This comes as a reversal of plans for Apple Valley.  The Eagles did not initially intend to wrestle at the Cheesehead Invite this season, however, when Blair Academy signed up Apple Valley followed suit.

The tournament format may still favor Apple Valley, however, not nearly as much as a dual format event like The Clash.

Look for big points, lots of pins, and a few very important head to head match ups to resolve this one.

Boys
Alabama – 3
Alaska – 2
Arizona – 4
California – 1
Colorado – 4
Connecticut – 4
Delaware – 1
Florida – 3
Georgia – 5
Hawaii – 1
Idaho – 4
Illinois – 2
Indiana – 1
Iowa – 3
Kansas – 4
Kentucky – 1
Louisiana – 3
Maine – 3
Maryland – 2
Massachusetts – 3
Michigan – 4
Minnesota – 3
Missouri – 4
Montana – 3

Nebraska – 4
Nevada – 3
New Hampshire – 2
New Jersey – 1
New Mexico – 3
New York – 2
North Carolina – 3
North Dakota – 2
Ohio – 3
Oklahoma – 4
Oregon – 3
Pennsylvania – 2
Rhode Island – 1
South Carolina – 3
South Dakota – 2
Tennessee – 2
Texas – 1
Utah – 5
Vermont – 1
Virginia – 3
Washington – 5
West Virginia – 2
Wisconsin – 3
Wyoming – 3

Girls

Hawaii – 1
Texas – 1
Washington – 1

133 (7)
1. Jayson Ness, Minnesota (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Greco-Roman National Champion, Cadet Freestyle National Runner-up) (NHSCA Runner-up)
2. Dan Dennis, Iowa (COMPETED IN FARGO) (NHSCA 5th)
3. Franklin Gomez, Michigan State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Junior Greco-Roman National Champion) (NHSCA Champ)
4. Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Cadet Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Champ)
5. Tyler Graff, Wisconsin (Junior Freestyle National Runner-up, Cadet Freestyle National Champion)
6. Dan Mitcheff, Kent State (Junior Freestyle All-American)
7. Boris Novachkov, Cal Poly (Junior Greco-Roman National Champion, Junior Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Runner-up)
8. Steve Bell, Maryland (Junior Freestyle All-American)

141 (7)
1. Kyle Dake, Cornell (Cadet Freestyle National Runner-Up, Cadet Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
2. Montell Marion, Iowa (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA 7th)
3. Reece Humphrey, Ohio State (Junior Freestyle National Runner-up, Junior Greco-Roman National Champion)
4. Zach Bailey, Oklahoma (Junior Freestyle National Champion)
5. Tyler Nauman, Pittsburgh (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA Runner-up)
6. Germane Lindsey, Ohio U. (COMPETED IN FARGO)
7. Mike Thorn, Minnesota (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Greco-Roman National Champion)
8. Chris Diaz, Virginia Tech (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA Champ)

149 (4)
1. Brent Metcalf, Iowa (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Junior Greco-Roman National Champion) (NHSCA Runner-up)
2. Lance Palmer, Ohio State (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
3. Kyle Terry, Oklahoma (Cadet Greco-Roman All-American)
4. Kyle Ruschell, Wisconsin (COMPETED IN FARGO) (NHSCA 3rd)
5. Frank Molinaro, Penn State (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA Runner-up)
6. Torsten Gillespie, Edinboro (COMPETED IN FARGO) (NHSCA 7th)
7. Kevin LeValley, Bucknell (Junior Greco-Roman Natioanl Champion, Junior Freestyle All-American)
8. Kyle Borshoff, American (COMPETED IN FARGO)

157 (5)
1. J.P. O’Connor, Harvard (Junior Freestyle All-American, Junior Greco-Roman National Runner-up)
2. Chase Pami, Cal Poly (Cadet Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA 5th)
3. Adam Hall, Boise State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Junior Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
4. Justin Lister, Binghamton (DID NOT COMPETE)
5. Steve Fittery, American (COMPETED IN FARGO)
6. Cyler Sanderson, Penn State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Junior Greco-Roman National Runner-up) (NHSCA Champ)
7. Justin Gaethje, Northern Colorado (Cadet Greco-Roman All-American)
8. Steve Brown, Central Michigan (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 4th)

165 (5)
1. Andrew Howe, Wisconsin (Junior Freestyle National Champion)
2. Dan Vallimont, Penn State (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 3rd)
3. Jarrod King, Edinboro (Junior Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Runner-up)
4. Nick Amuchastegui, Stanford (DID NOT COMPETE)
5. Tyler Caldwell, Oklahoma (Junior Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA 3rd)
6. Andy Rendos, Bucknell (DID NOT COMPETE)
7. Ryan Morningstar, Iowa (Junior Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Runner-up)
8. Chris Brown, Old Dominion (Cadet Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA 8th)

174 (5)
1. Jay Borschel, Iowa (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 4th)
2. Mack Lewnes, Cornell (Cadet Freestyle All-American, Cadet Greco-Roman All-American)
3. Chris Henrich, Virginia (Junior Freestyle All-American)
4. Stephen Dwyer, Nebraska (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 7th)
5. Jordan Blanton, Illinois (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Freestyle All-American)
6. Ben Bennett, Central Michigan (Junior Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Champ)
7. Scott Giffin, Penn (Cadet Freestyle National Champion)
8. Jarion Beets, Northern Iowa (COMPETED IN FARGO)

184 (4)
1. Max Askren, Missouri (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA 3rd)
2. Kirk Smith, Boise State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Cadet Freestyle National Runner-up, Cadet Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
3. Mike Cannon, American (Cadet Freestyle All-American)
4. Joe LeBlanc, Wyoming (COMPETED IN FARGO)
5. John Dergo, Illinois (DID NOT COMPETE)
6. Clayton Foster, Oklahoma State (Junior Freestyle National Champion, Junior Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
7. Dustin Kilgore, Kent State (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 3rd)
8. Phil Keddy, Iowa (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA Runner-up)

197 (5)
1. Jake Varner, Iowa State (Junior Freestyle All-American, Junior Greco-Roman All-American) (NHSCA Runner-up)
2. Craig Brester, Nebraska (COMPETED IN FARGO)
3. Cam Simaz, Cornell (Junior Freestyle All-American)
4. Hudson Taylor, Maryland (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Freestyle National Champion)
5. Eric Lapotsky, Oklahoma (DID NOT COMPETE)
6. Trevor Brandvold, Wisconsin (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA Champ)
7. Alan Gelogaev, Oklahoma State (INTERNATIONAL)
8. Sonny Yohn, Minnesota (Junior Freestyle National Champion) (NHSCA Runner-up)

285 (5)
1. David Zabriskie, Iowa State (COMPETED IN FARGO)
2. Jared Rosholt, Oklahoma State (Junior Freestyle National Runner-up) (NHSCA 4th)
3. Zach Rey, Lehigh (Junior Freestyle All-American, Cadet Greco-Roman All-American, Cadet Freestyle All-American)
4. Konrad Dudziak, Duke (Junior Freestyle All-American)
5. Mitch Montiero, Cal State-Bakersfield (DID NOT COMPETE)
6. Mark Ellis, Missouri (DID NOT COMPETE) (NHSCA 8th)
7. Dan Erekson, Iowa (Junior Freestyle National Runner-up, Junior Greco-Roman All-American)
8. Jarod Trice, Central Michigan (Junior Freestyle All-American) (NHSCA Champ)

The dual tournament will take place the week after the annual state tournament and was implemented after a recommendation from the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_167972.asp

by B.B. Branton

Compiling a top 10 best in this country is nearly as American as mom, the flag and apple pie.

From the 10 toughest guys in your neighborhood growing up, to rock-n-rolls greatest hits of the 60s to the best utube videos.

How fiting, on the Eve of the 50th of the state wrestling tournament (Feb. 18-20), to name Tennessees best prep wrestlers in the past half century.

Its a given that todays mat warriors are more skilled than their predecessors from a generation ago and possibly even a decade ago.

But in an effort to honor the past wrestlers – upon whose shoulders todays wrestlers stand  and the present champs, here is not only the top 10, but the 50 best high school wrestlers in Tennessee.

The criteria includes ones high school career complete with at least one state title, success at senior nationals and cadet and junior freestyle and greco-roman nationals at Fargo, N.D., with college achievements a plus.

No doubt, several can and will argue for wrestlers in their region of the state over others which makes the discussion interesting, stimulating and welcome.

No Tonys, Oscars or Emmys are awarded and no checks handed out to the top 10. Just an opinion, yet hopefully an educated one, with solid input from across the state.

Those champions who stand out from the hundreds, yes maybe thousands of teens who have dared to walk alone to center mat in the squared circle before roaring student bodys to test their abilities against another in honorable combat.

Warriors who have pushed themselves to the limit and beyond and have stood alone on the top step on many a Saturday afternoon, when in a six-minute span of time, which seemed an eternity, boys become men and legends in our sport.

To all who have wrestled and worked hard we salute you and to those who have reached higher we acknowledge those accomplishments as well.

With that, here is the best of the best; those with sterling credentials and lofty numbers.

Top 10
1. BILL HARLOW … St. Andrews … 62 state champ at 171 … also won Mid South and national prep titles in 62  OW in all three tournaments  defeated 61 national prep OW in 62 finals  5x Mid South champ  80-1 career record  At Oklahoma State was 1966 NCAA champ  3x All-American (2-2-1)  3x NCAA finalist  2x Big 8 champ  career record: 54-5-2  3x National AAU champ  1x OW  World Silver medal  Tblisi Bronze medal  high school coach at Sapulpa High School in Oklahoma … member of the Oklahoma chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame.

