No more vertical pairing in Fargo
One major story that is going to be beaten to a bloody pulp by the end of the Cadet and Junior National Championships is the change from "vertical pairing" to "line bracketing" for the tournaments throughout the event.
At a simple level, vertical pairing splits the competitors into two pools. Matches are conducted in kind of a round-robin format where wrestlers are eliminated upon their second loss of the event. Once the pool is down to four wrestlers, those are the All-Americans, while the last three (or two) remaining with less than two losses are then re-paired into a mini-round-robin structure. Upon determining placement in the pool, the medal round is cross-paired, so the champion of each pool competes for first place.
Line bracketing is a fancy way of saying a traditional double-elimination tournament, like one is to see throughout their scholastic career (and like the NCAA tournament). Still, the top eight wrestlers will earn All-American honors. Four will do so through making the semifinals; while the other four will earn that distinction by winning a consolation match after losing in the quarterfinals, or winning a series of consolation matches and then beating a quarterfinal loser.
Let's look at some varying aspects of the formats, and try to analyze reasons for (and against) the changed format.
For those wondering if there is efficiency achieved in terms of the number of matches during the tournament, the answer is that each format yields about the same number of matches. See the below chart that compares the number of matches wrestled in each weight during the 2013 Junior National freestyle competition relative to if the event was wrestled as a double-elimination bracket.
However, there is a clear variance in how the matches are distributed between the vertical paired tournament and the line bracketed tournament. While there are slight imperfections because tournament management may choose to skip certain weight classes within a round in order to achieve varying efficiencies (rest periods, making sure all weights participate in a session), the below should provide a general idea.
For the vertical pairing, rounds one through nine represent preliminary rounds prior to the "round-robin" matches (as well as any tiebreaker bouts for fourth in a pool) being conducted. The latter matches are represented by rounds ten through twelve. For line bracketing, the rounds are as follows: all championship (of 128), mixed championship (of 64) and consolation, consolation, mixed championship (of 32) and consolation, consolation, mixed championship (of 16) and consolation, consolation, mixed quarterfinals and consolation, consolation round of 12, mixed semifinals and consolation quarters, and consolation semifinals.
One of the major discussion points about the vertical pairing system is that a wrestler can lose during the course of the tournament (heck, even twice) and still make it to the finals should certain events within the course of pool competition happen. Well, in a line bracket, that obviously cannot happen.
Another question to ask is how many matches -- generally speaking -- does a wrestler have to win to earn All-American honors within each system. The median bracket size in Junior freestyle last year was between 64 and 96 wrestlers, which in a line bracket would mean that either four or five straight wins on the "front side" would clear a wrestler to the semifinals; while a loss in the first match of competition would mean having to win seven or eight consecutive bouts to earn a top eight finish. Within the vertical pairing structure, winning six bouts before losing two is likely what it will take to be an All-American (sometimes a 5-2 mark is enough, though in other cases 6-2 is not enough).
In terms of "bracket luck", each format has its own dynamics that one could classify into that bucket. Therefore, I don't think it's fair to say that one format's "bracket luck" is better or worse than the other in terms of earning an All-American finish. Additionally, on that track, different people will have different definitions of "bracket luck."
Impact of FILA Cadet Worlds being this week
Now moving onto topics that involve actual wrestlers and wrestling. One factor that will have an influence on field composition is the FILA Cadet World Championships being held this week in Slovakia. The Greco-Roman competition was conducted yesterday and today, while freestyle is being held on Saturday and Sunday. However, the travel itinerary has all competitors slated to travel back from Slovakia on Monday.
Therefore, it is implausible for any of those wrestlers competing in the FILA Cadet World Championships to appear during the Greco-Roman tournaments (Cadet on Sunday and Monday, Juniors on Tuesday and Wednesday). Additionally, it would be rather ambitious for those competing in Slovakia to return for the Fargo freestyle competitions at the end of the week (Cadets on Wednesday through Friday, and Juniors on Thursday through Saturday), though some may choose to do so.
