- Greco-Roman on Friday with freestyle to follow on Saturday and Sunday -- is no exception to that pattern. Based on the current grade level rankings, the No. 1 overall junior high and sophomore wrestler will be in the field. Also brackets currently feature five of the top nine Junior High wrestlers, eight of the top ten freshmen, and five of the top eight sophomores; the lack of top juniors is due to those wrestlers not being age eligible.
Eligibility for this event is for wrestlers that turn 15, 16, or 17 during the 2019 calendar year; these competitors either were Cadets for USA Wrestling events last year, and/or are Cadet (now actually U16)-eligible this year. The tournament serves as a qualifying trials for the Cadet World Championships, which will be held July 29-Aug. 4 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The championship final is a best-of-three series, as it is a direct qualifier, though it should be noted that all matches at this tournament are two two-minute periods in length.
The following is a weight-by-weight overview of the freestyle tournament, based on entries available in the FloArena system as of Tuesday p.m. ET.
45 kilograms (99 pounds): Three of the nation's top Junior High wrestlers, all of whom will be freshmen in the fall, headline the weight class. No. 2 Marc-Anthony McGowan (Blair Academy, N.J.) won a high school state title this year in Florida, and within the previous twelve months was also a Super 32 middle school division champion and a Schoolboy (now U14) national champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman; No. 8 Kannon Webster (Washington, Ill.) and No. 9 Brandon Cannon (Colorado) both have multiple major event titles on the resume.
Other impact incoming freshmen include Beau Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.), U16 folkstyle runner-up Caden Horwath (Davison, Mich.), Dylan Gilcher (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), and Mac Church (Pennsylvania).
The joint favorite in this weight, along with McGowan, is probably Mason Gehloff (Waseca, Minn.); Gehloff was a Cadet Triple Crown winner last year, and won a high school state title this season. Others to watch include Cadet freestyle All-Americans Ben Aranda (DeKalb, Ill.), Christopher Martino (Bishop Kelley, Idaho), Jore Volk (Lakeville North, Minn.), Marlon Yarbrough (Copley, Ohio), and Tristan Stafford (Bentonville, Ark.); as well as Daniel Sheen (Montini Catholic, Ill.)
48 kilograms (105.8 pounds): The clear leader of the pack in this weight class is Stevo Poulin (Shenendehowa, N.Y.), who was third last year in both Cadet FS and UWW Cadet FS. Since then the No. 22 overall Class of 2021 wrestler has won a Super 32 title and earned a second high school title. Other prime contenders in this weight class include Junior folkstyle champion Blake West (Owatonna, Minn.), 2017 Junior folkstyle champion Eli Griffin (Cascia Hall, Okla.), NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Cory Land (Moody, Ala.), and state champion Peyton Fenton (Elyria, Ohio).
Additional wrestlers meriting mention include Carter McCallister (Missouri), ranked No. 14 among Junior High wrestlers after a U16 folkstyle title; Greyson Clark (Kaukauna, Wis.), an impact rising freshman; returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans Kaden Ramos (Thunder Ridge, Idaho), Reid Nelson (Forest Lake, Minn.), and Sean Seefeldt (St. Edward, Ohio); 2017 Cadet freestyle All-American Richard Treanor (William Hough, N.C.); and Super 32 placer Kelly Dunnigan (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.)
51 kilograms (112.4 pounds): Though returning Cadet world silver medalist Richard Figueroa (Selma, Calif.) suffered an upset loss during the course of the FloNationals in April, the nation's top overall sophomore is still my pick to represent the United States in Bulgaria come two months from now. Four additional competitors join Figueroa as being grade-level ranked in the field: Cadet National freestyle runner-up Drake Ayala (Fort Dodge, Iowa) is No. 34 in the Class of 2021, Cadet National freestyle champion Jordan Williams (Collinsville, Okla.) is No. 9 in the Class of 2022, Joey Cruz (Clovis North, Calif.) is No. 17 in the Class of 2022, while Levi Haines (Biglerville, Pa.) is No. 20 in the Class of 2022.
