While first place is likely locked, there should be a pretty strong battle for second place between Wyoming Seminary, PA; Central Dauphin, PA; and St. Mark's, DE. Other teams in the field to watch include Long Branch, NJ; Eastern Regional, NJ; and Cox, VA.
Seeking third consecutive titles at the tournament this year are Chris Villalonga (Blair Academy, NJ) at 140 pounds and Marshall Peppelman (Central Dauphin, PA) at 160; both wrestlers have also committed to compete at Cornell next fall. In addition, Devin Carter (Christiansburg, VA) and Anthony Baldosaro (Eastern Regional, NJ) seek a third finals appearance -- they compete at 125 and 145 respectively.
The following wrestlers seek to defend titles from the 2008 Beast of the East: Mark Grey (Blair Academy, NJ), competing at 119 pounds; Evan Silver (Blair Academy, NJ), competing at 112; Simon Kitzis (Wyoming Seminary, PA), competing at 135 pounds; Villalonga; Baldosaro; Peppelman; Michael Evans (Blair Academy, NJ), competing at 189 pounds; and Boby Telford (St. Mark's DE), competing at 285 pounds. Austin Ormsbee (Blair Academy, NJ) will not be defending his title this year, as he was scratched from the tournament.
What: 17th annual T.G.I. Friday's Beast of the East
When: Saturday 12-19-09 and Sunday 12-20-09
Where: Bob Carpenter Center, University of Delaware; Newark, DE
Schedule: Wrestling on Saturday starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on 11 mats with 3 championship and 4 consolation rounds; the round of 16 is projected to start at about 5:30 p.m., and day one should end at around 9:30 p.m.
Competition on Sunday starts at 9:00 a.m. on 11 mats with the quarterfinals on six mats and consolations on five mats, a second consolation round will then be wrestled; at approximately 11:30 a.m., the tournament will break down to only six mats with the semifinals on two of them.
The consolation semifinals should end at approximately 2:15 p.m., with the finals matches for first through eighth place slated to being at 3:15 p.m.
Tournament Web site: http://www.beastwrestling.com
InterMat Coverage: Periodic updates through a notebook occur throughout the day on Saturday. Live blogging will occur on Sunday focusing on quarterfinal, semifinal, and placement round activity. A recap of the tournament will be published on Monday.
103:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 10 Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin, PA); No. 15 Max Hvolbeck (Blair Academy, NJ).
Commentary: Unlike in past years, the opening weight is without true superstars. That said, two wrestlers stand out above the field. Both are in their first year as starters, and both earned All-American honors in the Cadet National freestyle competition this past summer. Hvolbeck enters as the two seed after finishing third at 98 pounds, and third at the Ironman last weekend. Dippery enters the tournament as the four seed after earning sixth at 105 pounds, and then placing fourth at the Super 32.
The toughest challenge for Hvlobeck looks to be Will Mason (Cape Henry Collegiate, VA), who finished fourth at National Preps last year. For Dippery, it looks to be the winner of a quarterfinal bout between Zach Bridson (Timberlane, NH) and freshman sensation Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic, PA); Bridson was second at the New England Championships last year.
Top Match on Saturday: Evan Botwin (Wyoming Seminary, PA) vs.. Max Rogers (Delbarton, NJ).
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Cody Stageberg (Cox, VA)
Predicting a Finals Match: Dippery (Central Dauphin) over Hvolbeck (Blair Academy)
112:
National Ranked Wrestlers: No. 1 Evan Silver (Blair Academy, NJ); No. 13 Dominick Malone (Wyoming Seminary, PA); No. 1 (at 103) Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA); No. 14 John Fahy (Louisville Trinity, KY); No. 19 Shyheim Brown (Central Dauphin, PA); and No. 20 Caleb Richardson (Cox, VA).
Commentary: The Beast of the East starts to become beastly in this weight class with six nationally ranked wrestlers, and those individuals are balanced three per side. Coming off an Ironman title last week, Silver is a clear favorite in defense of his Beast championship this weekend. Life will not be that easy, starting with a projected quarterfinal against two-time Super 32 placer Jake Smith (Robinson, VA); Smith was also a state runner-up and NHSCA Freshman Nationals runner-up last year. The semifinal bout is likely to be against either Richardson or Fahy, though Fahy would have to get past a New Jersey state placer -- and Super 32 placer -- to reach the quarters.
Looking on the other side of the draw, one of the quarterfinals is projected to feature a rematch of last year's fifth place bout at 103 pounds; Brown defeated Pendergast 6-4 in that meeting and is projected to replicate that result here. In the other quarterfinal of the bottom half look for a matchup between Malone and Dance for the third consecutive weekend; Malone has won the past two meetings between these Cadet National freestyle All-Americans.
