In this installment, Ross Halford looks at the top senior wrestlers in Nebraka.
Without question, it's a banner season for talent in the Cornhusker state, led by a group of seniors that ranks collectively as one of the best in Nebraska history. College coaches should find a multitude of talent to fill their rosters from the Class of 2014
1. Colton Adams (Scottsbluff)
Projected High School Weight Class: 132-145
Projected College Weight Class: 133
Colton Adams placed third at the Walsh Ironman last season (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Look for Adams to reestablish his name nationally during the preseason fall circuit which will include trips to the Michigan Grappler Fall Classic and Super 32 Challenge. He will also seek to become the first wrestler to ever win four Preseason Nationals championships. Adams will cut to 132 for the early portion of the scholastic season and then move to 145 after the Walsh Ironman.
2. JaVaughn Perkins (Omaha North)
Projected High School Weight Class: 160-182
Projected College Weight Class: 174
Analysis: Three-time state champion Perkins could well be the most talented wrestler in the state. In fact he may be one of the most talented wrestlers I've seen come through Nebraska in the past 15 years. His mat resume is a distant second to Adams' though, because he's a multi-sport athlete. He did win the tough FloNationals in the spring, defeating Penn State signee Cody Law in the finals. Perkins was also a Cadet National freestyle runner-up in 2011, finishing second to Dylan Milonas of Blair Academy. He will step back into the national spotlight in December when he is supposedly registered to compete at the prestigious Walsh Ironman tournament in Ohio, along with teammate Jacobi Jones. Perkins' Omaha North football team should make a deep run into the playoffs so it's unknown for sure what kind of shape or what weight he may compete at in Ohio but my understanding is he weighed as much as 185 during the summer. His college plans are a bit of a mystery and he could end up playing football, a sport he apparently likes every bit as much as wrestling.
3. Will Schany (Blair)
Projected High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 165-174
Analysis: Another wrestler seeking a fourth state championship during the upcoming season, the powerful Schany burst on to the national scene last spring, rolling through the NHSCA Junior Nationals at 170, beating multiple state champions and future Division I opponents in the process. Like Perkins, Schany is a multi-sport athlete and has the potential to skyrocket once he hits a college room. He dominated at the UNL summer camp, including going even with Joel Dixon of Oklahoma despite giving up nearly 10 pounds. He has taken official visits to Nebraska, Iowa State, and Virginia … and a decision on his future plans is expected within the next few weeks. An intriguing side note is that he and Perkins could end up meeting in epic showdown at the Flatwater Fracas in Grand Island. I would fully expect both wrestlers to be around 182 for the season and I've been told the tournament organizers will place the two teams in the same pool to make this titanic match happen.
4. Harrison Phillips (Millard West)
Projected High School Weight Class: 285
Projected College Weight Class: Football (Stanford)
Analysis: Like Schany, two-time state champion and Stanford football commit Phillips put his name in national lights at the NHSCA Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach, rolling to a national title and defeating the likes of standout Jesse Webb of Vermont en route to winning the heavyweight bracket. What's more amazing is Phillips didn't train one second for the NHSCA -- a tribute to his raw talent and incomparable desire to win. Phillips isn't the biggest heavyweight, measuring in the neighborhood of 6'1" and 245, but his quickness, agility and athleticism is simply too much for most high school heavyweights to contend with. He's rated in the top five heavyweights in the country entering his senior season and is perhaps the best overall athlete in the state of Nebraska right now.
5. Brett Velasquez (Bennington)
Projected High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: The less heralded Velasquez is one of five wrestlers in the Class of 2014 from Nebraska who will be seeking their fourth state title in February. He doesn't have the national resume of the four previously mentioned wrestlers but does own a solid win over Illinois standout Jon Marmolejo and fellow in-state standout Dante' Rodriguez in the past calendar year. Despite never competing in freestyle, he acclimated himself well in Fargo, going toe-to-toe with standouts Sean Cannon of Nevada and Ronnie Bresser of Oregon. Velasquez has received looks from several Division I programs, including Nebraska, but will make whatever college he chooses a very solid career 125 at the next level.
Honorable Mention:
Dante' Rodriguez (Kearney)
Vincent Thatcher (Crete)
Chance Helmick (Beatrice)
Chase Reis (Grand Island)
Josh Coyle (West Holt)
Jacob Sebade (Pender)
Jacobi Jones (Omaha North)
Nick Hollins (Omaha Skutt)
Brian Peska (Omaha Skutt)
Jake Anderson (Omaha Creighton Prep)
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