The future productivity of athletes that have competed in the high school division of the Super 32 Challenge speaks for itself. At the NCAA Division I Championships, held this year in Pittsburgh, 53 of the 80 All-Americans had competed in the high school division of the Super 32 Challenge at some point of their career. This includes two-time NCAA champions Spencer Lee, Yianni Diakomihalis, and Zahid Valencia; as well as three-time champion Jason Nolf. In all, eight of the 10 NCAA champions and 14 of the 20 finalists competed at the Super 32 Challenge.
Looking at the depth of the 2018 Super 32 field, one notes that 350 wrestlers (out of about 350) that appeared on the bracket in the high school division would go on to win a state-level title at the end of their high school season. In addition, 115 members of the field ended the season nationally ranked by InterMat. Six of the wrestlers that ended the season No. 1 nationally in their weight class competed at the Super 32 Challenge: Richard Figueroa, Lucas Byrd, Ryan Anderson, Alex Facundo, Jacob Cardenas, and Braxton Amos.
Here are some big picture things to look at in the event this Saturday and Sunday. Entrants are based on information available as of Sunday afternoon.
Star power
Even if the absolute mega-stars of high school wrestling aren't among those competing in this weekend's field, there is a clear abundance of star power in the 2019 Super 32 field based on entries as of Sunday afternoon. 51 of the wrestlers ranked among the InterMat top-100 for the Class of 2020 are in the field at the present time, even though that only includes three of the top ten: No. 2 Braxton Amos (Parkersburg South, W.Va.) at 220 pounds, along with No. 6 Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) and Sam Hillegas (North Hills, Pa.) at 138. The only other top 20 senior wrestlers in the field are No. 16 Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan, Pa.) at 182 pounds and No. 17 Ryan Jack (Danbury, Ct.) at 132.
In the Class of 2021, it is 29 of the top-50 slated to compete at the Super 32 Challenge, though No. 9 Carson Manville (Shakopee, Minn.) and No. 10 Maximo Renteria (Buchanan, Calif.) are the only top ten ranked wrestlers listed; Manville at 182 pounds and Renteria at 120. Six of the next ten are in the field: No. 11 Cael Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) at 160, No. 13 Wyatt Henson (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) at 126, No. 14 Drake Ayala (Fort Dodge, Iowa) and No. 18 Cooper Flynn (McDonogh, Md.) at 120, No. 16 Leonard Pinto (Stroudsburg, Pa.) at 170, and No. 19 Luka Wick (San Marino, Calif.) at 152.
The rising sophomore group has 26 of the top-50 wrestlers present in the field, with seven of the top ten wrestlers from the Class of 2022 among that group. It is led by No. 2 Nic Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) at 126 pounds, No. 3 Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind.) and No. 7 Daniel Cardenas (Pomona, Colo.) at 132, No. 4 Seth Shumate (Dublin Coffman, Ohio) at 195, No. 6 Jordan Williams (Collinsville, Okla.) and No. 9 Troy Spratley (Collinsville, Okla.) at 120, and No. 8 Caleb Henson (Woodland, Ga.) at 138.
Among the freshman class, it is a paltry 10 of the top-25 from the Class of 2023 in the field, a group led by No. 5 Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg, Pa.) at 126 pounds and No. 9 Grant MacKay (North Allegheny, Pa.) at 152. Six of the ten ranked freshmen are among the contenders at 106 pounds, a group led by No. 13 Maxximus Martinez (St. John Bosco, Calif.), the Outstanding Wrestler of the middle school division in the 2017 Super 32 Challenge. Last year's edition of the Super 32 saw six freshmen earn placement finishes (one at 106, one at 113, two at 120, one at 126, and one at 220).
The top two wrestlers in the Junior high rankings, No. 1 Mason Gibson (Forest Hills, Pa.) and No. 2 Pierson Manville (Shakopee, Minn.), are slated to compete in the high school division at 106 and 126 pounds respectively. Last year, an eighth grader did place in the tournament, Nasir Bailey of Illinois was eighth at 106; while in 2017, Ryan Crookham of Pennsylvania won the title at 113 pounds when still in junior high.
Repeat glory
Only one of nine past Super 32 Challenge champions, seven of whom won titles last year, in the high school division whom are eligible to compete in this year's event will be doing so this weekend. That being University of Wisconsin verbal commit Braxton Amos (Parkersburg South, W.Va.). It would be a significant shock if Amos did not win a third straight title at 220 pounds, as his most direct challenge is likely to come from Dorian Crosby (Erie Cathedral Prep, Pa.); the No. 72 overall wrestler in the Class of 2020 lost rather handily to Amos in the Junior freestyle final this summer. The other notable contender is Chase Horne (West Laurens, Ga.), a returning placer in this weight class, who is ranked No. 36 in the Class of 2022.