2. JORDAN LEEN  Baylor  4x state champ ; 2001-04  04 OW  214 career wins  national high school champ  4x McCallie Invite champ  At Cornell, 2008 NCAA champion  3x All-American (8-1-3)  2x EIWA champ  2008 EIWA Wrestler of the Year  career record, 118-29.
3. PHILIP SIMPSON … MBA  4x state champ (1998-01)  2x OW  176 career wins  national high school runner-up  4x champ, McCallie Invite  At West Point, 3x All-American; 2003-04-05  2005 NCAA runner-up  West Points only 3x All-American  3x EIWA champ 134 career wins  currently in the U.S. Army

4. MATT KELLER  Bradley Central  4x state champ (1999-02)  99 OW  3rd at high school senior nationals  NCAA All-American at Nebraska and UTC  2x SoCon champ  currently in training for national freestyle tournaments  lives in Cleveland.

5. RANDY BATTEN  Hixson  2x state champ; 1973-74  74 OW  placed 3rd in 1972  high school record: 107-2 … won final 87 matches  medaled in three national AAU tournaments  reached final four twice and placed second in the third  At UTC, 3x NCAA D-II national champ (75-77)  75 OW  75 SoCon champ  lives in Birmingham.

6. DAVID VANCE  McCallie  3x state champ; 1988-91  90 OW  four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1)  3x McCallie Invite champ … 135-2 record  103 wins in a row  wrestled one year at Oklahoma … lives in Chattanooga.

7. MARKESE NELSON  Kirby  2x state champ; 1994-95  lost one match his last three years  3x champ at McCallie (OW) and Father Ryan tourneys  4th at high school senior nationals  Cadet All-American at Fargo  2x JUCO All-American at Fresno City College  wrestled at Fresno State  UniversityNationals All-American  Armed Forces national champ.

8. ADRIAN NORFLEET  Whites Creek  3x state champ; 1986-88  lives in Texas

9. SCOTT WELLS  Brentwood Academy  2x state champ; 1998-99  98 OW  4x cadet national champion at Fargo; 2x in Greco/Roman and 2x in Freestyle  undefeated two seasons in Tenn.

10. CHARLES McTORRY … Overton  Tenn. record for wins (216)  2x state champ; 1994, 1996  2x OW  3x finalist (1-2-1)  high school national champion  wrestled at Nebraska  head coach at Ensworth.

11-20

11. NICK MARABLE  Christian Brothers  2x state champ; 2004-05  4x medalist (3-2-1-1)  Cadet national champion at Fargo  at Missouri, 2x All-American  placed 3rd (2008) and 7th (2009)  2x Big 12 champ  currently ranked No. 6 at 165.

12. KEVIN WARD  Soddy Daisy/Red Bank  3x state champ; 1999-00-01 … 4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  Big 8 champ at 157 on 2005 undefeated NCAA champions at Oklahoma State  Big 8 runner-up in 2004  4-2 at NCAAs.

13. JOHNNY LENNON  Cleveland  2x state champ; 1980-81  81 OW  102-2 in high school .. 78 in a row to close out career  Southeastern Junior National Freestyle Champion, summer of 1980  beat two state champs on the way to the title  wrestled at Tenn.

14. HEATH ESLINGER  Bradley Central  2x state champ; 1994-95  95 OW  at UTC, Southern Conference OW  3x SoCon champ  3x NCAA Qualifier  120-18  UTC head coach.

15. J.T. HAGEN  McCallie  3x state champ; 1998-99-00  OW at Bethlehem (Pa.) tournament  as a senior, beat defending state champs Eric Collins, Claytor Thompson and Charlie Ritchie  wrestled at Cornell.

16. RANDY FAIRES  Red Bank  2x state champ; 1965-66  at Chattanooga, 3x Southern champion  was 100-1 in high school and college  also wrestled at Oklahoma State.

17. PAUL TESSMANN  McCallie  Tennessees first 2x state champ; 1961-62  3rd at prep nationals in 62  62 Mid South and City Prep champ  At Sewanee, 4x Southern champ  at the time was the second wrestler to win 4x  never taken down in college  only losses were at small college nationals.

18. RUSTY BLACKMON  Bradley Central  2x state champ, 2000-01  01 OW 4x medalist (4-2-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  wrestled at Oklahoma State.

19. CODY CLEVELAND  Tullahoma/McCallie  2x state champ; 2004-05  4x state medalist  at UTC, 2008 NCAA All-American  2x SoCon champ.

20. KYLE JAMES  Soddy Daisy  3x state champ; 2002-03-04  beat two-time defending champ Shawn Cordell (Red Bank/Bradley Central) in 2003 finals  3rd at junior nationals as a Freestyle All-American at Fargo, N.D.

21-30

21. MARC LYLE  Baylor  3x state champ; 1978-79-80  2x OW; 79-80  85-3.

22. HOWARD LANGFORD  Cleveland  86 state champ and OW  At UTC, 1992 NCAA D-I All-American  2x SoCon champ, 1989, 92

23. JOHNNY BRADFORD  Chattanooga Central  2x state champ; 1976-77  high school All-American  at UT, 82 SEC champ  1x NCAA qualifier.

24. KENNY WHITWORTH  East Ridge  3x state champ; 1965-67  OW in 65 and 66 at 98 lbs.  states first 2x OW  51-2.

25. MARTIN FRANCIS  Notre Dame  first 4x state champ; 1969-72  beat defending national prep champ Brian Card in 72 finals  beat defending state champ Danny Brown in 70 finals.

26. RAYMOND DUNNING  Father Ryan  3x state champ  4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  4x McCallie champ  NCAA D-II All-American at Adams State.

27. PAT MURPHY  Hixson  2x state champ  3x finalist  high school All-American … 64-3-4  at UTC, 4x SoCon champ . 4x NCAA qualifier  2x SEIWA champ.

28. KEVIN JOHNSON  Chattanooga Central  3x state champ; 1990-91-92

29. BUBBA MILLER  Brentwood Academy  2x state champ; 1990-91

30. JAKE YOST  Soddy Daisy  2x state champ; 2001-02  OW in 02  4x medalist (5-5-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  Greco-Roman All-American at Fargo  At UTC, SoCon champ  NCAA qualifier

31-40

31. CARLOS THOMPSON  Cleveland  2x state champ, 1993, 95  3x finalist (1-2-1)

32. PEZ WHATLEY  Notre Dame  2x state champ; 1967, 69  3x finalist (1-2-1)  first heavyweight to win OW  wrestled at UTC and in the pros.

33. RICKY JOHNSON  Chattanooga Central  2x state champ; 1989, 91  91 OW

34. JAKE YOUNG  Ooltewah  2x state champ; 2007, 09  3x medalist (3-1-1) wrestles for UTC

35. DARREN McKNIGHT  Red Bank  3x state champ;1999-00-01  wrestled at Michigan State  co-captain  Big 10 medalist  3x NCAA Qualifier.

36. PATRICK SIMPSON  MBA  3x state champ; 2000-02  2x OW … four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1)  3x winner at McCallie and Father Ryan tourney  At West Point, was 2x EIWA medalist  2x NCAA qualifier.

37. CHRIS MEADOWS  Red Bank  3x state champ; 1965-66-67

38. MOE TRAIL  Baylor  in 62, he won state, Mid South, city prep and national prep  also won Mid South and city prep in 61  At Purdue, was 2nd in Big 10 as a junior.

39. JACK BAKER  Red Bank  states first 3x state champ; 1963-64-65  2x Southern champ at Sewanee  NCAA PostGraduate Scholar

40. GEORGE LEWIS  McCallie  3x state champ; 1991-93  92 OW  wrestled at West Virginia

41-50

41. WHIT DUNNING  Father Ryan  3x state champ; 2003-04-05  4x medalist (6-1-1-1)  wrestled for West Point

42. MATT McCARTY  Clarksville  2x state champ; 1999-00  00 OW  4x state medalist (6-4-1-1)  th at high school nationals  wrestled at Michigan State.

43. WAYLON LOWE  Jefferson County … 1x state champ; 98  97 runner-up  3x medalist (4-1-2)  NAIA national champion … 2x NCAA D-II national champion

44. JEFF HOWARD  Cleveland  1976 state champ and OW … 3x finalist  (2-1-2)

45. CHARLEY MOORE  Baylor  in 62, undefeated in winning state, Mid South, city prep and national prep  also won Mid South and city prep in 61 and second at national preps

46. SHAZZON BRADLEY  McMinn County  2x state champ; 1987-88

47. DAVID KENT  McCallie  2x state champ; 1975-76  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  79-8 career … five losses were to Randy Batten  high school All-American

48. RONNIE STEVENSON  MacGavock  2x state champ; 1988-89  89 OW

49. JOHN FARR  Red Bank  3x state champ; 1963-65  2x city prep champ  two losses in three years  at Chattanooga, 2x Southern Champion

50. QUINN GIBSON  Bradley Central  3x state champ; 2002-03-04  2x OW; 2003-04

Another 35 To Consider:
** KENNY HILL  LFO/East Ridge 4x state champ  3x in Ga. (Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe)  1x champ in Tenn. (East Ridge, 1981)  wrestled at Kentucky … head coach at Heritage HS in Ringgold
** Hill won one title in Tenn., but a combined 4xer in two states

SEAN SMITH  Tyner  92 state champ

RYAN SCOTT  McCallie  4x state champ 5x medalist (3-1-1-1-1)  8th at high school nationals  176 wins  wrestled at Appalachian State.

