Since there is for sure to be turnover in the rankings, let's take a look at ten of the teams that could provide a degree of "newness" to the national team rankings.
Christian Brothers College, Mo.
This is a top-heavy squad that features some high-impact wrestlers, though their balance -- one through fourteen -- is a question mark. The Cadets will be anchored by returning state champions Malik Johnson, Joshua Saunders, and Emille Shannon; all of whom are elite wrestlers within their respective grade levels nationally.
Additional high impact wrestlers include nationally elite freshman Vincent Zerban and returning state runner-up Cevion Severado, a Junior World runner-up in Greco-Roman. Returning state placer Kyle Prewitt along with upper-weight state qualifiers Charlie Cadell and Faze Thomas provide additional breadth for the Cadets.
Columbia, Idaho
This past season, the Wildcats took back supremacy in Idaho's big school division from Post Falls, who ended the 2015-16 season as a nationally ranked team. Headed into 2017-18, Columbia will return four of their five state champions from last season: Angel Rios, Kekana Fouret, Kade Grigsby, and Nathan Clements. Five additional state placers from last year will be on this year's Wildcats squad: fourth place finisher Michael Scott; fifth place finishers Levi Cluff, Michael Cox, and Skylar Hughes; along with sixth place finisher Daniel Ivko.
Davison, Mich.
One has to go back more than ten years to see the peak of the Cardinals wrestling program under Roy Hall when a quartet of future NCAA qualifiers were assembled on the same team: Paul Donahoe, Brent Metcalf, Trevor Perry, and Jon Reader. Even with that the case, they've been a high-level contender for state titles over the subsequent years, and have ended a pair of recent seasons ranked nationally (2012-13 and 2013-14).
This year's team returns ten state qualifiers, and an eleventh with state tournament experience. Davison will be led by returning state champion A.J. Facundo, returning state third place finishers Andrew Chambal and Brian Case, along with freshman phenom Alex Facundo. Additional returning state placers include Steven Garty, Jaron Wilson, Cal Stefanko, and Brian Gilmore; returning state qualifiers include Marc Shaeffer, Jay Nivison, and Trevor McGowan; while Gabe Ellis qualified for state in 2016.
Nicolas Aguilar is the nation's No. 90 senior recruit (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Gilroy, Calif.
While the Mustangs have been ranked at various points over recent seasons, they have never ended a season as a nationally ranked team. This year's squad is positioned to make that change. Three top 100 seniors -- Nicolas Aguilar, Alex Felix, and Tony Andrade -- anchor the lineup, while Joseph Barnes is a returning state place finisher and Juan Villarreal placed at state in 2016. Additional returning state qualifiers include Chase Saldate, Daniel Viczarra, John Fox, Nathan Villarreal, and Nicholas Villarreal; with Joseph Delgado having qualified for state the two previous seasons.
Howell, N.J.
This program on the rise has advanced to the state final four in three of the last four years, including this past season's state dual meet title. The Rebels won the Shore Conference Tournament (dual meet format) this past season for the second time in four years; and on the individual side of things repeated as district champions, a fifth title in six years. Headed into this season, they return a pair of state medalists in state runner-up Kyle Slendorn and Darby Diedrich; Slendorn is a top 100 overall senior nationally. Five others advanced to state last year: Luke Roda, Daniel Esposito, Xavier Kelly, Christian Murphy, and Shane Reitsma.
LaSalle, Ohio (Cincinnati)
The Lancers made their names known nationally in late January of last season when they upset St. Edward in a dual meet up in the Cleveland area, even though the Eagles had a short-handed lineup. They cracked the national rankings after advancing to the state dual meet quarterfinals, but dropped out of the rankings after a somewhat disappointing ninth place finish at the individual state tournament.
Ryan Root moves over from Mason, who was nationally ranked last season, to take over for Avery Zerkle as head coach. This year's squad will be anchored by two-time state placer Lucas Byrd, a Cadet World team participant in Greco-Roman. Five other wrestlers return with state experience: state placers Blake Wilson and Garrett Bledsoe along with state qualifiers Antoine Allen, Trey Sizemore, and Michael Baker; another pair of wrestlers to watch are Cadet freestyle All-American Dustin Norris and Flo Nationals placer Elan Heard.
Parkersburg South, W.Va.
Those around the Patriots wrestling program thought last season would be the year that national rankings contention became reality. However, that was not to be as early season injuries put that out of the question. While three state champions were lost to graduation, this team brings in two star wrestlers that were not part of the state championship team last year: two-time Cadet double champion Braxton Amos (injured last year) and three-time state champion Josh Humphreys (transfer in).
Two of last year's five state champions return for the Patriots, Luke Martin (a two-time champ) and Mikey Shamblin. Three additional state runners-up from last year return: Brayden Roberts, Zane Hinzman, and Louden Haga. Additional returning state medalists are Tucker Windland, Ian Irizarry, and Drew Dunbar; while state qualifier Jarritt Flinn placed at state in 2016.
Portage, Ind.
The Indians started the 2016-17 season as a nationally ranked team, but dropped out within the season's first month. This year's team led by head coach Leroy Vega features four returning state placers, led by Kris Rumph and Kasper McIntosh, who have state finals appearances to their credit; while Brock Peele and Colin Poynter placed fourth this past season. Jacob Moran placed at state in 2016, but was ineligible this past season; while Jeremy Torres and Anthony Maceo are upper-weights who qualified for state last season.
Simley head wrestling coach Will Short at Minnesota's state tournament (Photo/Mary Christen, The Guillotine)Simley, Minn.
Before Kasson-Mantorville won Class 2A state the last two seasons, the Spartans were on a run of seven state titles in eight seasons. Simley also was a nationally ranked team at the end of the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. Anchoring this year's squad are three returning state champions, Jake Gliva, Anthony Jackson, and Daniel Kerkvliet; Gliva is a top 100 senior, while Jackson and Kerkvliet are inside the top ten nationally in the junior class.
Another pair of Spartans return as state placers, incoming freshmen Cael Berg and Ryan Sokol; Sokol is the No. 2 overall Class of 2021 wrestler nationally. Four others were state qualifiers last year: Luis Fierro and Quayin Short, along with upper-weights Brad Dohmen and Luke Zaiser; while Anthony Dawson was a state qualifier in 2015 and 2016.
South Dade, Fla.
The Buccaneers are one of the best programs in the Southeastern United States, but have just ended one of the last seven seasons ranked nationally, No. 35 in the 2015. This past season marked a fourth straight state title, and 12th in all for the perennial power. Leading this year's squad are returning state champions Bretli Reyna and Brevin Balmeceda, who is a top ten overall junior nationally. Five other wrestlers return as state placement finishers: runner-up Todd Perry, fourth place finisher Mikaelle Fundara, fifth place finishers Christian Morales and Corey Harvey, along with sixth placer Tyler Orta-Khawly.
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