Additional primary contenders include Kyle Rowan (Perry, Ohio), who was runner-up to Figueroa last year at this tournament; and Sheldon Seymour (Athens, Pa.), third in this event after losing to Rowan in the semifinal round and a two-time Cadet freestyle third place finisher. Others to consider include 2017 Cadet freestyle champion Jett Strickenberger (Discovery Canyon, Colo.); Abraham Hinrichsen (Washington, Ill.) and Max Black (Douglas County, Colo.), both of whom were Cadet freestyle All-Americans last summer; NHSCA Junior National champion Nick Babin (Emerson-Park Ridge, N.J.); state champion Evan Holloway (New Kent, Va.) and Gabe Whisenhunt (Crescent Valley, Ore.); along with incoming freshman Meyer Shapiro (McDonogh, Md.)
55 kilograms (121.25 pounds): Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), ranked No. 17 overall in the Class of 2020, has represented the United States each of the last two years in this weight class. Without a world medal either year, Howard is looking to earn that elusive distinction this go around, though the domestic field is absurdly deep.
That depth starts with fellow returning Cadet world participant Chance Lamer (Crescent Valley, Ore.). Ranked No. 50 overall in the Class of 2021, Lamer moves up three weight classes from last year for this weekend's event in Akron. There is an additional returning Cadet world participant Jakason Burks (Omaha Burke, Neb.), as the No. 37 overall Class of 2020 represented the United States at 51 kilograms in Greco-Roman.
Four additional members of the field are ranked in their respective grade levels: Nic Bouzakis (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2022, Cadet National freestyle champion Nicolar Rivera (Stoughton, Wis.) is No. 14 in the Class of 2022, Zeke Seltzer (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.) is No. 24 in the Class of 2022, while Cooper Flynn (McDonogh, Md.) is No. 30 in the Class of 2021 and has earned All-America honors twice in freestyle at both the Cadet Nationals and UWW Cadet Nationals.
Additional contenders include returning Cadet National freestyle champion Jesse Ybarra (Sunnyside, Ariz.); Casey Swiderski (Dundee, Mich.) and Tommy Curran (DeKalb, Ill.), each of whom were semifinalists in this tournament last year; two-time U16 folkstyle champion Hunter Garvin (Iowa City West, Iowa); Anthony Noto (Honeoye Falls/Lima, N.Y.) and Colton Drousias (Chicago Mt. Carmel, Ill.), returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans who won state titles in high school this year; NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Nick Fea (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); National Prep champon Daniel Wask (Blair Academy, N.J.); state champion Korbin Shepherd (Blue Springs, Mo.); as well as impact Junior High wrestlers in Rocco Welsh (Pennsylvania) and Vincent Robinson (Illinois).
60 kilograms (132.25 pounds): Deep does not begin to describe this weight class with twelve grade level ranked wrestlers. However, amidst all this talent, the clear favorite is Shayne Van Ness (Blair Academy, N.J.); the No. 3 overall Class of 2021 wrestler has won titles at the Super 32 Challenge, Walsh Ironman, and Beast of the East in the last seven-plus months.
Five other top 20 sophomores join van Ness in the field: No. 11 Joel Vandervere (Warren Township, Ill.); No. 15 Ryan Franco (Clovis North, Calif.), a two-time Cadet National freestyle runner-up; No. 16 Wyatt Henson (Christian Brothers College, Mo.), a returning All-American in this weight class; No. 18 Caleb Rathjen (Ankeny, Iowa), a returning Cadet National freestyle runner-up); and No. 20 Ryan Sokol (Simley, Minn.), a 2017 Cadet National freestyle champion.
Five elite Class of 2022 talents also appear in the field, including four of the top seven overall. No. 3 Daniel Cardenas (Pomona, Colo.) was runner-up to Burks last year in Fargo, No. 4 Caleb Henson (Woodland, Ga.) joined Cardenas in making the semifinal round of the Super 32 this past fall, No. 6 Anthony Ferrari (Allen, Texas) was runner-up last year in this tournament at 51 kilograms, while No. 7 Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind.) won the U16 folkstyle title earlier this spring. Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Jake Niffenegger (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio) is ranked No. 23 overall among rising sophomores.
