Major shakeups also occurred within the Fab 50, with three schools moving up ten or more positions in the rankings. No. 15 Malvern Prep (Pa.) moved up eleven spots after a seventh place finish at the Ironman, No. 25 Apple Valley (Minn.) moved up ten spots after their championship at the Council Bluffs Wrestling Classic, while No. 27 Montini Catholic (Ill.) moved up thirteen after a fourth place finish at the Ironman.
Now it's on to the next week of competition on the mats, which is even more event-heavy than the most recent one.
Beast of the East
Nine nationally ranked teams anchor the field for this Saturday (8:30 a.m. ET) and Sunday's (8:30 a.m. quarters and semis/finals at 3:15 p.m.) event from the University of Delaware. No. 2 Blair Academy (N.J.) seeks a 16th consecutive title in the tournament, and a 20th overall in this the 23rd edition of the event. No. 3 Bergen Catholic (N.J.) and No. 6 Bethlehem Catholic (N.J.) both are gunning down the Buccaneers this year, and seek to win their first ever Beast title. Six other nationally ranked teams populate the field: No. 15 Malvern Prep (Pa.), No. 18 Elyria (Ohio), No. 31 Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), No. 33 Phillipsburg (N.J.), No. 34 Boyertown (Pa.), and No. 44 Delbarton (N.J.)
Seeking his fourth Beast of the East title is No. 1 Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), who is slated to compete at 126 pounds. In order to join Mark Grey as the only wrestlers to accomplish such feat, Suriano will most likely have to clear past No. 2 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.); Karam was the Outstanding Wrestler in last year's tournament after winning the 120 pound weight class. The wrestlers met in the final of the Super 32 Challenge on November 1, with Suriano winning.
Five other wrestlers seek second Beast of the East titles: No. 10 Jonathan Tropea (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.) at 113 pounds, No. 3 Ty Agaisse (Delbarton, N.J.), No. 4 Brandon Paetzell (Phillipsburg, N.J.) at 120, along with No. 2 Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) and No. 5 Matt Correnti (Holy Cross, N.J.) at 220.
Below is a listing of nationally ranked wrestlers that may possibly be in the tournament field.
106: No. 15 Michael Colaiocco (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 19 Michael Kelly (St. Peter's Prep, N.J.)
113: No. 6 Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.), No. 10 Jonathan Tropea (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.), No. 11 Matthew Parker (Pennridge, Pa.)
120: No. 3 Ty Agaisse (Delbarton, N.J.), No. 4 Brandon Paetzell (Phillipsburg, N.J.), No. 5 Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), No. 17 Zach Sherman (Blair Academy, N.J.)
126: No. 1 Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 2 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), No. 12 Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin, Pa.)
132: No. 8 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), No. 14 Nick Farro (Delbarton, N.J.)
138: No. 3 Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
145: No. 1 David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio), No. 10 Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic, Ariz.)
152: No. 6 Eric Hong (Kiski Prep, Pa.), No. 14 Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg, Va.)
160: No. 6 Kyle Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.), No. 10 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), No. 19 Ryan Karoly (Blair Academy, N.J.)
170: No. 3 Brandon Dallavia (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 9 Joe Grello (Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
182: No. 5 Michael Beard (Malvern Prep, Pa.), No. 12 Kyle Gentile (Pennridge, Pa.)
195: No. 3 Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.), No. 4 Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio), No. 7 Kevin Mulligan (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 20 Rashon Lusane (Malvern Prep, Pa.)
220: No. 2 Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.), No. 5 Matt Correnti (Holy Cross, N.J.), No. 16 Seth Janney (Malvern Prep, Pa.)
285: No. 11 Anthony Helm (Matoaca, Va.)
