Those on the docket for this weekend include:
Michigan and Pennsylvania (Thursday through Saturday)
California, Hawaii, Maryland, and New England Regional (Friday and Saturday)
New Jersey (Friday through Sunday)
Also on the schedule this weekend is the Wisconsin dual meet tournament on Friday and Saturday.
The highlights of last weekend start in the upper reaches of the Fab 50 national team rankings.
Oak Park River Forest makes last statement for No. 1 position
Current holders of the top ranking, Oak Park River Forest closed out their season with the Class 3A state dual meet title to cement an undefeated dual meet season. They beat another pair of nationally ranked teams on Saturday, 46-18 over No. 32 Marmion Academy in the quarterfinal and 39-16 over No. 19 Carl Sandburg in the final. In between the Huskies upended Lockport by a score of 51-21. On the day, they went 29-13 over the individual matchups, while wrestling some reserves over the course of the dual meets.
The other dual meet involving ranked teams came in the semifinal round, when Carl Sandburg beat No. 22 Glenbard North 34-24. Carl Sandburg won nine of the first 12 weight classes, before taking indifference forfeits with the match out of reach. The Eagles won all five matches decided by two points or less, which was the difference in the dual meet. Over the course of the 2014-15 season, Oak Park River Forest went 8-0 in dual meets against teams presently in the Fab50 rankings.
Blair Academy regains National Prep title, avenges dual meet defeat
After being unseated as National Prep champions last seasons, Blair Academy (N.J.) outlasted Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) to regain the crown this past weekend at Lehigh University. Led by eight finalists, including four champions, the Buccaneers scored 283 points to the 269.5 earned by the Blue Knights. Winning National Prep titles for Blair Academy were No. 12 Chaz Tucker (132), No. 2 Matthew Kolodzik (138), No. 3 Jordan Kutler (152), and No. 8 David Showunmi (220); runners-up included No. 18 Zach Sherman (113), Requir van der Merwe (120), No. 9 Brandon Dallavia (160), and No. 14 Chase Singletary (182).
Despite not winning the tournament, the Blue Knights had a tournament-high five champions: Will Moss (106), No. 6 Jack Mueller (120), No. 8 Chris Weiler (160), No. 7 Nick Reenan (170), and Mike Rogers (285). However, they just had one other finalist, that being Trent Olson (126). Each team had 12 overall placers. As a result, the two teams flip positions in the Fab50 national rankings; Blair Academy is now ranked No. 3, while Wyoming Seminary drops back to No. 4 in the country.
Nation's best state tournament features multiple ranked wrestler showdowns
Tomorrow afternoon in Hershey, the Pennsylvania Class 3A state tournament will commence. It is unequivocally the single best state tournament classification in the nation, both in terms of top end talent and quality depth. The finals in this event will be held Saturday evening.
Six weight classes feature two or more nationally ranked wrestlers, including four of the top eleven at 152 pounds, and three of the top nine at 152 pounds. All but one weight class (106 pounds) will feature at least one nationally ranked wrestler in the field, while four of the nation's top ranked wrestlers in their respective weight class are present in this field.
The following is an overview of the brackets with multiple nationally ranked wrestlers
113: Returning state champion Devin Brown (Franklin Regional) is ranked No. 6 nationally; however, he has drawn into the "champ-champ" quarterfinal against No. 20 Austin DeSanto (Exeter). Since there are five regionals that qualify four wrestlers each in Class 3A, one quarter of the draw has two regional champions present. Whomever wins that quarterfinal most likely will face returning state runner-up Dan Moran (Northampton) in the semifinal.
132: No. 3 Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) and No. 5 A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg) are looking at a likely rematch of this past weekend's WPIAL final on Saturday night. The junior Pletcher has already won a pair of state titles, and saw his close to 110 match winning streak come to an end this past weekend, losing 1-1 to Headlee in an ultimate tiebreaker rideout; prior to that, Pletcher's last losses came in the second weekend of high school career (he was competing at 113, when he would go onto win the 106 pound state title that year). Headlee's lone loss this season is to Class 2A favorite George Phillippi, an opponent that Pletcher has beaten twice this season.
138: Another pair of WPIAL wrestlers, No. 1 Sam Krivus (Hempfield) and No. 5 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) are looking at a Saturday night collision. Krivus won state two years ago, and is 5-0 vs. returning state champion Coy this season (6-0 for his career). The last four meets between the future University of Virginia teammates -- Krivus has signed with the Cavaliers, while the sophomore Coy has already given them a verbal commit -- have been decided by a single point (including 2-1 and 4-3 meetings the last two weeks).
