Patrick Glory won a Super 32 Challenge belt in the fall (Photo/Rob Preston)This Saturday and Sunday marks the 24th edition of the Beast of the East. No. 1 Blair Academy (N.J.) is prohibitively favored to win its 21st title in this tournament, which would be a 17th consecutive championship in the event. Wrestling starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Saturday with the round of 16 slated for about 6:30 p.m. on that day. The second day of competition starts at 8:30 a.m. with the quarterfinals, semifinals slated for around 11:15 a.m., and the top eight placement matches scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
Joining the top in the nation Buccaneers in the 90-plus team field are eight other nationally ranked teams: No. 7 Bergen Catholic (N.J.), No. 8 Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.), No. 9 Malvern Prep (Pa.), No. 12 Nazareth (Pa.), No. 15 Elyria (Ohio), No. 27 Brecksville (Ohio), No. 45 North Allegheny (Pa.), and No. 46 Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)
In terms of the team standings, a number of the key teams will be competing short-handed. Bergen Catholic is expected to be missing No. 20 Josh McKenzie (195), a returning state placer; Nazareth is absent returning Beast champion Sammy Sasso (145), ranked No. 3 nationally at that weight class; and Elyria is without Ironman placer Mick Burnett (106) and Super 32 placer Tristan Brady (160).
Four returning Beast of the East champions headline the field, as do eight competitors who finished second in the tournament last year. Two wrestlers ranked first in the country, along with six ranked second nationally are in the field as well. In total, 47 nationally ranked wrestlers populate the field, led by the six at 120 pounds.
Below is a weight-by-weight overview of the field.
106: Five nationally ranked wrestlers populate this opening weight class, led by UWW Cadet World champion Kurt McHenry (St. Pauls, Md.), who was runner-up last year in this weight class as a very undersized wrestler. No. 5 Julian Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio) was a Cadet National freestyle champion this summer in Fargo, and won the Walsh Ironman this past weekend. Other nationally ranked wrestlers include a trio of freshmen from New Jersey: No. 14 Anthony Clark (Delbarton), Cadet freestyle runner-up Justin Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco Prep), and Walsh Ironman placer No. 19 Nick Incontera (Blair Academy).
113: Three nationally ranked wrestlers sit atop the field, including defending Beast of the East champion Michael Colaiocco (Blair Academy, N.J.); he is the top seed and ranked No. 9 in the nation. No. 10 Gabe Tagg (Brecksville, Ohio) is the second seed after his Walsh Ironman title this past weekend; while the freshman phenom Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) is ranked No. 2 in the nation after his Super 32 Challenge runner-up finish, but is the third seed in this weight class.
Additional wrestlers to watch include National Prep runner-up Shane Hanson-Ashworth (Malvern Prep, Pa.), returning Beast placer Kyle Kaiser (Paramus, N.J.), and Cadet freestyle All-American (Elyria, Ohio). Also among the field are at least five other state champions.
120: Six wrestlers that are nationally ranked appear in this weight class, though two are ranked down at 113 pounds. Leading the way here is returning champion Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.), who is ranked No. 3 nationally and the tournament's top seed. The next two seeds are No. 4 Matthew Parker (Pennridge, Pa.) and No. 13 Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.); Parker is a two-time state placer, including his runner-up finish this past season, while Super 32 placer Anderson was runner-up at the Ironman.
Also ranked are 2015 Super 32 Challenge runner-up JoJo Aragona (Pope John, N.J.), who is No. 7 nationally at 113; Super 32 placer Jakob Camacho (Danbury, Ct.), No. 15 in the country at this weight class; along with Logan Macri (Canon-McMillan, Pa.), a Super 32 placer down at 113 and No. 13 nationally in that weight class.
Other stars in the field include Junior National freestyle All-American Mike Madara (Blair Academy, N.J.), Super 32 placer Killian Cardinale (Brentsville, Va.), multi-time state placer Chris Wright (Central Dauphin, Pa.), Ironman placer Ryan O'Grady (Nazareth, Pa.), and freshman phenom Connor O'Neill (DePaul Catholic, N.J.). At least another pair of state champions are present in this field. Not among the seeds would be state medalist Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic, N.J.), though it is only a guess that he would be in this weight class.