Top Match on Saturday: Fahy vs. Kyle Casaletto (Southern Regional, NJ).
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Curt Delia (Delsea Regional, NJ)
Predicting a Finals Match: Silver (Blair Academy) over Malone (Wyoming Seminary)
119:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 10 Sean Dolan (St. Mark's, DE); No. 11 Mark Grey (Blair Academy, NJ); No. 13 Robert Deutsch (Eastern Regional, NJ); No. 15 Bryan Whitt (Cox, VA); No. 5 (at 112) Brandon Jeske (St. Christopher's, VA); and No. 18 (at 112) Matt Sausman (Camden Catholic, NJ).
Commentary: Yet another weight with six nationally ranked wrestlers present. However, unlike the 112 pound weight class, things are totally wide open here -- as they seem to be across the nation with this weight. The top seed in this weight is the two-time New Jersey state finalist Deutsch; however, he has finished fifth and sixth respectively in two appearances at the Beast. He is likely to have a very tough quarterfinal against either Eric Friedman (St. Paul's, MD) or Sausman, both of whom are up two weight classes from last year. A pair of wrestlers also up two weight classes from last year's tournament -- where they finished second and fourth respectively -- is likely to lead the other quarter in the top half; Joe Orecchio (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) and Greg Flournoy (Fauquier, VA).
Grey and Dolan anchor the bottom half of the bracket as the two and three seeds respectively. Grey won this tournament last year at 103 pounds, while Dolan was runner-up at 112 two seasons ago. However, both wrestlers have unkind paths to a potential semifinal matchup. Dolan is looking at a quarterfinal date against Whitt -- a runner-up to Silver at National Prep last year; after having to get past a Saturday match against jujitsu star Shane Arechiga (Good Counsel, MD). Grey projects to face the freshman sensation Jeske, a two-time Super 32 placer and a tremendous talent in Greco-Roman in the quarterfinal round.
Top Matches on Saturday: Friedman vs. Sausman and Matt Malfaro (Boyertown, PA) vs. Jeske. Friedman placed seventh in the Beast last year and second at National Prep, while Sausman was third in New Jersey and at NHSCA Sophomore Nationals. Malfaro is a returning Beast placer though he failed to place at the Pennsylvania state tournament.
Unseeded Wrestlers to Watch: Rob Jillard (Delsea Regional, NJ), eighth at state; Kyle Johnson (Wyoming Seminary, PA), third at National Prep in 2008.
Predicting a Finals Match: Dolan (St. Mark's) over Deutsch (Eastern Regional)
125:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 2 Devin Carter (Christiansburg, VA); No. 13 Zach Horan (Nazareth, PA); No. 14 Sean Boylan (St. Mark's, DE); and No. 20 Pat Prada (DeMatha Catholic, MD).
Commentary: Carter has finished runner-up at the Beast each of the last two years, and is favored to break through with a championship this weekend. However, that path will not necessarily be easy starting with a quarterfinal against either Hunsberger or Marino. The other quarterfinal in Carter's half of the draw features Prada and Aaron Runzo (Kellam, VA), a battle of Junior National All-Americans. Prada placed seventh in freestyle, while Prada was fourth in Greco-Roman. A point of interest here is that Runzo knocked off Boylan in the finals at War on the Shore two weekends ago.
Anchoring the bottom half of the bracket is Boylan and Horan. Boylan won the Beast in 2007 at 103 pounds, but was sixth last year at 112, while Horan has taken fourth twice in this event. Both wrestlers have favorable paths to a semifinal bout, with Horan having to most likely clear Ryan Ponte (Northfield Mt. Hermon, MA) -- third at last year's National Prep tournament; while Boylan is looking a match against fellow Beast placer Brandon Shultie (Sussex Central, DE).
Top Matches on Saturday: Ryan Hunsberger (Fauquier, VA) vs. Anthony Marino (Bethlehem Liberty, PA); Hunsberger is a state runner-up, who placed seventh at last week's Ironman, while Marino placed fifth at state last year.
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Garrett Hammond (Wyoming Seminary, PA); the freshman placed eighth at the Ironman last weekend.
Predicting a Finals Match: Carter (Christiansburg) over Horan (Nazareth)
130:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 2 Sam Sherlock (West Mifflin, PA); No. 6 (at 135) Nick Schenk (St. Mark's, DE); and No. 7 Vinny Fava (Elmwood Park, NJ).