Joshua Saunders gets in on a shot in his state finals match (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)Saunders after an elusive title
Out of all the things that Joshua Saunders (Christian Brothers College, Mo.) has accomplished in his high school career, he has yet to win a Super 32 Challenge title in the high school division. The Cornell commit is ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2020, has represented the United States in freestyle at both the Cadet and Junior World Championships, won multiple titles in Fargo, earned a title at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman last year, and is a three-time state champion.
However, in 2016 and 2017 Saunders lost narrow decisions in the semifinal round at the Super 32 Challenge. In 2016, it was a 3-1 at 120 pounds to Andrew Alirez, while in 2017 it was an overtime loss to Jesse Vasquez at 132. He did not compete last year due to his world championships participation.
This year Saunders is slated to compete in the absolute grinder at 138 pounds. The field currently features nine other top-100 Class of 2020 wrestlers: No. 10 Sam Hillegas (North Hills, Pa.); No. 33 Lachlan McNeil (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); No. 43 Mick Burnett (Elyria, Ohio), a Junior National freestyle runner-up; No. 52 Josh Edmond (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.); No. 57 Justin Rivera (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.); No. 66 Kenny Herrmann (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.); No. 80 Drew Eller (Evans, Ga.), No. 93 Nick Stonecheck (Buford, Ga.); and No. 96 Ryan Burgos (Hilton, N.Y.). Hillegas is a two-time Super 32 placer; while Edmond, Herrmann, and Rivera placed in this tournament last year.
The insane weight class also features five nationally ranked Class of 2021 wrestlers; No. 27 Caden McCrary (Woodland, Ga.), a Junior National freestyle All-American; No. 31 Alek Martin (St. Paris Graham, Ohio); No. 36 Henry Porter (Gilroy, Calif.); No. 47 Nick Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio); and No. 49 Teague Travis (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.). Also in the field are a pair of nationally ranked Class of 2022 wrestlers: No. 8 Caleb Henson Henson (Woodland, Ga.), a semifinalist last year as a freshman at 126 pounds, and No. 24 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Arrowhead, Wis.).
Others to watch in this absurd weight class include NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Ethan Basile (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.), returning Super 32 placer Bretli Reyna (South Dade, Fla.), Junior National freestyle All-American Luke Sloan (Austin Vandergrift, Texas), Cadet National freestyle All-American Matthew Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.), and Grappler Fall Classic champion Eddie Homrock (Brighton, Mich.).
Don't forget the heavyweights
With the impact of football, the upperweights tend to have lower participant numbers than even during the season or the post-season national tournaments in the spring and summer. Even with that being the case, there is some talent worth watching at 285 pounds based on the field as of Sunday afternoon. The two anchors are Cadet World freestyle participant Hunter Catka (Sun Valley, Pa.) and two-time Cadet National double champion Hayden Copass (Westville, Ill.); the Virginia Tech commit Catka is ranked No. 29 in the Class of 2020, while Wisconsin commit Copass is No. 39 in the Class of 2021.
Other contenders in this weight class include returning Super 32 runner-up Colby Whitehill (Brookville, Pa.), past Junior National freestyle All-American Garrett Kappes (McDonogh, Md.), NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Alex Coleman (Hamilton Ross, Ohio), along with Pennsylvania state placers Jalen Stephens (Meyersdale) and Isaiah Vance (Hempfield Area).
Seeking that elusive ascendant step on the podium
In addition to Whitehill, three other wrestlers that lost in the finals at the Super 32 Challenge last year will be in the hunt for championship belts this weekend: Drake Ayala (Fort Dodge, Iowa), Ryan Jack (Danbury, Ct.), and Gerrit Nijenhuis (Canon-McMillan, Pa.). Of the four wrestlers listed, the one with the most direct path to winning a title is Nijenhius in the 182-pound weight class.
Ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2020, returning state champion Nijenhius has a relatively not congested weight class with his most direct challenger being John Poznanski (Colonia, N.J.). Ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2020, Poznanski was runner-up at his state tournament last year, and is a returning placer in this tournament, though he lost 8-3 to Nijenhius in the round of 16 on Saturday afternoon at this event last year. Two ranked Class of 2021 wrestlers also are present in this weight class: No. 9 Carson Manville (Shakopee, Minn.) and No. 37 Quayin Short (Simley, Minn.). Others to watch include NHSCA Junior National champion Tanner Mendoza (Valiant Prep, Ariz.), UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Jake Evans (Elyria, Ohio), along with state champion and Beast of the East placer J.T. Davis (Smyrna, Del.); while Cadet Greco-Roman national champion Gavin Nelson (Simley, Minn.), ranked No. 11 overall in the Class of 2023, is a name to watch out for once you get past this season.