CHRIS MULLIN … Notre Dame  2x state champ and 2x OW; 1984-85  114-7-1  64wins in a row.

CHRIS VANDERGRIFF  Knox. Halls  2x state champ; 1976-77  first state champ from Knoxville  at UT, 3rd in SEC.

CASEY BREWSTER  Overton  2x state champ  3x finalist  4x medalist (5-1-1-2)  199 wins  NAIA All-American at Edinboro  head coach at Sacred Heart

STEVE AGNEW  Brainerd  3x state champ; 1968-70  70 OW  beat 2x defending state champ Joe Roberts in 70 finals.

RANDY THOMPSON  Tenn. School For the Blind  63 state champ and OW  current assistant coach at TSB

DAVID GRAHAM  Bradley Central  3x state champ; 2007-08-09

JAMES JABALEY  Notre Dame  3x state
champ, all at 105 lbs.; 1976-78

SHANNON SAYNE  Knox Halls  2x state champ; 1996, 98  3x finalist (1-2-1)

DANNY COLEMAN  Cleveland  2x champ; 2003, 05  4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

SHANE FORD  Germantown  1x champ; 1997  6th in 96

MICHAEL MURRAY  Whites Creek  87 state champ and OW

BRANDON WRIGHT  Houston  2x state champ; 2006-07  3x medalist (3-1-1)  4th at senior nationals  wrestles for UTC

JUSTIN SPAIN  Bradley Central  1x state champ; 2007  3x medalist (2-2-1)  wrestles for Princeton

DEE PARKER … Red Bank  96 state champ  2x state medalist

LANCE SCHAEFFER  Chattanooga City  61 state champ and city prep champ  60 city prep champ  wrestled at Virginia.

PATRICK MARCHETTI  Father Ryan  2x state champ  4x medalist (3-3-1-1)  wrestles for West Point

DANIEL WADDELL  Baylor  2x state champ; 2006-07  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  8th at senior nationals  wrestles at UTC

KELLY FELIX  Franklin  3x state champ; 2005-07  2x OW 4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  wrestles at UTC

DANNY COLEMAN  Cleveland  2x state champ; 2003, 05  05 OW  4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

ZAC DAILEY  Mt. Juliet  2x state champ  98 OW  3x finalist (2-1-1)  beat defending state champ Eric Collins in 98 finals.

JIM ELDRIDGE  Chattanooga City  61 state and city prep champ  60 city prep champ  wrestled at Univ. of Chattanooga

DAVID LEVITT  McCallie  2x state champ; 1992, 94  3x finalist (1-2-1)  NCAA qualifier at Boise State

DANIEL CROSBY  Greeneville  2x state champ; 2002-03  3x medalist (3-1-1)  3x McCallie champ  193 wins

SHAWN CORDELL  Red Bank/Bradley Central  3x state champ  4x finalist (1-1-2-1)

COREY MANSON  Baylor  2x state champ; 2005-06  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  wrestles at Cornell

ERIC COLLINS  Red Bank  2x state champ; 1997, 99  4x finalist; (2-1-2-1)

MATT SWEETON  Tullahoma  3x state champ; 1998-00-01 4x medalist (1-4-1-1)

RALPH BREWER  Tenn. School for the Blind  62 state champ  3rd in 61  wrestled at Auburn as a freshman  coached at TSB …  has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

TIM VOILES  Lookout Valley  2x state champ; 1995-96  5x qualifier  202 wins  wrestled at Carson-Newman

JOE ROBERTS  Donelson  2x state champ; 1968-69  68 OW  70 runner-up  5x state qualifier.

MICHAEL SPENCER  Kirby  93 state champ and OW  127-11-1 .. SoCon freshman of the year at UTC.

JEFF LOYD … Clarksville NW  1x champ; 1990  89 finalist  4th at senior nationals in 1991 .. 6th at NAIA nationals  has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

JIMMY HILLER  Father Ryan  2x champ, 2003-04  3x finalist  4x medalist (5-2-1-1)

Honorable Mention:
Brentwood (Sean Kim; 1999 state champ  2x finalist)

Baylor (Bailey Whitaker, 4x state champ; 2005-08  wrestles for U.S Naval Academy)

Brainerd (Gordon Connell, state
champ, 1966  Masters World Champion, 60+  member of the Tenn. Chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame)

Brighton (Bucky Johnson, 2x state champ; 2006-07  SoCon champ at UTC)

Cleveland (Bill Emendorfer, 68 state champ  3x finalist (2-1-2)  2nd in SEC at UT; Nathan Jones, 2x state champ; 2001, 03  3x finalist (1-2-1)  D-II All-American at Carson-
Newman)

East Ridge (Lynn Goss, 2x state champ; 1966-67  3x finalist (2-1-1)  wrestled at UTC; Charlie Goss, 64 state champ  member of the Tenn. Chapter, national wrestling hall of fame; Roger Kendrick, 2x champ, 1983-84 ; Charlie Ritchie, 2x state champ; 1998-99)

Father Ryan ( David Thoni, 83 state champ and OW  3x finalist and 4x medalist)

Franklin (Rycine Ellison, 1989 state champ)

Glencliff (Mike Green, 2x state champ ; 1970-71)

Hixson (Mike Blosser, 82 state champ and OW  26-0-1 in 82 and pinned nine of 10 opponents in district, region and state; Tom Popp, 76 state champ and OW)

Hunters Lane (Mike Newman, 1988 state champ)

Knox Catholic ( Junior Hernandez, 95 state champ)

McCallie (Spencer Manley, 2x champ; 2003, 04  4x medalist (3-1-1-2)  wrestled for U.S. Naval Prep Academy and U.S. Naval Academy)

Morristown West (Allen Koors, 2x state champ; 1979-80)

North Stratford (Tony Kennedy, 77 state champ and OW)

Overton (Eric Jordan, 2x state champ; 1996-97  Derrick Jordan, 97 state champ  96 runner-up)

Red Bank (George Farr, 61 state and city prep champ  2x Sourthern champ at Univ. of Chattanooga; Jim Beatty, 2x state champ; 1963, 65; Kevin Jones, 96 state champ )

Tenn. School for the Blind (Mitchell Cole, 61 state champ & OW; Mickey Bailey  2x champ; 63-64  64 OW; Jody Chamberlain, 2x state champ; 1963-65  youngest state champ as a 6th grader in 63; Chester Lewis, 62 state champ)
——————————-
Mid South Conference  The prep school conference held wrestling tournaments from 1949-1970, usually the third weekend in February  A strong conference in wrestling and other sports, Baylor won 14 of the 22 wrestling titles, followed by McCallie (7) and Castle Heights (1).

The Mid South schools were allowed to compete in the state tournament in 1961 and 1962 and again after the conference closed its doors in the spring of 1970.

The main schools competing in a variety of sports were Baylor, Castle Heights Military Academy, Columbia Military Academy, Darlington,
McCallie, Sewanee Military Academy, St. Andrews, Tennessee Military Academy.

Notre Dame also competed in wrestling the first couple of years.

Baylor produced 11 national prep champions; Charley Moore (1962), Moe Trail (1962), Chip Healy (1964, 65), Lane Headrick (1965), Alex Roberts (1967), John Hannah (1967), Rob Healy (1968, 69), Randy Weinberg (1969) and Albert Wilson (1970).

McCallie’s seven national champions were Pat Smartt (1959), Lou Hudson (1966), Jim Glasser (1966, 1967), Luther Killian (1968), Steve Gross (1969), Brian Card (1971).

Several of the national champions had success in college wrestling, plus college football and the NFL (Chip Healy, John Hannah).

McCallies Hudson won a Big 10 title in 1969 and was second at the Midlands … The most decorated prep wrestler in Tennessee history is Bill Harlow of St. Andrews (1958-1962) who won an 1966 NCAA D-I title and a World silver medal … Baylor’s Alex Roberts won the SEC as a freshman … Albert Wilson was a Morehead Scholar at UNC.

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

Too often the real meaning of Christmas – Christ’s birth – gets lost, or at least shoved aside, by all the other activities and celebrations that accompany the holiday season.

For me, Christmas is first and foremost about giving; but before you jump to any conclusions, let me explain.

You see, the birth of Christ was the greatest gift ever given. So, giving gifts to others can be a wonderful way of celebrating the Father’s gift to us.

Sure, there are people who place far too much focus on the gifts they give instead of on the act of giving. But, if done sincerely, the giving of gifts can be a real celebration of “the greatest gift ever given.”

Each year I look for examples of giving that celebrate that first Christmas gift. However, I have found such gifts seldom come in brightly wrapped boxes.

This year, I found several such gifts, and I’d like to share one with you.

It’s actually a story that came to me via an e-mail from Jim Meier.

http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2009/12/22/council_bluffs/opinion/columns/doc4b2bedebf12f1407582153.txt

Wednesday evening, right around the time that the New York Yankees were surging to a 2-0 Game 6 lead by virtue of a Hideki Matsui home run, Lighthouse Wrestling was in the process of getting it confirmed that two-time defending CHSAA Catholic State/2008 NYS DI champion Andrew Lenzi had indeed officially come off of the market.