Commentary: Three elite wrestlers stand out ahead of the rest of the field; however, there is much for storylines among the rest of this field. Both Sherlock and Schenk have finished second at the Beast during the course of their careers, while Fava was champion at NHSCA Junior Nationals this past spring at 135 pounds. The projected semifinal between Schenk and Fava could be one of the highlights -- if each is able to reach that point. Schenk has a potentially tough match on Saturday with NHSCA Junior National All-American Andrew Cornell (Long Branch, NJ). Fava is looking at a quarterfinal against either Eric Morris (Wyoming Seminary, PA) or Tyler Buckman (Central Dauphin, PA).
Life is slightly easier for Sherlock up in the top half of the draw. His likely quarterfinal is against BJ Young (Jackson Memorial, NJ) -- who has placed at the Super 32, Beast of the East, and NHSCA Junior nationals over the years but never in the New Jersey state tournament. The semifinal bout would project to be against one of two super sophomores -- Jacob Crawford (Millbrook, VA) or Todd Preston (Blair Academy, NJ)
Top Matches on Saturday: Buckman vs. Morris, featuring the freshman sensation Morris seeking to make a statement on the high school scene against a returning state placer; Schenk vs. Cornell.
Predicting a Finals Match: Sherlock (West Mifflin) over Fava (Elmwood Park)
135:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 7 Simon Kitzis (Wyoming Seminary, PA).
Commentary: With Austin Ormsbee (Blair Academy, NJ) out of his second straight major event, the field is absolutely ripe for a Kitzis torpedo. His quarterfinal bout is likely to be against the sophomore Devon Gobbo (Delbarton, NJ) -- who placed eighth in the Super 32 at 130 pounds. While the caliber of opponent improves in the semifinal, Kitzis is not likely to be challenged by either Alex Pelliciotti (Boyertown, PA) or Scott Festejo (Long Branch, NJ). Pelliciotti was third in the preseason Super 32 at this weight after placing fifth at the Beast and seventh in the state down at 130 last year, while Festejo was third in the state at 125 last year. The bottom of this weight bracket is a two-horse race between state champion Wendell Cannon (Sussex Tech, DE) and state third Shawn Greevy (Cumberland Valley, PA).
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, VA) -- ranked 24th among freshmen nationally by InterMat.
Predicting a Finals Match: Kitzis (Wyoming Seminary) over Cannon (Sussex Tech)
140:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 2 (at 145) Chris Villalonga (Blair Academy, NJ); No. 12 (at 145) Taylor Walsh (Camden Catholic, NJ); No. 17 (at 145) Codey Combs (Sussex Central, DE); No. 13 Hank Stinson (Eastern Regional, NJ).
Commentary: Seeking a fourth final at the Beast of the East, and a third title, Villalonga should have two matches against ranked competition. It is very likely that he will dominate his way into a semifinal match against Stinson, who was a state champion in 2008 but sustained an injury in the Beast last year and could not compete by season's end. However, Stinson is looking a tough quarterfinal bout against Cody Broomall (Smyrna, DE), who was a state champion last year with an upset victory over Schenk in the state final.
The bottom half of the draw is anchored by a pair of state champions, Taylor Walsh (Camden Catholic, NJ) and Codey Combs (Sussex Central, DE). Walsh is a two-time finalist in the Garden State headed into his senior season, while Combs has won state titles in his first two years of high school. Combs could have a tough quarterfinal against Roman Perryman (Robinson, VA), a top three finisher at state in all three years of high school including a state title as a freshman.
Saturday Match to Watch: Broomall vs. Charlie Packard (Brecksville, OH). Packard has a very funky style, which is very Jekyll-and-hyde, and finished fifth in the state last year.
Unseeded Wrestlers to Watch: Devin Biscaha (Jackson Memorial, NJ) -- fifth at NHSCA Junior nationals; Cohl Fulk (Wyoming Seminary, PA); and Colton Peppelman (Central Dauphin, PA).
Predicting a Finals Match: Villalonga (Blair Academy) over Walsh (Camden Catholic)
145:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 3 Anthony Baldosaro (Eastern Regional, NJ); No. 13 Ben Dorsay (Cox, VA); No. 16 Blake Roulo (Matoaca, VA); and No. 20 Alex Smith (Timberlane, NH).