The following wrestlers on the FILA Cadet World team in Slovakia are Cadet eligible for Fargo:
Jason Holmes (Arizona) -- Greco 92.5 pounds
Gavin Teasale (Jefferson-Morgan, Pa.) -- freestyle 92.5 pounds, No. 3 in the Class of 2018; Cadet freestyle 88 champion 2013
Dack Punke (Washington, Ill.) -- Greco 101.25 pounds
Cade Olivas (St. John Bosco, Calif.) -- freestyle 101.25 pounds, No. 1 in the Class of 2018
Drew West (Highland Riverside, Iowa) -- Greco 110 pounds
Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, Pa.) -- freestyle 110 pounds, No. 1 in the Class of 2017
Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) -- freestyle 119 pounds, No. 3 in the Class of 2017; Cadet Greco 106 and freestyle 113 champion 2013
Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) -- Greco 127.75 pounds, No. 18 in the Class of 2018; note that he would have competed in Greco at the Junior level if going to Fargo; Cadet freestyle 120 champion 2013
Dominick Demas (Dublin Coffman, Ohio) -- Greco 138.75 pounds, No. 25 in the Class of 2017
Jared Verkleeren (Belle Vernon, Pa.) -- freestyle 138.75 pounds, No. 15 in the Class of 2017
Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) -- freestyle 220 pounds, No. 5 in the Class of 2016
The following wrestlers would have to compete at the Junior level:
Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio) -- Greco 119 pounds
Carter Happel (Lisbon, Iowa) -- freestyle 127.75 pounds, No. 17 in the Class of 2016; Cadet freestyle 132 champion 2013
Mason Manville (Blair Academy, N.J.) -- Greco/freestyle 152 pounds, No. 2 in the Class of 2016; Cadet Greco/freestyle champion 145 2013
Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) -- Greco 167.5 pounds, No. 9 in the Class of 2016; Cadet Greco/freestyle champion 152 2013
Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) -- freestyle 167.5 pounds, No. 1 in the Class of 2016; Cadet Greco/freestyle champion 160 2013
Timothy Young (East Aurora, Ill.) -- Greco 187.5 pounds
Hunter Ritter (John Carroll, Md.) -- freestyle 187.5 pounds, No. 37 in the Class of 2015; Cadet Greco champion 182 2013
Ethan Andersen (Southeast Polk, Iowa) -- Greco 220 pounds, No. 32 in the Class of 2016
Returning Fargo champions
The following wrestlers that won 2013 Fargo titles are eligible to return at the same level at which they won the title last year (note that wrestlers competing in Slovakia this week are excluded below):
Austin Gomez (Glenbard North, Ill.) -- Cadet Greco 94; No. 26 overall Class of 2017
Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.) -- Cadet freestyle 94; No. 39 overall Class of 2017
Beau Breske (Hartford, Wis.) -- Cadet Greco/freestyle 170; No. 6 overall Class of 2016
Dalton Roberts (Fowlerville, Mich./graduated) -- Junior Greco 100
Kirk Johansen (Glenbard North, Ill.) -- Junior freestyle 100
Brandon Staley (Winter Springs, Fla.) -- Junior Greco 106
Hunter Marko (Amery, Wis.) -- Junior freestyle 106
Elijah Oliver (Christian Brothers, Tenn.) -- Junior freestyle 113; No. 38 overall Class of 2015
Jordan Shearer (West Fargo, N.D.) -- Junior Greco 126; No. 93 overall Class of 2015
Jered Cortez (Glenbard North, Ill./Illinois) -- Junior freestyle 126; ended No. 39 overall Class of 2014
Hayden Tuma (Centennial, Idaho/Nebraska) -- Junior Greco 132; ended No. 30 overall Class of 2014
Seth Gross (Apple Valley, Minn./Iowa) -- Junior freestyle 132; ended No. 58 overall Class of 2014
Joey McKenna (Blair Academy, N.J./Stanford) -- Junior Greco 138; ended No. 8 overall Class of 2014
Aaron Pico (California) -- Junior freestyle 138; not competing scholastically
Jon-Jay Chavez (Centennial, Idaho/Cornell) -- Junior Greco 152; ended No. 32 overall Class of 2014
Ryan Blees (Bismarck, N.D./Oklahoma State) -- Junior freestyle 152; ended No. 18 overall Class of 2014
Davonte Mahomes (Oak Park River Forest, Ill./Michigan) -- Junior Greco 160; ended No. 41 overall Class of 2014
Chandler Rogers (Stillwater, Okla./Oklahoma State) -- Junior Greco 170; ended No. 20 overall Class of 2014
Bo Nickal (Allen, Texas/Penn State) -- Junior freestyle 170; ended No. 5 overall Class of 2014
Michael Pixley (Blue Springs, Mo./Lindsey Wilson) -- Junior freestyle 182; ended No. 13 overall Class of 2014
Chance McClure (Commerce, Ga./Virginia) -- Junior Greco 195
Roy Nash (Taylorsville, Utah/Utah Valley) -- Junior Greco/freestyle 220; ended No. 23 overall Class of 2014
The following wrestlers won 2013 Cadet National titles in Fargo but have to move up to the Junior level this year (the below list also excludes those competing in Slovakia this week):
Louie Hayes (Carl Sandburg, Ill.) -- Cadet Greco 88
Joey Prata (St. Christopher's, Va.) -- Cadet Greco 100
Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.) -- Cadet freestyle 100
Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian, Texas) -- Cadet freestyle 106; No. 29 overall Class of 2016
Mitch McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) -- Cadet Greco 113; No. 44 overall Class of 2016
