Austin Gomez was a Cadet National double champion in Fargo (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Now in its seventh year, the Cliff Keen USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals serve as an excellent showcase for high school aged wrestlers -- and also those below high school age -- prior to the start of the regular scholastic season. As of October 22, about 1500 wrestlers from a plethora of states are slated to compete in two different high school divisions this coming Saturday. Sunday will feature the high school girls division as well as the below high school divisions (1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th grades).
2014 marks the second year for the presence of two different divisions for high school competitors. Wrestlers in 9th and 10th grade will be in one division, while those in 11th and 12th grade will be in another. One underrated aspect of this format structure is the ability for freshmen and sophomores to emerge as stars among their peer group in a high school setting -- instead of having to wait until the spring/summer in many cases for such a chance.
Below represents a weight-by-weight outlook across the competition.
9th/10th Division
100:
Three Cadet National double All-Americans from Fargo this past summer are among the key competitors in this weight class. That group is led by Peter Ogunsanya (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), who finished third in both styles at 94 pounds after a runner-up finish in both styles at 92 pounds in the FILA Cadet Nationals. The other two doublers are Billy Simpson (Cushing, Okla.) and Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.). Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class are Cadet folkstyle champion Cody Phippen (Basheor-Linwood, Kan.), Cadet freestyle champion Malik Heinselman (Colorado), Cadet folkstyle runner-up Kyle Biscoglia (Waukee, Iowa), and Cadet freestyle fourth place finisher Rhett Golowenski (Tuttle, Okla.)
106:
Leading the way in this weight class is Cadet freestyle All-American Anthony Madrigal (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), who is ranked No. 17 overall among incoming freshmen. Other wrestlers to watch in this weight class include Iowa state placer Adam Brown (Southeast Polk), FILA Cadet double All-American Holden Heller (Illinois), Cadet folkstyle third place finisher Michael Millage (Iowa), and Cadet Greco-Roman All-American Nathan Lendt (Southeast Polk, Iowa).
113:
Three of the nation’s elite sophomores lead the way in this weight class. Austin Gomez (Glenbard North, Ill.) is No. 15 overall in the grade level, and was a Cadet double national champion at 113 pounds this summer; Jason Renteria (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.) was a state runner-up this past scholastic season, and is ranked No. 22 overall in the Class of 2017; while Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.) is No. 46 in the sophomore class, and was a Cadet National double finalist at 106 pounds this summer, including a title in Greco-Roman. Other wrestlers to watch include FILA Cadet Greco-Roman world team member Dack Punke (Washington, Ill.), Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Dom Lajoie (Gaylord, Mich.), and state fourth place finisher Tristan Lara (Fort Dodge, Iowa).
120:
Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.) is a defending Preseason Nationals champion in the freshman/sophomore division. In addition, he is ranked No. 19 overall in the sophomore class, was a Cadet National double All-American, and a FILA Cadet freestyle runner-up during this past offseason. Other wrestlers to watch in this weight class include Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Corbin Nirschl (Basheor-Linwood, Kan.); formidable freshman Jon Trowbridge (Basheor-Linwood, Kan.), a FILA Cadet Greco-Roman All-American this spring; along with state placers Derek Holschlag (Union, Iowa) and Jason Crary (Munster, Ind.)
126:
A pair of grade-ranked wrestlers lead the way in this weight class, Alec Hagan (Eureka, Mo.) and Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.). The sophomore Hagan is No. 44 overall in the Class of 2017 after a state runner-up finish this past high school season, and a Cadet folkstyle runner-up finish this spring; while incoming freshman Lloyd is No. 12 in his grade level after a double All-American finish this summer at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, and a third place finish in Minnesota Class AAA during eighth grade. Other wrestlers to watch include state champion Eli King (Father Ryan, Tenn.); impact freshman Jacob Greenwood (Colorado), a FILA Cadet Greco-Roman All-American; along with state champion Tanner Litterell (Tuttle, Okla.)
132:
Two sophomores stand out ahead of the rest of the field in this weight class, Francisco Valdes (Miami Southwest, Fla.) and Jimmy McAuliffe (Mt. Carmel, Ill.). Valdes is ranked No. 31 overall in the Class of 2017, and is already a two-time state champion along with finishing second at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals this spring; while McAuliffe placed fifth in Illinois Class 3A as a freshman.
138:
The clear favorite in this weight class is Devin Bahr (West Salem, Wis.), the No. 27 overall wrestler in the Class of 2017. The state champion this past scholastic season was a Cadet National double All-American this summer. Another wrestler to watch in this weight class is freshman John Manning, a native of Utah.
145:
In what is a wide open weight class, here are a few names to keep an eye on. Incoming freshman Braeden Redlin (Allen, Texas) was third in Cadet Greco-Roman this summer, fellow incoming freshman Kenny O’Neil (Prior Lake, Minn.) was a state qualifier in high school during his eighth grade year, as well as talented sophomore Tervell Timmons (Lockport, Ill.)
