One half of the weight class champions from last year's Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament return to the 43rd edition, which will be hosted this Tuesday and Wednesday by Canon-McMillan High School just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Five of these champions are among the 21 nationally-ranked wrestlers in this event.
Five state championship winning teams from this past season are present in the field -- Beast of the East runners-up Central Dauphin, PA; Toshiba Business Solutions Classic champions Collins Hill, GA; Osceola, FL; Shady Side Academy, PA; and Christiansburg, VA. Both Pennsylvania state runner-up teams also are present in the field -- Blue Mountain and Benton. Seeking its third consecutive tournament title is Central Dauphin, and the Rams were also runners-up in their Powerade debut back in 2006.
The 112 pound weight class stands to be one of the event's showcase brackets with four nationally-ranked wrestlers. Defending tournament champion Jimmy Gulibon (Derry Area, PA) is ranked second in the nation. Others ranked include Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA); Corey Keener (Blue Mountain, PA); and Stephen Myers (Moeller, OH). Shyheim Brown (Central Dauphin, PA) was listed in the preseason rankings, and Bazell Partridge (Collins Hill, GA) was a state champion last year.
Two other weight classes feature a trio of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Devin Carter (Christiansburg, VA); Mitchell Port (Bellefonte, PA); and TJ Mitchell (Collins Hill, GA) all are present in the 125 pound weight class. Defending Powerade champion Josh Kindig (Blue Mountain, PA); Joel Smith (Collins Hill, GA); and Pete Baldwin (Osceola, FL) are projected to compete at 140 pounds.
Marshall Peppelman (Central Dauphin, PA) is first in the nation at 160 pounds, and seeks to become only the second wrestler to win four titles at the Powerade -- the first being Ty Moore (North Allegheny, PA) from 1986-1989. Peppelman will most likely have to beat No. 10 in the nation Eric Hess (Benton, PA) in the Wednesday evening final to do so.
Junior Nico Megaludis (Franklin Regional, PA) has won Powerade in each of his scholastic seasons to date, and is competing this year at 119 pounds. One other nationally-ranked wrestler appears in his weight class -- Mike Rhone (Benton, PA). The other weight class with multiple ranked wrestlers is 285 pounds, where defending Powerade champion Karl Green (Mt St Joseph's, MD) and Tyler Demott (Benton, PA) are slated to compete.
The other two defending Powerade champions -- Frank Martelotti (130) and Matthew Cunningham (171) of Shady Side Academy, PA -- are not ranked nationally. Martelotti is in a weight without any nationally-ranked wrestlers, while Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin, PA) is present in Cunningham's weight.
Rounding out the list of nationally-ranked wrestlers in this tournament are Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin, PA) at 103 pounds; Pierce Harger (Moeller, OH) at 152 pounds, though his ranking is at 160 pounds; Jamie Callender (Council Rock North, PA) at 189 pounds; and Nate Gaffney (Connellsville, PA) at 215 pounds.
Cheesehead to host nation's elite in the New Year
Three of the nation's pre-eminent teams will be making the trip to Kaukauna, WI for the 12th annual Cheesehead Invitational on January 1 and 2. This would include defending tournament champions Brandon, FL; Apple Valley, MN -- which returns to the tournament after having won it two times in the past; and Wyoming Seminary, PA making its debut at the tournament.
State tournament champions among the 24-team field include Apple Valley; Brandon; Montini Catholic, IL; and Simley, MN. Apple Valley and Simley finished one-two in the recently completed Minnesota Christmas Tournament, while Montini was champion of the Dvorak Tournament this past week. State-level tournament runners-up in the field are Wyoming Seminary (fourth at Ironman and third at Beast); Kenyon-Wanamingo, MN; Wausau West, WI -- second in this event last year after winning it in 2008; and Yorkville, IL.
There are fifteen wrestlers in the field nationally ranked, including four of the seven defending tournament champions. Two of the defending champions, both nationally ranked, are slated to compete at 152 pounds -- Joey Cozart (Brandon, FL) and Derek Olson (Muskego, WI). This pair of wrestlers is slated to be joined by a third nationally-ranked wrestler, Destin McCauley (Apple Valley, MN) -- ranked second in the weight class.
Another pair of event champions -- Tyler Liberatore (Brandon, FL) and Colton Rasche (Montini Catholic, IL) -- is slated to compete at 130 pounds. Neither is nationally ranked; however two other wrestlers projected for this weight class are ranked by InterMat. That pair of wrestlers would be Walsh Ironman champion Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit, OH), and state champion Matt Kelliher (Apple Valley, MN) who is twice a Cadet National freestyle All-American. Also in this weight bracket are two of the nation's top freshmen in Eric Morris (Wyoming Seminary, PA) and Jake Short (Simley, MN). Morris is ranked third in the Class of 2013, and placed fifth at the Beast of the East; while Short is ranked 12th among all freshmen and a Cadet National freestyle All-American.