126: Five wrestlers that are nationally ranked, including the top four seeds, are present in the field. Leading the way is two-time Cadet National double champion Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), who is ranked No. 5 nationally; rounding out the top four seeds are No. 16 Chris Cannon (Blair Academy, N.J.), a National Prep champion; No. 12 Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.), state champ as a freshman; and No. 15 Daniel Planta (St. Paul's, Md.), a three-time National Prep placer. Also ranked nationally is Connor McGonagle (Timberlane, N.H.), a Super 32 placer down at 120 who is ranked No. 16 in the country at that weight class.
Others to watch include two-time state placer Carmen Ferrante (Bergen Catholic, N.J.); at least three multi-time state champions, a group led by Colin Gerardi (Powhatan, Va.); at least three other state champions, led by Levi Englman (Colonial Forge, Va.); as well as state medalist Daniel Percelay (DePaul Catholic, N.J.). Not seeded but worth a watch, if in this weight class, is NHSCA Junior Nationals placer Jake Cherry (Central Dauphin, Pa.).
132: Three nationally ranked wrestlers are present in this weight class, led by No. 6 Zach Sherman (Blair Academy, N.J.), the tournament's top seed and a Junior National freestyle All-American. Other ranked wrestlers include No. 16 Quinn Kinner (Kingsway Regional, N.J.), a two-time state placer and two-time Flo Nationals placer; along with No. 19 Andrew Wert (Central Dauphin, Pa.), a 2015 state placer and 2015 Super 32 placer.
Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class are Flo Nationals placer Marshall Keller (Christiansburg, Va.), Super 32 placer K.J. Fenstermacher (Northampton, Pa.), UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Marco Regalbuto (Brecksville, Ohio), along with at least four other state champions.
138: The lone nationally ranked wrestler in this weight is No. 13 Gerard Angelo (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), the tournament's top seed and a runner-up last year in the 120 pound weight class at this event. Others to note in this weight class include two-time National Prep placers Malcolm Robinson (Blair Academy, N.J.) and Nathan Thacker (Gonzaga, D.C.), three-time state placer Dan Moran (Northampton, Pa.), National Prep placer P.J. Crane (Malvern Prep, Pa.), and 2015 state placer Trace Kinner (Kingsway Regional, N.J.).
145: The absence of No. 3 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), the defending champion at 138 pounds, certainly opens up the field in this weight class. Though seeded second, the lone wrestler ranked nationally in this weight is No. 17 (at 152) Phil Conigliaro (Belmont Hill, Mass.); the Junior National freestyle All-American is a two-time National Prep placer. The top seed in this weight class is returning Beast of the East runner-up Nicholas Santos (St. Peter's Prep), also a New Jersey state placer.
Other contenders include two-time state placer Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny, Pa.), three-time National Prep placer Quinn Devaney (McDonogh, Md.), National Prep placer Ethan Krause (Georgetown Prep, Md.), two-time state champion Chase Archangelo (Smyrna, Del.), Cadet freestyle All-American Brian Meyer (Phillipsburg, N.J.), and two-time National Prep placer Josh Wyland (Benedictine Prep, Va.).
152: A trio of nationally ranked wrestlers is led by returning Beast of the East champion David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio), who is ranked second nationally. Two-time New Jersey state champion Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic) is ranked No. 7 nationally and the second seed, while No. 8 Julian Ramirez (Blair Academy, N.J.) is the fifth seed; Ramirez lost a 15-9 decision to Carr in the Ironman semifinal, squandering an 8-2 second period lead in the process.
Other contenders include state runner-up Brock Wilson (Nazareth, Pa.), National Prep placers John Manning (Villanova, Ontario) and Bailey Thomas (Bood Counsel, Md.), three-time state qualifier Will Kaldes (Cumberland Valley, Pa.), freshman phenom Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan, Pa.), along with at least three additional state champions.
160: The top seed in this weight class is returning Beast of the East champion Chris Foca (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), who won the title down four weight classes; this fall he placed fifth in this weight class at the Super 32. Three wrestlers in this weight class are nationally ranked, and the next three seeds on the ladder: No. 7 Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg, Va.), a runner-up at this tournament last year; No. 5 Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.), who won the Super 32 title at 160 pounds; and No. 11 Andrew Merola (Blair Academy, N.J.), a National Prep champion and last weekend a runner-up at the Ironman.