Responding to a Facebook message left for him, the two-time NYS finalist confirmed that earlier in the evening, he had contacted the University of Pennsylvania’s head wrestling coach, Rob Eiter, to inform him that he had decided to make the Philadelphia-based campus his home away from home for the next four years (commencing in the fall of 2010).

Lenzi becomes the first recruit from the current senior class to formally announce his intentions to join the Quakers.

A household name in New York since 2006 when he won the schoolboy state title in impressive fashion, teching nearly all of his opponents, the future student-athlete at the famed Wharton School of Business, has found himself on everybody’s radar ever since.

Electing to concentrate on the academic adjustment that accompanies matriculation at a top-flight college preparatory school in 2007, Lenzi and his family made the decision to forego the rigors of weight cutting. However, despite being pitted against physically more mature upperclassmen, the Ram wrestler compiled a more than respectable freshmen campaign, culminating with a third-place finish at the Catholic state tournament (CHSAA qualifier for the NYS tournament).

As a sophomore, Lenzi would distinguish himself as a true contender for the federation hardware at the Eastern States Tournament (considered by some to be a tougher tournament to win than the NYS title because it includes wrestlers from both divisions). Seeded 12th, Lenzi would go on to win his first four matches, including a 10-4 decision over top-seeded Brian Benton (currently at George Mason University), before bowing out in the finals to Dom Oddo. This would be a loss that Lenzi would study and learn from, avenging the defeat several weeks later in the quarterfinals of the state tournament�.a 14-5 major decision over Brandan McKeown in the semifinals would set the stage for a rematch with Benton, with the victor not only going the spoils, but claiming the 130-pound state crown as well. And, again, it would be the representative from the Catholic League that got his arm raised, emerging with the 5-3 decision. The win made Lenzi the first wrestler from the CHSAA to earn the top step on the podium since 2000 When St. Anthony’s Lucas Magnani (wrestled for Brown University and the University of Iowa) won the title as a sophomore. Lenzi would be an emphatic exclamation point on 2008, earning All-American honors at the NHSCA Sophomore National tournament, finishing sixth at 135-pounds.

Lenzi, rated as the No. 8 senior in the Empire State’s 2010 class, would wrestle his way back onto center state last season, winning his first three matches in Albany (including a thrilling 6-5 decision over former 2x NYS champion/Current Harvard freshman Paul Liguori). However, unlike his magical sophomore season, the future Quaker would have to watch as his opponent, Rocky Point’s Stephen Dutton (No. 3 senior in NYS; Verbal commitment to Lehigh University) would go on to get his first taste of glory, knocking the defending champion from his throne via a 10-1 major decision.

Now, just a month or so away from the beginning of his swan song, those of us who have chatted with Lenzi know how hungry he is to return to the top of the mountain. Should the FP captain succeed in his mission to recapture the gold, he will have made history, becoming the first wrestler from the Catholic League to win multiple state crowns. In doing so, he will immediately join the likes of the aforementioned Magnani in the discussion of the greatest wrestler in CHSAA history.

Projected as a 141-pounder on the next level, Lenzi chose the University of Pennsylvania over Ivy League rivals Columbia University, Harvard University, and Princeton University. When asked about the deciding factors, the two-time CHSAA State Most Outstanding Wrestler cited the quality of the coaching staff, saying “Coach Eiter and Coach Valenti are really good guys and really good coaches. I believe I will be able to achieve all of my goals under them. They are the type of people that would do anything for me or any other member on the team to help them achieve their goals.” Lenzi also spoke very highly of the camaraderie that he experienced during his visit to the campus, talking in detail about how he was impressed with the fact that all of the team members are friends off of the mat as well. To conclude, Lenzi commented about life after wrestling and how he felt the strength of the academics (especially the Business program) were ideal for him, saying “Wharton is the No. 1 business school in the nation. It will provide me with the opportunity to be most successful after my career on the mat is finished.”

With the addition of former two-time NCAA champion Matt Valenti to the UPenn coaching staff, coupled with the return of incumbent starter Bryan Ortenzio (133) and former blue-chip recruits Dan White and Zack Kemmerer, there should be no shortage of quality workout partners to reach the fullest extent of his potential.

On behalf of everyone at LHW, we offer our sincerest congratulations to Andrew and his family on this big moment. Coach Eiter is getting a great young man!!!

Any sport with a referee will always have a moment where a controversial call angers the crowd, and the Walsh Jesuit Ironman — arguably the nation’s best high school wrestling tournament — was no exception Saturday afternoon in a semifinal bout involving 119-pound state champions Ty Mitch of Aurora and Monroeville junior Hunter Stieber.

Mitch, a senior bound for Virginia Tech, had a 3-2 lead late in the match against Stieber, the No. 1 rated 119 in the nation. With 20 seconds left, Stieber took Mitch down in a scramble by throwing in a cross-body ride.

What happened after that put referee John Butch — a Pennsylvania official who lives in Youngstown — in a tough spot. Mitch appeared to have a reversal and near fall in the waning seconds, but was awarded no points. That brought boos from the overflow crowd and angered veteran Aurora coach Dick Bliss.

“I’ll say this . . . Hunter told me he thought he lost the match,” said Jeff Stieber, Hunter’s father.

So why no call from Butch?

“An awful lot happened in a short period of time, but Stieber never lost control of Mitch,” Butch said. “During that scramble, Stieber had his leg hooked in. Mitch could have gotten a defensive pin, but he had no reversal or near fall.”

Homecoming: California is a long way from North Royalton, so the Ironman was a welcome site for Boomer Fechko.

The former Bears state place winner as a junior — he then moved to and graduated from Brunswick his senior year — is now the head wrestling coach at Quincy High School in California. His 130-pound senior, Cody Pack, was the top seed at 130 pounds.

Retired North Royalton mat coach Paul Oberst came to the Ironman to see his former standout, but never made the connection.

“I looked in two gyms for Boomer,” Oberst said, “but with the massive crowds it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

Not kind: No, the Ironman has not been kind to standout junior Chris Phillips of Monroeville since his freshman year, when he shocked St. Edward two-time state champ Brian Roddy in their final and won, 7-3.

The two-time Division III state champ and nation’s No. 1 rated 171-pounder lost his first match last year to Ed Ruth of Blair (N.J.) Academy in the semifinals.

He won his opening round bout Friday over Justin Lozano, a junior from Selma, Calif., but injured his elbow. Doctors recommended he withdraw from the tournament as a precautionary measure.

Phillips, who has yet to lose to an Ohio wrestler, has a chance to surpass the accomplishments of four-time state champ Johnny McGee of Coventry, generally considered the finest upperweight Ohio has produced in recent years.

Good genes: If St. Edward freshman Dean Heil’s last name seems familiar to veteran wrestling fans, it should because his father Mike was a state third and state fifth wrestling for Brooklyn High School.

Ironically, Heil, a Strongsville resident and the Eagles’ starting 103-pounder, lives only a few houses away from Joe Drago, the former Brooklyn coach who is now an assistant coach at Elyria.

Legacy award: The 2009 Ironman Legacy Award went to four-time Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy state champ Harry Lester, who has taken a sabbatical in his quest for a World Greco-Roman championship. Previous award winners were coaching greats — Mike Milkovich Sr. from Maple Heights, Gene Gibbons from John Marshall, Jeff Buxton from Blair Academy, Greg Urbas of St. Edward and Jeff Jordan of St. Paris Graham.

Perhaps the deepest concentration of talent the high school wrestling world will see during the season, the Walsh Ironman Tournament annually kicks the action into high gear. Regardless of which rankings you use, an obscene amount of top teams are present here including at least six of the top eight in the country.

The field is also laden with some of the top individuals as tournament director, Bob Preusse, extends invitations to bring in guys like Brandon Rolnick, Travis Gallegos, Jesse Delgado, and other nationally ranked wrestlers.

Without further ado, we’ll breakdown the favorites, and storylines, by weight class, in anticipation of what should be another memorable kick-off.

We also turn back the clock a bit, and list the finals’ results from five years ago.

103
Last Year: Nick Brascetta (ST Eds) def. Mark Grey (Blair) 6-3
2004: Jayk Cobbs dec. Daniel Kolodzik 4-2

Handicapping the first weight class is particularly tough early in the season when several starters are new to the line-up. But 103 does have some standout names. Kevon Powell of Montini (IL) was a Fargo placer this summer and earned the top seed despite going 0-2 here last year. He may still be undersized as he wrestled 98lbs this summer. St. Ignatius Soph, George DiCamillo, is the only returning placer (8th) back at 103. He gets the 2nd seed with Blair Academy So. Max Hvolbeck, who won NHSCA’s Preseason Nationals, getting the 3 seed.

Other Contenders:
Billy Rappo (Council Rock-South)
Cory Stainbrook (Streetsboro)
Dean Heil (St Eds)
Kaleb Lemaire (Ceasar Rodney)
Ryan Taylor (SPG)
Evan Botwin (Wyoming Seminary)

TOM’s Pick: Max Hvolbeck (BA) over Billy Rappo (CRS)

112
Last Year: Devin Carter (CBurg) dec. Hunter Steiber (Monroeville) 8-4
2004: Aaron Hart (SPG) dec Rollie Peterkin (BA) 6-4

Along with 152, 112lbs might be the deepest weight of the tournament. The top seed here goes to National Prep Champ Evan Silver who lost just once here last year (to Hunter Stieber) at the same weight in taking 3rd. On his side of the bracket, Silver will face competition from 4th seeded Jimmy Gulibon, who dominated his way to a state title as a freshman.