145: Four nationally ranked wrestlers are present here, but are confined to the upper and lower quarter-brackets of the draw. Three-time state runner-up Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) is ranked No. 1 in the nation, but is in the "champ-champ" quarter drawn with No. 5 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County); the wrestlers met in the Powerade final, a match that Kemerer won by 5-2 decision. In the bottom quarter, it is No. 4 Patrick Duggan (Cumberland Valley) in quest of his first state finals berth and No. 11 Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon); Verkleeren was pinned in the WPIAL final this past weekend by Kemerer.
152: Returning state champion Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) is ranked No. 2 in the nation, and has drawn the "champ-champ" quarter, with a fellow nationally ranked wrestler -- No. 9 Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney) -- in the other quarter bracket of the upper half. No. 7 Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional), who lost by 15-5 major decision to Joseph in the WPIAL final, should be theoretically clear in the lower half bracket -- though Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) is a possible semifinal opponent.
285: No. 17 Bo Spiller (Solanco) drew the "champ-champ" quarter, with fellow returning state placer Ryan Monk (Dallas) awaiting as a potential semifinal match. In the other half of the draw, it is No. 7 Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic) by his relative lonesome.
New Jersey with some pretty robust competition of its own
The single class New Jersey state tournament, to be held Friday through Sunday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, has half of the weight classes with multiple nationally ranked wrestlers. In all, there are 10 weight classes with at least one nationally ranked wrestler, for a total of 18 competitors in all. The following is an analysis of the weight classes with multiple ranked wrestlers:
106: Returning state placer Jonathan Tropea (St. Joseph Montvale) is ranked No. 7 in the nation. However, his draw is not exactly kind, as a quarterfinal bout against Patrick Glory (Delbarton) -- ranked No. 16 nationally -- is looming. The third ranked wrestler in this weight class is undefeated freshman Quinn Kinner (Kingsway Regional), ranked No. 11 nationally, and he is looking at a possible semifinal against Super 32 placer Shane Metzler (West Morris Central).
113: Both nationally ranked wrestlers are in the lower half bracket, with a likely semifinal meeting looming; No. 12 Sebastian Rivera (Christian Brothers) placed fifth at state, while No. 13 Brandon Cray (Hamilton East) placed fourth. The upper half-bracket features a likely semifinal between returning state placers Alec Kelly (St. Peter's Prep) and Garrett O'Shea (Morris Knolls).
120: Two defending state champions are present in this weight class. However, one is the freak of nature Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic), ranked second nationally and undefeated for his career headed into his junior year state tournament. The other is No. 17 Ty Agaisse (Delbarton), who is pretty good in his own right, but the fellow junior is a level below Suriano.
126: Two-time state champion Anthony Cefolo (Hanover Park) is ranked No. 5 in the nation, while two-time state placer Ryan Pomrinca (North Hunterdon) is No. 13. Those two wrestlers occupy opposite half brackets of the draw. Cefolo got a rather unkind draw for a returning champ with two-time state placer, and a fellow Junior freestyle All-American, Peter Lipari (Bergen Catholic) as a likely quarterfinal opponent. This upper-half of the draw also features two-time state placer Michael Russo (Jackson Liberty) and past state placer A.J. Vindici (Randolph). The lower half-bracket has Pomrinca slated for a likely quarterfinal against past state placer Matthew Noble (DePaul Catholic), with returning state runner-up Patrick D'Arcy (Holy Spirit) as a possible semifinal opponent.
132: Two-time state champion Craig de la Cruz (Summit) and the undefeated Sal Profaci (Monroe) are ranked No. 16 and No. 17 in the country respectively, but both are in the top half-bracket of this state tournament weight class. Returning state placer Nick Farro (Delbarton) is in the lower half-bracket.
170: One of the tournament's more anticipated individual matchups comes in this weight class, with the likely Sunday afternoon state final showdown between No. 9 Josh Ugalde (Bound Brook) and No. 11 Brett Donner (Wall Township). Ugalde was a state runner-up last year, and placed third in the Super 32 at 160 this fall; while Donner placed third at state, and was a Super 32 runner-up in this weight class. Ugalde's road is littered with traps, including a potential second round bout with returning state placer Kyle Wojtaszek (Brick Township); and then a possible semifinal match against two-time state placer Zach Hertling (Ocean Township). Donner is in the bottom half of the draw, where the likely semifinal is against returning state placer Joe Grello (Bergen Catholic).