Other contenders include NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Josh Stillings (Pennridge, Pa.), 2015 state placer Joe Koontz (Massillon Perry, Ohio), two-time state placer Jared Lough (Colonial Forge, Va.), state qualifier Quentin Milliken (Cumberland Valley, Pa.), Super 32 placer Skitch Light (Central Dauphin, Pa.), along with at least three other state champions.
170: The top two seeds in this weight class were both runners-up at the Beast of the East last year, No. 2 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) and No. 5 Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep, Pa.); they also met in the finals at the Walsh Ironman this past week, with Labriola winning a 6-3 decision victory. Two others are nationally ranked in this weight class, No. 13 Bryan McLaughlin (Woodbridge, N.J.) and Emil Soehnlen (Massillon Perry, Ohio); the pair of Super 32 placers are seeded fifth and sixth.
Other contenders include multi-time state placer Dom Mandarino (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.) and Leo Tarantino (Blair Academy, N.J.), National Prep runner-up Dale Tiongson (St. Paul's, Md.), along with a pair of 2015 state champions including Michael Battista (Broad Run, Va.).
182: Four nationally ranked wrestlers headline the field in this weight class, including the pair of wrestlers that met in the Ironman final this past weekend, No. 1 Michael Beard (Malvern Prep, Pa.) and No. 5 Travis Stefanik (Nazareth, Pa.); Beard, a runner-up last year at the Beast, won that match by 17-9 major decision. Also ranked nationally in this weight class are No. 8 A.J. Pedro (Phillips Exeter, N.J.), a Junior National freestyle All-American, and a Super 32 placer in No. 14 Drew Peck (Chambersburg, Pa.).
Others to watch include two-time state placer J.T. Brown (Elyria, Ohio); state placers Zack Blackiston (Massillon Perry, Ohio) and L.J. Castellano (Delbarton, N.J.); National Prep placers David Schultz (Mt. St. Joseph's, Md.) and Carter Davis (St. Christopher's, Va.); along with state champion Stanley Smeltzer (Smithfield, Va.).
195: Three nationally ranked wrestlers populate the field in this weight class, led by No. 3 Brandon Kui (DePaul Catholic, N.J.), the tournament's top seed. Seeded third is No. 4 John Borst (Sherando, Va.), a Super 32 champion and Junior National freestyle runner-up, while No. 11 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny, Pa.) is seeded fourth. The second seed is three-time state placer Nick Mosco (Blair Academy, N.J.), last year's National Prep runner-up at 220 pounds.
Others to watch include Junior National double All-American Miles Lee (New Philadelphia, Pa.), state placer Colin McCracken (Waynesburg, Pa.), a pair of Delaware state champions, 2015 National Prep placer Brian Hennessey (St. John's, D.C.), and state runner-up Robert Henesey (Poquoson, Va.).
220: Three wrestlers are nationally ranked in what is an overall robust weight at the Beast of the East, especially for an upper-weight. The top two seeds are No. 1 Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.), champion at the Ironman last week and runner-up at the Beast of the East last year; along with No. 20 Jeffrey Allen (Amherst County, Va.), a Junior National double All-American this summer. Seeded fifth is No. 8 Francis Duggan (Cedar Cliff, Pa.), a two-time lower placer at state and a Junior National freestyle All-American this past summer.
Other contenders include National Prep placer Brady Daniel (Good Counsel, Md.), two-time state placer Robet Melise (Phillipsburg, N.J.), Super 32 placers Joe Soreco (DePaul Catholic, N.J.) and Peter Acciardi (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), along with state placer Devin Fontznez (Saucon Valley, Pa.).
285: Four nationally ranked wrestlers feature in this weight class led by Ironman champion Niko Camacho (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), the tournament's top seed and the No. 7 wrestler in the country. Rounding out the top four seeds are No. 12 Eric Chakonis (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), No. 8 Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio), and No. 17 Seth Janney (Malvern Prep, Pa.). Other contenders include National Prep placer P.J. Mustipher (McDonogh, Md.) and Super 32 champion Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan, Pa.).
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