In the bottom half, Alex Cisneros (Selma, CA) who won a state title and NHSCA
Freshman Nationals last year gets the 3 seed. The 2nd seed goes to Wyoming Seminary’s Dom Malone, a placer (5th) at 103 last year. Last weekend, Malone beat Joey Dance of Christiansburg. Dance won Super 32’s and Fargo Cadet FS this off-season. Dance is also in this side of the bracket as the 6th seed, setting up a potential quarterfinal match-up with Cisneros.

Corey Keener (7th) of Blue Mountain and Alfredo Gray (6th) of Wadsworth also both placed last year at the Ironman at 103lbs.

Other Contenders:
Ryan Brooks (Marlow)
Daniel Gaytan (Clovis)
Jordan Hancock (Troy)
Trey Balasco (CR-South)

TOM’s Pick: Jimmy Gulibon (Derry) over Dom Malone (Seminary)

119
Last Year: Jamie Clark (ST Eds) dec Sean Boyle (BA) 5-3
2004: Lance Palmer (ST Eds) dec Ross Gitomer (BA) 5-0

This weight features a good number of previous Ironman placers with head-to-head history. The top seed is Monroeville’s Hunter Steiber, last year’s runner-up at 112lbs. On his side of the bracket is 4th seeded Ty Mitch, Ironman participant who has collected a pair of Ohio state titles and this summers Junior FS National crown. Setting up an interesting quarterfinal match, Nick Brascetta (SPG), last year’s 103lb champ, is seeded 5th. Also on that side of the bracket is Broomfield’s (CO) Courtland Hacker who placed eighth here last year.

Down below, Jerome Robinson got the nod as the second seed. Robinson, of St. Ignatius, won last year’s Ohio state title and October’s Super 32 belt. He placed 4th at 112 here last year ahead of 3 seed Kegan Squire (Wadworth) who placed 6th and Reynold’s Mason Beckman, the 7th seed, who placed 5th.

Although he’s seeded just sixth, Mark Grey is set up quite well. Wrestling for Blair Academy, Grey won National Prep’s, was a runner-up to Brascetta here last year, and was a Cadet Fargo Finalist this summer. His potential match-ups include Squire in the quarters and Robinson/Beckman in the semi’s. I like his chances to get to the finals.

Other Contenders:
Christian Bailey (Davis, OK)
Geoff Alexander (Shady Side)
Kyle Johnson (Seminary)

TOM’s Pick: Ty Mitch (Aurora) over Mark Grey (BA)

125
Last Year: Sammie White (Perry) dec Zach Neibert (SPG) 7-5
2004: Jordan Frishkorn (Great Bridge) dec Cam Doggett (SPG) 7-2

Not because of depth issues, but because both wrestlers are that good, 125 appears to be a two-horse race putting top seeded Logan Steiber (Monroeville) and 2nd seeded Devin Carter (Christiansburg) on a collision course/ Both wrestlers have won just about everything under the wrestling sun: Ironman, Fargo, multiple state titles, etc.

Up top with Steiber will be Walsh’s Johnni DiJulius a State Champ and St. Ed’s Gus Sako a state runners-up and previous Ironman placers. Another tough competitor is Dylan D’Urso (Reynolds) who placed third at 103 here last year.

On the bottom side, Carter’s main competition is likely to come in the form of CA state champion, Jesse Delgado (Gilroy), who is the 3 seed. Other main challengers will be Jerry Huff of Broomfield, who was a Fargo AA this summer, and Burrell’s Dave Makara, who placed 6th here last year at the same weight.

Other Contenders:
Jake Corrill (Moeller)
Ryan Hunsberger (Faquier)
Drew Stone (Oak Harbor)
Chase Ferman (Broken Arrow)

TOM’s Pick: Logan Steiber (Monroeville) over Devin Carter (CBurg)

130
Last Year: Chris Villalonga (BA) dec Felipe Martinez (SPG) 6-1
2004: Adam Frey (BA) dec Matt Dunn (Reynolds) 6-5

This is the first weight (of a few) in which there is a notable scratch. St. Paris Graham’s Bo Jordan is out.

Defending Ironman Champ, Jamie Clark (St Eds) leads the way as the top seed and the consensus pick to win it. In his half, Frank Martellotti (SSA), who recently signed to wrestle at Penn State next year, sits as the 4 seed and Nick Babcock of Broomfield (CO), a placer at 103 last year, is seeded 5th. A good early round match-up will be Soph. Case Garrison (Bishop Lynch) and Walsh’s Nate Skonieczny, the 8th and 9th seeds, respectively.

Cody Pack (Quincy) a CA state finalist has flown in on a solo mission. As the 2 and 3 seeds, Pack and Westlake’s Nick Lawrence are the top dogs of the bottom bracket. Also figuring to be in the mix is Tyler Raunzahn (Blue Mtn), who was 5th here last year.

Todd Preston (BA) is unseeded. Depending upon where he falls in the bracket, he could throw a monkey wrench into things. Another unseeded kid is Seminary’s Eric Morris, a freshman buzzsaw that had a tremendous youth career. Maybe this year’s Felipe Martinez?

Other Contenders:
Colten Rasche (Montini)

TOM’s Pick: Jamie Clark (St Eds) over Eric Morris (Seminary)

135
Last Year: David Taylor (SPG) dec. Joe Waltko (N. Allegheny) 16-3
2004: Brandon Shelton (El Reno) dec Travis Blasco (BA) 8-5

The scratch at 135 is Council Rock-South’s Josh Dziewa, who is out with a shoulder injury.

Monroeville’s Cam Tessari is the third top seed from his school in a span of 4 weights. On his side of the bracket, he’ll have to deal with 4 seed Luke Goettl (Mingus AZ), a Fargo GR Champ and Iowa St. signee. Also up top is 5 seed Simon Kitzis of Seminary who, despite a DNP performance here last year, has fared well in several national tournaments, including a win vs. eventual FS National Champ Dziewa at Fargo, where Kitzis would eventually place 4th.

Nick Pena of Selma (CA) also looms in the top bracket. Pena placed 3rd at the CA state tournament last year and 5th in October’s Super 32’s. Another mouth-watering, Round of 16 match-up will likely pit Pena and Bishop Lynch 9 seed, Troy Silver against each other.

Last year at this event, Felipe Martinez (SPG) burst onto the scene by upsetting blue-chipper Tony Ramos and winning runner-up honors. A Martinez-Ormsbee semi would be wild, and likely, as they are the 2 and 3 seeds. Ormsbee, a National Prep Champ for Blair, took fourth here in 2008, losing to Joe Waltko and splitting matches with Josh Kindig.

Jordan Rich (Central Mtn), who placed 5th at 125 last year, is also in the bottom bracket. He, along with 7th seeded Shawn Fayette (Miamisburg) will have a lot to say about how the bottom half unfolds.

Other Contenders:
Scott Bosak (Kiski Prep)
Alec Dieter (Clovis)
Zach Epperly (Christiansburg)
Zack Dailey (Perry)

TOM’s Pick: Cam Tessari (Monroeville) over Austin Ormsbee (Blair)

140
Last Year: Andrew Alton (CM) dec Collin Palmer (St Eds) 5-3
2004: Mikey Benefiel (Montini) dec Sean Nemec (St Eds) 4-3

Another scratch here as Blue Mountain star and Oklahoma State Cowboy recruit, Josh Kindig injured a knee at the Lock Haven Open.

Defending Ironman Champ, Chris Villalonga is the overwhelming favorite to repeat. But the top half is deep with talent and he’ll face tough opponents almost every match. The quarters will see him get the winner of 8 and 9 seeds Ian Miller (Oak Harbor) and Brian Brill (Central Mtn), a Fargo Cadet runner-up. In the other quarters, a likely match-up between the 4 and 5 seeds will pit NHSCA Soph. National Champ Caleb Ervin of Kentucky against Cody Broomall of Smyrna (DE), who placed 3rd in the same tournament.

The top two seeds in the bottom bracket are Stephen Robertson of Montini, who placed 8th at 125 here last year and Travis Shaffer (Derry) a 4th place finisher at Super 32’s

Other Contenders:
Evan Henderson (Kiski)
Clinton McAlester (Clovis)
Isaac Jordan (SPG)
Brady Epperly (Christiansburg)
Matt Martoccio (CR-South)
Nate Ball (Wadsworth)

TOM’s Pick: Chris Villalonga (Blair) over Evan Henderson (Kiski)

145
Last Year: Dylan Alton (CM) dec Brian Stephens (SPG) 5-3
2004: Dustin Schlatter (Perry) tech-fall Eric Medina (BA)

Andrew Alton is in a good position to find himself back in the finals. The 2008 Ironman Champ, who has since won another PA state title, another Fargo title, and last month won the ESU College Open, should handle the top bracket.

His top opponents will likely be 4th seeded Arizona state champ Logan Addis (Mingus) or Matt Stephen (SPG), the 5 seed, in the semis.

In the bottom half, one of the more underappreciated wrestlers in the country, Brad Squire (Wadsworth) is the 2 seed. Squire is a 3x Ohio state placewinner. Opposite him in the 3 slot is CA State Champion Cody Rodebaugh of San Lorenzo Valley.

Another wrestler to watch out for is St. Ed’s Anthony Salupo seeded 6th. The Lehigh signee is certainly capable of winning this side of the bracket.