Likely out due to injury: No. 11 Requir van der Merwe (Blair Academy, N.J.) at 132 pounds, No. 3 Kevin Vough (Elyria, Ohio) at 285
Kansas City Stampede
Forty teams will convene at Hale Arena in Kansas City (Mo.) for the Stampede, including six ranked within the Fab 50 -- those being No. 12 Archer (Ga.), No. 17 Tuttle (Okla.), No. 23 Allen (Texas), No. 35 Neosho (Mo.), No. 36 Sand Springs (Okla.), and No. 41 Platte County (Mo.). The Archer Tigers seek a third consecutive title in this tournament.
Wrestling starts at 2 p.m. CT on Friday, and resumes with sessions at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday. The event has a pool-to-bracket format, eight pools on Friday with the top two advancing to the upper bracket; in that upper bracket, semifinalists finish top four, wrestle-back is for fifth place.
Below are the nationally ranked wrestlers in the field:
113: No. 4 Paxton Rosen (Edmond North, Okla.)
120: No. 11 Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa)
126: No. 3 Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.), No. 10 Matthew Schmitt (Platte County, Mo.), No. 17 Dalton Duffield (Southmoore, Okla.)
132: No. 7 Colby Smith (Holt, Mo.)
145: No. 15 Ethan Karsten (Platte County, Mo.), No. 20 Beau Guffey (Tuttle, Okla.)
160: No. 2 Thomas Bullard (Archer, Ga.)
170: No. 4 Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.), No. 15 Canten Marriott (Park Hill, Mo.)
220: No. 19 Quinn Miller (Archer, Ga.)
Reno Tournament of Champions
Yet another large field of talented and excellent teams -- and wrestlers -- will convene at the Reno (Nev.) Events Center starting on Friday at 12-Noon Eastern Time, with the quarterfinals and semifinals slated for Saturday starting at 12-Noon, and medal matches at 8 p.m. Anchoring the field are a quartet of nationally ranked teams: No. 21 Poway (Calif.), No. 38 Mesa Mountain View (Ariz.), No. 46 Roseburg (Ore.), and No. 50 Crook County (Ore.)
Below are the nationally ranked wrestlers in the field:
106: No. 6 Jason Holmes (Chandler, Ariz.), No. 20 Mosha Schwartz (Ponderosa, Colo.)
113: No. 3 Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.), No. 5 Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.), No. 17 Tomas Gutierrez (Pomona, Co.)
132: No. 4 Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah)
138: No. 9 Brock Hardy (Box Elder, Utah), No. 17 Evan Fidelibus (Easton, Pa.)
152: No. 7 Jaron Chavez (Centennial, Idaho)
160: No. 8 Layne van Anrooy (Roseburg, Ore.), No. 12 Wyatt Sheets (Stilwell, Okla.), No. 17 Matthew Park (Centennial, Idaho)
220: No. 9 Cohlton Schutlz (Ponderosa, Colo.)
Minnesota Christmas Tournament
The All Force Minnesota Christmas Tournament is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the RCTC Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. The 33-team field features the vast majority of prominent squads in the Gopher State, which makes it a de factor single-class state tournament, as well as a couple of squads from Wisconsin and North Dakota. Wrestling starts at 2 p.m. CT on Friday, and resumes with the quarterfinals and semifinals at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, then concludes with medal matches at 4:30 p.m.
Three nationally ranked teams anchor the field: No. 13 St. Michael-Albertville, No. 25 Apple Valley (defending tournament champions), and No. 45 Kasson-Mantorville. The top 9, and 11 of the top 12 teams in Minnesota's big-school division (Class AAA) are in the field; along with four of the top five from Class AA, the top two teams in North Dakota, and the top team in each of D1 and D2 in Wisconsin.
Below are the nationally ranked wrestlers in the field (Minnesota unless noted):
106: No. 5 Aaron Cashman (Mound Westonka), No. 9 Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville)
138: No. 4 Mitch McKee (St. Michael-Albertville), No. 12 Alex Lloyd (Shakopee)
145: No. 7 Hunter Marko (Amery, Wis.)