Yet another defending Cheesehead champion will find himself in a tough weight class, as Noah Budi (Kaukauna, WI) will have fellow nationally-ranked wrestler Jake Waste (Apple Valley, MN) standing in his way at 171 pounds. Rounding out the defending champions is Jon Schuster (Wausau West, WI) at 112 pounds and Rossi Bruno (Brandon, FL) at 119 pounds. Schuster is not ranked nationally, but in his weight class is Dominick Malone (Wyoming Seminary, PA) ranked 12th in the nation. Bruno is ranked 20th in the nation and stands to be challenged by returning state runner-up Dylan Wright (Simley, MN) and former National Prep placer Kyle Johnson (Wyoming Seminary, PA).
The closing weight, 285 pounds, is the last one with multiple nationally-ranked wrestlers. Mike McMullan (Wyoming Seminary, PA) -- after winning the Ironman and Beast of the East -- is the number one ranked wrestler in the country. However, the journey gets no easier here, as Henry Chirino (Brandon, FL) is ranked 8th in the nation; and Lavelle Howard (Plainfield Central, IL) was champion of the Dvorak this past week.
Rounding out the nationally-ranked wrestlers in the tournament are Kevon Powell (Montini Catholic, IL) at 103 pounds; Jameson Oster (Lockport, IL) at 125 pounds; Simon Kitzis (Wyoming Seminary, PA) at 135 pounds; Brandon Kingsley (Apple Valley, MN) at 140 pounds; and Steven Keogh (Apple Valley, MN) at 160 pounds.
Blair headlines talented, deep field at Bethlehem Holiday
After titles at the Walsh Ironman and Beast of the East, Blair Academy, NJ travels to their third major tournament of the season on Monday and Tuesday of this week at Bethlehem Liberty High School in Pennsylvania. While obviously the favorites, the rest of the field will provide a rigorous test to the Buccaneer squad.
It includes two other teams that finished in the top five at the Beast of the East -- St Mark's, DE and Cox, VA. Five other teams finished between 11th and 22nd -- Nazareth, PA; Quakertown, PA; Northampton, PA; Bethlehem Liberty, PA; and Camden Catholic, NJ. Also in the field is perennial power Council Rock South, PA.
Nineteen nationally-ranked wrestlers have the potential to appear in the brackets, with a pair of weight classes possibly having a trio of ranked wrestlers. The obvious feature weight class is 189 pounds, where career undefeated junior Andrew Campolattano (Bound Brook, NJ) will be seriously tested against Michael Evans (Blair Academy, NJ) and/or Antonio Giorgio (Warwick, PA). This trio is ranked first, fifth, and eighth respectively. Also in the weight class is Bobby Lavelle (Council Rock South, PA), NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up this past April at 160 pounds.
Evan Silver (Blair Academy, NJ) is the nation's top ranked wrestler at 112 pounds, which is the other weight with a trio of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Tyler Pendergast (St Mark's, DE) and Caleb Richardson (Cox, VA) are slated to appear in this weight class. There are three other weight classes with a pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers present.
One of the tougher weight classes in this tournament should be at 119 pounds where Beast of the East champion Mark Grey (Blair Academy, NJ) and Sean Dolan (St Mark's, DE) are nationally ranked. Also in the bracket are Bryan Whitt (Cox, VA) and Matt Sausman (Camden Catholic, NJ) -- both were nationally ranked in the preseason. Another weight class with similar quantity and quality is at 125 pounds with a Beast semifinal rematch as a probable finals bout -- Zach Horan (Nazareth, PA) against Sean Boylan (St Mark's, DE). Two other Beast placers are present in this weight -- the freshman TJ Miller (Camden Catholic, NJ) and Scott Wolfinger (Quakertown, PA). State placer Anthony Marino (Bethlehem Liberty, PA) and state qualifier Matt Rappo (Council Rock South, PA) also float in the bracket.
The other weight class with potential for fireworks is at 140 pounds. Should Josh Dziewa (Council Rock South, PA) compete in this tournament -- he did not compete in the Walsh Ironman or King of the Mountain, but did compete in a mid-week dual meet in between the two tournaments -- there could be a "one v. three" battle between him and Chris Villalonga (Blair Academy, NJ) in the final. Also present in this weight class is state champion Taylor Walsh (Camden Catholic, NJ).