Commentary: Like Villalonga, Baldosaro is an InterMat top 10 recruit in the Class of 2010 seeking to repeat as champion at Beast of the East.; he also is after a third finals appearance in the event. The two-time New Jersey state champion should clear his way to the final with relative ease, as only a semifinal against either the Super 32 placer Smith or Ironman placer Conner Miller (Fauquier, VA) stands in his path. The bottom half of the draw a pair of top wrestlers from the Commonwealth of Virginia -- Dorsay and Roulo; Dorsay is a two-time state champ, while Roulo has finished second and third the last two years. Both wrestlers are returning Beast placers, with Dorsay placing third at this year's Super 32 and Roulo third in the Junior National Greco-Roman competition.
Saturday Match to Watch: Roulo vs. Joseph Marino (Garnet Valley, PA); Marino is a returning state qualifier.
Unseeded Wrestlers to Watch: Shane Robinson (Absegami, NJ); Erik Gobbo (Delbarton, NJ)
Predicting a Finals Match: Baldosaro (Eastern Regional) over Dorsay (Cox)
152:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 3 Brandon Rolnick (Lawrenceville, NJ); No. 14 Jesse Shanaman (Blair Academy, NJ).
Commentary: Kind of a surprise the way the seeding works out with Bo Candelaria (Middletown, PA) as your top seed. He was runner-up at the Beast last year, fourth at state, and fifth at this fall's Super 32. As a result, that means the two nationally ranked wrestlers -- Rolnick and Shanaman -- would be projected to meet in the semifinal round. While each is expected to have legitimately credentialed opposition in the quarterfinal, look for them to advance through the match. Rolnick is looking at either Eric Reger (Delsea Regional, NJ) or Dave Newcomber (Eastern Regional, NJ); while Shanaman is looking at Rich Eva (Christiansburg, VA) or Issah Meade (Caesar Rodney, DE).
In the top half of the draw, Candelaria is expected to have a tough quarterfinal against either Bobby Burg (Mercerburg Academy, PA) or Ryan Krecker (Nazareth, PA). His projected semifinal opponent would be Old Dominion signee Matt White (Woodward, OK), who is was Junior National freestyle All-American. However, that is no guarantee, as he has a likely quarterfinal match against either Austin Sommer (Northampton, PA) or Kenny Boyles (Smyrna, DE).
Saturday matches to watch: Given the amazing amount of quality depth in this weight class, this is one of those to keep your eye on all day. Burg vs. Krecker -- Burg is a National Prep runner-up, while Krecker placed fourth at state. Sommer vs. Boyles -- Sommer placed third at the Beast and seventh at state, while Boyles was a state runner-up and Junior National Greco-Roman All-American. Reger vs. Newcomer is a battle of returning state place finishers in the Garden State. Eva and Meade is a battle of returning state champions.
Unseeded Wrestlers to Watch: Doug Hamann (Jackson Memorial, NJ) is a returning Beast of the East placer, and Kyle Roddy (Brecksville, OH) is a state qualifier.
Predicting a Finals Match: Rolnick (Lawrenceville) over White (Woodward)
160:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 1 Marshall Peppelman (Central Dauphin, PA); No. 5 Nick Visicaro (Long Branch, NJ); and No. 13 Preston Keiffer (Eastern Regional, NJ).
Commentary: Though there are three nationally ranked wrestlers, the depth behind that trio is somewhat lacking. Like Villalonga, Peppelman is seeking to win his third Beast of the East championship and is strongly favored to at least reach the final. Standing in his way is a likely semifinal date with Chris Moon (Wyoming Seminary, PA), who placed seventh in the Beast last year and placed the same in last weekend's Ironman. The other side of the bracket features Visicaro and Keiffer, both of whom were Junior National freestyle All-Americans this past summer. Visicaro won a state title and NHSCA Junior National title, while Keiffer has placed fifth and fourth at state the last two years.
Saturday Match to Watch: Moon vs. Will Resnick (Penncrest, PA), Resnick is a returning state qualifier seeking a statement upset victory.
Predicting a Finals Match: Peppelman (Central Dauphin) over Visicaro (Long Branch)
171:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 7 Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin, PA)
Commentary: In what along with 103, 135, and 215 are clearly the thinnest weights of this tournament -- both in terms of quality at the top and in depth -- Courts seeks a second Beast title in three seasons. However, it is very likely a local rival -- Tristan Warner (Cumberland Valley, PA) -- will be standing in his way. Should the two wrestlers reach the final, it would be the first of what could be five matchups this year. Warner, who placed seventh at the Beast last year, enters the bracket seeded third after failing to place at state but winning the Super 32 this fall. He is also likely to have the toughest of the four quarter brackets, with either Omar Akel (Long Branch, NJ) or Jay Wieller (Wyoming Seminary, PA) as a quarterfinal opponent. The likely semifinal is against a state champion Brad Hitchings (Trinity, KY) who placed fifth in this weight at the Beast last year.