152: No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague), No. 9 Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville)
160: No. 5 Brady Berge (Kasson-Mantorville)
170: No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley)
182: No. 7 Owen Webster (Shakopee), No. 10 Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville)
195: No. 1 Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central)
220: No. 1 Gable Steveson (Apple Valley)
Dvorak Memorial Invitational
Three nationally ranked teams will be attending the 28th Annual Al Dvorak Memorial Invitational hosted by Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Ill. Though it is not the mega-tournament for Illinois as it was about five years ago, it still has a most excellent field, probably the best for any single regular season event in the Land of Lincoln. Come Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, 12/22 and 12/23, 33 teams from the host state plus those from Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida will be in attendance.
Below are the nationally ranked wrestlers and teams in the field (Illinois unless noted):
Teams: No. 19 Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), No. 26 Mt. Carmel, No. 27 Montini Catholic
106: No. 11 Joey Melendez (Montini Catholic)
113: No. 2 Real Woods (Montini Catholic), No. 7 Michael McGee (Plainfield East), No. 20 Mason Wohltman (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.)
126: No. 9 Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.)
132: No. 5 Dylan Duncan (Montini Catholic), No. 6 Austin Gomez (Glenbard North)
138: No. 13 Will Lewan (Montini Catholic)
145: No. 4 Austin O'Connor (St. Rita)
160: No. 13 Elijah Cleary (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.)
182: No. 11 Kyle Betourne (Bishop McNamara), No. 15 Jack Jessen (Willowbrook)
Marmion Academy meatgrinder continues
While it may not be THE toughest schedule for any team in the country, the group of tournaments and dual meet events that No. 11 Marmion Academy (Ill.) has on its docket for this season certainly is a bunch of stern tests. The journey continues on Saturday when they host No. 26 Mt. Carmel (Ill.) for a dual meet. It continues one week from Wednesday, on 12/23, when the Cadets play host to No. 29 Washington (Ill.) as part of a multi-team dual meet event.
CIML rivalry
The two best teams in the state of Iowa compete in dual meet action on Thursday night when No. 28 Fort Dodge will host No. 16 Southeast Polk in a conference match. The higher ranked Rams are the perennial powers, as they seek a third sweep of the dual meet and individual bracket state meets in four years come the end of this season. However, Fort Dodge is the emergent force, as they enter this season with the most returning state meet points in Iowa's big-school division (Class AAA).
The following are potential key matches in the dual meet:
113: No. 19 Brody Teske (Fort Dodge) vs. Gauge Perrien
126: Triston Lara (Fort Dodge) vs. Nate Lendt
132: Keenan Cook (Fort Dodge) vs. Zach Barnes
Fort Dodge also has No. 12 Sam Cook at 195 pounds, while Southeast Polk has No. 4 Ethan Andersen at 220 as defending state champions.
Quick hits
No. 8 Buchanan (Calif.) hosts the Zinkin Classic this Friday and Saturday. Wrestling will start at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, 9 a.m. on Saturday with the semifinals, and the medal matches from 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Also in the field are No. 5 Clovis (Calif.), Gilroy (Calif.), Mission Oak (Calif.), and Selma (Calif.)
Two of the nation's top ten teams -- No. 7 Oak Park River Forest (Ill.) and No. 9 Carl Sandburg (Ill.) -- will butt heads at the Rex Whitlach Invitational hosted by Hinsdale Central on Friday and Saturday. The tournament starts at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, continues at 9 a.m. with the quarterfinals on Saturday, semifinals at 1 p.m. and medal matches at 4.
Another pair of ranked teams will collide at the Franklin Regional (Pa.) duals just east of Pittsburgh on Saturday, as No. 10 St. Edward (Ohio) and No. 14 Belle Vernon Area (Pa.) are both slated to compete. Another formidable team in the event, presuming they have all personnel available, is North Allegheny (Pa.).
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