195: Two undefeated wrestlers are the clear anchors in this weight class, No. 4 Matthew Correnti (Holy Cross) and No. 16 Tyree Sutton (Keansburg). Correnti placed third at state last year in this weight class, and is a two-time state placer, while Sutton was sixth in this weight class. The wrestlers met in last year's consolation semifinal, which was a 3-2 win for Correnti.
Broken Arrow reverses dual meet final, wins individual title over Stillwater
The four events that this pair of teams competed in together this year ended up split at two-apiece. Broken Arrow won both individual bracket events, the Geary Invitational and this past weekend's Class 6A state tournament; while Stillwater earned victories in both dual meets, one in late January and the state final two weekends ago.
Broken Arrow scored 146 points on the strength of nine placers, including six finalists and four state champions: No. 11 Markus Simmons (126), Paden Bailey (152), Christian Kaser (160), and Steven Allen (195). Runner-up finishes came from No. 6 Davion Jeffries (138) and Skyler Haynes (182), Isaiah Page (170) placed third, while Tyler Lawley (106) and Trenton Lieurance (285) earned fourth.
Stillwater was runner-up with 125 points, led by seven placers, five finalists, and three state champions. Winning titles for the Pioneers were No. 1 Kaid Brock (132), No. 5 Joe Smith (170), and Jordan Dieringer (182); runner-up finishes came from Andrew Nieman (113) and Tristan Moran (145), with Christian Bahl (160) placing third and Mason Mefford (152) finishing in fourth place. As a result, the teams flip positions in this week's Fab 50 team rankings; Broken Arrow is No. 13, while Stillwater is No. 14.
Apple Valley pins their way to a perfect 10
Gable Steveson bumped up to heavyweight and earned a pin in under a minute to propel Apple Valley to its 10th straight state championship (Photo/The Guillotine)The dual meet featured six lead changes and two tie scores after the opening match. All the lead changes and one of the ties came at the end of the matches from 138-220 pounds. Halfway through the dual meet, it was 16-15 in favor of Apple Valley, after a 17-7 major decision by Brock Morgan at 145 pounds. Morgan's victory turned around the first of just two leads for St. Michael-Albertville on the evening, which came after a third period pin from Jake Allar at 138 pounds.
After Morgan's victory, it was a pin from Lucas Jeske to provide the Knights with their biggest lead of the evening at 21-16. However, Andrew Walock responded with a 4-3 decision victory for Apple Valley at 160 pounds to cut the deficit down to two points. Then, it was No. 1 in the nation Mark Hall scoring a pin in 1:02 to give Apple Valley a 25-21 lead. Fellow nationally ranked wrestler Jordan Joseph countered with a pin in 2:30 to regain the lead for St. Michael-Albertville at 27-25.
No. 2 in the nation Bobby Steveson countered with a technical fall midway through the third period to regain the lead for the Eagles at 30-27. A 5-2 decision victory from Jake Briggs at 220 for St. Michael-Albertville set up the winner-take-all bout at 285 pounds.
Golden accomplishments in California
No. 5 Clovis enters the state tournament this Friday and Saturday in Bakersfield as favorites to make it a California state tournament record fifth consecutive state title. The Cougars have qualified their full team of 14 wrestlers into the 40-man weight class brackets this weekend. Primary challengers will include No. 6 Buchanan and No. 12 Poway. The sixth-ranked Bears join the Cougars in having their full lineup present, while the Titans have 13 qualified to the state tournament.
In addition to the team showdown, some of the nation's best individuals will be favored to take home weight class gold, most notably the trio of stars from St. John Bosco. Cade Olivas is rated as the nation's top overall freshman, and is No. 1 in the nation at 106 pounds; Anthony Valencia is the nation's top overall senior, and is No. 2 at 170; while Zahid Valencia is ranked No. 1 at 182.
Three weight classes feature multiple nationally ranked wrestlers. The opening weight class has both Olivas and No. 4 Randon Miranda (Quartz Hill). Another pair is present at 138 pounds with No. 9 McCoy Kent (Enochs) and No. 17 Wyatt Wyckoff (Paradise); while three are present at 145 in No. 17 Ralphy Tovar (Poway), No. 19 Zander Wick (San Marino), and No. 20 Jeremy Thomas (Santiago Corona).
Five other nationally ranked wrestlers populate the weight class brackets: No. 2 Justin Mejia (Clovis) at 113, No. 9 Durbin Lloren (Buchanan) at 120, No. 2 Israel Saavedra (Modesto) at 132, No. 17 Colt Doyle (Poway) at 160, and No. 17 Ritchie Brandt (Liberty-Madera).
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