Courts -- the top seed in this weight -- should clear his half of the bracket with limited problems. A quarterfinal against either Bobby Bowman (Mt. St. Joseph, MD) or Joey Grainger (Great Bridge), and a semifinal against either Jamie Westwood (Queen of Peace, NJ) or Clint Allala (Hopwell, VA) stand in the way. Westwood placed seventh at state, is a two-time Super 32 placer, and was sixth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals this past spring.
Saturday Match to Watch: Akel vs. Wieller -- Akel placed sixth at state this past year, while Wieller was fourth at National Preps.
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Zach Agostino (Egg Harbor Township, NJ). This state qualifier finished top three in both styles at Cadet Nationals in 2008.
Predicting a Finals Match: Courts (Central Dauphin) over Warner (Cumberland Valley)
189:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 3 (at 171) Michael Evans (Blair Academy, NJ); No. 7 (at 215) Patrick Callender (Council Rock North, PA); and No. 13 Billy George (Long Branch, NJ).
Commentary: The last scratch of Antonio Giorgio (Warwick, PA), who had not lost a match prior to the state tournament the last two seasons, does remove a little bit of the luster off of this weight class. However, the presence of three nationally ranked wrestlers, as well as two other Beast place finishers, makes for a pretty solid weight class. Leading the way is defending Beast champion Evans, who was champion at the Ironman last weekend. In his quarterfinal, he is projected to face Nick Kidd (Northfield Mount Hermon, MA) -- a returning New England champion. Then, the other quarterfinal up top is likely to place a pair of returning Beast placers against one another. Andrew Petroski (Springfield Delco, PA) placed fifth at the Beast, is a two-time state place finisher, and was fourth at the NHSCA Junior Nationals; while Nick Ruggear (Oxford, PA) was eighth at Beast and failed to place at state.
The bottom half of the bracket features the pair of wrestlers that appeared in the NHSCA Junior Nationals final at this weight class last year -- Callender and George. The winner on that occasion was George, who finished third in his state tournament. Callender was a state runner-up, and also champion of the Super 32 in the 215 pound weight class. It is very likely that this will be your semifinal at around noon on Sunday.
Unseeded Wrestler to Watch: Matt Mullet (Mt. St. Joseph, MD) placed eighth in this event last year, including a major upset pin of Ed Ruth in the opening round
Predicting a Finals Match: Evans (Blair Academy) over Callender (Council Rock North)
215:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 8 Nate Gaffney (Connellsville, PA)
Commentary: Along with the 135 pound weight class, this one is the most lopsided to one individual; and it would be a shock for someone other than Gaffney win the title. Gaffney is a defending state champion, who placed fifth in the event last year. His quarterfinal is most likely going to be against either Joey Spicer (Sussex Central, DE) or Conor O'Hara (Cox, VA). The semifinal bout could be against Dillon Hoffman (Blair Academy, NJ) -- who placed eighth at the Ironman last week. The bottom half of the draw is totally wide open. One quarterfinal is a likely battle of state qualifiers involving Ironman placer Spencer Willet (Brecksville, OH) and AJ Mott (DePaul Catholic, NJ). The other bottom quarterfinal projects to involve state placer Demetri Cox (Colonial Forge, VA) against National Prep placer Chris Gill (St. Christopher's, VA).
Saturday Match to Watch: A battle of fifth place finishers at state between Spicer and O'Hara.
Predicting a Finals Match: Gaffney (Connellsville) over Mott (DePaul Catholic)
285:
Nationally-Ranked Wrestlers: No. 2 Bobby Telford (St. Mark's DE); No. 4 Karl Green (Mt. St. Joseph's, MD); and No. 6 Mike McMullan (Wyoming Seminary, PA).
Commentary: Beyond the top three of this weight, there is painfully little here worth noting. However, this top three is all in the top six nationally of the weight class. Defending Beast champion Telford has smooth sailing to the finals as the top seed. His semifinal bout is likely to be against either the freshman Brooks Black (Blair Academy, NJ) or Billy Vaughan (Brecksville, OH); Black was third at the Ironman last week, while Vaughan finished a match away from placing. One note of interest is that Vaughan was the backup to Jeremy Johnson last year, an Ohio state champion that finished third at the Beast. The bottom semifinal featuring Green and McMullan is a rematch of the National Prep final won by McMullan 6-5. However, this summer Green was an All-American in both styles at the Junior Nationals.
Predicting a Finals Match: Telford (St. Mark's) over Green (Mt. St. Joseph)
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