84: There is a limited quantity of participants, and the notoriety of said participants is limited. Two names to watch here are Gannon Volk (Minnesota) and Colin Mashack (Pennsylvania).
91: This weight class is the opening salvo into the “core” of the Cadet competition. The favorite in this weight class is Jared Oftedahl (Minnesota), an All-American last summer in both styles and a runner-up this spring in both styles at the FILA Cadet Nationals. He also went a combined 19-1 at the Cadet Duals. Others to watch in this weight class include Dylan Akers (Texas), last year’s champion at 84 pounds, Brandon George (Utah), an All-American in both styles at 91 pounds last summer, and Dylan Lucas (Florida), a double All-American at the FILA Cadet Nationals and fourth-ranked among junior high wrestlers.
98: The favorite in this weight class is Joey McKenna (New Jersey), who is ranked 11th among incoming freshmen. Earlier this off-season McKenna was third in Greco-Roman at the FILA Cadet Nationals, and went undefeated at the Cadet Duals in Greco. Also undefeated in Greco at the Cadet Duals was Darshawn Sharp (Georgia), who was runner-up to Akers at Fargo last summer in Greco-Roman. Incoming freshman Zac Hall (Michigan) is another wrestler to watch, as he went 9-1 at the Cadet Duals in Greco-Roman. The other primary contender is Phillip Laux (Iowa), a double Cadet National All-American last summer and also a FILA Cadet All-American in Greco though he lost to McKenna for third place.
105: Anthony Ashnault (New Jersey) and Jacob Schmitt (Michigan) are the leaders of the pack in this weight class, and each is ranked among the top 30 wrestlers in the Class of 2013 regardless of weight. Ashnault was an undefeated 7-0 at the Cadet Duals, while Schmitt went 9-1. Schmitt finished fourth place last summer in both styles at 91 pounds as a Cadet. Others to watch include returning Cadet National All-American Nate Thomas (Minnesota), incoming freshman Kasey Klaus (California), and FILA Cadet Greco runner-up James Flint (Florida).
112: Three wrestlers jump immediately to the head of the class for this weight class. The first is Sam Brancale (Minnesota), a Cadet runner-up last summer who ended the scholastic season ranked 10th at 103 pounds. He also was an undefeated 7-0 at the Cadet Duals, and runner-up at the FILA Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman. The second is Jake Velarde (Washington), who was a Cadet All-American last summer and a FILA Cadet champion in Greco-Roman during the spring season. Finally is Jack Hathaway (Iowa), who was a Junior National All-American in both styles last summer, and a FILA Cadet All-American in Greco this spring. Another wrestler to watch is incoming freshman PJ Klee (California).
119: The joint favorites in this weight class would be a pair of wrestlers that ended the scholastic season ranked inside the top 12 at 112 pounds. Corey Keener (Pennsylvania) was an All-American in both styles at last summer’s Cadet Nationals and the FILA Cadet Nationals this spring. He ended the season ranked eighth nationally in the weight class. Stephen Myers (Ohio) ended the season ranked 12th nationally in the weight, and ninth among wrestlers in the Class of 2013. Two other ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2013 are Mitch Bengtson (Minnesota) and Russell Coleman (Missouri), who were ranked 19th and 35th respectively. One additional wrestler to watch is incoming freshman Hayden Tuma (Idaho), a Schoolboy National champion last year in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.
125: The clear standout in this weight class is Ben Whitford (Illinois), who is ranked third overall in the Class of 2013 and was a double finalist last summer at the Cadet Nationals. Whitford was champion in freestyle after falling just short in the Greco-Roman final. The other ranked wrestler in this weight class is Tyson Dippery (Pennsylvania), ranked 40th in the Class of 2013.
130: This could shape up to be the championship match of the tournament if the bracket lines up properly. Zane Richards (Illinois) seeks to defend his title from last summer, and comes into this tournament ranked 50th among members of the Class of 2012. His prime challenger shapes up to be Brandon Jeske (Virginia), who is ranked second in the Class of 2013 -- and finished third last summer in Cadet Greco after taking home the FILA Cadet Greco title 15 months ago. The other ranked wrestler in this weight is Reed Van Anrooy (Oregon), who is 43rd in the Class of 2013.