160:
Another wide open weight class comes at 160 pounds. A couple of wrestlers here have strong sibling “lineage” -- Nate Jimenez (Marmion Academy, Ill.) and Isaac Bartel (Mason City, Iowa).
170:
The clear favorite in this weight class is freshman Jack Jessen (Illinois), who is ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2017, and placed third in both styles this summer at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo.
182-285:
As is the case many times with underclassmen in the upperweights, the key names have yet to emerge this early in the year. That is the case here with the 152-pound weight class, as well as the back four (182 to 285) weight classes.
11th/12th Division
106:
Three wrestlers stand out as the head of the class in this field: Iowa natives Justin Portillo (Claridon-Goldfield) and Tristan Birt (Dubuque Wahlert), along with Illinois native Louie Hayes. Portillo was a state runner-up this past season, while Birt won a state title; Hayes was third in both styles at 100 pounds in the Junior Nationals this summer. Another notable wrestler in this weight class is Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Trey Keeley (Washington, Ill.)
113:
Four state champions lead the way in this weight class: Brady Wilsie (Byron, Ill.), Howard Smith (Allen, Texas), Jack Wagner (Bettendorf, Iowa), and Joshua Portillo (Claridon-Goldfield, Iowa); also note that Smith placed fifth in junior freestyle this summer. Two additional wrestlers to watch are state runner-up Connor Cleveland (New Hampton, Iowa) and state third place finisher Noah McQuigg (Tuttle, Okla.)
120:
This is an extremely balanced weight class, with multiple competitors that could emerge with the title. Even though Montorie Bridges (Altus, Okla.) has yet to win a state title, he has placed third and second at state during his two high school seasons, and placed fourth in Junior freestyle this summer. The other wrestler to earn All-American honors in Fargo this past summer was Travis Piotrowski (Prairie Ridge, Ill.), now a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American, who also placed third at state in 2013. Other wrestlers to note in this weight class are two-time Iowa state finalists Henry Pohlmeyer (Johnston) and Jacob Schwarm (Bettendorf), two-time state champion Chandler Fohey (Hannibal, Mo.), state champion Cody Minnick (Coal City, Ill.), FILA Cadet freestyle All-American and 2013 state champion Dalton Duffield (Westmoore, Okla.), along with three-time state placer Tanner Rohweder (Iowa City West, Iowa).
126:
Three nationally ranked juniors are among the lead contenders in this weight class: No. 20 Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah), No. 37 Dylan Duncan (Montini Catholic, Ill.), and No. 46 Ryan Deakin (Legacy, Colo.). LaMont is a two-time state champion, who is now a two-time All-American in both Junior Greco-Roman and Cadet freestyle; winning Junior Greco this summer and Cadet freestyle last summer. Duncan won state during the past scholastic season, and was a Cadet freestyle champion this summer. Deakin also won state this past scholastic season, and he was a Junior double All-American in Fargo.
Two notable seniors in this weight class are multi-time state champion Cameron Sykora (Border West, Minn.) and two-time state third place finisher Nolan Hellickson (Southeast Polk, Iowa). Other notable juniors in this weight class are two-time state champion Michael Prieto (Garden City, Kan.) and state placer Gabe Townsell (Oak Park River Forest, Ill.), a FILA Cadet double All-American this past spring.
132:
A pair of grade-level ranked wrestlers lead the way in this weight class, Sean Cannon (Green Valley, Nev.) and Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio). Cannon, ranked No. 69 overall in the Class of 2015, is a two-time state champion and won the Junior folkstyle tournament this past spring; while Shie is ranked No. 23 overall in the Class of 2017, and was a double All-American at both the Cadet Nationals and FILA Cadet tournaments. Other wrestlers to watch include two-time state champions Austin Anderly (LeSeur-Henderson, Minn.) and Nick Noel (Pulaski Academy, Ark.), three-time state placer Grant Sutton (Richmond-Burton, Ill.), state runner-up Paul Glynn (Bettendorf, Iowa), along with state placers Reiley Brown (Whitehall, Mich.) and Dylan Thurston (Wheaton North, Ill.)
138:
A pair of top 100 Class of 2015 prospects leads the way in this weight class, No. 38 Jaydin Clayton (Father Tolton Catholic, Mo.) and No. 99 Vincent Turk (Montini Catholic, Ill.). Four additional multi-time state champions are among the primary challengers: Alex Rich (Crescent Valley, Ore.), Hunter Washburn (Alburnett, Iowa), Isaac Deloa (Millard South, Neb.), and Louie Sanders (Lake Crystal, Minn.). Two other state champions are also among the contenders, Beau Guffey (Tuttle, Okla.) and Chase Piperato (Jefferson, Ga.). Other wrestlers to watch include two-time state placers Alexander Butler (Boylan Catholic, Ill.) and Dan Kelly (Cedar Falls, Iowa); state third place finishers Bobby Alexander (Conant, Ill.) and Keegan Shaw (Southeast Polk); along with Colin Clingenpeel (Council Bluffs Jefferson, Iowa), a Cadet freestyle All-American who won Preseason Nationals last year in the freshman/sophomore division.