The most direct threat to van Ness might come from Dominick Serrano (Windsor, Colo.), who is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2020 and a returning Cadet National freestyle champion who placed sixth at 55 kilograms in this event last year. Three other very notable Class of 2020 talents in the field are Cadet National freestyle champion Josh Edmond (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), Cadet National freestyle runner-up Mick Burnett (Elyria, Ohio), and NHSCA Junior National runner-up Keegan Slyter (Olathe North, Kansas).
Additional wrestlers to watch include Carter Young (Stllwater, Okla.), a semifinalist in this tournament last year at 51 kilograms; returning Cadet freestyle All-American Drew Roberts (University, Wash.); state champions Hayden Taylor (Solon, Iowa) and Matt Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.); U16 folkstyle champion Mitch Mesenbrink (Arrowhed, Wis.); and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Ramon Ramos (Valiant Prep, Ariz.)
65 kilograms (143.3 pounds): Compared to the weight class immediately below it with all sorts of high end talent, and the one above it with returning world medalist Facundo among others, this field feels soft in comparison. The favorite here just might be Robert Paul Perez (St. John Bosco, Calif.), a two-time U16 folkstyle champion, and the nation's top overall Junior High wrestler; he was fifth last year in Cadet freestyle at 145 pounds.
Four other grade level ranked wrestlers are in the field: Joshua Barr (Michigan), the No. 5 overall Junior high wrestler and a fellow U16 folkstyle champion; Luke Geog (St. Edward, Ohio), ranked No. 21 in the Class of 2022; Vincent Zerban (Christian Brothers College, Mo.), ranked No. 25 in the Class of 2021 and a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American; along with Teague Travis (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.), a semifinalist last year in this event at 55 kilograms, who is No. 48 in the Class of 2021.
Additional wrestlers to watch include a trio of returning Cadet double All-Americans in Chase Warden (Dripping Springs, Texas), Cody Chittum (Blair Academy, N.J.), and Luke Odom (Edwardsville, lll.); two-time state champions Bryce Hepner (St. Edward, Ohio) and D.J. Hamiti (Joliet Catholic, Ill.); Matthew Singleton (Woodward Academy, Ga.), Outstanding Wrestler of the NHSCA Freshman Nationals; state champions Gavin Brown (Legacy Christian Academy, Ohio), John Wiley (Mustang, Okla.), and Nicholas Vafiadis (New Kent, Va.); as well as Antonio Segura (Regis, Colo.), Derek Fields (Brunswick, Ohio), and Joseph Zargo (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) who each were Cadet freestyle All-Americans last summer.
71 kilograms (156.5 pounds): Alex Facundo (Davison, Mich.) earned a bronze medal at the Cadet World championships last year in this weight. Though he has been challenged on a few occasions this spring in folkstyle and freestyle, the No. 2 overall Class of 2021 is still the favorite to represent the United States in Bulgaria at this weight class. The two most direct threats to Facundo would be fellow top ten rising juniors in No. 7 Travis Mastrogiovanni (Blair Academy, N.J.) and No. 8 Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.); Mastrogiovanni was a Cadet freestyle champion last summer, while Valencia was runner-up to Facundo in Junior folkstyle this spring.
The next tier of contenders would include A.J. Kovacs (Iona Prep, N.Y.), a state champion and NHSCA Junior runner-up during the past folkstyle season; Cadet National freestyle runners-up John Martin Best (Parkersburg, W.Va.) and Manuel Rojas (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.); Cadet freestyle All-Americans Jackson Dean (Caesar Rodney, Del.) and Jaxon Smith (Woodland, Ga.); along with Joseph Martin (Buchanan, Calif.), who is ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2022.
Additional wrestlers to watch include state champion Brant Whitaker (Boonville, Mo.) and Elise Brown Ton (Allen, Texas); along with state runners-up Dylan Fishback (Aurora, Ohio) and Jared Simma (St. Thomas Aquinas, Kansas).
