The Wrestling USA Magazine/Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic takes place on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. This year's event places an all-star team of seniors from across the country against those from the state of Minnesota. The dual meet will start at 182 pounds, wheeling around to its conclusion at 170 pounds; there will be an intermission after the 126-pound match (the seventh bout of the evening).
Below is a preview of the matchups …
182: No. 2 (at 195) Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. Taylor Venz (Farmington)
Reenan was runner-up at the National Prep Championships competing at 195 pounds, his second National Prep runner-up finish in three years, after winning National Preps last year at 170 pounds; he was a Texas state champion as a freshman. This past off-season, he was a Junior National double champion at 182 pounds and a Super 32 Challenge champion in that weight class. Venz bookended his career with state titles, including one at the end of February, with third place finishes in the middle; he was also runner-up at Preseason Nationals in October.
195: No. 4 Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio) vs. No. 3 (at 182) Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central)
Darmstadt just won his second state title last weekend to go with a runner-up finish his sophomore season. This past off-season, he was a Junior National freestyle All-American and fourth at the Super 32 Challenge; while having split matches with the nation's top ranked wrestler at 195 pounds during this regular season. Moore won a third state title down at 182 pounds at the end of last month, to go with a third place finish his freshman season. His robust resume also includes a Junior National folkstyle title last spring and winning a Cadet National Triple Crown in 2014. The two wrestlers met in Fargo this past summer, Darmstadt winning by technical fall in the quarterfinals in a perceived upset.
220: No. 2 Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay, Ohio) vs. Kevin Kneisl (Delano)
Stencel won his second his second state title last weekend to go with a runner-up finish his sophomore season. This past off-season, Stencel was a Junior National All-American in both styles, and runner-up in the Super 32 Challenge at 220 pounds. He had a consecutive pin streak that lasted from the season opener to the district final, where he lost 4-1, a result that was avenged in the state final. Kneisl is a two-time state finalist, winning state at the end of last month.
285: No. 1 Osawaru Odighizuwa (David Douglas, Ore.) vs. No. 20 Andrew Piehl (Rogers)
Odighizuwa is a three-time state champion and two-time Fargo freestyle champion (last summer as a Junior, 2014 as a Cadet). He was also All-American both years in Greco-Roman (third as a Junior, second as a Cadet in 2015), and will be playing college football as a defensive lineman at UCLA. Piehl won state this past year, placing third the year before; he was also fourth in the Junior freestyle weight class that Odighizuwa won, and placed seventh in both styles as a Cadet in the summer of 2014.
113: No. 4 Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.) vs. Ethan Cota (Kenyon-Wanamingo)
Vega, a three-time state champion, is a two-time Junior National folkstyle champion. He placed sixth in both Greco-Roman and freestyle in Fargo this past summer, after winning the Junior Triple Crown in 2014. Cota placed fourth at state at the end of last month after winning state gold the year before.
120: No. 5 (at 126) Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Academy, Texas) vs. Victor Gliva (Farmington)
Mueller is a four-time National Prep champion and three-time Fargo finalist, including a Junior National title in 2014 and Cadet National crown in 2013. He was the Walsh Ironman champion in this weight class during the season, though he competed at National Preps up one weight class. Gliva won a state title at 113 this season, after finishing as runner-up at 106 the year before; he also is a two-time Preseason Nationals placer in the Junior/Senior division.
126: No. 3 Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.) vs. Adam Hedin (Rosemount)
Norstrem, a Virginia Tech signee, is a five-time state champion and placer in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Super 32 Challenge. Hedin was runner-up at 132 pounds this season after placing first and fourth in the same weight class the previous two seasons.
132: No. 6 (at 138) Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) vs. Jamin Le Duc (Farmington)
LaMont is a four-time state champion, who won a Preseason Nationals crown this fall. In addition, his Fargo resume could fill up a book; this summer it was double finals at the Junior level against McKee (Greco runner-up and freestyle champion). LaMont is also a three-time UWW Cadet world team member in Greco-Roman. Le Duc was a state medalist this season after finishing runner-up the year before.
138: No. 8 Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. No. 5 Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville)
Moore is a four-time state placer, winning state titles the last two seasons. In addition, he is a two-time placer at the Super 32 Challenge (runner-up this fall) and a two-time placer at the FloNationals (champion in 2014). McKee is a three-time state champion and five-time state placer, whose Fargo resume could also take a book; this year it was double finalist against LaMont (champion in Greco and runner-up in freestyle. He also is a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer. Both wrestlers lost overtime matches to Shane Griffith at the Super 32 Challenge.
145: No. 4 Carter Happel (Lisbon, Iowa) vs. Brock Morgan (Apple Valley)
Happel is a four-time state champion, whose high school record reflects over 200 wins against just one loss. His Fargo resume includes a fifth in Junior freestyle this past summer and a 2013 Cadet freestyle title. Morgan was runner-up at 152 this season after placing third as a sophomore.
152: No. 1 Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) vs. No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague)
Manville is a two-time National Prep champion, who won a Super 32 Challenge title this fall to go along with a plethora of international styles accomplishments. Those include double All-American honors this summer at the Junior Nationals and a Cadet World freestyle title in the summer of 2014. Parriott counters with three state titles, two Super 32 Challenge placements, and All-American honors at both the Junior Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals this past off-season. Manville beat Parriott 3-1 in the semifinals of the Super 32 Challenge this fall.
160: No. 8 (at 182) Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.) vs. No. 16 (at 182) Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville)
Bullard is a four-time state champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, including the runner-up finish at 160 pounds this fall. He also was champion at the NHSCA Freshman and Sophomore Nationals before placing third as a Junior. Jeske is a two-time state finalist, winning as a junior, and was a Junior National freestyle runner-up this past summer.
170: No. 2 Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) vs. No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley)
These are two of the top three wrestlers in the Class of 2016, Marinelli ranked third and Hall ranked first. They have ten state titles between them at the high school level, Marinelli with four and Hall with six. Each ended their high school career on an absurdly long winning streak, Marinelli's goes back to his sophomore year, while Hall's goes back to his freshman season. Marinelli is a two-time Ironman champion, while Hall is a 2014 Cadet World freestyle champion. Their most recent competitive meeting came in the fall of 2014 when Hall won at the Grappler Fall Classic.
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