Fargo champions collide
Arguably the two anchor figures in the 120-pound weight class were champions this summer in Fargo freestyle, Jordan Williams (Collinsville, Okla.) and Drake Ayala (Fort Dodge, Iowa). Williams was champion at Cadet 120, while Ayala won the Junior 113 title. The pair met in Akron four months ago in the 51-kilo semifinal at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament, a match won 6-4 by Williams.
Williams is ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2022, while Ayala is No. 14 in the Class of 2021. Williams is joined by eight of ranked Class of 2022 wrestlers in this weight class: No. 9 Troy Spratley (Collinsville, Okla.), No. 14 Zeke Seltzer (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.), No. 15 Nicolar Rivera (Stoughton, Wis.), No. 20 Alex Almeyda (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.), No. 35 Casey Swiderski (Dundee, Mich.), No. 42 Brennan Van Hoecke (Palmetto Ridge, Fla.), No. 45 Garrett Grice (Bellevue East, Neb.), and No. 49 Levi Haines (Biglerville, Pa.). Spratley and Almeyda both placed at the Super 32 last year, Seltzer was runner-up to Williams in Cadet freestyle this summer.
Ayala is joined by six other ranked Class of 2021 wrestlers: No. 10 Maximo Renteria (Buchanan, Calif.), a two-time state champion; No. 18 Cooper Flynn (McDonogh, Md.); No. 25 Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney, N.J.), state champion and two-time state finalist; No. 42 Jordan Titus (Center Morinches, N.Y.), NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion; No. 46 Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial, N.J.); and No. 48 Dustin Norris (Cincinnati LaSalle, Ohio).
Also in the field are two top-100 Class of 2020 wrestlers: No. 65 Tristan Lujan (Selma, Calif.), a returning Super 32 placer, and No. 82 Dominic Chavez (Arlington Martin, Texas). Additional notable wrestlers include No. 14 overall Class of 2023 wrestlers Meyer Shapiro (Bullis School, Md.), state champion Colton Drousias (Chicago Mt. Carmel, Ill.), 2017 Super 32 placer Nick Babin (Emerson-Park Ridge, N.J.), multi-time state placer Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), 2018 Cadet world freestyle participant Chance Lamer (Crescent Valley, Ore.), along with state champions Paxton Creese (Shakopee, Minn.), and Anthony Noto (Honeoye Falls-Lima, N.Y.).
Cadet World Team members at the Super 32
Joining Catka as a member of the 2019 Cadet World Team in freestyle that is in this weekend's field are Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind.) and Clayton Ulrey (Lower Dauphin, Pa.); Mendez is slated to compete at 132 pounds, while Ulrey is registered at 170. Ranked No. 60 in the Class of 2020, the Virginia Tech commit is joined by three other top-100 rising seniors in the 170-pound weight bracket: No. 42 Gavin Kane (Cambridge, Ga.), No. 53 Greyden Penner (Liberty, Mo.), and No. 69 Connor O'Neill (DePaul Catholic, N.J.); both Ulrey (3rd at 160) and Penner (4th at 170) are returning place-winners in this tournament.
Other contenders in the 170-pound weight class include a pair of nationally ranked Class of 2021 wrestlers from Pennsylvania: No. 16 Leonard Pinto (Stroudsburg) and No. 38 Trey Kibe (Mifflin County); Pinto was a Cadet National freestyle champion in Fargo, while Kibe upset Ulrey in the Class 3A state final at 160 pounds this past March. Also meriting attention in a relatively deep weight class are state runner-up Shane Reitsma (Howell, N.J.); Bennett Berge (Kasson-Mantorville, Minn.), who is ranked No. 17 overall in the Class of 2022; previous state champion Duwayne Villalpando (Maize, Kansas); state runner-up Rocco Contino (Buchanan, Calif.); and multi-time state placer Graham Calhoun (Plymouth, Ind.).
Can Derek Gilcher clear gauntlets for two straight weekends?
This past weekend at the Grappler Fall Classic on the campus of Michigan State University, Derek Gilcher (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) upended a pair of fellow top-100 Class of 2020 wrestlers to win the 160-pound bracket. Ranked No. 62 overall in the senior class, Gilcher also had an absurd run on the way to his Junior freestyle All-American finish in Fargo. The Indiana commit will be joined by six other top-100 Class of 2020 wrestlers at present in the 152-pound field: No. 31 Chase Saldate (Gilroy, Calif.), whom he beat 9-4 in the Grappler Fall Classic final; No. 34 Matthew Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.), whom he upset in consolation on the way to his Fargo All-American finish; No. 36 Elan Heard (Libertyville, Ill.); No. 58 A.J. Kovacs (Iona Prep, N.Y.); returning Super 32 placer Peyton Hall (Oak Glen, W.Va.); and No. 80 Cameron Robinson (Council Rock North, Pa.).