Gabe Townsell (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) -- Cadet Greco 120
Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, Calif.) -- Cadet Greco/freestyle 126; No. 6 overall Class of 2015
Josh Bird (Burlington, Wis.) -- Cadet Greco 132
Larry Early (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) -- Cadet Greco 138; No. 42 overall Class of 2015
Isaiah White (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) -- Cadet freestyle 138; No. 8 overall Class of 2016
Justan Rivera (Kennesaw Mountain, Ga.) -- Cadet freestyle 182; No. 41 overall Class of 2015
Samuel Colbray (Hermiston, Ore.) -- Cadet Greco 195; No. 12 overall Class of 2016
Tyler Johnson (Lockport, Ill.) -- Cadet freestyle 195; No. 44 overall Class of 2015
Lance Benick (Totino-Grace, Minn.) -- Cadet Greco/freestyle 220; No. 5 overall Class of 2015
Jake Marnin (Southeast Polk, Iowa) -- Cadet Greco/freestyle 285; No. 46 overall Class of 2015
Emerging starlets
One of the year-to-year narratives of the Fargo week is the opportunity for incoming ninth graders to make some major noise during a first major showcase opportunity on the "high school type of stage". While two of the most obvious names with that potential will be in Slovakia -- Cade Olivas and Gavin Teasdale -- and each kind of is already a well-known commodity, there will be others that stand out this coming week.
Three of the most elite incoming ninth graders to be in Fargo this week happens to be middle-weights and slightly above, so it will be interesting to see if each can make a dent in what is not traditionally a weight area in which incoming ninth graders thrive in Fargo. Those being discussed are Jack Jessen (Willbowbrook, Ill.), Frankie Gissendanner (Penfield, N.Y.), and Brandon Whitman (Dundee, Mich.)
Fargo coverage
Keep your eye glued onto InterMat for Fargo coverage throughout the coming week including some event-specific previews and recaps, and well as a broad recap of the whole group of tournaments after the festivities are complete.
Schedule
Day 1: Saturday, July 19
Cadet women's freestyle
Session I: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolation and Consolation Semifinals
Session II: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
Day 2: Sunday, July 20
Cadet Greco-Roman
Session I: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Preliminaries and Consolations
Session II: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
1/8 Championship, Quarterfinals and Consolations
Day 3: Monday, July 21
Cadet Greco-Roman
Session III: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Consolations, Semifinals and Consolation Semifinals
Session IV: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
Junior Greco-Roman
Session I: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Preliminaries and Consolations
Session II: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Consolations and 1/8 Championship
Junior women's freestyle
Session I: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Preliminaries, Consolations and 1/8 Championships
Day 4: Tuesday, July 22
Junior Greco-Roman
Session III: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Consolations, Semifinals and Consolation Semifinals
Session IV: 2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
Junior women's freestyle
Session II: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Consolations, Semifinals and Consolation Semifinals
Session III: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
If needed
Session IV: 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
Day 5: Wednesday, July 23
Cadet freestyle
Session I: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Preliminaries and Consolations
Session II: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Preliminaries, 1/8 Championships, Consolations
Junior women's freestyle duals
Session I: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Preliminaries
Session II: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Preliminaries, Finals, Medal Matches, & Awards
Day 6: Thursday, July 24
Cadet freestyle
Session III: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals and Consolations
Session IV: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
Junior freestyle
Session I: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Preliminaries and Consolations
Session II: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Preliminaries and Consolations
Day 7: Friday, July 25
Cadet freestyle
Session V: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
Junior freestyle
Session III: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1/8 Championships, Quarterfinals, Consolations
Session IV: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
Day 8: Saturday, July 26
Junior freestyle
Session V: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
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