Other Contenders:
Robert Henderson (Kiski)
James Linkous (Christiansburg)
Cody Bye (Bishop Lynch)
Andy Candiello (North Allegheny)

TOM’s Pick: Andrew Alton (Central Mtn) over Cody Rodebaugh (San Lorenzo)

152
Last Year: Brandon Rolnick (Lawrenceville) dec Nick Sulzer (St Eds) 3-1
2004: Chris Brown (Great Bridge) dec Ian Henisch (Ponderosa) 22-8

The third consecutive weight that has a returning champ, this bracket does double duty as two defending Ironman Champs are present. Dylan Alton won last year’s title at 145 while Brandon Rolnick of Lawrenceville Prep won at this very weight. While they’re the two favorites, this weight is anything but a forgone conclusion. The deepest weight class in the tournament, there are seven wrestlers here who have signed on to wrestle for Division I schools. And that’s just the seniors. Every match-up in the Round of 16 will be worth watching at this weight.

Alton gets the nod as the top seed. Up top with him will be 8 and 9 Harrison Hightower (University School), an Ohio state champ, and Cody Allala (Hopewell), a Virginia state champ . The winner will likely meet Dylan in the quarters.

Another R16 match-up that should be a dandy is 5 seed, David Habat, St. Iggy’s State Champ and Edinboro signee, versus Ceasar Rodney’s Isaiah Meade, a Fargo Cadet AA. The winner will likely face Kiski Prep’s Jason Luster in the quarters. Last year at Ironman, Habat and Luster tangled for 3rd with Luster coming out on top, 3-1.

In the bottom half, Rolnick will await the winner of the 7/10 match-up between Smyrna’s Kenny Boyles and Blair’s Jesse Shanaman, who placed 6th last season.

The 3 seed is Steven Hernandez of Bishop Gorman (NV) who’s won multiple state titles, Fargo, and all three NHSCA class events. A potential quarterfinal match waits for him with Travis Gallegos (Foothill, CA) who placed third in his state tournament and 5th at Super 32’s at 160.

Other Contenders:
Travis McKillop (Burrell)
Bryce Caiazzo (Seminary)
Rich Eva (Christiansburg)

TOM’s Pick: Dylan Alton (Central Mtn) over Steven Hernandez (Bishop Gorman)

160
Last Year: Zach Toal (Troy) dec. Kyle Lang (Brecksville) 5-3
2004: Dave Irwin (SPG) dec Mack Lewnes (St Joes) 13-3

In the top half, we might be in for a semifinal that revisits last year’s Ohio state final. That match saw Westerville’s Josh Demas, the 4th seed here, score in the waning moments to capture the state title over Nick Sulzer (St. Eds), the top seed, and who lost in the Ironman finals last year to Rolnick at 152.

The second seed is Pierce Harger (Moeller), an Ohio state champ who placed 4th here at 145 last year. Opposite him in the 3 slot is Zach Skates (OK), also a state champion, who was one round from placing at 152 in last year’s Ironman.

Other Contenders:
Trey Adamson (Bishop Lynch)
Brad Wukie (University School)
Chris Moon (Seminary)
Konner Witt (Oak Harbor)

TOM’s Pick: Josh Demas (Westerville) over Pierce Harger (Moeller)

171
Last Year: Ed Ruth (BA) dec Ethan Lofthouse (Mt Crest) 10-3
2004: Phil Keddy (Unitah) dec Dave Thompson (SPG) 3-0

Chris Phillips, one of the country’s top juniors, is Monroeville’s 4th top seeded wrestler. He’s the overwhelming favorite here, but he should get some good tests from 8th seed Clint Allala (Hopewell) and the winner of Alex Utley, the 4th seed of CVCA and SPG’s Huston Evans, who, as just a freshman placed 7th at 160 last season.

In the other half of the bracket, Shady Side’s Matt Cunningham, a state champion and Cornell recruit, grabbed the 2 seed. Third seed is Tanner Eitel of Bishop Lynch.

One wrestler to keep an eye on is unseeded Justin Lozano of Selma (CA) who looked very impressive in taking 4th at Super 32’s, including a 10-3 victory over New Jersey’s Nick Visicaro.

Other Contenders:
Johnny Field (Bishop Gorman)
Zach Nevills (Clovis)
Todd Gaydosh (Padua)

TOM’s Pick: Chris Phillips (Monroeville) over Matt Cunningham (SSA)

189
Last Year: Max Huntley (BA) dec. Max Thomusseit (SPG) 4-3
2004: Patrick Bond (Great Bridge) dec Hudson Taylor (BA) 3-1

A scratch here as Morgan MacIntosh (Calvary Chapel, CA) will not be available.
The top few guys here are solid. Starting with Evans, who double AA’d in Fargo this summer, as the top seed. On his side of the bracket is CA placer, Tommy Burriel, the 4th seed, and Matt Chavez of Mingus.

The bottom half should feature an interesting semi between 2nd seeded Max Thomusseit of SPG, a runner-up at Ironman last season, and BL import, Steve McPeek, a Fargo AA and Super 32 runner-up. Both of these guys are horses, although McPeek is a rather small 89lber, and Thomusseit is on the really big end.

Other Contenders:
Cody Johnson (Broken Arrow)
Bobby Lavelle (CR-South)
Chris Smith (Parkersburg)
Anthony Ruggiero

TOM’s Pick: Mike Evans (BA) Steve McPeek (BL)

215
Last Year: Joe McMullen (WySem) dec Ben Krakower (BA) 5-0
2004: Jason Marshall (SPG) dec Cody Gardner (CBurg) 3-1

One last notable omission as Don McNeil (Wyoming Seminary) has not been cleared for eligibility.

The #1 seed, Tank Knowles (Calvary Chapel) is the prohibitive favorite here. As just a soph last year, Knowles placed 4th at the tough California state
tournament.

His main competition in getting to the finals will come from Brian Beattie (Burrell), the 4 seed, who was an NHSCA Soph National Runner-Up.

In the other side, it should be a showdown between two Ohio guys: Nick Tavenello (Wadsworth) and Beau Wenger (Fairless Hills). Watch for Brook Gosch (Blue Mountain) to throw his hat in the ring, too.

Other Contenders:
Joe Gatto (Padua)
Spencer Willett (Brecksville)
Mark Meyer (SPG)

TOM’s Pick: Tank Knowles (CC) over Beau Wenger (Fairless Hills)

HWT
Last Year: Jeremy Johnson (Brecksville) fall Zach Corl (Blue Mt)
2004: Steve Dumas (Brush) dec Mike Edwards (Reynolds) 6-4

There’s a good crop of experienced heavies here, at least 8 deep.

Terry Williamson (Broken Arrow), who finished 4th at 215 last year, gets top billing. He’ll have to contend with Brooks Black (Blair) early. Black, a freshman in his first year at Blair, won Fargo Cadets this summer.

The other quarter bracket features Wadsworth’s Ben Buzzelli, a 6th place finisher here last year, and 5th seed Ross Ferraro of Montini.

In the bottom half, the top two seeds are National Prep Champ, Mike McMullen (Seminary) and last year’s Ironman Runner-Up, Zach Corl of Central Mountain.

Other Contenders:
Max Gladstone (Findlay)

TOM’s Pick: Mike McMullen (Seminary) over Brooks Black (Blair)

By: Willie Saylor, Editor

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Since winning a state wrestling championship in March as a sophomore, Lenzi hasn’t taken much time to reflect on his accomplishment.

Although he was the first wrestler from Fordham Prep – or any other New York City school – to win a state championship, the aggressive 16-year-old remains hawkish, almost to a fault.

During a match on Saturday, Lenzi built up a 4-1 lead over his opponent in the King of the Mountain tournament at Central Mountain HS in Mill Hall, Pa.

Rather than protect the lead by adopting a more defensive posture, Lenzi went for the kill and attempted an attack that backfired and cost him five points. Lenzi, the top seed at 135 pounds, lost the semifinal, 7-6, and spent a moment after the match contemplating whether he should have been more careful.

“Being aggressive in that moment kind of hurt me,” he said a day after the loss. “I took a shot at getting more points even though I didn’t need to, but I’m not going to change my approach. I’m an aggressive wrestler, and having that mindset is what’s gotten me to this point. I’m always looking to dominate.”

Lenzi may be learning to measure his combativeness, but his success so far has been anything but intermittent. For his achievement on the mats in 2008, the Daily News has named Lenzi the Bronx Sports Person of the Year.

His quarterfinal win on Friday, the opening day of the King of the Mountain tournament, was the 100th victory of his high school varsity career. It’s a milestone that is all the more impressive because of the speed with which he reached it.

“It’s a defining moment in my career,” he said. “I’m proud of the accomplishment. I know it’s a cliché, but matches are won and lost in training, and I’ve worked hard to get to this point.”

Pick up your copy of the 2008 Ironman results, right here.

103-barber over moore
112-sako over martin
119-clark over vertal
125-cobos (no wrestle off)
130-van curen over finnegan
135-Salupo (no wrestle off)
140-palmer over barbarek
145-Tusic over schiedel
152-Sulzer (no wrestle off)
160- no wrestle off, greene and cvetic both failed hydration test, geoff toney has hurt ankle
171- lascowski over huston
189-Frantz over giachetti
215-Green over wallz
HVY-Kuhar over wolff

Chanel: Outstanding young talent, but the Firebirds are a year away from state title contention in Division III. Wrestlers like sophomores Cody Tschantz, Danny Orrill and Cody Walters got valuable experience at state last winter, and junior Mike Kovach placed fourth at 119.

