InterMat: Inside info from the N.W.C.A
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Division I Championships
Scottrade Center
March 20-22, 2008
Returning Champion: Josh Glenn, American
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket
Even with a returning NCAA champion at the weight, 197 pounds does have an aura of unexpectedness surrounding it. Josh Glenn, the top seed and returning champ from American, has a solid group of wrestlers challenging him, including second-seeded Phil Davis of Penn State, a three-time All-American and previous finalist.
Northwestern's Mike Tamillow split two regular season matches with Davis and comes in as the third seed. Two-time All-American Wynn Michalak of Central Michigan was the top-seed two years ago and failed to place last season. He's a dangerous #4. Speaking of dangerous is Max Askren of Missouri, who hasn't lost since the Vegas finals and has a win over Tamillow. That's one solid quarter, should the seeds hold.
Askren gets the fifth seed over #6 Dallas Herbst of Wisconsin, mainly because Vegas didn't factor into the seeding process. Herbst's head to head win over Hudson Taylor of Maryland gave him the nod as Taylor gets the #7 for the ACC Champion Terps.
A solid 8-9 match awaits Nebraska's Craig Brester and #9 Patrick Bond of Illinois.
Two-time All-American Joel Flaggert of Oklahoma is the #10 seed and will likely see Taylor in the Round of 16 if no upsets occur.
The CAA is represented with two seeds, much like 125, as T.J. Morrison of Rider gets the #11 after winning the conference over #12-seed Joe Rovelli of Hofstra.
The Bad Draw
InterMat's close-up on wrestlers the top seeds don't want to see right off the bat.
Jared Villers, West Virginia -- The West Virginia senior's only losses this season came at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Villers has been known to pull the upset in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, he beat sixth-seeded J.D. Bergman of Ohio State in the opening round.
David Bertolino, Iowa State -- Moving up two weight classes did well for Bertolino, who has spent most of the year ranked at 197 pounds. With some solid wins, Bertolino held his own with some of the nation's top 197's this year.
Daren Burns, UNC Greensboro -- A Round of 12 wrestler in 2005, Burns has had a solid return off a redshirt and won the Southern Conference. A placer at both the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Southern Scuffle, Burns is an All-American candidate for sure.
Cayle Byers, George Mason -- A true freshman from Alaska, Byers fights hard the entire seven minutes and has a wicked ankle-pick. A Reno champ last year as a senior in high school, Byers caught fire at mid-season and beat Rider's T.J. Morrison and Daren Burns and earned a wildcard from the CAA after finishing behind both Morrison and Hofstra's Joe Rovelli.
Matt Koz, UT-Chattanooga -- Moving down from heavyweight where he was a match away from placing, Matt Koz is a tough matchup for many at the weight due to his compact size for the weight and his experience.
Top 12 Seeds
1. Josh Glenn (American, Sr.)
2. Phil Davis (Penn State, Sr.)
3. Mike Tamillow (Northwestern, Sr.)
4. Wynn Michalak (Central Michigan, Sr.)
5. Max Askren (Missouri, So.)
6. Dallas Herbst (Wisconsin, Jr.)
7. Hudson Taylor (Maryland, So.)
8. Craig Brester (Nebraska, So.)
9. Patrick Bond (Illinois, So.)
10. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma, Sr.)
11. T.J. Morrison (Rider, Sr.)
12. Joe Rovelli (Hofstra, Sr.)
2007 Placement Results
(Courtesy wrestlingstats.com)
Finals: Josh Glenn (American) dec. Kurt Backes (Iowa State) 6-4, SV.
3rd: Chris Weidman (Hofstra) dec. J.D. Bergman (Ohio State) 9-4
5th: Phil Davis (Penn State) dec. Jerry Rinaldi (Cornell) 8-4.
7th: Mike Tamillow (Northwestern) dec. Nick Roy (Michigan) 7-3.
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