InterMat: Inside info from the N.W.C.A
brought to you byBrute Wrestling
Division I Championships
Scottrade Center
March 20-22, 2008
2007 Champion: Ben Askren, Missouri
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket
Undefeated, but not untested, returning NCAA runner-up Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh is the top seed at 174 pounds. Gavin battled two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren of Missouri tougher than anyone last season and for that reason, many fans are annointing Gavin as the odds-on favorite.
He did battle second-seeded Steve Luke of Michigan in the finals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Luke will earn the #2 seed, just ahead of Nebraska's Brandon Browne. Hawkeye Jay Borschel's loss to Gabe Dretsch of Minnesota in the Big Ten semis dropped him to the #4 seed.
Returning All-American Brandon Sinnott of Central Michigan comes in seeded fifth. In that 4-5 quadrant is Borschel, but Sinnott will see Northwestern's #12 Nick Hayes in the Round of 16 barring an upset. Hayes is tough to beat in the opening round, as in 2007, he beat #7 Matt Stolpinski in the opening round.
Hofstra's Alton Lucas won the CAA for the first time and comes in as the #6 and he'll be in the quadrant with #11 Steve Anceravage of Cornell. Anceravage beat Lucas 4-3 in a February dual meet.
Stolpinski, fourth a year ago, will be down low with #7 Mike Letts of Maryland, making his second trip to the NCAA tournament and is seeded for the second year in a row. Stolpinski pinned Letts during the dual season in a scramble and it should be another quality match with the winner facing Luke.
The 8-9 match isn't something Oklahoma State John Smith will like too much, as #9 Brandon Mason will face off with Gabe Dretsch of Minnesota, the #8. Dretsch has had Mason's number including a 5-3 win in a February dual. Dretsch is 14-8 against NCAA qualifiers with three losses to top-seed Luke.
The Bad Draw
InterMat's close-up on wrestlers the top seeds don't want to see right off the bat.
Lloyd Rogers, UT-Chattanooga -- Rogers, the Southern Conference champion had an arguement for a Top 12 seed having a split with #12 Nick Hayes this season. At 26-3, Rogers is making his second tournament appearance. Rogers will win some matches.
Chris Henrich, Virginia -- The true freshman out of Germantown Academy won 25 matches this season and comes in 4-6 against NCAA qualifiers, two of which coming from ACC champion Mike Letts. Henrich's got a good build and a good motor.
Randy Oates, George Mason -- All three of his wins over NCAA qualifiers have come by fall, and while he's been beaten by Alton Lucas and Mike Letts twice, Oates, one of two qualifiers from George Mason, is dangerous with the cradle. Winning 25 matches against a modestly tough schedule should prepare Oates, but it really depends on who he draws for it to really be a bad draw. His style works with certain types of wrestlers who struggle on bottom.
Trevor Perry, Indiana -- Don't let this guy go upper body. Perry might be unseeded from the Big Ten, but he's a dangerous pinner with a wicked headlock. Yes, people might comment on the "grade school" move, but Perry wins with it and is never out of a match. Don't let up in that position or you'll end up on your back.
Aron Scott, Iowa State -- A feel-good story for the Cyclones. Scott comes in with an average 12-11 record and is just 2-8 against NCAA qualifiers, but he battled to qualify in a very weak weight in the Big 12. Making the best of the situation, Scott reaches his first NCAA tournament and could score the extra point or two needed if it's a close team race. Every wrestler is significant, not just the seeded ones.
Top 12 Seeds
1. Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh, Sr.)
2. Steve Luke (Michigan, Jr.)
3. Brandon Browne (Nebraska, Jr.)
4. Jay Borschel (Iowa, So.)
5. Brandon Sinnott (Central Michigan, Sr.)
6. Alton Lucas (Hofstra, Jr.)
7. Matt Stolpinski (Navy, Sr.)
8. Gabe Dretsch (Minnesota, Sr.)
9. Brandon Mason (Oklahoma State, Jr.)
10. Mike Letts (Maryland, So.)
11. Steve Anceravage (Cornell, Jr.)
12. Nick Hayes (Northwestern, Sr.)
2007 Placement Results
(Courtesy wrestlingstats.com)
Finals: Ben Askren (Missouri) dec. Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh)
3rd: Eric Luedke (Iowa) dec. Matt Stolpinski (Navy) 3-2.
5th: Brandon Mason (Oklahoma State) dec. Steve Luke (Michigan) 1-0.
7th: Brandon Sinnott (Central Michigan) dec. Matt Palmer (Columbia) 7-3.
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