145:
Leading the way in this weight class three-time state champion Max Thomsen (Union, Iowa), who ranks No. 40 overall in the Class of 2015. Five other state champions -- Dakota Wall (Centennial, Idaho), Dylanger Potter (Arlington Martin, Texas), Jeren Glosser (Eddyville/Blakesburg-Fremont, Iowa), J.J. Wolfe (Dakota, Ill.), and Rudy Guillen (Buford, Ga.) -- are among the challengers to Thomsen. Additional contenders include Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Logan Gruszka (Schaumburg, Ill.), state runner-up Aaron Meyer (Southeast Polk, Iowa), state placer Jake Tucker (Mt. Carmel, Ill.), along with two-time state placers Alec Wyatt (Arvada West, Colo.) and Tristan Finch (Davenport Assumption, Iowa).
152:
Junior freestyle All-American Luke Fortuna (Montini Catholic, Ill.), a state runner-up this past season, leads the way in this weight class. Challengers include two-time state champion Jake Adcock (Pope, Ga.), 2013 state champion and three-time state placer Jacob Woodard (Bettendorf, Iowa), state champions Jose Taylor (Arlington Martin, Texas) and Payton Tawater (Arvada West, Colo.), state runners-up Carlson Brolsma (Osseo, Minn.) and Kasey Caelwerts (Pulaski, Wis.), along with state placer Dayton Garrett (Tuttle, Okla.)
160:
A pair of top 100 seniors from Iowa leads the way in this weight class, No. 45 Bryce Steiert (Waverly-Shell Rock) and No. 68 Dayton Racer (Bettendorf); state champion -- and three-time state placer -- Steiert finished fourth in Junior freestyle this past summer, while 2013 state champion Racer placed fourth at Flo Nationals this past spring. Other wrestlers to watch include two-time state champion Cameron Loving (Altus, Okla.), Junior National Greco All-American Joey Gunther (Libertyville, Ill.), two-time state placer Canten Marriott (Park Hill, Mo.), state placer Matt Rowland (Willowbrook, Ill.), state champion Adam Blees (Bismarck, N.D.), and Cadet double All-American Jeremiah Moody (Cambridge, Wis.)
170:
Three top 100 seniors lead the way in this weight class -- No. 27 Xavier Montalvo (Montini Catholic, Ill.), No. 59 Brett Bye (Vermillion, S.D.), and No. 85 Colston DiBlasi (Park Hill, Mo.). Two-time state champion Montalvo won this event last fall down at 160 pounds, and was a Flo Nationals champion this past spring; Bye was a Junior double All-American in Fargo; while DiBlasi is also a two-time state champion. Other wrestlers to watch include Jacob Warner (Washington, Ill.), a Cadet double All-American who is ranked No. 24 overall in the Class of 2017; Cadet folkstyle champion Oscar Ramos (Kenosha Bradford, Wis.); 2013 state placer Dillon Chase (Clinton, Iowa); Garrett Miller (Allen, Texas), a state placer and Junior Greco-Roman All-American; along with state champion Jacob Holschag (Union, Iowa).
182:
Four wrestlers stand out as primary contenders in this weight class: state champion Austin Cook (Lindsburg Smoky Valley, Kan.), two-time state runner-up Chance Cooper (Timberland, Mo.), 2013 state champion Evan Hansen (Exira, Iowa), and state champion Raekwon Reggler (Somerset Academy, Fla.)
195:
Four wrestlers stand out as primary contenders in this weight class: state placers Dru Worker (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) and Gabriel Rangel (Davenport Assumption, Iowa), state champion Hunter Brown (Centennial, Nev.), and Cadet National double runner-up Wyatt Koelling (Davis, Utah).
220:
Three wrestlers that were Preseason Nationals runners-up last year headline the field in this weight class. Senior Dustin Mason (Tuttle, Okla.) finished second at 285 pounds in the junior/senior division, and is a two-time state champion. Gannon Gremmel (Hempstead Dubuque, Iowa) is ranked No. 47 overall in the junior class, and was second at 220 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division last year; the two-time state placer also won titles in Cadet folkstyle and freestyle during the most recent off-season. Rounding out the trio is Nick Graziano (Oak Forest, Ill.), a state qualifier who took second at 195 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division last fall.
285:
The clear favorite in this weight class is state champion Dan Stibral (Bon Homme Scotland), a state champion who placed fifth in Junior freestyle this summer.
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