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy: Fourth in the state in Division III last year, the young Royals could move up the ladder with terrific talent in state placers Brad Sommers, Shelton Morris, Tyler Powers, Alex Utley and Greg Hojnacki. Is there a sport CVCA isn’t getting good in?

Elyria: Has a lot of tournament scoring punch led by state fourth Zack Goins and state sixth Dalton McHenry, plus state qualifier Ryan Nelisse, who won 49 matches last season. All are seniors. Coach Erik Burnett just needs these kids to peak at state.

Kenmore: Best public school wrestling team in Akron won’t be as dominant as last season, but still has tough kids back like potential state champ Cody Lamberg, state qualifier Garland McCormick, hard-nosed upperweight Dusty Newberry and solid middleweights Jamar Sheppard and Ryan Harris.

Kenston: No superstars or even a returning state qualifier, but 11 starters are back including the lightweight Kazimir brothers, sophomore Ben and junior Jake, so the Bombers will at very least be tough to beat in dual meets.

Mayfield: Always good Wildcats have returning state place winners in junior Dan McNulty and sophomore Tyler Coleman, senior state qualifier Cody Hayes, and a new coach in Carl DiBernardo, who was groomed by longtime standout coach Frank Cikach.

Padua: Bruins have a talented upperweight in Riley Kilroy, tough lightweights like state fourth Andrew Romanchik and Collan DaFonseca, and gained a promising freshman in Brent Fickel (125), a winner in the Tulsa (Okla.) National Championships.

St. Edward: Has won last 12 Division I state titles and 24 overall, but No. 25 will come much harder despite proven winners like state champs Gus Sako, Jamie Clark, Collin Palmer, state fifth Anthony Salupo and two time state placer Nick Sulzer. That’s because after Sulzer at 152 pounds, the Eagles don’t have proven talent in the last five weights except for Mike Green at 215, who went 0-2 at state. They need freshmen like junior high state runner-up Greg Kuhar (HVY) and two-time state qualifier John Cobos (125) to make contributions.

Southview: With the likes of state place winners Uland Ralson and Narcisco Inchaurregui, Narcisco’s older brother Zeno, and a good group of returning seniors like Jose Martinez, the Saints will be strong as usual in both tournaments and dual meets.

Twinsburg: Keep an eye on this team loaded with good juniors including rugged state fourth Waquiem Comar and state qualifier Brandon Bucknell, a heavyweight.

University School: No longer just a tennis power, the Preppers are great in golf and close to getting great in wrestling. A flock of returning state place winners includes James Inghram, Brad Wukie, Nick Mills, and state champ Harrison Hightower, and the team got added help when sophomore Matt Lawler (130) transferred from St. Ignatius. Preppers won’t beat St. Paris Graham for the state crown in Division II, but a state runner-up finish isn’t out of the question.

Wadsworth: This is a team that will challenge St. Ed for the state title next year for sure, and likely this year. They’ve placed no lower than eighth at state since 2001, and return two-time state finalist Brad Squire, state placers Danny Foore and Ben Buzzelli, plus two outstanding freshmen in Kagan Squire (103 or 112), a Cadet freestyle All-American, and junior high state champ Nick Tavenello (189). This is a program on the rise.

Walsh Jesuit: Another future powerhouse looming, a strong but young team revitalized with freshmen twins Nate (125) and Nick Skonieczny (135), brothers of graduated national high school champion Chase. Sophomore state runner-up Johnni DiJulius will be back at 119, with state qualifiers in senior Rich Knotek and junior Dillon Magalski, along with a boatload of good district qualifiers like sophomore John Novak (112), who won 28 matches last season.

- Pat Galbincea

By Catherine Trumbo
Loveland Connection

After last year’s successful showing at the state wrestling championships, the Loveland High School team this year is aiming for something a little better: a state team title.

“It was a huge accomplishment,” coach Jim Sanchez said of last season’s performance at state. “I thought we wrestled pretty close to perfect. It couldn’t have gone too much better. We had three state champs and two other guys that placed.

“That’s the push for this year. You have to believe it. If you don’t believe it’s possible, it isn’t going to happen. It’s putting in all the extra work and time to make it happen. The bottom line is it’s hard work. You’ve got to work harder and smarter than the other 80 teams in 5A.”

The Indians return 119-pound state champion Josh Kreimier; 215-pound third-place finisher Connor Medbery; and 285-pound third-place finisher Lane Stuht.

Loveland also returns state qualifiers Shawn Johnson, Lance Jeffries and Julian Cota.

The Indians as a team finished second behind Ponderosa High School.

That finish has been a big motivator for summer workouts.

“We’re focused on winning a team title,” Kreimier said. “I’m not out there for myself. I’m out there for the team.”

The dedication of each team member has paid off, Sanchez said.

“I think as a team we made a tremendous amount of progress over the summer,” Sanchez said. “Everybody across our lineup has improved — marked improvement. I think we’re better off than we were last year at this time. Everything looks really good.”

Sanchez also believes there are some newcomers who can make an immediate impact on the team, one being Garrett Vasquez, a transfer from Mountain View who qualified for state in Class 4A.

“We have a bundle of kids I think can do real well,” Sanchez said.

With an abundance of talent, Sanchez said he believes his team can return to state and win it all.

“I’m excited,” Sanchez said. “I think we’ll have a really good season. We put in a lot of hard work over the summer and I think it’s going to pay off.”

Eagles look to expand on last season’s success
Thompson Valley High School wrestling coach DJ Juergensen had his first state champion last season — Johnny Ortega at 160 pounds.

The Eagles also took second at regionals and placed 10th as a team at the state championships.

Juergensen wants to build on that success this season.

The Eagles have four returners that will try to help lead the team to higher levels.

Tanner Taylor was 26-12 last season and a state qualifier and was joined at state by Jimmy Zahtila, who went 24-12 last season.

Mike Dellatto finished sixth at state last season in the 189-pound division and 34-9 overall. Alex Remmo went 24-15 last season and placed fifth at regionals.

Juergensen also has 10 newcomers he said can break into the varsity line-up and be successful.

The Eagles’ biggest strength is their work ethic, he said.

“We have a team that has an extremely high work ethic,” Juergensen said. “They handle whatever I throw at them. I feel we’ll be very balanced from top to bottom.
“I’m looking forward to a fun, successful season with a bunch of good, hardworking guys.”

The Eagles open the season at home at 7 p.m. Thursdayagainst Longmont High School.

Mountain Lions look to regroup
The Mountain View High School wrestling team will try to improve on its 5-2, third place conference finish last season, but will have a tall task to overcome.

Scott Barker’s squad lost 12 seniors, so the Mountain Lions might have an issue with a lack of varsity experience.

But Barker is looking to his top returners — Kyle Obenshain, Riley Jones, Daniel Landry, John Propp and Kohlman Scribner — to lead by example.

“The returners put in a lot of time training in the offseason,” Barker said. “Great leadership from the returning wrestlers will have a positive outcome on the team’s success this season.”

Barker also hopes to see big things from newcomers Quint Smith, Donovan Boggs and Nick Prins this season.

The Mountain Lions will start the season on the road, facing Fossil Ridge High School at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fort Collins.

By Zak Keefer

zkeefer@greenfieldreporter.com

FORTVILLE – When you reach one of the major goals you’ve set out for your high school career as a sophomore, a little reshuffling is in order.

Now, when you ask Mt. Vernon’s Jake McCarthy what he wants to accomplish come this February in the state wrestling tournament, his answer comes a little bit differently than how it would have a year ago at this time.

“This year, I don’t want to just make it to state, I want to make it on the podium,” he says. “That’s my goal and that’s what I’ve been working hard for.”

As he enters his junior campaign, the challenges will undoubtedly be there.

McCarthy, the lone MV qualifier for last year’s state finals, has moved up two weight classes for this year’s season, from 103 to 119 lbs. He said he’s ready for the jump.

Now, as a junior, he’s looked at as one of the leaders of this year’s Marauder team.

But most important, no matter how good of a season he has, if he fails to make it to state, the year will likely go down as a disappointment. Such is the trade-off of having such high pre-season expectations.

“We have a bunch of different leaders out here on this team,” he said before practice began Wednesday. “I try to lead by example—my work ethic, the time I put in during the summer trying to get better.”

His coach, Jason Smith, has seen a distinct change from the sophomore he knew last season.

“He’s really matured from last season and into this one,” Smith said. “He’s a lot stronger. He worked all summer long and his goal this year is to make it on that podium at state. That’s what his motivation is this year.”

McCarthy finished his sophomore campaign with a 29-13 record. He finished as runner-up in both the Shelbyville sectional and Perry Meridian regional, then placed fourth at the New Castle semi-state, earning a ticket to his first state finals.

He fell 4-0 in the state quarterfinals at Conseco Fieldhouse to Jay County’s Casey Kenney, the eventual state runner-up.

Smith cites McCarthy, whose father Mike is an assistant for the Marauders, as one of the team’s silent leaders.

“He leads by example through his actions,” Smith said. “Whenever you become an upperclassmen you seem to wrestle with more confidence.

“Jake’s already had a good amount of success so we hope he can build on that.”

Smith added that he didn’t think the weight class jump would deter McCarthy in the slightest.

He does, after all, face bigger teammates every day in practice.

“I think 119 is going to be good for him,” Smith said. “His body has matured and he’s getting stronger. It’s really only a couple of weights up and he wrestled guys at that weight all summer long.”