Also in the 152-pound field are a pair of top-50 Class of 2021 wrestlers, No. 19 Luke Wick (San Marino, Calif.) and No. 32 D.J. Hamiti (Joliet Catholic, Ill.); a two-time state champion, Hamiti was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle before winning a Cadet National freestyle title this summer. Additional notable rising seniors in this field include Tyler Badgett (Rancho Bernardo, Calif.), Brayden Roberts (Parkersburg South, W.Va.), Caleb Dowling (St. Joseph's Catholic, Pa.), Jaxon Garoutte (Pueblo County, Colo.), and Donald Cates (Northern Durham, N.C.).
Mendez mania
Last year's Super 32 ended a stretch of three major events in a row that Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind.) was one match away from earning a podium finish. The now No. 3 overall Class of 2022 wrestler lost 6-4 to Ryan Jack in the quarterfinal before dropping a 3-2 decision to Jackson DiSario (Stanford/Ola, Ga.) in his subsequent consolation bout at 126 pounds. Since then, Mendez was undefeated in his freshman high school season on the way to a dominant state title and added four off-season titles of note: Cadet folkstyle, FloNationals freestyle, UWW Cadet freestyle, and Pan-Am Cadet freestyle.
Mendez is a joint favorite in the 132-pound weight class this weekend with Ryan Jack, who is ranked No. 17 overall in the Class of 2020 and was runner-up at 126 last year; he also was champion at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in the spring. Eight other top-100 seniors join Jack in this loaded weight class: No. 28 Anthony Clark (Delbarton, N.J.), No. 41 Frankie Tal-Shahar (American Heritage, Fla.), No. 45 Devin Murphy (Selma, Calif.), No. 64 Chris Rivera (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), No. 74 Dylan Cedeno (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), No. 83 Trey Crawford (Park Hill, Mo.), No. 86 Drew Munch (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), and No. 87 Kellyn March (Canton, S.D.); Clark is a two-time placer in this event, Cedeno a returning placer, Tal-Shahar a Walsh Ironman runner-up, while Crawford is a Junior freestyle All-American.
Mendez is joined by three other top Class of 2022 prospects: No. 7 Daniel Cardenas (Pomona, Colo.), a Cadet National freestyle champion and returning placer in this tournament; No. 26 Chase DeBlaere (Simley, Minn.); and Michael Kilic (Woodard Academy, Ga.). Four top-50 Class of 2021 prospects also populate this field: No. 21 Nathaniel Pulliam (Rolla, Mo.), No. 24 Joel Vandervere (Warren Township, Ill.), No. 29 Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater, Minn.), and No. 35 Carter Young (Stillwater, Okla.).
Others in an absurdly deep field include state champion Brock McMillen (Glendale, Pa.), Cadet freestyle runner-up Ramon Ramos (Valiant Prep, Fla.), National Prep runner-up Skyler Smith (Liberty Christian, Texas), and state runner-up Danny Pucino (Libertyville, Ill.).
The opening weight
Always a bastion of future stars is the 106-pound weight class. In many cases, it is an opportunity for an unknown to emerge; while in other cases, it is a known wrestler that becomes a really really known wrestler. 2018 state champion Gary Steen (Reynolds, Pa.), Cadet World Greco-Roman team members Mason Gehloff (Waseca, Minn.) and Cory Land (Moody, Ala.), and Cadet National double champion Jore Volk (Lakeville North, Minn.) are the leading contenders in this weight class that have already completed a season of high school wrestling. Of note, Land is ranked No. 32 overall in the Class of 2022; while Steen joined Land as finishing the 2018-19 season ranked nationally at 106 pounds.
As previously noted in the article, six nationally ranked Class of 2023 wrestlers populate this field: No. 13 Maxximus Martinez (St. John Bosco, Calif.); No. 15 Mitchell Neiner (South Kitsap, Wash.), a Cadet freestyle runner-up; No. 16 Carter McCallister (Rock Bridge, Mo.) and No. 20 Mac Church (Waynesburg, Pa.), All-Americans at both the UWW Cadet and Cadet freestyle tournaments; No. 21 Greyson Clark (Kaukauna, Wis.), a Cadet freestyle All-American; and No. 24 Nathan Jesuroga (Southeast Polk, Iowa).
Others to watch include state champions Peyton Fenton (Elyria, Ohio), Gabe Giampetro (Smyrna, Del.), and Kai Owen (Tampa Jesuit, Fla.); incoming freshmen Clarence Moore (Gilroy, Calif.), Caden Horwath (Davison, Mich.), Dylan Gilcher (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.), and Beau Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.); along with Ben Aranda (DeKalb, Ill.), who also was All-American at the UWW Cadet and Cadet Nationals in freestyle.
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