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: Cole Konrad, Minnesota
Printable Bracket | Interactive Bracket
With the heavyweight class devoid of the dominant force like it has in the past six years, this weight is clear for the taking. The favorites include four returning All-Americans.
Dustin Fox finished third last season and won the Big Ten, which merits the top seed in the tournament. Second-seeded J.D. Bergman finished second in the Big Ten and will wrestle with the #2 seed.
Bergman moved up from 197 pounds, where he was a two-time All-American. Oddly enough, Bergman is the only returning All-American from 2004. Bergman placed third as a true freshman, then didn't place as a sophomore. Then redshirted in 2006. As a junior Bergman again returned to the podium.
Navy's Ed Prendergast, a St. Louis native, will be the third seed and will look to shake off last year's performance. The two-time EIWA champion is looking to place for the first time.
Iowa's Matt Fields is also looking for his first medal at the NCAA championships. After coming out of high school as the top heavyweight in the country, Fields has struggled to live up to expectations. After a third-place finish at the Big Ten tournament, Fields comes in as the #4 seed.
Oklahoma State's Jared Rosholt had to deal with NCAA Champion Cole Konrad in the opening round last season. This year, the #5 seed won't have to contend with such a presence. Instead, he'll have conference foe Mark Ellis if Missouri in the Round of 16 with a possible match with Fields in the quarters should they get there.
Kyle Massey of Wisconsin went from a possible third seed to the #6 after finishing fourth in the Big Ten. He split with Fox in their last two meetings, but Fox picked up a major decision in the Big Ten semifinals. Massey could see returning All-American Mike Spaid of Bloomsburg in the Round of 16. Spaid's seeded #11.
Iowa State's David Zabriskie was a match away from placing last season and will come in as the #7 seed. He'll probably end up facing #10 Zach Sheaffer of Pitt in the Round of 16 with the winner facing Bergman.
The MAC has two seeds and they'll be meeting early on, again providing there aren't any upsets in their opening round matches. Returning All-American Bubba Gritter of Central Michigan comes in at #8 and Jermail Porter of Kent State the #9.
The Bad Draw
InterMat's close-up on wrestlers the top seeds don't want to see right off the bat.
Justin Dobies, North Carolina -- The ACC champion made a solid move up from 197 pounds and is a threat to knock off just about anyone in the bracket. He keeps the score low and has good motion and creates good angles.
Reece Hopkin, Northern Colorado -- A return qualifier, Hopkin has been a solid heavyweight and is very capable of winning a match or two and making a run at the tournament. With the depth of the Top 12, Hopkin could benefit from the right draw and contend for a medal. He's a decent sized heavyweight, but did spend some of his sophomore season at 197 pounds ranked in the Top 20.
Patrick Walker, Liberty -- A former Army Ranger, Walker won his second East Region title two weeks ago. He's got a few wins over NCAA qualifiers and went the distance in a 4-3 loss to Iowa's Matt Fields at The Midlands back in December. Walker's not just a big body, the guy knows how to move and score.
Dustin Rogers, West Virginia -- A Round of 12 wrestler last year after reaching the quarterfinals unseeded, Rogers finished fifth in the EWL and earned a wildcard as the weight had five ranked wrestlers during the season. He was unseeded and made a run last year and repeating the feat isn't as outlandish as it might seem.
Nathan Thobaben, Army -- A returning NCAA qualifier, Thobaben's conditioning is a huge factor in him being a bad draw. He'll keep going and keep battling long after the seven minutes, should matches go into overtime ... which heavyweights seem to do.
Top 12 Seeds
1. Dustin Fox (Northwestern, Sr.)
2. J.D. Bergman (Ohio State, Sr.)
3. Ed Prendergast (Navy, Sr.)
4. Matt Fields (Iowa, Sr.)
5. Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State, So.)
6. Kyle Massey (WIsconsin, Jr.)
7. David Zabriskie (Iowa State, So.)
8. Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan, Sr.)
9. Jermail Porter (Kent State, Jr.)
10. Zach Sheaffer (Pittsburgh, Jr.)
11. Mike Spaid (Bloomsburg, Sr.)
12. Mark Ellis (Missouri, So.
2007 Placement Results
(Courtesy wrestlingstats.com)
Finals: Cole Konrad (Minnesota) FALL Aaron Anspach (Penn State) 1:53
3rd: Dustin Fox (Northwestern) dec. Ty Watterson (Oregon State) 3-1.
5th: Bubba Gritter (Central Michigan) dec. Wade Sauer (Cal State-Fullerton) 9-6.
7th: Payam Zarrinpour (Sacred Heart) dec. Mike Spaid (Bloomsburg) 11-8.
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