Other nationally-ranked wrestlers populating the brackets include Max Hvolbeck (Blair Academy, NJ) at 103 pounds; Nick Schenk (St Mark's, DE) at 130 pounds; Austin Ormsbee (Blair Academy, NJ) at 135 pounds; Ben Dorsay (Cox, VA) at 145 pounds; Jesse Shanaman (Blair Academy, NJ) at 152 pounds; Spencer Myers (Sellinsgrove, PA) at 215 pounds; and Bobby Telford (St Mark's, DE) at 285 pounds.
Monroeville Four" anchor Ohio's premier holiday tournament
The 49th annual Brecksville Holiday Invitational Tournament features approximately 100 wrestlers with state tournament experience, as well as 15 teams that finished in the top ten of their respective state tournaments (14 from Ohio's three divisions, as well as Pope, GA). Defending tournament champion Wadsworth, OH are strong favorites to repeat as tournament champions. The Grizzlies return eight wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament last year, including six wrestlers that placed. Also present in this field are the top two teams in last year's small-school state tournament -- Troy Christian, OH and Monroeville, OH.
The "Monroeville Four" of Hunter (125) and Logan (130) Stieber, Cam Tessari (140), and Chris Phillips (171) headline a list of 11 nationally-ranked wrestlers slated to compete in the tournament.
Ty Mitch (Aurora, OH) and Kagain Squire (Wadsworth, OH) were Junior and Cadet National freestyle champions at 119 pounds this past summer in Fargo, ND. This pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers is slated to compete at 119 pounds.
Another pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers and defending state champions also present in the 152 pound weight class. David Habat (St Ignatius, OH) and Harrison Hightower (University School, OH) were also champions at the Brecksville Holiday last year. Ranked fourth nationally at 119 pounds, Hunter Stieber (Monroeville, OH) is in a weight class along with defending tournament champion Jake McCombs (Marysville, OH). The other nationally-ranked wrestler and defending tournament champion in the event is George DiCamillo (St Ignatius, OH) at 103 pounds.
Seeking third titles at this year's tournament are the "Monroeville Four" and Habat; while DiCamillo, McCombs, and Hightower seek their second title. The three junior members of the "Monroeville Four" -- Hunter Stieber, Tessari, and Phillips could become the third, fourth, and fifth wrestlers to win four titles in the event should they win titles this year and next year.
Top Michigan wrestlers travel to Goodrich
Greenville seeks to defend its title in the top tournament within the Wolverine State this coming Wednesday at the 19th annual Goodrich Tournament of Champions. This year's field will feature eight teams ranked inside the top four of their respective divisions in the most recent team rankings compiled by Michigan Grappler.
Ranked first in Division 2 is Allegan; Greenville, Swan Valley, and Hesperia are ranked second in Divisions 2, 3, and 4 respectively; Detroit Catholic Central and Dundee are third in Divisions 1 and 3; while St John's is ranked fourth in Division 2. Of the nine nationally-ranked wrestlers from the state of Michigan, only Taylor Massa (St John's) and Jordan Thomas (Greenville) are slated to compete in this event, at 152 and 160 pounds respectively.
Massa is also one of five wrestlers ranked as best in their weight class in the Wolverine State regardless of division by Michigan Grappler (as of December 17th). Others are Jacob Schmitt (St John's) at 103 pounds, Joe Rendina (Dundee) at 130 pounds, Colin Zeerip (Hesperia) at 135 pounds, and John Rizgallah (Allegan) at 189 pounds. First against second bouts could emerge at 130, 135, and 152 pounds.
Rendina and Tyler Keselring (Greenville) are at 130 pounds; Zeerip and Jaylyn Bohl (Allegan) are at 135 pounds; while Massa, Adam Bonner (Greenville), and Troy Lamson (Swan Valley) are the top three wrestlers at 152 pounds. Another weight of note is at 119 pounds, where it could be a Goodrich TOC finals rematch between Alec Mooradian (Detroit Catholic Central) and BJ Suitor (Swan Valley); Mooradian won the matchup last year between eventual state champions.
Other events to note over the New Year's week ...
***Medina Invitational Tournament (Monday and Tuesday) -- St Edward, OH; Massillon Perry, OH; Claymont, OH; and CVCA, OH headline the 39-team field.
***Manheim Invitational (Tuesday and Wednesday) -- Easton, PA; Reynolds, PA; and Robinson, VA headline the 14-team field.
***Granite City Tournament (Tuesday and Wednesday) -- Oak Park River Forest, IL; Neosho, MO; Oak Park, MO; Fort Zumwalt West, MO; and Francis Howell Central, MO headline the expanded 24-team field.
***Sierra Nevada Classic (Tuesday and Wednesday) -- Buchanan, CA is the anchor team, while Derek Garcia (Sedro Woolley, WA) at 171 pounds is the top wrestler in this mega-bracket event.
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