80 kilograms (176.4 pounds): Two returning Cadet National freestyle champions from Fargo last summer anchor the field, both are Class of 2021 wrestlers, No. 14 Tate Picklo (Mustang, Okla.) and No. 26 Quayin Short (Simley, Mnn.); Short was also a Junior folkstyle runner-up this spring, while Picklo earned a maiden high school state title during the scholastic season. Another pair of grade ranked wrestlers reside in the field, both are two-time state champions: No. 19 Bennett Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.) from the Class of 2022 and No. 33 Greyden Penner (Liberty, Mo.) from the Class of 2020.
Seven other Cadet freestyle All-Americans from last summer feature in the field: Super 32 placer Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin, Pa.), NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Colton Hawks (Holt, Mo.), Connor O'Neill (DePaul Catholic, N.J.), Duwayne Villalpando (Maize, Kansas), Jake Null (Dogleville, N.Y.), Josh LaBarbera (Metea Valley, Ill.), and NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Rylan Rogers (Blair Academy, N.J.). Also in the field are state placers Adrien Cramer (Grayslake Central, Ill.) and Jake Evans (Elyria, Ohio), along with state runner-up Ben Vanadia (Brecksville, Ohio).
92 kilograms (202.8 pounds): Though on not as high a level as last year with A.J. Ferrari, Konnor Doucet, Jacob Cardenas, Braxton Amos, and Peter Christensen as anchor figures in the weight class … the field in the second biggest weight class does feature quality depth with eight grade ranked wrestlers.
A trio of rising seniors are the lead contenders: No. 28 Rocky Elam (Staley, Mo.), No. 30 John Poznanski (Colonia, N.J.), and No. 48 Silas Allred (Shehandoah, Ind.). Elam was a Cadet freestyle champion last summer, third at the Super 32 Challenge in the fall, beat Hawks for a state title, and was a Junior folkstyle champion in the spring; Cadet freestyle All-American Poznanski placed at the Super 32 Challenge and was runner-up at the state tournament; while Allred placed third in the Super 32 one weight above Elam and was a state champion.
There are a pair of ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2021: No. 12 Kyle Haas (Maize, Kansas) can make the case to be the favorite in this weight class, as he has multiple positive results over Elam within the last twelve months and was a Junior folkstyle champion one weight above Elam; while No. 44 Brandon Hoselton (Prairie Central, Ill.) was a Cadet double All-American last summer in Fargo.
Three dynamic talents from the Class of 2022 seek to make statements against wrestlers older than them and break out in ways they may not have yet. No. 5 Seth Shumate (Dublin Coffman, Ohio) clearly passed the "eye test" at the Ohio state high school tournament when he earned a major decision in the state championship match; No. 15 Noah Pettigrew (Valdosta, Ga./Blair Academy, N.J.) was a Cadet National freestyle champion this summer; while No. 22 Kolby Franklin (St. Joseph's Catholic, Pa.) was a Cadet double finalist, winning the Greco-Roman title and losing to Pettigrew in freestyle.
Other contenders include state champions Elijah Burns (Commerce, Ga.), Emmanuel Skillings (Broken Arrow, Okla.), and Owen Warren (Yanktown, S.D.); 2017 Cadet freestyle All-American Gavin Carter (Topeka-Washburn Rural, Kansas); Cadet freestyle runner-up Nathan Haas (St. John Bosco, Calif.), a state champion during the scholastic season; NHSCA Junior Nationals Ethan Hatcher (Brecksville, Ohio), who was both a UWW Cadet and Cadet National freestyle All-American last year; and Sam Fisher (Fauquier, Va.), a Super 32 placer and Cadet freestyle All-American.
110 kilograms (242.5 pounds): Leading the way in this heaviest weight class is 2018 state champion Hunter Catka (Sun Valley, Pa.), whose junior season was marred by injury but did end up with a third-place podium finish. Catka was runner-up to Kerkvliet last year in this event, but in Fargo had to default out during the preliminary rounds of freestyle after earning double All-America honors in the summer of 2017. Other contenders include state champions Braxton Mikesell (Central Valley, Wash.) and Danny Striggow (Orono, Minn.); Mikesell was a Cadet Greco-Roman champion last summer, while Striggow was a NHSCA Junior Nationals champion in the spring.
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