135: The early favorite in this weight class is Isaiah Martinez (California), who is ranked seventh in the Class of 2013. The other ranked wrestler in this weight class is Joey Lavallee (Nevada), who ranks 45th in the same class. Additional wrestlers to watch are Cody Ross (Florida) and Garrett Hammond (Pennsylvania).
140: Two wrestlers ranked inside the top 30 of the Class of 2013 shape up to be the favorites in this weight class. Jake Marlin (Iowa) is ranked 24th, while Tyler Askey (Georgia) is 29th. Last summer, Askey was an All-American in both styles at the Cadet Nationals. Eric Hoffman (Maryland) stands to be a prime challenger after an All-American finish last summer in Cadet Greco and a runner-up finish at the FILA Cadet Nationals. An additional wrestler to watch in this weight class is Payne Hayden (Michigan).
145: The young phenom Chance Marsteller (Pennsylvania) makes his Fargo debut in this weight class, and projects to be the early favorite. Marsteller is ranked first among incoming freshmen, and was undefeated in both styles at the Cadet Duals last month. His prime challengers are a pair of wrestlers who joined him as undefeated in both styles at the event last month -- Ryan Gartner (Wisconsin) and Jared Reis (North Dakota). Gartner was also an All-American last summer in Cadet Greco.
152: For being somewhat of an upper weight, a very strong three-headed monster stands atop this weight class. Eric Morris (Pennsylvania), ranked 12th in the Class of 2013, makes his Fargo debut after an undefeated Schoolboy Duals last year. Defending champion Oliver Pierce (Texas) is ranked 13th in the same class, and moves up three weights from his championship of last year. Finally, Brooks Climmons (Georgia) is ranked 18th in this class, was an All-American last year in Greco-Roman and has been on fire this summer. The other ranked wrestler in this weight class is Austin Myers (Ohio), ninth among all wrestlers to be in junior high this coming year.
160: An All-American in both styles at the FILA Cadet Nationals this April, Burke Paddock (New York) is the favorite in this weight class. Paddock is ranked sixth among all incoming freshmen. Other wrestlers to watch include Scott Gibbons (Louisiana), Marcos Peralta (Colorado), and Tanner Tinsley (Virginia).
171: Two wrestlers ranked right next to each other in the Class of 2012 headline this weight class. The probable favorite is Sam Brooks (Illinois), a runner-up in both styles at the Cadet Nationals last summer. Brooks is ranked 20th in this class. Right behind him is Jordan Rogers (Washington), who was an All-American in both styles as a Cadet last summer, and also won the FILA Cadet freestyle title this spring. Four other wrestlers to watch: Jonathan Inman (Missouri), Jacob Morrissey (Wisconsin), Connor King (Colorado) and Preston Lehmann (North Dakota).
189: Mitch Sliga (Indiana), ranked 16th in the Class of 2013, enters this weight class as the pre-tournament favorite. He won the Cadet Folkstyle championship in April and seeks the second leg of the “Triple Crown” here. In addition, he finished third in his scholastic state tournament at 189 pounds as just a freshman. Two wrestlers are returning Cadet Greco All-Americans, Eric Mason (Kansas) and Mickey Pelfrey (Iowa). Pelfrey was undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Cadet Duals as well.
215: Ranked 21st in the Class of 2013, Adam Coon (Michigan) enters the tournament favored in this weight class coming off a FILA Cadet All-American finish and a combined 19-1 Cadet Duals record. Two others in this weight were Cadet Greco All-Americans last summer -- Joe Scanlan (Iowa) and Brian Walker (Alabama).
285: Brooks Black (Pennsylvania) is the prohibitive favorite to repeat as champion in Greco-Roman, as he moves up from last year’s run at 215 pounds. Coming off a freshman year in which he was a National Prep runner-up, he was double champion at the FILA Cadet Nationals and is now ranked sixth in the Class of 2013. Doug Vollaro (Florida) was runner-up to Black in both events at FILA Cadets and is the most viable challenger to him. Evan McGee (Oklahoma) was a returning All-American, while Michael Johnson (Illinois) is ranked sixth among junior high wrestlers.
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