The MV coach said that McCarthy was just one of a handful of key returners this season for the Marauders. Add senior Logan Howard (125), junior Joal Mogollon (130) and junior Josh Williams (135) all to that list.

“These guys have wrestled together for a lot of years and I’m looking forward to coaching them all the way this year,” Smith said.

He added that there are a few that may surprise some people this season— wrestlers entering the year off the radar that have a very good chance at turning some heads.

“Two guys I foresee making a huge impact are Cody Morgan and Sam Balbach,” he said.

Morgan, a sophomore filling McCarthy’s shoes at the 103 spot, and Balbach, a sophomore at the 215 position, are on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of weight but will be key components if the Marauders are to attain their goal of a sectional title.

“Everyone wants to win,” Smith said, who added that he’s got the Jan. 6 meeting with Bloomington South circled on his calendar.

Smith, a South alumna, has yet to beat his high school coach Royce Deckard head-to-head.

“They always have an extremely good team,” Smith said. “And I haven’t been able to beat my mentor yet. I wouldn’t mind doing that this year.”

MV’s success will likely start with how McCarthy does as he transitions to the bigger weight class. He urged that despite however difficult it may be, he’s going to stick at 119.

Smith has faith in his leader.

“Everyone got better this summer,” Smith added. “Jake got extremely better.”

The bar for wrestling success is always set high in the state of Iowa.

That was evident last season as the state led the country in the number of national collegiate team championships, winning three of six crowns.

NCAA Division I champion Iowa, Division III title holder Wartburg and national junior college champion winner Iowa Central of Fort Dodge are the envy of this season’s foes.

This season gets into full swing this week at all levels – from high schools holding their first practices to the Hawkeyes and Iowa State competing in dual meets Friday.

Iowa coach Tom Brands enjoyed the title, but a new challenge is at hand for his wrestlers.

“They have an opportunity to thrust themselves into not just the wrestling community’s attention, but into the state of Iowa because they did a great thing, but it’s over,” Brands said.

There are many other scenarios within the borders to monitor. The following is a look at ten of them including a high school athlete trying to become the second half of a first-time, four-time state championship brother combination to a college that is introducing the sport for the first time.

1. Are there people in the wrestling world who don’t like seeing Iowa back on top of the sport?

The Hawkeyes’ Brent Metcalf won the 149-pound national championship last winter, then won every award short of an Academy Award.

“I think there’s probably a lot of people,” Metcalf answered, a chuckle penetrating his words. “I can think of one (team) not too far from here that probably wouldn’t mind having us not be on top, but that just goes with the nature of the sport.”

When the Hawkeyes were winning as many as nine championships in a row, folks wanted to see the Hawkeyes fall. There was not a team with enough horsepower on that weekend in March to make it happen. These years, there is more recruiting parity.

Iowa coach Tom Brands said there’s no reason to give up the top spot now.

“The attention is here again, wrestling season is right around the corner and the communication, the e-mails and the good lucks and the letters and everything is at a heightened pace, so there’s more and we’ve got to capture it,” he said. “How you do that? You perform. How do you perform? You go out and look to dominate, widen the gap, and keep continuing a good thing.”

Until someone figures a way to out-perform the Hawkeyes at the right time, they will be expected to cart another trophy out of St. Louis this winter.

2. How will Upper Iowa – the only NCAA Division II program in the state – fare?

The folks in Fayette waited a season, and now they’re excited to get local recruit Kyle Pedretti of MFL/Mar-Mac of Monona in the lineup.

Pedretti finished second at 125 pounds in the Pointer Open at Wisconsin-Stevens Point last Saturday.

Coach Heath Grimm has two returning all-Americans – Travis Eggers and Tyler Mumbulo – from last season’s squad that finished 14nationally.

Upper Iowa won the last two Northern Sun Conference dual-meet titles, but the road gets tougher this season with the addition of Minnesota State-Mankato. The Mavericks won the Division II National Duals and were No. 2 in the nationals.

3. Is Wartburg going to win the NCAA Division III championship again?

If Jim Miller is Wartburg’s coach, the Knights have to be one of the favorites. He has an amazing knack for taking ordinary kids, teaching them how to work and watching them prevail in March.

Wartburg is the defending champion and starts the season ranked No. 1. This could be the first time since 2003 and 2004 that the Knights win consecutive crowns.

Wartburg has three national champions – Jacob Naig, Aaron Wernimont and Romeo Djoumessi. Wernimont and Djoumessi are No. 1 in the preseason. Naig has a semester of eligibility remaining and will join the team after Christmas.

“The good part for us is we’ve got three national champions that are back. I know I’ve never had that,” Miller said. “The negative is, just like most years, you’ve got maybe three weights that you’ve got to fill with no idea who that kid is going to be or how well they’re going to respond to the challenge of being the guy.

“As we go along, we’ve been able to really improve as the year’s gone on, we’ve been pretty good at that. Hopefully we can do that again.”

4. Will two brothers from Gilbertville make high school history?

Don Bosco of Gilbertville’s Bart Reiter will try to win his fourth state title. Mack Reiter did it for the Dons in 2003.

The Reiters could become the first pair of brothers to be four-timers. It would be a heck of a celebration in the Don Bosco section because this tournament marks 30 years ago that the Dons became the only team to qualify its entire lineup.

Another question: Will any of this season’s three team champions break scoring records. Waverly-Shell Rock, Ballard of Huxley and Don Bosco accomplished that feat last winter. Waverly-Shell Rock became the first team to crack the 200-point mark.

Ballard is ranked No. 9 in Amateur Wrestling News preseason Prep 40 poll, Iowa City West is No. 11, Don Bosco is No. 17 and Waverly-Shell Rock is No. 34.

According to W.I.N. Magazine’s preseason team rankings, Ballard is No. 8.

5. Is Northern Iowa going to have a good season?

The Panthers wrestle one of the more challenging schedules each season, but injuries have been a back-breaker in recent years.

Coach Brad Penrith has a returning all-American in Moza Fay and a potential all-American in Andrew Anderson.

Perhaps there will be Terrence Young in the lineup at 125, who was a national junior college champion at Iowa Central last season. He’ll be the most talented guy the Panthers have had at the lightest weight since Kyle Anson, the Iowa City High product who had to give up the sport because of injuries a few years ago.

The Panthers might have a good showing if they can stay healthy.

6. Who are some of the other nationally ranked high school wrestlers in the state and Iowa college recruits?

Ballard of Huxley’s Trent Weatherman helped his team win a state championship last season, and he enters this season ranked No. 10 nationally by InterMat. He is an Iowa State recruit.

Derek St. John of Iowa City West is the lone Iowan who is No. 1 in the Amateur Wrestling News rankings. The Iowa recruit, who is listed at 160 pounds, is ranked No. 6 by InterMat.

Another Iowa recruit, Tony Ramos of Glenbard North High School in Illinois, is No. 1 at 130.

7. Can Iowa State beat Iowa in a dual and/or replace Iowa on top in March?

The Cyclones are going to have to beat Iowa at its own game, being tougher in every fight, as well as being able to shut down what will be a noisy Iowa crowd on Dec. 6.

In the NCAA tournament, Iowa State needs as many wrestlers as possible to stay on the front side of the bracket as long as possible and a healthy dose of bonus points. W.I.N. Magazine’s preseason tournament power ratings had Iowa winning the tournament by one point over Iowa State.

Think how noisy it will get in St. Louis if the team race is that tight going into the finals on March 21.

8. Why will there be a little extra wrestling buzz in Des Moines?

Fans in the city won’t have to leave town to watch a college meet.

Grand View has its home opener Dec. 3, which will be the first time a college meet is contested in the city since the 1992-93 season, right before Drake dropped its program.

This is Grand View’s first season. The Vikings hired Johnston’s Nick Mitchell as head coach and some team members are familiar if you spent any time at recent state high school tournaments.

The lineup includes Matt Burns of Urbandale, who won a national title two seasons ago at Iowa Central.

9. What’s the view from the NAIA schools Morningside, Briar Cliff and Northwestern in northwest Iowa?

Morningside is ranked No. 12 in the preseason rankings. William Penn is No. 13 and Northwestern is tied for No. 14.

Unranked Briar Cliff returns an all-American in Julian Gunnels. Morningside has three all-Americans returning and Northwestern has two.

Something else that’s neat about Morningside, Briar Cliff and Northwestern all three head coaches are Iowa guys.

Morningside’s Tim Jager wrestled for Dave Schaefer at George-Little Rock, Briar Cliff’s Damon Clayborne wrestled at Sioux City North for Mark Caputo – who is now one of Clayborne’s assistants. Northwestern’s Rik Dahl wrestled for Jim Kinyon at Roland-Story.

10. Can Iowa Central win its fourth crown in a row?

Luke Moffitt has become one of the best young coaches in the sport. He has a network of connections and an eye for talent. He and his staff have groomed high school wrestlers for the next level.

He also won a junior college national championship for the Tritons, so there is a strong bond.

This season’s roster includes returning all-Americans in runner-up Brad Lower and fourth-place finishers Carrington Banks and Joe Johnson.

Iowa Central will get a serious challenge from North Iowa Area Community College, which finished fourth in its first season after a long period of inactivity.

New head coach Mark Schwab features returning national champions Albert White and Glenn Rhees.

North Iowa hosts Iowa Central in a dual meet at Mason City High School on Jan. 20.