The University of Minnesota verbal commit ended the 2016-17 season as the No. 1 ranked 285-pound wrestler in the country after winning a third straight state title. He is 131-0 in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons; the last in-season loss coming in the state finals match of his eighth grade year, when competing at 195 pounds.
Steveson is a two-time UWW Cadet National and world champion in freestyle at 100 kilograms, and was a UWW Junior National freestyle champion in freestyle at 120 kilograms this spring. While he is still age eligible to compete at the Cadet World Championships, he has outgrown the upper-most weight class (100 kilograms), and will be competing this summer at the Junior World Championships.
The next five wrestlers in the Class of 2018 prospect rankings are all verbally committed to Penn State, the two-time defending national champions and winners of six national titles in the last seven seasons. No. 2 Seth Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) is also a three-time state champion and a 285-pound wrestler; No. 3 Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, Ore.) was a Cadet world bronze medalist last year in freestyle at 76 kilograms, and seeks to improve upon the finish this summer; No. 4 Gavin Teasdale (Jefferson-Morgan, Pa.) and No. 5 Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside, Ariz.) are both projected light-weight wrestlers with Cadet World Championships experience; while No. 6 Michael Beard (Malvern Prep, Pa.) is a two-time National Prep champion and three-time finalist.
Jacori Teemer swept Sammy Sasso in the finals of the UWW Cadet Nationals (Photo/Sam Janicki)Three other elite Class of 2018 wrestlers join Wittlake as participants on the Cadet World team in freestyle that will be competing later this summer in Athens, Greece: No. 10 Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, N.Y.) at 63 kilograms, No. 13 Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.) at 85 kilograms, and No. 19 Will Lewan (Montini Catholic, Ill.) at 69 kilograms; Lewan also qualified to compete in Greco-Roman. All three wrestlers were upward movers from their April ranking: Teemer moved up from No. 27 after sweeping now No. 11 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.) in the best-of-three series; Hoffman moved up from No. 17 after sweeping now No. 29 Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep, Pa.); and Lewan moved up from No. 26 after his sweep of now No. 24 Peyton Robb (Owatonna, Minn.).
Peyton Robb had a strong showing at UWW Cadet Nationals, finishing second in freestyle and third in Greco-Roman (Photo/Sam Janicki)Robb was also a significant upward mover after finishing as runner-up in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals at 69 kilograms, and third in Greco-Roman with a semifinal loss to Lewan in the tournament. He had a very notable quarterfinal win over now No. 25 Frankie Gissendanner (Penfield, N.Y.), also winning a title at the Northern Plains Junior regional tournament and going undefeated at Junior Duals, those coming at 160 pounds. Three others moved five-plus positions within the top 50: Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) went up 18 spots to No. 23, Malik Heinselman (Castle View, Colo.) is up five spots to No. 42, and Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.) is up six spots to No. 43
Wrestlers attending high schools in 28 states are part of the initial top 100 for the Class of 2018. Leading the way with 13 wrestlers ranked in the top 100 is the state of Pennsylvania, while New Jersey has the second most with 11, and Ohio is third in line with 10. Other states with five or more ranked wrestlers include California with 8, Minnesota and Illinois with 7, Missouri with 6, while New York and Iowa have five each.
Link: Top 100 Seniors (Platinum)
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